Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
The Alaska Cannabis Club, owned by a former TV reporter turned pot supporter, was raided on Friday by the Anchorage Police Department -- the second local marijuana company to be hit in two days by APD officers.
Charlene Egbe, who quit her job on-air as KTVA reporter Charlo Greene during a segment on marijuana legalization last year, also had her club raided in late March, by officers serving a search warrant who seized multiple items from the business.
"All they said was, 'Open up the door,'" Greene said Friday. "They busted it in and stormed the place guns drawn, just like last time."
Greene maintains that her business, which provides medical marijuana to patients, has done nothing illegal.
"Here we are being harassed by the state, which refused to stand up and help patients when they needed it," Greene said. "Now here I am trying to do good, not breaking any laws, and now here they are trampling on our rights."
Just a day earlier, police served a search warrant at a building occupied by the Absolutely Chronic Delivery Company. Calls to ACDC were unanswered Friday, and APD spokeswoman Renee Oistad released few details about either of the two raids.
"The Anchorage Police Department is currently conducting an investigation into several illegal drug distribution centers," Oistad said.
The raids come roughly a month after Alaska's Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, temporarily empowered to regulate marijuana when Alaskans legalized recreational pot last year, sent cease-and-desist letters to both the Alaska Cannabis Club and ACDC. In the letters, ABC Board head -- and former Anchorage municipal prosecutor -- Cynthia Franklin warned a total of six businesses that marijuana clubs and marijuana-delivery firms are illegal under current state law, facing criminal charges if they continued to operate.
Kim Kole, with the Coalition for Responsible Cannabis Legislation, says for now the best option for anyone planning to consume and avoid a bust is follow current rules.
"If you are growing for your own personal consumption as long as you keep it to the six plants -- three vegetating, three in bloom -- you are fine," Kole said. "APD is not going and knocking down anybody's doors; the only ones they are targeting are the only ones who are advertising exchanging cannabis for money."
The coalition suggests that anyone planning to operate a marijuana business take Franklin's points from the cease-and-desist letters into account.
"The basic idea that we need to get across is (that) we need to remember that donations and delivery service fees are not legitimate loopholes around selling cannabis," Kole said. "And for long-term best practices for yourself and your business, please remember to wait until you have a state-issued cannabis license in hand."
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Anchorage marijuana businesses hit by APD raids | Local News - KTUU.com Anchorage
Author: Samantha Angaiak
Contact: sangaiak@ktuu.com
Photo Credit: AP Photo/Carlos Osorio
Website: KTUU.com - Alaskas News Source - Alaskas Top News, Storm Watch Weather, Politics, Sports, Health and Business Headlines
Charlene Egbe, who quit her job on-air as KTVA reporter Charlo Greene during a segment on marijuana legalization last year, also had her club raided in late March, by officers serving a search warrant who seized multiple items from the business.
"All they said was, 'Open up the door,'" Greene said Friday. "They busted it in and stormed the place guns drawn, just like last time."
Greene maintains that her business, which provides medical marijuana to patients, has done nothing illegal.
"Here we are being harassed by the state, which refused to stand up and help patients when they needed it," Greene said. "Now here I am trying to do good, not breaking any laws, and now here they are trampling on our rights."
Just a day earlier, police served a search warrant at a building occupied by the Absolutely Chronic Delivery Company. Calls to ACDC were unanswered Friday, and APD spokeswoman Renee Oistad released few details about either of the two raids.
"The Anchorage Police Department is currently conducting an investigation into several illegal drug distribution centers," Oistad said.
The raids come roughly a month after Alaska's Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, temporarily empowered to regulate marijuana when Alaskans legalized recreational pot last year, sent cease-and-desist letters to both the Alaska Cannabis Club and ACDC. In the letters, ABC Board head -- and former Anchorage municipal prosecutor -- Cynthia Franklin warned a total of six businesses that marijuana clubs and marijuana-delivery firms are illegal under current state law, facing criminal charges if they continued to operate.
Kim Kole, with the Coalition for Responsible Cannabis Legislation, says for now the best option for anyone planning to consume and avoid a bust is follow current rules.
"If you are growing for your own personal consumption as long as you keep it to the six plants -- three vegetating, three in bloom -- you are fine," Kole said. "APD is not going and knocking down anybody's doors; the only ones they are targeting are the only ones who are advertising exchanging cannabis for money."
The coalition suggests that anyone planning to operate a marijuana business take Franklin's points from the cease-and-desist letters into account.
"The basic idea that we need to get across is (that) we need to remember that donations and delivery service fees are not legitimate loopholes around selling cannabis," Kole said. "And for long-term best practices for yourself and your business, please remember to wait until you have a state-issued cannabis license in hand."
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Anchorage marijuana businesses hit by APD raids | Local News - KTUU.com Anchorage
Author: Samantha Angaiak
Contact: sangaiak@ktuu.com
Photo Credit: AP Photo/Carlos Osorio
Website: KTUU.com - Alaskas News Source - Alaskas Top News, Storm Watch Weather, Politics, Sports, Health and Business Headlines
