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DEA, L.A. City Attorneys Take Separate Actions Against Multiple Medical
Marijuana Dispensaries
Zach Behrens
February 18, 2010 2:10 PM
http://laist.com/2010/02/18/dea_la_city_attorneys_take_separate.php
From lawsuits to raids, around 20 local marijuana dispensaries today were
subject of various law enforcement activities. As the DEA served a search
warrant to Organica Collective in Culver City this morning, the Los Angeles
City Attorney's office announced the filing of lawsuits against three
medical marijuana dispensaries, including Organica, which has been subject
of raids in the past.
"It's a separate thing," explained Sarah Pullen with the DEA. "We were aware
of each other's operation today." Pullen could not elaborate further than
that search warrants being served. Witnesses tell the LA Times that three
men were seen detained in handcuffs.
Los Angeles City Attorneys said nuisance and narcotics abatement lawsuits
were filed against Organica and two Holistic Caregivers locations for
violating the Narcotics Abatement Law, Public Nuisance Law and the Sherman
Food, Drug and Cosmetics Law. Organica's owner, Jeffrey Joseph, is the
subject of an arrest warrant for sales of marijuana.
The recent medical marijuana ordinance passed by the Los Angeles City
Council has nothing to do with today's activities as that law has not been
finalized. However, the City Attorney's office contends the sale of
marijuana is illegal under state law. Collectives, where the costs of
cultivation are shared, are legal, they say.
City Attorneys also "sent eviction letters to owners of 18 different
dispensaries and owners of the properties engaged in the sale of marijuana
by dispensary employees," according to a press release, which is posted in
full, with more specific details, below:
INJUNCTIONS SOUGHT AGAINST MEDICAL MARIJUANA SHOPS FOR NUISANCE ACTIVITY
LOS ANGELES - The City Attorneys Safe Neighborhoods Division today filed
nuisance and narcotics abatement lawsuits against three Los Angeles medical
marijuana dispensaries following extensive law enforcement investigations.
The lawsuits, filed by Assistant City Attorney Asha Greenberg, Assistant
Supervising Attorney Ahn Trong, Deputy City Attorney Rebecca Gardner, seek
narcotics injunctions due to repeated violations.
Medical marijuana dispensaries Organica and two Holistic Caregivers
locations named in the lawsuits are charged with violations of the Narcotics
Abatement Law, Public Nuisance Law and the Sherman Food, Drug and Cosmetics
Law. The civil lawsuits seek to stop the sale of marijuana at the
facilities.
Organica Inc, located in both Culver City and Los Angeles, has been the
subject of two search warrants and 12 purchases of marijuana products and
plants. None of the marijuana sold to officers had proper labeling as
required by the Sherman Law for drugs sold to the public. The owner, Jeffrey
Joseph is also the subject of an arrest warrant for sales of marijuana.
Law enforcement officers received complaints in January 2009 that persons
associated with Organica passed out flyers for the dispensary near Culver
City High School as classes were being dismissed. Officers have found
students to be in possession of marijuana apparently purchased from
Organica. Persons stopped in the vicinity of Organica also admitted
supplying the shop with marijuana laced edibles and picking up large
quantities of marijuana from Organica for delivery to other dispensaries.
Two Holistic Caregivers locations in South Los Angeles were part of a Drug
Enforcement Administration multi-agency investigation of seven dispensaries
owned by Virgil Grant. Law enforcement officers conducted several undercover
buys at each of the locations, as well as executed two search warrants at
Grants home and the dispensaries, resulting in the recovery of large
quantities of marijuana products. Grant was convicted on a federal
indictment in June 2009 of possession with the intent to distribute a
controlled substance and is awaiting sentencing.
In addition to the abatement lawsuits, the City Attorneys Office sent
eviction letters to owners of 18 different dispensaries and owners of the
properties engaged in the sale of marijuana by dispensary employees.
In January, the City Attorneys Office secured a preliminary injunction
against Hemp Factory V, located in Eagle Rock, prohibiting the operators
from unlawfully selling, serving, storing, or manufacturing controlled
substances on the property, including marijuana. The operators are also
prohibited from providing marijuana without first having it tested by an
independent laboratory for pesticides or other poisonous substances. The
case was the first in the state to hold that the Sherman Food, Drug and
Cosmetics Law, which prohibits the sale of misbranded and adulterated drugs,
applies to sales of marijuana.
http://laist.com/2010/02/18/dea_la_city_attorneys_take_separate.php
-------------------
LA Cracks Down On 21 Marijuana Dispensaries
Feb 18, 2010 2:17 pm US/Pacific
http://cbs13.com/wireapnewsca/Arrest.lawsuits.eviction.2.1504151.html
LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Los Angeles authorities have gone after 21 medical
marijuana dispensaries, arresting one owner and filing lawsuits and eviction
orders against the outlets.
Thursday's actions involve alleged violations of state and federal marijuana
laws. Assistant City Attorney Asha Greenberg says prosecutors acted on
complaints from residents and weren't targeting the medical marijuana
business as a whole.
Prosecutors filed lawsuits against three dispensaries and sent eviction
notices to business and property owners involving 18 others. The allegations
range from improper marijuana sales to labeling violations.
Greenberg says they have 30 days to respond or face possible misdemeanor
charges.
Meanwhile, federal and local law enforcement raided the Organica dispensary
and arrested owner Jeffrey Joseph.
http://cbs13.com/wireapnewsca/Arrest.lawsuits.eviction.2.1504151.html
--
Don't forget to join my Medical Marijuana News From Brett Yahoo newsgroup
for the latest marijuana and medical marijuana news
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/mmjnews/
"When cannibals ate a missionary, they got a taste of religion."
Sent from my Rotary Dial Phone
Marijuana Dispensaries
Zach Behrens
February 18, 2010 2:10 PM
http://laist.com/2010/02/18/dea_la_city_attorneys_take_separate.php
From lawsuits to raids, around 20 local marijuana dispensaries today were
subject of various law enforcement activities. As the DEA served a search
warrant to Organica Collective in Culver City this morning, the Los Angeles
City Attorney's office announced the filing of lawsuits against three
medical marijuana dispensaries, including Organica, which has been subject
of raids in the past.
"It's a separate thing," explained Sarah Pullen with the DEA. "We were aware
of each other's operation today." Pullen could not elaborate further than
that search warrants being served. Witnesses tell the LA Times that three
men were seen detained in handcuffs.
Los Angeles City Attorneys said nuisance and narcotics abatement lawsuits
were filed against Organica and two Holistic Caregivers locations for
violating the Narcotics Abatement Law, Public Nuisance Law and the Sherman
Food, Drug and Cosmetics Law. Organica's owner, Jeffrey Joseph, is the
subject of an arrest warrant for sales of marijuana.
The recent medical marijuana ordinance passed by the Los Angeles City
Council has nothing to do with today's activities as that law has not been
finalized. However, the City Attorney's office contends the sale of
marijuana is illegal under state law. Collectives, where the costs of
cultivation are shared, are legal, they say.
City Attorneys also "sent eviction letters to owners of 18 different
dispensaries and owners of the properties engaged in the sale of marijuana
by dispensary employees," according to a press release, which is posted in
full, with more specific details, below:
INJUNCTIONS SOUGHT AGAINST MEDICAL MARIJUANA SHOPS FOR NUISANCE ACTIVITY
LOS ANGELES - The City Attorneys Safe Neighborhoods Division today filed
nuisance and narcotics abatement lawsuits against three Los Angeles medical
marijuana dispensaries following extensive law enforcement investigations.
The lawsuits, filed by Assistant City Attorney Asha Greenberg, Assistant
Supervising Attorney Ahn Trong, Deputy City Attorney Rebecca Gardner, seek
narcotics injunctions due to repeated violations.
Medical marijuana dispensaries Organica and two Holistic Caregivers
locations named in the lawsuits are charged with violations of the Narcotics
Abatement Law, Public Nuisance Law and the Sherman Food, Drug and Cosmetics
Law. The civil lawsuits seek to stop the sale of marijuana at the
facilities.
Organica Inc, located in both Culver City and Los Angeles, has been the
subject of two search warrants and 12 purchases of marijuana products and
plants. None of the marijuana sold to officers had proper labeling as
required by the Sherman Law for drugs sold to the public. The owner, Jeffrey
Joseph is also the subject of an arrest warrant for sales of marijuana.
Law enforcement officers received complaints in January 2009 that persons
associated with Organica passed out flyers for the dispensary near Culver
City High School as classes were being dismissed. Officers have found
students to be in possession of marijuana apparently purchased from
Organica. Persons stopped in the vicinity of Organica also admitted
supplying the shop with marijuana laced edibles and picking up large
quantities of marijuana from Organica for delivery to other dispensaries.
Two Holistic Caregivers locations in South Los Angeles were part of a Drug
Enforcement Administration multi-agency investigation of seven dispensaries
owned by Virgil Grant. Law enforcement officers conducted several undercover
buys at each of the locations, as well as executed two search warrants at
Grants home and the dispensaries, resulting in the recovery of large
quantities of marijuana products. Grant was convicted on a federal
indictment in June 2009 of possession with the intent to distribute a
controlled substance and is awaiting sentencing.
In addition to the abatement lawsuits, the City Attorneys Office sent
eviction letters to owners of 18 different dispensaries and owners of the
properties engaged in the sale of marijuana by dispensary employees.
In January, the City Attorneys Office secured a preliminary injunction
against Hemp Factory V, located in Eagle Rock, prohibiting the operators
from unlawfully selling, serving, storing, or manufacturing controlled
substances on the property, including marijuana. The operators are also
prohibited from providing marijuana without first having it tested by an
independent laboratory for pesticides or other poisonous substances. The
case was the first in the state to hold that the Sherman Food, Drug and
Cosmetics Law, which prohibits the sale of misbranded and adulterated drugs,
applies to sales of marijuana.
http://laist.com/2010/02/18/dea_la_city_attorneys_take_separate.php
-------------------
LA Cracks Down On 21 Marijuana Dispensaries
Feb 18, 2010 2:17 pm US/Pacific
http://cbs13.com/wireapnewsca/Arrest.lawsuits.eviction.2.1504151.html
LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Los Angeles authorities have gone after 21 medical
marijuana dispensaries, arresting one owner and filing lawsuits and eviction
orders against the outlets.
Thursday's actions involve alleged violations of state and federal marijuana
laws. Assistant City Attorney Asha Greenberg says prosecutors acted on
complaints from residents and weren't targeting the medical marijuana
business as a whole.
Prosecutors filed lawsuits against three dispensaries and sent eviction
notices to business and property owners involving 18 others. The allegations
range from improper marijuana sales to labeling violations.
Greenberg says they have 30 days to respond or face possible misdemeanor
charges.
Meanwhile, federal and local law enforcement raided the Organica dispensary
and arrested owner Jeffrey Joseph.
http://cbs13.com/wireapnewsca/Arrest.lawsuits.eviction.2.1504151.html
--
Don't forget to join my Medical Marijuana News From Brett Yahoo newsgroup
for the latest marijuana and medical marijuana news
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/mmjnews/
"When cannibals ate a missionary, they got a taste of religion."
Sent from my Rotary Dial Phone
