Pinch
Well-Known Member
Mendocino, Calif. - Mendocino officials aren't rolling over for pot dealers they claim are exploiting medical marijuana laws.
The authorities with a reputation for going easy on pot have been cracking down.
In February, Mendocino County sheriff's deputies shut down a cannabis club near Ukiah that sold marijuana to undercover agents, and seized 845 plants.
Earlier this week, police arrested two Berkeley residents who said the 44 pounds of pot in the trunk of their rented car were headed to an Alameda County cannabis club.
"I was actually very surprised the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office would encumber someone who was bringing medical marijuana to a legitimate dispensary," said Bob Swanson, a spokesman for Alameda County Supervisor Nathan Miley.
Swanson called authorities to lobby for the release of Winslow Norton, 24, owner of the Compassionate Collective of Alameda County, and his girlfriend, Jessica Gibson, 20. They'll remain in county jail at least until a hearing on Monday.
"I don't know what's going on in Mendocino County," he said.
The county has a reputation for being lenient with pot growers. Officials willingly implemented Proposition 215, which legalized marijuana for medical use.
Shortly after the measure was approved, Mendocino County's sheriff instituted identification cards to protect medical marijuana patients from prosecution.
But Rick Martin, assistant district attorney for Mendocino County, said people are pushing the legal boundaries too far.
"I think some people are looking at medical marijuana as a free ride. That's not the purpose of the law," Martin said.
Source: The Press Democrat
Copyright: ©2005 Associated Press
Contact: SFGate.com
Website: https://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/n/a/2005/04/16/state/n223626D04.DTL
The authorities with a reputation for going easy on pot have been cracking down.
In February, Mendocino County sheriff's deputies shut down a cannabis club near Ukiah that sold marijuana to undercover agents, and seized 845 plants.
Earlier this week, police arrested two Berkeley residents who said the 44 pounds of pot in the trunk of their rented car were headed to an Alameda County cannabis club.
"I was actually very surprised the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office would encumber someone who was bringing medical marijuana to a legitimate dispensary," said Bob Swanson, a spokesman for Alameda County Supervisor Nathan Miley.
Swanson called authorities to lobby for the release of Winslow Norton, 24, owner of the Compassionate Collective of Alameda County, and his girlfriend, Jessica Gibson, 20. They'll remain in county jail at least until a hearing on Monday.
"I don't know what's going on in Mendocino County," he said.
The county has a reputation for being lenient with pot growers. Officials willingly implemented Proposition 215, which legalized marijuana for medical use.
Shortly after the measure was approved, Mendocino County's sheriff instituted identification cards to protect medical marijuana patients from prosecution.
But Rick Martin, assistant district attorney for Mendocino County, said people are pushing the legal boundaries too far.
"I think some people are looking at medical marijuana as a free ride. That's not the purpose of the law," Martin said.
Source: The Press Democrat
Copyright: ©2005 Associated Press
Contact: SFGate.com
Website: https://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/n/a/2005/04/16/state/n223626D04.DTL
Pinch (IMC)
