Top

blog

Stories

 

Marijuana Crackdown in Southern California as Feds Move to Take Assets of Four Dispensaries

Categories: Marijuana

Thumbnail image for zen healing youtube.JPG
Bad times for pot shops in Southern California. Dispensary operators in Long Beach were recently convicted for ... selling weed. L.A. City Hall's move to ban them outright is gaining momentum. And today the U.S. Attorney's Office announced that it's going to take everything that belongs to targeted dispensaries in Orange and L.A. counties.

Good times.

According to a statement, the feds today filed "asset forfeiture" lawsuits against ...

... three marijuana stores currently operating at 440 Fair Drive, where the owner of the building has been "cited numerous times by Costa Mesa officials for allowing the operation of marijuana dispensaries," according to the lawsuit;

American Collective, a marijuana store allegedly operated by a man with a 2003 state court conviction for marijuana sales that was one of two Costa Mesa stores and related locations where federal and state agents yesterday executed search warrants that led to the of two separate marijuana grows, each with more than 500 marijuana plants; and

Otherside Farms, whose operator told Costa Mesa Code Enforcement personnel that he intended "to make so much money" at the location that he was going to give the city of Costa Mesa a "donation" of up to $500,000 every year that would help the city stave off layoffs.

The government also targeted Alternative Medicinal Cannabis Collective (AMCC) in an unincorporated part of Covina last week with a similar suit.

It has also sent letters to the operators or land owners connected to "nearly three dozen" shops in Costa Mesa, one in Newport Beach, and 17 in unincorporated Walnut, La Puente, Murrieta and Lake Elsinore warning them to "to take steps to discontinue the sale and distribution of marijuana at the stores" or face the wrath of federal enforcement.

All the moves, the U.S. Attorney's Office says, are part of a recent U.S. crackdown on dispensaries in California.

The effort is bringing one L.A. dispensary, NoHo Caregivers, to court May 22. And it has seen three other asset forfeiture suits from last year.

The feds boast that ...

... dozens of letters sent to those associated with marijuana stores in 13 Southland cities have resulted in nearly all of the stores being closed, with the remainder currently being the subject of eviction proceedings.

[@dennisjromero / djromero@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]

My Voice Nation Help
28 comments
Sort: Newest | Oldest
Michael N
Michael N

the feds are worthless pieces of crap ,the politicians and lawmakers are the biggest crooks we the people are the biggest idiots for allowing these morons to tell us what we can or can not do wake up people put an end to the elected dictators that have ruined america and leave the harmless pot smokers alone.

Rt213
Rt213

Since these shops are technically illegal on a federal level, not many law abiding citizen would dare to open one up.  The only people opening these shops up were people who don't respect the law much.  Many, but not all, of these people had bad intentions from the beginning.  Many law abiding people have been waiting for the law to be clear to get into the business but what is now clear is that this is not a business for people who wish to follow the law.

Rommel Gee
Rommel Gee

The statement made by the operator of Otherside Farms is falsely stated by that of the city inspector, where there was originally a proposed plan to help resolve the city's budget deficit.  Instead the city inspector reports that the Otherside Farms operator boasted about making tons of money.  They should really look into their books and see that there is no money being profited and what the REAL intentions of Otherside Farms were, that is to help resolve the city's deficit, while at the same time helping the poor and sick.  http://othersidefarms.com/blog...

Rommel Gee
Rommel Gee

The statement made by the operator of Otherside Farms is falsely stated by that of the city inspector, where there was originally a proposed plan to help resolve the city's budget deficit.  Instead the city inspector reports that the Otherside Farms operator boasted about making tons of money.  They should really look into their books and see that there is no money being profited and what the REAL intentions of Otherside Farms were, that is to help resolve the city's deficit, while at the same time helping the poor and sick. http://othersidefarms.com/blog...

Spirit5281
Spirit5281

The facts are not correct. Otherside farms is one of the few compassionate dispensaries out there and they truly care about the people. To hear from the Otherside Farms point of view, you can go to their link below.

http://othersidefarms.com/blog...

Katie
Katie

What a tragedy. You would think the DEA would go after the sleezy, under-the-counter, non-law abiding, half ass "dispensaries" that seem to be everywhere, nowadays. I am a member of Otherside Farms and have nothing but absolute good things to say about the employees, the establishment and the medicine. The establishment is extremely classy and clean. The front desk staff is friendly and courteous. The staff in the back are beyond knowledgeable, incredibly helpful and have genuinely fantastic customer service skills. The owner, Chadd, is warm and welcoming with a niceness that comes from deep within. He runs his collective with the utmost care regarding safety and sanitation and he believes in education and knowledge when it comes to the medicine he provides. His prices are BEYOND fair (cheaper than "street" value), especially for the quality of his product. The customers I have seen in the shop come from all walks of life. From business men in suits, to hippy chicks, to soccer moms like me and we ALL feel comfortable, welcome and appreciated. I don't know where I'll go for my medicine, now as I don't think any other collective comes close to comparing to Otherside Farms. I'm deeply saddened for Chadd, his family, his employees and his patients.

Alan
Alan

I heard he had 3 felonies in Florida.  Go figure.

Christopher Neal
Christopher Neal

I LOVE stoner soccer moms; they are the best. There is plenty of great high quality herb around for your and my enjoyment. Don't worry, we shall all be stoned. Lots of people are knowledgeable about MJ like me--I've grown aplenty. Some dispensaries are better than others; I'd encourage you to make the rounds, or I'm sure me or others on this comment board could suggest a few to keep you happily medicated.

Perhaps Dennis can do a "Cannabis Cup - LA Weekly" where he tours local dispensaries and reports of his findings in a non-biased forum. Now wouldn't that be a service to the community...

Quality of Life
Quality of Life

Otherside Farms is a dispensary that was doing all the right things. Out of all the dispensaries this is one that should have been left alone. So now people are going to have to meet in public places like the old days. As it gets closer to November, I bet Obama will "promise" again not to go after collectives. He won mostly based on the youth vote and he's not going to have them next election. 

Rt213
Rt213

Law abiding citizens don't break the law and currently, the law is so shaky that it keeps law abiding professionals out of this business, leaving it in the hands of people who don't respect our laws.  Your dispensary was illegal from the get go.  You should have never left your dealer, ha ha ah.

Herb Budman
Herb Budman

what pieces of shit! let em go after the cartels! but whats easier than finding pot in a store front when the dept of justice gave the cartels automatic weapons. how much more are we going to take? 

bossanova
bossanova

Rights without freedoms...what a deal!  

PatientPatient
PatientPatient

Whether we like it or not, millions of people are consuming cannabis daily, and the justice system neither has the will nor the resources to find and prosecute all of them -- especially when marijuana use causes so little obvious harm. 

Considering these facts, the real question is whether we'd rather have consumers purchase their cannabis in licensed stores that pay taxes and ID customers -- OR -- have them buy it in high school parking lots from violent, Mexican-cartel linked drug dealers who often sell cocaine and heroin alongside the pesticide-tainted "marijuana" they offer. 

Which option do you think is best?

Rt213
Rt213

Option 3, my neighbor grows for me. I can inspect his garden personally and the prices or quality can't be beat.  Your dispensaries are over rated and Law abiding citizens don't break the law and currently, the law is so shaky that it keeps law abiding professionals out of this business, leaving it in the hands of people who don't respect out laws. 

AlWolf Sandlin
AlWolf Sandlin

this is the same thing as happened at the end of the last prohibation  ...they are robbing people of what they can as fast as they can before there is no more cannabis being illegal.

Norman Gooding
Norman Gooding

Dear DEA;Go back to laundering cartel money,,and see if the CIA needs more drugs to distribute,,perhaps you can help the ATF carry guns to the cartels.

Or perhaps you could have the pharmaceutical companies double the amount of Tylenol added to any opium based pharmaceuticals,,since your last effort did not kill enough people.

Daknarian
Daknarian

Absolutely Ridiculous.... Try a Crackdown on Crack instead of a plant..  Basically the masses addicted to crack, heroin and crystal meth, are sick and need help to deal with their disease,  but the Sick and Dying of cancer and other types of physical illnesses are criminals...

Can someone explain this to me?

PatientPatient
PatientPatient

Hard-drug dealers (besides Walgreens) don't advertise in the newspaper & drug cops need drug bust numbers, thus medical marijuana dispensaries get raided. As one such cop once said, "There's white dope & there's green dope -- same thing."

Plus, street-level hard-drug dealers (themselves addicts, generally) have very few assets to seize.

Rt213
Rt213

I'd like to see dispensaries operate like Walgreens.  If the laws surrounding pot were clear, Walgreens would be selling pot, but much more professionally.  I wish the law would clear up so criminals would be taken out of business and law abiding citizens could finally enter this industry.  Law abiding citizens don't break the law and currently, the law is so shaky that it keeps law abiding professionals out of this business, leaving it in the hands of people who don't respect out laws, children, and gangs.  Good farmers wouldn't dare grow for profit if it meant they could loose their farm.  The only one who will grow for profit is the armed guy who is looking to make it big so he can open up a strip joint or something stupid like that.

James Whitfield
James Whitfield

Its whatever i'll still get my trees just now the gov won't get any taxes from it. Their loss. Works for me. God bless the pot dealers of the world.

BadData
BadData

Illegal weed funds the mexican drug wars :(

Timo3004
Timo3004

Keep on wasting all the peoples money on something that the people voted yes on is sooooooooo lame !!!!! They could make all kinds of money with these shops ...Who cares if you dont like the shops just dont go to them and let the patients get there meds!!!!

Christopher Neal
Christopher Neal

Silly Feds. 

You can take the weed from the dispensaries, but ya can't keep the medicine from the people.

PatientPatient
PatientPatient

And in doing so, they take the tax money from the coffers & put it into the hands of the cartels.

Genius.

But then again, they have to because before Prop. 215 passed in 1996, nobody smoked, grew or sold "marihuana", right?

From the Vault

 

Music

General

©2013 LA Weekly, LP, All rights reserved.
Browse Voice Nation
  • Voice Places Los Angeles

    Voice Places

    Find everything you're looking for in your city

  • Happy Hour App

    Happy Hour App

    Find the best happy hour deals in your city

  • Daily Deals

    Daily Deals

    Get today's exclusive deals at savings of anywhere from 50-90%

  • Best Of

    Best Of...

    Check out the hottest list of places and things to do around your city