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On 420, Authorities Target Valley Marijuana Business

Categories: Marijuana

compassionate pain management marijuana.JPG
Updated at the bottom with a few more details, including arrests. First posted at 4:13 p.m. Friday, April 20.

Is nothing sacred? On 4/20, of all dates, we received word of a raid on at least one marijuana dispensary in Woodland Hills this afternoon. We're looking into the possibility that other cannabis outlets in the area were hit by authorities as well.

Police would only tell the Weekly that search warrants were being served in the LAPD's Topanga Division area.

The raid we were told about happened at a pot shop near ...


... Topanga Canyon and Victory boulevards.


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The closest dispensary is Topanga Caregivers, where no one was answering the phone this afternoon.

Several calls to LAPD's Media Relations were fruitless. A Topanga watch commander said an investigator would call us with more details.

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@gunnygunster
Raid apparently in progress this afternoon on Topanga Canyon Boulevard near Victory.

[Added at 4:45 p.m.]: At 12:28 p.m. Twitter users Prop 215 Attorney blasted this:

[Update at 12:21 on Monday, April 23]:

A few more calls to the LAPD today were again fruitless, but Degé Coutee, executive program director of the Patient Advocacy Network, sent out an email stating that "three staff members" were "still in custody" following the raid on Topanga Caregivers.

The search warrant called for "electronics, records and such," Coutee said, adding that the raid was a "smash and grab" to seize cash and marijuana.

Coutee said the dispensary had "worked with" city Councilman Dennis Zine's office in order to attempt to maintain compliance with city rules.

The advocate also said that the outlet had been busy as a result of the closure of all the collectives in the LAPD's neighboring Devonshire Division.

Coutee said that Topanga Caregivers holds patient appreciation days on the 20th of each month and that 4/20 was "exceptionally special," with events in its parking lot:

It appears the LAPD knew this would a be busy day ... The actions by LAPD today appear opportunistic and vindictive.

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


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Need Help
Need Help

Hate to say it, BUT WITH PHYSICAL CRIMES SHOOTING UP..... This is a WASTE! YOU SHOULD ONLY DO TIME FOR VIOLENCE AND RAPE, the STATE and THE PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD TO WASTE on " incompetent crimes "! Some want to be wasted and some loose things....

Teri G.
Teri G.

As a medical marijuana patient, this is the third dispensary that I have frequented which has closed unexpectedly. I am on a fixed income and cannot afford the cost of gas to find another dispensary that is as inexpensive and generous as the Topanga Caregivers. Every one of the staff treated me with respect and kindness. I find it deplorable that the LAPD continues to harrass and debilitate these dispensaries when they are not only law-abiding but contributing to the community in general. So where do I go now? The cost of gas has gone up over $2.50 a gallon since I first went to TCG. I can't afford to drive around and hope I can find another dispensary with a staff more professional or kind. Shame on you, LAPD and the Republicans who support you!

Magnumqueen86
Magnumqueen86

 Try Ashmoons on Ventura between Canoga and Topanga. It is across from the Ford dealership. Great place

Pat
Pat

The cops are doing this because marijuana is still illegal in California and on the same list as cocaine and heroin.  It will continue to happen until the laws change and marijuana becomes legalized.

Safo142
Safo142

Dude,this was the place to be.....this movement is a snowball,there's gonna have to be some twigs.

Donkey Hotay
Donkey Hotay

Don't do the Crime if you can't do the Time !

Coverge
Coverge

get arrested by cops and spend a lil time in jail or get capped by pissed off local drug cartel for cutting into their market,...tough choice,.....

Ronald Kirkish
Ronald Kirkish

IAN,

Sick people........baloney...........we are taking our society back from the dopers!!!

charms
charms

This is so sad..this store was one of the only places my exhusband, now deceased from pancreatic cancer, could legally purchase marijuana. He lost almost 50 pounds in his last 4night months of life. The marijuana enabled him to eat and tamed the daily vomiting. The marijuana allowed him to spend quality time with his 10 year old son in his last 3 months. I am ashamed of our government officials.

SGT_WTFOver
SGT_WTFOver

 You're what's wrong with our society.  You know nothing...or choose not to acknowledge the medicinal properties of marijuana, and shun those who choose to use it for medicine.  I personally medicate w/ marijuana instead of the Lexapro, Ambien, Zoloft, and Vicodin  the VA loves to give me for my PTSD, Anxiety, and lower back pain...which I got while serving 3 tours in Iraq.  Get off your soap box, and take off your tin foil hat Ron.

The_Yeti_Knows
The_Yeti_Knows

Ron you go right ahead living your life hiding behind the curtains... If you got out there and lived it, you'd be alot more thankful. and open minded . don't waste away dude. don't waste away .

Ronald Kirkish
Ronald Kirkish

The_Yeti_Knows,

Thankful and open minded?...........wrong........I would be a stoner, addicted to drugs including marijuana.  I would spend all my time and money searching for drugs just to satisfy my addiction.  My whole goal in life would be trying to find money to make my next score.

Why don't you stop wasting your life away as a drug addict.  Instead of selling drugs to kids so you can have money to satisfy your own addiction, go to a clinic like Betty Ford, get clean and sober.  Find a real job and enjoy a sober life instead of being in a perpetually drugged enduced haze.  Get a real life!!

Isaac Pmw White
Isaac Pmw White

by "section 1 illegal drug" you must have been confused with its rating as a "schedule 1" controlled substance which has nothing to do with the severity of the drug seeing as cocaine holds a schedule IV title. It classifies it in different categories so its effects such as addictive tendencies and ability to cause harm are more readily distinguishable.

Louiefreeno
Louiefreeno

why are drinkers always so agressive?

Heather Reuben
Heather Reuben

 Ron do you drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes perhaps have friends that do you know drink every now and then like a beer or a glass of wine??  Those are legal and more addictive then a little bit of weed seriously explain why it is ok to have a hard day at work and it is acceptable by today's standards to have a small glass of alcohol but lets change the glass of alcohol to a small joint or a small hit off of a water pipe and that is not ok please explain why without the argument it is not legal......

Jereme Fishel
Jereme Fishel

The addiction facilities are filled because localities are underfunded. The police are then told to pick up the arrests which in turn help state and federal funding. It is an illusion that there is an epidemic as you claim. It is also a fallacy that marijuana is a gateway drug. To be clear, prohibition is the gateway. When individuals get in on the street they are exposed to unhealthy drugs. If it were not on the street, per prohibition, there would be no gateway. 

SGT_WTFOver
SGT_WTFOver

 ZZZZZZZzzzz.....Section 1...gateway druuu.....Wake me up when you know anything about marijuana Ron Turdish.

Heather Reuben
Heather Reuben

 Thank you for standing up for those of us who aren't stoned out of minds,Ronald Kirkish we are just using a medicine... Further more the biggest addiction in America isn't "weed/dope" it is actually proscription those so called kids your talking about, also mind you I have never become a whore or fend so to speak for my meds helps me sleep and so I don't tear the walls off with anxiety... Sir I dare you to know what it feels like to shake inside because of a disorder and the only thing that helps me become simi sane happens to be weed ok plus I only smoke indica's sativa's actually do harm to me(bet you didn't know different strains of weed help different issues did you)..... So why don't you bone up on your medical marijuana knowledge before you open your ignorant mouth again ok????

The_Yeti_Knows
The_Yeti_Knows

Haiti's ? Are you serious?. You mean Hades yes?. You're stoned aren't you frontbum?!

Ronald Kirkish
Ronald Kirkish

You don't need to worry about my soul it will be just fine............but you?  Someday you may be sharing a special spot in Haiti's with your friend, John Patrick Bedell of Hollister, CA.  Another hero of yours.

The_Yeti_Knows
The_Yeti_Knows

In your case Ill see to it that Billy Graham falls to his knees and slobbers out a plea for your eternal soul.

The_Yeti_Knows
The_Yeti_Knows

Ok Oprah, hey you were awesome in the color purple.

Ronald Kirkish
Ronald Kirkish

I've been to too many graduations at the Beacon House in Pacific Grove, Narconon in Watsonville.  I've seen too many kids as young as 10 years of age to the early 30's in these facilities trying to get their lives straightened out so that they can function as productive adults.   These addiction facilites are filled to the max with kids and young adults just because of guys like you......you're correct we're not talking about zucchini........we are talking about marijuana, a "section 1" illegal drug and the number 1 drug of abuse and the cause for the terrible addiction to drugs we see today.

The_Yeti_Knows
The_Yeti_Knows

Is that you Nancy Reagan ? Lighten up, we're not talking about heroin here.. or in your case zucchini and astroglide. Change your name to Ronald " drama queen " Kirkish already

KO
KO

I say we stop paying taxes so the police don't have the resources to violate our will, and laws!

FARGO
FARGO

thats how they do it KO!!! fucked us all off today!!!!  back to waiting! ahahahahhahahahah

I will beat you there!

Husky818
Husky818

I dont understand why police are bothering sick people and a business that pays taxes and maybe more taxes then a regular business, i also cant believe that they would waste their time and resources to bother my local dispensary when there's real crimes being committed 

Bemysnugglemate
Bemysnugglemate

How sad and all they offered was Love...  Very sadden to be reading about this.

HoneyB
HoneyB

It was Topanga Caregivers. I'm so sad. They were nothing but good kind-hearted people.

Ian
Ian

A lot of sick people will not be able to get their medication today!! Very sad news.. 

geminiguru
geminiguru

a few clubs were hit today.....  sure, send us to the streets

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