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More Medical Collectives Face Crackdown. Tulare County: an example of fear and hate

J

JackTheGrower

On Perhaps the last Battle Grounds left to fight from the War against Cannabis continues as Tulare County takes the job away from a single mother of two.


Medical-marijuana facilities in Tulare County told to close down

Please see link for complete story.


As owner of the Compassionate Cannabis Information Center in Goshen, Tammy Murray is at the center of a county fight to rein in distribution of medical marijuana.

www.creeksidedayspa.com

Murray was told Thursday that she has 10 days to close her 1,000-customer dispensary or face criminal charges. She is petitioning the Tulare County Board of Supervisors to reconsider its ban on facilities like hers, but Murray fears that her pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

"I don't know what I am going to do," she said. "I've been working for two years to get to the point where I am. And now I'll have to start all over again."

After stints as a social worker and in the real estate industry, the single mother of two started working on the Compassionate Cannabis center in 2007. She filed paperwork with the state and as a nonprofit organization with the Internal Revenue Service.

The center operates with one employee in a strip mall just west of Highway 99. Murray said she gets her customers by word-of-mouth and from oncology clinics and veterans organizations. The customers come from Kings, Tulare and Fresno counties for various grades of marijuana, as well as food made from the plant.

Prices for one-eighth ounce of marijuana start at $20.

"We're fighting a lot of unfounded fears here," Murray said. "People think the dispensaries are run by thugs. They're not."

Last month the Board of Supervisors voted to halt distribution of marijuana in unincorporated areas. The ordinance took effect Thursday. It does not affect medical-marijuana organizations within incorporated cities.

Sheriff's Department officials said the county's six dispensaries are out of compliance with both state and federal law.

Dispensaries, by the state's definition, have hundreds of patients and operate for profit.

An estimated 10,000 people in Tulare County use medicinal marijuana.

"We have deputies who will be going out to each of the dispensaries and serving the owners with a copy of the ordinance," said Cpt. Mike Boudreaux of the Sheriff's Department's investigations unit. "From there, they will have 10 days to comply with the ordinance."
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Grass Lands

Grass Lands

Member
Veteran
She took all the right steps...and they are punishing her for it...

BTW -- the closures have already begun...went by Earth Meds (Tipton) doors were closed and no one around...J&J in Exeter, closed...my fear is, it will get worse before it gets better...i guess you could say Tulare is ahead of Fresno, at least Tulare is allowing a controlled number of clubs...while Fresno still has a ban on the clubs, even though there are a few open.


Peace
GL
 
fatigues

fatigues

Active member
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"Murray was told Thursday that she has 10 days to close her 1,000-customer dispensary or face criminal charges."

Told by whom? Who the hell is threatening somebody to close down or face a criminal charge? In the ordinary course, the phrase that decribes that sort of threat is called "extortion".

She needs a lawyer - yesterday.
 
P

PharmaCan

Active member
Veteran
An estimated 10,000 people in Tulare County use medicinal marijuana
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And how many votes does it take to get on County BOS? The mmj users would probably have some clout in an election if they organized.

PC
 
J

JackTheGrower

A bit of a rant..

A bit of a rant..

Here is the thing.. There are people who won't accept the rights of others on moral grounds and they are in these culturally remote areas. Tulare county may be such a culturally remote area. I would say Stanislaus is culturally remote when compared to L.A. Culture by about 6 months lag.

So these fine folks are making "Custer's last Stand against Cannabis" and we will have to blast them out with litigation before they let Medical People have public acceptance. maybe then they can just switch to shunning and spitting at them.

I was saying these places banning Medical Cannabis locations are a part of the "Don't Ask ( for cannabis ) Don't Sell ( cannabis )" culture. But ironically that position doesn't save them from the Cannabis Monster because it's legal for medical people and when there is a demand there are sales. That only supports a black market.

Proactive Medical Cannabis rules would set forth guidelines. An example of how effective it would be is to watch how we all in this forum are alert to what is legal and how we can do things legal and correct. We all want to be good Citizens because we all like to stay out of prison.
To punish people in this State simply because they live in Tulare County or any county is simply discrimination carried out by Government.
We should Sue the State of California because it's a State Right to medical Cannabis and no Local government should use public funds to impede rights. Sue the State for failure to insure our Rights.


Perhaps the main problem is that we will have to act like a State rather than an economic Federation of counties who seek to be a separate California because of Cannabis fear and hate.

Tulare, Stanislaus and others.. Make room for Medical Cannabis Collectives that have a roof over their heads! That employ people.. That serve the medical people who need there services. IT"S LEGAL. And has been over 13 years..

In other words Cannabis haters.. GET OVER IT.

Thanks..
 
Grass Lands

Grass Lands

Member
Veteran
Well the fight isn't over yet...the folks in Tipton are planning on a delivery service...and i imagine there will be others moving to a delivery service as well.
 
J

JackTheGrower

That's what is happening I understand. I hate it that we are made to feel oppressed while we actually are not.

It's that "hate" that is being touted as righteousness.
 
J

JackTheGrower

I saw this in 4 different town and all 4 decided it wasn't worth it.. I guess this one thinks their shit don't stink.

Holy frack batman.. Lets see them arrest folks.

Is this the sounds of the last gun shots in the California war on cannabis?

Most of these hold outs are fighting cannabis in any form.
 
J

JackTheGrower

County to close cannabis clubs

County to close cannabis clubs

more news for the area.. It would seem it is more hate!

County to close cannabis clubs

County to close cannabis clubs
By Reggie Ellis Updated: Wednesday, December 16, 2009 10:50 AM PST

Sheriff's deputies visited Tulare County's six medical marijuana dispensaries last Thursday to deliver a message: You have 10 days to comply with the county law or close your doors.

The only problem is the county's new ordinance regulating dispensaries makes it impossible to comply, unless federal law changes to legalize medical marijuana. The county law states that, 'The possession, consumption, distribution, transportation, cultivation and growing of medical marijuana in the unincorporated areas of the County of Tulare shall comply with federal law, state law and local ordinances and regulations.' In effect, the law makes all dispensaries, or collectives and cooperatives, illegal operations in the county, although Deputy County Counsel Nina Dong would not go that far, only saying she could not comment on the legality of existing dispensaries.

Abraham Hernandez, who volunteers at the American Caregiver Facility at15492 Mineral King Suite 3 just north of Farmersville, said four deputies dropped off a copy of the ordinance last Thursday and told him that he had 10 days to comply.

'I think the county's law is very vague,' Hernandez said. 'We have been in compliance with the Attorney General's guidelines for two years and we haven't had any problems. If this is really about us being in violation of federal law, then it should be the FBI or DEA knocking on our door.'

California became one of 14 states that allow the use of medical marijuana when California voters passed Proposition 215, also known as the Compassionate Use Act, in 1996. The Last August, the California Attorney General's Office released its guidelines 'a properly organized and operated collective of cooperative that dispenses medical marijuana through a storefront may be lawful under California law,'

However, 'Nothing in Proposition 215 or [Senate Bill 420] authorizes collectives, cooperatives, or individuals to profit from the sale or distribution of marijuana.' The county contends that because the local dispensaries are operating for profit that they are in violation of state law.'

Jeff Nunes, Jr., president of the board of directors for the Medical Marijuana Awareness and Defense (MMAD) Information Center, said that his collective operates as a non-profit. Nunes said the collective, located at 31910 Road 160 in Ivanhoe, only collects enough money to cover the cost of growing, processing and distributing the marijuana allowed under state law.

'Any money we make over our costs is the public's money,' Nunes said. 'We have donated over $60,000 to local non-profits over the last two years.'

Nunes said the only reason MMAD isn't legally a non-profit is because the IRS has not responded to the application it filed for non-profit status three years ago. He said MMAD is hoping to donate money to the research and development of medicinal marijuana at the state and regional level.

'The county needs to stop looking at this as people getting high and start looking at it in a medical fashion,' Nunes said. 'Then we can get away from the persecution of people who actually have a medical need for marijuana.'

Nunes said the county should also tax the sale of the crop to generate revenue to help enforce the laws.

'We think it's a good ordinance but would like to work with the county to refine it,' Nunes said. 'We think the ordinance should do more to enforce good agricultural practices and how the crop should be stored and handled for health reasons.'

Until then, Nunes said he will continue to operate as he has for the last few years, and said he will stay open beyond Dec. 20 when deputies will return to enforce compliance of the new ordinance.

'You can't have a law that is impossible to comply with, that is illegal,' Nunes said. 'And if they want to try and enforce it, then we will just have to fight it in court.'

Hillside Collective, located at 960 Spruce Road in Tonyville, closed its doors on Dec. 4 to file an application for permit under the new ordinance. Hillside reopened on Dec. 12, but did not want to comment further on the ordinance or its plans to operate in the future.

The Board of Supervisors approved the ordinance at its Nov. 10 meeting. If federal law were to change, the county ordinance goes on to state that the cultivation, growing or distribution of medical marijuana is allowed 'within a secure, locked, and fully enclosed structure, including a ceiling, roof or top and shall meet the following requirements,' which included an exterior compatible with surrounding structures, signage limited to an address only, an alarm system monitored at all times, sufficient outdoor lighting. Only three dispensaries will be allowed within unincorporated areas at any time.

There are currently three dispensaries in the unincorporated areas of Tulare County. On Dec. 9, supervisors extended its year-long moratorium on new dispensaries due to an immediate threat to public health. The moratorium expires on Jan. 5, 2010.

The ordinance prohibits anyone from smoking at the dispensary and doesn't allow any marijuana to be visible from outside the building.

The building must restrict smell, odor, smoke from marijuana. No one under the age of 18 is allowed on site unless accompanied by a licensed attending physician, parent or legal guardian. No person is allowed to cultivate marijuana for sale, which is illegal under both federal and state law.

The law limits the number of plants to 99 at a dispensary, six mature plants or 12 immature plants and no more than 8 ounces of dried marijuana per person. If convicted, a violation of the ordinance will be a misdemeanor charge.

Under the law, the Sheriff's Department is authorized to investigate dispensaries to determine if they should be closed down, as well as monitor their activities and enforce county laws pertaining to possible violations.

The Tulare County Sheriff's Department will review the business license application for dispensaries, just as he does for fortune tellers, junk dealers and dance halls. The Sheriff's Department can require the applicant, anyone who works there, patients and primary caregivers to be fingerprinted and photographed. A dispensary that fails to meet any of the requirements will be declared a public nuisance by the Sheriff's Department and prohibited from operating a dispensary for at least a year. If the dispensaries are deemed to be in compliance with county ordinances, the business will be required to renew its business license annually.

On Dec. 9, supervisors extended its year-long moratorium on new dispensaries due to an immediate threat to public health. The moratorium expires on Jan. 5, 2010. On May 1, 2007, Supervisors amended the zoning ordinance to regulate dispensaries. The law limits dispensaries to the same zones as drug stores and pharmacies, but restricted them to develop at least 1,000 feet from schools, parks and other dispensaries. It also required dispensaries to hid marijuana and related products from the public and prohibited them from displaying signs that portray people smoking marijuana.
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J

JackTheGrower

Our Hero in Tulare is Jeff Nunes

Our Hero in Tulare is Jeff Nunes

Jeff Nunes seems to be standing up.. If they all will that would be good but I understand.

There is a video and the complete story at the link..




Pot Dealers Last Minute Plea in Tulare County

Visalia, Calif. (KFSN) -- Medical marijuana distributors in Tulare County have less than a week to shut their doors or they could face criminal charges.

Jeff Nunes pleaded with the Tulare County Board of Supervisors Tuesday morning to reconsider a new medical marijuana ordinance they passed which ultimately is forcing the shutdown of medical marijuana distributors in Tulare County.
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Grass Lands

Grass Lands

Member
Veteran
Abraham Hernandez, who volunteers at the American Caregiver Facility at15492 Mineral King Suite 3 just north of Farmersville, said four deputies dropped off a copy of the ordinance last Thursday and told him that he had 10 days to comply.
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Another waste of tax payers dollars...it takes four deputies to drop off the paperwork...nothing like scaring the hell out of the customer when they see multiple patrol cars rolling up..
 
J

JackTheGrower

Grass Lands said:
Another waste of tax payers dollars...it takes four deputies to drop off the paperwork...nothing like scaring the hell out of the customer when they see multiple patrol cars rolling up..
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Well you know how those hopped up alcoholics are..

Well actually lets look at it from another truth that I feel is worth a chuckle.

I understand the following to be generally true: "That given a choice between types of disturbance calls, the officers will pick a Cannabis call over a Drunk call every time."

So maybe this was a Slacker Fest.. I mean it had to be.. They got all the Rape and Murder under control down there.


Grin :)

Jack
 
Muleskinner

Muleskinner

Active member
Veteran
of course it's extortion - the whole thing is! The cops don't want to give up control of the drug rackets.

they get everything, they get easy arrests of peaceful people to pad their stats, they get to take home huge piles of cash and free weed, they get promotions and 5% raises every year regardless of the economy. What's not to like? The Godfather himself would be jealous of what they have! Mafia with free with health care and guns!
 
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