cannabisnews.com: SFs Hemp Center Tightens Security After 2nd Rip Off SFs Hemp Center Tightens Security After 2nd Rip Off Posted by FoM on April 25, 2001 at 07:01:49 PT By Matthew Taylor, Chronicle Staff Writer Source: San Francisco Chronicle Patients wanting to buy pot at the Hemp Center in the Richmond District may have to get buzzed-in twice before they can get their hands on it, said Kathleen Lemons, the club's owner. A security buzzer like the one that lets patients into the dispensary might be added to the front door -- along with security guards -- following the second armed robbery at the Balboa Street establishment in less than two weeks, Lemons said. "We're beefing up everything over here," Lemons said. "We sat quietly for almost two years without any problems at all, but being robbed in such a short period of time, this is what we have gotta do." The Hemp Center distributes marijuana for medical purposes under California's Proposition 215. Three patients and four staffers, including Lemons, were in the club at 5: 45 p.m. Monday when a robbery suspect entered, police said. He walked up to the counter, pulled out a gun and jumped into the dispensary, where he pointed the gun and ordered staff to hit the floor, Lemons said. "He put a gun to the back of one of the employees' head and said, 'Don't make me shoot you,' " Lemons said. "It was pretty scary." The suspect then turned the gun on Lemons and stuck it against the back of her neck as she filled a bag with money and pot, she said. He then led Lemons and another employee to a back room, where he told them to lie facedown. "This get-to-the-floor-face-down routine didn't sound good to me," Lemons said. "He looked like he meant business." While the gunman ordered around staff, the three patients -- sitting on a couch -- looked out of the window to get a license plate number, and a staffer activated a silent alarm, Lemons said. Fifteen minutes later, police arrested David Pace, 27, and Molly Sharp, 18, both of Sacramento, as they drove near Ocean Beach, said Officer Bobby Cheung of the San Francisco Police Department. The pair had allegedly been turned away earlier in the day as they tried to buy pot for medicinal purposes, Lemons said. Police are investigating whether the pair came to San Francisco specifically to commit the robbery, Cheung said. They face multiple charges, including conspiracy, armed robbery, making terrorist threats, possessing a stolen weapon and possession of pot, Cheung said. The last robbery took place at the Hemp Center on April 12. About $8,000 cash and $12,000 worth of marijuana were taken. Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)Author: Matthew Taylor, Chronicle Staff WriterPublished: Wednesday, April 25, 2001 Copyright: 2001 San Francisco Chronicle Contact: letters sfchronicle.comWebsite: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml END SNIP --> Snipped Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by charles eversen on April 25, 2001 at 08:31:27 PT: Stupiditity.... First things first, I'm very sorry about your lost. I saw yaw you interviewed on tv and you were. Now about the otherclubs are they or are they not supporting and helping your situation??? Confused.Vendor charlie. :) [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Ethan Russo, MD on April 25, 2001 at 07:17:14 PT: Crime a Product of Prohibition Without the prohibition tariff, cannabis would be a reasonably priced commodity with insufficient profit to perpetuate a black market, or this kind of crime. The solution is legalization and regulation. Nothing else is reasonable. Nothing else will be effective. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: