Oakland activist to turn over marijuana businesses after raid
Apr 8, 2012 Online Issue
Richard Lee, whose bid to legalize marijuana in California brought him international attention, plans to give up ownership of his Oakland-based marijuana businesses 
after a federal raid this week seized many of their assets, including plants, bank accounts, records and computers.
“I’ve been doing this for a long time. Over 20 years…. I kind of feel like I’ve done my time,” Lee said Thursday. “It’s time for others to take over.”
Lee said he would remain an outspoken marijuana advocate. “I believe that cannabis prohibition is unjust and counterproductive,” he said. “What I’ve done is ethical, and I tried to use the resources that I had to do everything I could to change the laws.”
In some of his most extensive comments since the raid, Lee acknowledged that he was worried he could face major federal drug charges. It’s a risk he has lived with for many years, first as an underground pot grower and then as the leader of a serious legalization effort, which drew vigorous opposition from the federal government.
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Tags: Gary Lee, legalize marijuana, marijuana activist, marijuana dispensary
Fort Collins marijuana centers prepare for closing day
Jan 30, 2012 Online Issue
Medical marijuana businesses in Fort Collins have about two weeks to clean up their affairs and close their doors.
A voter-approved ban on marijuana dispensaries and grow operations in the city goes into effect Feb. 14.
Several businesses already have closed and have had their premises inspected by Fort Collins police and state regulators. Others are making arrangements to move their operations to cities that allow marijuana businesses in the Denver-Boulder area.
Businesses have been scheduling appointments for inspection, said Sgt. Jim Byrne of Fort Collins police. So far, the inspections have gone smoothly.
In some cases, large amounts of marijuana and many plants were surrendered by the businesses, he said. The marijuana was seized and destroyed.
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Tags: closure, Fort Collins, marijuana, marijuana dispensary, Medical Marijuana
CA marijuana dispensary creates buzz with free pot
Dec 17, 2011 Online Issue
The customers of Magnolia Wellness pot shop could have called it buzz-kill Black Friday.
More than 100 lined up early Friday for an unusual giveaway: free pot and plenty of munchies to help with the aftermath. As pleased as they were with the gift, they were also sad that their pot shop was going out of business.
“I know you’re all sad, but everyone should have a smile because it’s free stuff!” yelled Darrell Coffman, who was determined to fire up the long line of customers just before the doors opened for the last time at 10 a.m.
“It’s going to go down like a Bob Marley concert in here! I’m feelin’ it!”
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Tags: California, free pot, marijuana dispensary
Dogs nab 2 suspects in Fort Collins medical marijuana dispensary robbery
Aug 23, 2011 Online Issue
Two men are in police custody after being accused of robbing a medical marijuana dispensary in south Fort Collins after tying up three employees at gunpoint. They were arrested by police and sheriff’s deputies after they 
“sustained injuries” from the pair of law enforcement K-9s used to capture them.
Ernie Jermaine Savannah, 39, and Jeremiah Wright, 40, are facing charges of kidnapping, aggravated robbery, vehicular eluding and resisting arrest. They were arrested at Fort Collins Police Services headquarters on Sunday.
The two men are accused of robbing the Herbal Wellness dispensary at 6510 S. College. on Sunday evening. Police said a passerby reported seeing a man with a gun entering the store shortly after 5 p.m.
“According to employees, two male suspects wearing masks, dark clothing and carrying handguns entered the store to rob the business. A male employee attempted to flee and was chased by one of the suspects and forced to return to the store at gunpoint,” police spokeswoman Rita Davis said in a statement. “Once inside, the three employees were bound and forced to lie on the floor during the robbery as the suspects stole marijuana and cash receipts from the store.”
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AZ props 203 lows for medical marijuana
May 23, 2011 Online Issue
Counseling the Maricopa Board of Supervisors this week urging them to not accept permit applications for medical-marijuana dispensaries on county islands, and they heeded their legal adviser Bill Montgomery’s advice until he drafts a formal legal opinion.
Maricopa County Attorney Montgomery stated that he plans to write it up in about a week and he consciously assented that he would not prosecute medical-marijuana cases because it is outside his jurisdiction.
Reading this may come as a great surprise yet to others it may be disconcerting; although, it is not what you’d all have in mind. Otherwise, this means: they will not allow dispensaries on uninhabited lands outside of city limits.
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Tags: Arizona, marijuana dispensary
Three arrested in robbery of West Seattle pot dispensary
Mar 21, 2011 Online Issue
A man and two teens are in jail following an armed robbery at a medical-marijuana dispensary in West Seattle Saturday evening.
Seattle police say the three entered the store in the 5400 block of California Avenue Southwest about 6 p.m., pulled out handguns and tied up three employees and two customers. The suspects seized the customers’ and employees’ wallets, stole the store’s marijuana and ran.
The employees were able to free themselves and chase the suspects. The workers caught two a few blocks away, police said. One of the two dropped his handgun and some stolen items in an alley as he fled.
Police arrested the pair and found the third person a short distance away. In all, police said they recovered two handguns, the victims’ wallets and money and stolen marijuana.
A 24-year-old man was booked into King County Jail on suspicion of robbery. The two others, ages 16 and 17, were booked into the King County Juvenile Detention Center. Police did not specify the gender of the teens.
Source : The Seattle Times
Tags: marijuana dispensary, robber, West Seattle
Marijuana dispensary opens despite city’s ‘cease and desist’ order
Nov 15, 2009 Online Issue
A medical marijuana dispensary that opened without permission in north Gilroy will continue to sell cannabis despite a “cease and desist” order from the 
city, a dispensary representative said Thursday morning.
“It would irresponsible for us to deny access to medicine for the 165 Gilroy residents who have already registered with the MediLeaf Collective,” dispensary ombudsman Eric Madigan wrote in an e-mail. “So we will continue to operate as we work out the details …”
Madigan also runs security for the store at 1321 First St.
Sgt. Kurt Ashley of Gilroy Police Department served UR Health and Wellness Center, run by MediLeaf, about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday – two days after the medical marijuana dispensary opened in northwestern Gilroy without a license and to the surprise of city leaders – Madigan said. A copy of the order sent to council members called on MediLeaf to immediately stop selling marijuana and to cease operating a medical marijuana dispensary at its present location and anywhere within the city of Gilroy.
Tags: Gilroy, marijuana dispensary
