News (Media Awareness Project) - US CA: Marijuana Dispensaries Raided In Costa Mesa |
| Title: | US CA: Marijuana Dispensaries Raided In Costa Mesa |
| Published On: | 2012-01-19 |
| Source: | Orange County Register, The (CA) |
| Fetched On: | 2012-01-20 06:02:51 |
MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES RAIDED IN COSTA MESA
COSTA MESA Federal authorities raided two medical-marijuana
dispensaries this week, including one where the owner promised a code
enforcement officer he'd make a donation of $500,000 to the city every year.
The owner of the dispensary told the city employee he was going "to
make so much money," he would be able to make yearly donations that
would help fix the city's budgetary issues and prevent the layoff of
city workers.
The following day, the city sent the dispensary a letter, informing
the owner he was operating in the city without a business license.
This week, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration raided the
dispensaries and several homes connected with the storefronts.
Federal officials said they also filed lawsuits against property
owners where the dispensaries were housed, alleging the property
owners knew they were allowing marijuana stores to conduct business.
Among the dispensaries that were raided was Otherside Farms on 110
Broadway St., according to an affidavit for the search warrant.
According to the affidavit, Otherside Farms had been in operation
since December 2009, when the owner filled out a business license
with the city.
On Aug. 31, 2011, the dispensary was inspected by a code enforcement
officer with the city, according to the affidavit. The owner,
Chaddwick McKeen, showed the business to the city employee and said
he planned to make a donation of $250,000 to the city by the end of the year.
According to documents, McKeen told the code enforcement officer he
expected to run all other marijuana dispensaries out of business, and
to make donations of $500,000 every year afterward to the city.
DEA agents also searched a condo at the 3000 block of Rivoli in
Newport Beach, which is believed to be the home of McKeen.
Authorities also served search warrants at American Collective, a
dispensary at 128 Cabrillo St. in Costa Mesa, and a commercial
building at 2246 Newport Blvd., which is believed to have been used
as a marijuana growing to supply American Collective.
COSTA MESA Federal authorities raided two medical-marijuana
dispensaries this week, including one where the owner promised a code
enforcement officer he'd make a donation of $500,000 to the city every year.
The owner of the dispensary told the city employee he was going "to
make so much money," he would be able to make yearly donations that
would help fix the city's budgetary issues and prevent the layoff of
city workers.
The following day, the city sent the dispensary a letter, informing
the owner he was operating in the city without a business license.
This week, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration raided the
dispensaries and several homes connected with the storefronts.
Federal officials said they also filed lawsuits against property
owners where the dispensaries were housed, alleging the property
owners knew they were allowing marijuana stores to conduct business.
Among the dispensaries that were raided was Otherside Farms on 110
Broadway St., according to an affidavit for the search warrant.
According to the affidavit, Otherside Farms had been in operation
since December 2009, when the owner filled out a business license
with the city.
On Aug. 31, 2011, the dispensary was inspected by a code enforcement
officer with the city, according to the affidavit. The owner,
Chaddwick McKeen, showed the business to the city employee and said
he planned to make a donation of $250,000 to the city by the end of the year.
According to documents, McKeen told the code enforcement officer he
expected to run all other marijuana dispensaries out of business, and
to make donations of $500,000 every year afterward to the city.
DEA agents also searched a condo at the 3000 block of Rivoli in
Newport Beach, which is believed to be the home of McKeen.
Authorities also served search warrants at American Collective, a
dispensary at 128 Cabrillo St. in Costa Mesa, and a commercial
building at 2246 Newport Blvd., which is believed to have been used
as a marijuana growing to supply American Collective.
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