Pubdate: Thu, 24 Apr 2008
Source: Orange County Register, The (CA)
Copyright: 2008 The Orange County Register
Contact:  http://www.ocregister.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/321
Author: Eugene W. Fields, Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/dispensaries
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal)

MARIJUANA DISPENSARY REOPENS AFTER DEA RAID

Nature's Wellness Collective in Orange Dispensing Medical Marijuana 
Again After March Raid.

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.

"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.

[sidebar]

OBTAINING MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Prop. 215 patients should begin by consulting with their own 
physicians about medical use of cannabis. Patients who don't have a 
medical record of treatment for serious illness may not be eligible 
for marijuana under Prop. 215.

To qualify, patients must obtain a physician's "recommendation" or 
"approval" (not a prescription) to use marijuana. No official 
registration is required. Marijuana can be recommended for any 
serious condition. More than 250 uses have been reported.

A list of doctors and dispensaries in Orange County can be found at 
www.canorml.org

Source - California NORML
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake