Marijuana dispensary reopens after DEA raid

[eleven357]

I am glad that they reopened so soon. All medical states should react in this same fashion.

Originally Posted by OC Register

By EUGENE W. FIELDS
STAFF WRITER


Nature's Wellness Collective in Orange dispensing medical marijuana again after March raid.

ORANGE – Less than two months after being raided by federal agents, Nature's Wellness Collective is once again dispensing marijuana for medicinal purposes.

City officials say the dispensary, which reopened Wednesday, should expect more raids in the future.

Bob Adams, owner of the dispensary on 830 E. Lincoln Ave., said Drug Enforcement Agency agents toting AK-47 automatic rifles raided the facility March 4. Adams, 44, said his marijuana was confiscated and he was detained and taken to the DEA offices in Santa Ana, where he was questioned for three hours and then released. No charges were filed against him.Marijuana laws

"I'm not a criminal. I'm not a bad guy and I'm not a drug dealer," Adams said. "If I was going to deal drugs, I'd do it a lot differently than this."

Thursday evening, a city of Orange fire marshal made a surprise inspection of the dispensary after an Orange police officer was denied entry earlier in the day. Adams said four police officers were with the fire marshal. No violations were found and nothing was confiscated.

Deputy Fire Marshal Ian MacDonald said the inspection was a part of a routine annual inspection by the department and was looking into why the police officers were present during the inspection.

Less than five minutes after the dispensary reopened, about a half-dozen patrons came in to buy marijuana. Patrons had to provide photo identification and a valid doctor's recommendation to be buzzed through the front door and into an office.

Once an office manager called the doctor to verify the marijuana prescription, patrons were buzzed into the dispensary, where eight glass jars filled with pungent marijuana buds were in a glass display case. Bongs, hookahs and pipes were in another case along a far wall and a black throw rug with a green marijuana leaf was centered on the floor, while Bob Marley reggae music played in the background.

The dispensary was only offering Afrwrek, a combination of Indica and Sativa strains, and Da Purp, a strain of Indica.

"They took everything," Adams told a patron. "I'm just trying to build up my supply."

Marijuana costs ran from $25 for 1 gram to $680 for 1 ounce. Edibles – such hash-laced brownies, carrot cake and banana bread – cost $15 per dose. No health plans help pay for medical marijuana.

Adams showed his business license application – which was approved by the city in January – that stated his business would sell herbal medicines and accessories.

"The lady at the counter asked me if I would have marijuana and I said 'Yes,' " Adams said.

City Attorney David DeBerry said Adams is in violation of city municipal code ordinance 17.02.010, which states that businesses must be consistent with controlling federal, state and local laws.

"The courts have been real clear on the whole medical marijuana issues," DeBerry said. "The federal government determines what drug is a controlled substance and what is illegal."


Adams said he didn't understand why he wasn't informed of the ordinance when he applied for the license.

"They made mistakes on their end in issuing me a license," Adams said. "Everyone knew what I was doing."

After he was released by federal agents in March, Adams said police officers told him they would be back if he re-opened.

"They told me, 'You can open up again, but we'll just come and take all your stuff,' " Adams said. "My house is in foreclosure. Every dime I had got put into this place."

Sgt. Dan Adams of the Orange Police Department said the department could not comment because it was an ongoing investigation.

Adams said he had to remain open to pay his bills.

"I've got no choice," he said.