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.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom