cannabisnews.com: WeHo Raises Questions on Cannabis Club Raid





WeHo Raises Questions on Cannabis Club Raid
Posted by CN Staff on May 18, 2005 at 19:16:06 PT
By Rosanna Mah, The Independent Staff Writer
Source: Los Angeles Independent
West Hollywood, Calif. -- West Hollywood city officials who took umbrage at the recent Los Angeles police raid of a local cannabis club are demanding answers as to how and why the raid took place.City officials, who learned about the May 6 raid a day after it happened, voiced concerns over whether it was legal for the LAPD to carry out drug raids in West Hollywood.
�That�s just outrageous that they would cross our border,� said Councilman John Duran at the Monday City Council meeting. �I mean what are the rules in our jurisdiction? I mean, I�ve never heard of another police agency come into another city to conduct police activities.�The police raid, which led to the arrest of 14 people and the seizure of 800 pounds of marijuana and over $300,000 in cash, came after West Hollywood officials declared a one-year moratorium on medicinal marijuana clubs.West Hollywood has been a strong defender of medicinal marijuana use which has been legal in California since 1996. The West Hollywood Sheriff�s station did not participate in the raid.�What it appears as though is the city of Los Angeles has essentially solved all their crime problems so they would come over and help us in our city [and our problems],� said Councilman Jeffrey Prang.City Manager Paul Arevalo, who had several in-depth conversations with the Los Angeles County Under Sheriff, reported that LAPD officials had offered apologies for the �mix up.��Calls were made to the upper echelon of the LAPD. There was an apology for the mix up,� Arevalo said. �At this point we are working in cooperation with the agencies so they understand the jurisdictional lines so that this type of issues won�t happen again.�When asked by Duran to clarify what the �mix up� was, Arevalo explained he was referring to the lack of communication between the LAPD and the West Hollywood Sheriff�s Department on the drug bust.�We still haven�t seen what facts led them to raid the club,� Arevalo said after the meeting. �We don�t know if this was a routine bust or if they have sufficient evidence to close it down because of illegal activities or if there was a fundamental disagreement on how Prop 215 works.�At the upcoming June 6 meeting, city officials are expected to adopt an urgent interim ordinance with specific guidelines for cannabis club operations.Authorities said the raid took place on Friday, May 6, around 6:40 p.m. at Compassionate Caregivers, that has catered to hundreds of patients living with HIV/AIDS, cancer, glaucoma and other chronic illnesses.Equipped with a search warrant, nearly 30 armed agents broke down the club�s front door and confiscated evidence including $300,000 to $500,000 cash as well as 800 pounds in unpacked marijuana, Thai sticks, compressed hashish (liquid marijuana) and food laced with marijuana.Police arrested 13 people � including the manager, supervisor, two security guards, salespersons and plant growers � on felony charges of maintaining a location for sale of controlled substances, said LAPD spokesperson Sgt. Catherine Plows.Police also arrested a patient for allegedly possessing more than eight ounces of marijuana, which violates state medical marijuana laws.According to Plows, the department�s action was a �fairly common procedure� and that it was not unusual for narcotics investigators to cross city and county lines.Source: Los Angeles Independent (CA)Author: Rosanna Mah, The Independent Staff WriterPublished: May 18, 2005Copyright: 2005 Los Angeles Independent Newspaper GroupContact: editor laindependent.comWebsite: http://www.laindependent.com/Related Articles & Web Site:American's For Safe Accesshttp://www.safeaccessnow.org/ Cannabis Club Raided for Nonprofit Violationshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20667.shtmlCannabis Clinic Raid Raises Concernshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20428.shtml Cannabis Club Raidedhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20396.shtml
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