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Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Tag Archives: medical marijuana

The Santa Ana City Council is finally taking action against illegal pot dispensaries

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Drugs, Marijuana, Santa Ana, SAPD 1 Comment

City of Santa Ana

Community: Santa Ana City Council Takes Action against Illegal Marijuana Dispensaries

SANTA ANA, CA – At their last council meeting, the Santa Ana City Council authorized the filing and prosecution of receivership actions against the owners of four marijuana dispensaries operating illegally throughout the city. The Council’s action on September 5, 2017, escalates the City’s efforts to permanently shut down these dispensaries which pose extreme health and safety hazards to the community.

Receivership is a legal process through which control of a piece of real property is temporarily taken from the property owner and placed with a court-appointed office, or Receiver. These receivership actions are used primarily for abandoned and substandard properties where the owner has a history of non-compliance with the City’s code enforcement efforts, or for emergency situations where real property presents an immediate threat to health and safety. Continue reading→

The SAPD raided the unlicensed Sky High marijuana dispensary again

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Drugs, Marijuana, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SANTA ANA POLICE DEPARTMENT SERVES SEARCH WARRANTS ON ILLEGAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES

During the morning hours of Thursday, January 26, 2017, Police Detectives assigned to the Santa Ana Police Department’s Vice and Narcotics Unit served search warrants at Sky High Dispensary located at 419 W. Seventeenth Street and the Elevated Dreams dispensary located at 413 W. Seventeenth Street in the City of Santa Ana. Detectives were assisted by members of the Santa Ana Code Enforcement and Planning & Building departments, as well as representatives of the Orange County Fire Authority.

Since December 2013, in response to numerous complaints from surrounding homeowners, businesses, and community groups, the City has employed a variety of administrative, civil, and criminal enforcement measures against numerous dispensaries, their owner/operators, and property owners, including those associated with Sky High and Elevated Dreams dispensaries. Specifically, criminal charges have been filed against the property owner for allowing these illegal businesses to continue to operate on his property. Despite these efforts, both dispensaries have continued to operate. Sky High and Elevated Dreams dispensaries are located adjacent to the Floral Park, Morrison Park, and West Floral residential communities and are located less than a mile from Willard Intermediate School, a charter school and a pre-school. Continue reading→

Three SAPD cops plead not guilty to stealing treats and smashing cameras at a pot shop

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Drugs, Health and Medical, Marijuana, Police Brutality, Public Safety, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Three Santa Ana police officers pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges of petty theft in connection with a raid at Sky High Holistic, an unlicensed medical marijuana dispensary that was located on 17th Street, in Santa Ana.  that was recorded on video, according to the O.C. Register.

The charged police officers inluce Brandon Matthew Sontag, Nicole Lynn Quijas and Jorge Arroyo. They were each charged with one misdemeanor count of petty theft. Sontag was also charged with one misdemeanor count of vandalism under $400, according to the OCDA. Continue reading→

Patient Appreciation Day set for 6/18 at Super Clinik, a Santa Ana marijuana dispensary

Posted on by Posted in Drugs, Food, Health and Medical, Marijuana, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Super Clinik, a licensed Santa Ana medical marijuana dispensary, is hosting a Patient Appreciation Day on June 18, 2016, from 12 noon to 7 p.m., at 2525 S. Birch Street, in Santa Ana. This event is strictly for those who are 21 years old and over.

Over 20 marijuana-related vendors will be appearing at the event and giving out gifts. There will be BOGO deals and free giveaways. Continue reading→

Three SAPD cops who ransacked a marijuana dispensary charged with petty theft and vandalism

Posted on by Posted in Crime, OCDA, Police Brutality, Santa Ana 2 Comments

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 16CM02387

Date: March 14, 2016

THREE SANTA ANA POLICE OFFICERS CHARGED WITH PETTY THEFT AND VANDALISM DURING SERVICE OF SEARCH WARRANT ON MARIJUANA DISPENSARY

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Three Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) officers were charged today with petty theft and one with vandalism during a legal search of a marijuana dispensary pursuant to a search warrant. Brandon Matthew Sontag, 31, and Nicole Lynn Quijas, 37, and Jorge Arroyo, 32, are charged with one misdemeanor count of petty theft. Sontag is also charged with one misdemeanor count of vandalism under $400. If convicted on all counts, Arroyo and Quijas face a maximum sentence of six months in jail and a $1000 fine and Sontag faces a one year and six months in jail and a $2000 fine. They are scheduled for arraignment April 11, 2016, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-54, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Marijuana dispensary threatens Mayor Pulido with a recall and defiantly reopens

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Drugs, Marijuana, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Santa Ana 2 Comments
Matthew Scott Pappas

Matthew Scott Pappas

For Immediate Release: November 6, 2015

Contact: Jason Aula, 202-277-5737

The Law Office of Matthew Pappa’s defies the illegal police raids at 9 a.m. by reopening dispensary

(Santa Ana, CA) Today the law office of Matthew Pappas declares war on illegal raids, corrupt politicians, and theft of collective property. We also call attention to the corrupt nature of the Santa Ana police department of which we have evidence of them consuming medical cannabis.

The City of Santa under the command by chief city executive, which is corrupt Mayor Pulido directs the Santa Ana PD to raid collectives even though it is common knowledge in the “MMJ” world Pulido allegedly has a stake in a collective inside Santa Ana. Continue reading→

The SAPD seeks to identify a suspect in the shooting of a marijuana dispensary’s owner

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Santa Ana Marijuana Dispensary robber 2

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Detectives Request Media & Public’s Assistance in Identifying Suspect Wanted In Attempted Murder Case Of Marijuana Dispensary Owner

Suspect: Male, Unknown Race, 20-30 years old, 5-4 to to 5-6, thin build

On November 2, 2015, at approximately 3:00 p.m., the victim, a 48 year-old male, was exiting his business and walking to his vehicle in the parking lot of the business complex at 1900 East Warner Avenue when he was shot at by an unknown gunman. The suspect fled on foot southbound through the business complex. Continue reading→

Man shot in the stomach near the South Coast Safe Access marijuana dispensary

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Santa Ana Gang Shooting

An unidentified man in his late 40s was shot in the stomach today at about 3:35 p.m. near the South Coast Safe Access marijuana dispensary, located at the 1900 block of East Warner Avenue in Santa Ana, according to the O.C. Register.

The wounded man was taken to a local hospital and he is expected to survive.  Police do not know how many times the man was shot but reports indicated that multiple shots were fired.

SAPD police officers and an Orange County Sheriff’s Department helicopter were searching for a suspect this afternoon. Continue reading→

The City of Santa Ana is prosecuting 13 individuals from a pot clinic raided by the SAPD

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The City of Santa Ana is going to arraign thirteen people on Oct. 15 on charges in connection with a controversial raid at a medical marijuana dispensary where Santa Ana police were caught on hidden video purportedly snacking on pot edibles, according to the O.C. Register.

The defendants are all represented by Anthony L. Curiale, a Brea-based attorney. The defendants are going to plea not guilty at the Orange County Superior Court.

The defendants were cited for suspicion of unlawful operation of a medical marijuana collective. If convicted of the misdemeanor offense, they face up to 6 months in jail or $1,000 fine. However, the Santa Ana City Attorney’s Office can reduce the charges to an infraction that doesn’t carry any times behind bars. Continue reading→

Federal lawsuit alleges that Santa Ana officials have ties to medical pot dispensaries

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Drugs, Elections, Marijuana, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Measure BB sucks

Attorney Matthew Pappas has filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Santa Ana, on behalf of the Sky High Holistic marijuana collective and others, alleging in part that Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido and other city officials have financial ties to certain medical marijuana dispensaries in the city and have been directing police to shut down their competitors, according to the Voice of OC.

According to the lawsuit,  Pulido conspired to derail a grassroots marijuana initiative in the city while soliciting cash from existing pot clubs who the Mayor allegedly promised winning slots in a Feb. 5 city-sponsored marijuana dispensary lottery. The lawsuit claims the payments were used to pay for gathering public support for the city’s favored pot initiative, according to the OC Weekly. Continue reading→

Press conference and rally against the SAPD’s marijuana dispensary raids set for 6/15

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Crime, Drugs, Entertainment, Long Beach, Marijuana, Police Brutality, Politics, Public Safety, Santa Ana 16 Comments

A press conference regarding Santa Ana Police Department outrageous raids on medical marijuana dispensaries will be held this Monday, June 15, 2015, at 1:30 p.m., at the Westin Hotel located at 333 E. Ocean Blvd., in Long Beach.

The event organizers ask that you please dress as you would for court support. Continue reading→

Rapper B-Real a winner at Santa Ana’s medical marijuana dispensary lottery

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Santa Ana Medical Marijuana Dispensary Lottery

Picture courtesy of Kandice Hawes

 

The medical marijuana dispensary lottery held in Santa Ana’s City Council Chambers yesterday felt like a cross between a horse race, with all the handicapping going on, and an expensive game of Bingo, according to NBC News.

Cypress Hill rapper Louis Freese, better known as B-Real, was one of the twenty lottery winners.  He said that he plans to name his collective Dr. Greenthumb, according to the O.C. Register. Continue reading→

OC NORML’s Holiday Party set for Dec. 20 in Santa Ana

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OC NORML Holiday Party

The OC NORML Holiday Party is set for Saturday, December 20th, from 8PM- Midnight in Santa Ana.

A $20 donation is requested at the door. The event includes dinner, drinks and a traditional OC NORML holiday ornament.

They are also hosting a $10 Secret Santa Exchange and an ugly holiday sweater contest as well. Continue reading→

Sarmiento and Tinajero continue to gloat about Measure BB

Posted on by Posted in 2014 Elections, Marijuana, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 2 Comments

Sal Tinajero and Measure BB

City of Santa Ana

Community: MAYOR PRO TEM TINAJERO (WARD 6) & COUNCILMAN SARMIENTO (WARD 1) PREVIEW CITY’S IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS OF MEASURE BB

SANTA ANA, CA (November 14, 2014) – On November 4, 2014, City of Santa Ana voters approved Measure BB, a City proposed measure to regulate the establishment of medical marijuana collectives and cooperatives. The City has a legal duty to enforce a voter approved ballot measure and has begun developing the implementation plan.

“This is going to be an administrative process. The Council has given direction on the policy surrounding the selection process. City staff, with the assistance of an independent audit firm, will carry out the actual selection process,” said Councilman Vincent Sarmiento. Continue reading→

Weedmaps.com tries to split the vote on Measure CC in Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in 2014 Elections, Drugs, Marijuana, Politics, Santa Ana 13 Comments

Orange county NORML and California Cannabis Coalition members stand with patients for Yes on CC

Orange County NORML and California Cannabis Coalition members stand with patients for Yes on CC

Weedmaps.com Tries to Split Vote on Measure CC in Santa Ana

By Craig Beresch, California Cannabis Coalition

Tomorrow, the voters of Santa Ana, CA will be faced with two choices: Vote for Measure CC, a citizen promoted initiative, or vote for Measure BB, a City Council initiative promoted and paid for by a murky organization named Ghost Management Group LLC.

Ghost Management Group LLC’s financial support and backing of the City Council’s measure can be seen in the Form 460 filed with election officials and shown here as a pdf file. You can see that Ghost Management Group LLC is listed as operating at 41 Discovery in Irvine, CA. Now, put the following URL in your browser http://justinhartfield.me/. At that link you can see Mr. Justin Ross Hartfield, the Chief Executive Officer of Weedmaps.com and General Partner at “Ghost Group, a holding company of various marijuana assets”. Note that he and his companies are located in Irvine, CA. Continue reading→