Pubdate: Sun, 14 Feb 2010 Source: Times-Herald, The (Vallejo, CA) Contact: 2010 The Times-Herald Website: http://www.timesheraldonline.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/993 Author: Danny Bernardini Bookmark: http://mapinc.org/topic/Dispensaries ALLEGED MARIJUANA DISPENSARY LEADS TO 4 ARRESTS IN VACAVILLE VACAVILLE - A former City Council candidate and three of his employees have been arrested on charges of operating an illegal medical marijuana dispensary about a block from the Vacaville Police Department. Flash Gordon, 30, was arrested Thursday after being identified as the proprietor of North Bay Alternative Healing at 537 Merchant St., police said. In November 2008, Gordon placed last in a field of nine candidates for two City Council seats. Detectives served a search warrant at the location, where Vacaville narcotics detectives had identified a marijuana dispensary operating without an appropriate business license. A search revealed extensive evidence of marijuana sales, police said. Also arrested were William Treat, 39, Dustin Hansen, 29, and Elaine Harris, 25, all identified by police as employees of the shop. Following a search of the business and the residences of Gordon, Treat and Hansen, police arrested all four for possession of marijuana for sale, reports said. All four suspects were taken to Solano County Jail in Fairfield for booking. Treat also was arrested in connection with possessing Vicodin and a dangerous weapon after detectives discovered a set of brass knuckles and about 100 Vicodin tablets hidden in his garage in the 2000 block of Day Break Court in Fairfield, police said. Mark Mazzaferro, the Vacaville department's public information officer, said receiving an appropriate business license in the city isn't even an option after the council approved a moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries last year. Narcotics enforcement detectives frequently contact citizens unfamiliar with current California law regarding medical marijuana, according to Mazzaferro. Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Act, does not authorize anyone to profit from the sale of marijuana, he added. While state law authorizes some individuals to possess marijuana for medical purposes, the cultivation or possession of marijuana for sale is illegal. The Vacaville Police Department says it has a zero-tolerance policy toward illegal drug sales and use in the community. It encourages the public to report all suspected drug activity to the drug tip line at 449-5243. Callers can remain anonymous and all information is welcome. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom