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Santa Cruz Co-op

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EthnobotanicA

Member
Hey everybody!

I'm actually a long time user of both the IC and old OG, but felt I should start a new account considering the recent events in our lives here at Ethnobotanica. Ethnobotanica is a Non-profit Consumer Cooperative registered with the State of California. We were raided not too long ago, and our medicine and plants, used for our personal medical needs, seized. Sheriffs have not yet pressed charges, and may not, but ripped off the meds and plants of our members regardless. :dueling:We are going to prove our case in court, but it is still bullshit since law enforcement seems to have the right to come and steal from legitimate medical users who are only exercising a voter-approved right.

Due to the raid, we are converting our space to a dance, music, and visual arts collective. Anybody interested in contributing their thoughts and ideas should post up! We are having a fundraiser for the arts collective on 4/20 as well.

Anyways, I can't PM yet, but I'll get a few posts up sometime when I have spare time...which doesn't seem to be that often these days...so anybody who wants to chat should post up!

I'm pretty knowledgeable when it comes to just about all aspects of growing medicinal cannabis, including commercial type equipment and methods, plant science, etc so if you have any questions (if anybody is reading this) then shoot 'em over. I started growing with the help of people here and on OG, and feel it's my duty to pass my knowledge on to those in need.

I also have become quite familiar with how to assure you are in compliance with California Medical law and case law, so again, if I can help anybody avoid what we have been going through, let me help in any way I can.

Al righty....

Peace out
 
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growinthehills

Member
Enlighten us on being legit

Enlighten us on being legit

Can you tell us about the guidelines for growing medicinal mj in your area. How many patient's gardens can you have at one residence?etc.
 
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EthnobotanicA

Member
So yeah, it's been 2.5 months now and still no charges.

There is no limit on the number of members of a collective or cooperative. It seems though, that once a collective moves into a commercial space or uses a residence so that it is no longer suitable as a residence proper, then they steal your shit and don't press charges. There is little one can do when this happens, especially the first time, since all the officer has to say is he felt there was evidence of black market or whatever, even though there may have not been any real evidence. Officers have far too much protection in the line of duty to essentially ignore the law, IMO. Personally, I feel like they should have had to document evidence, then take that evidence to a deputy district attorney to evaluate the legalities before hacking a crop of medical. If this were the case, our members could have avoided the catastrophe caused by these thugs in blue. In my case, I was well under all legal limits, had over a dozen members, but it was large and in a warehouse, so according to the sheriffs, it "had to have been an illegal operation".

Limits in SC county are 100ft of canopy with no restriction on plant numbers, and 3lbs dry, manicured flowers. There is technically no legal restriction on the number of patients or members, although it is generally recognized that if you have a patient/caregiver relationship with the people for whom you grow, that you must be doing more then just growing or supplying them with medication. The legal minimum would be to discuss usage, strains, how the herb is effecting their conditions, etc. On the stronger end, to establish aproper caregiver/patient relationship, one would be involved in other aspects of their health care, such as giving them rides to dr's appointments, picking up pharmaceutical medications, perhaps helping them check blood pressure or sugar levels, etc...you get the picture.
 
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Teeg420

no update I heard the DA didnt want to go through with it, pretty much everyones case got dropped, lack of evidence.
 
daydreamer

daydreamer

Member
greetings. you folks need to find a good pro-mmj candidate to run for a) sheriff b)mayor c) most importantly a diatrict attorney. have you sued the police for return of meds or money reimbursement of meds? don't be surprised if they destroy the "evidence."
 
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EthnobotanicA

Member
We're BAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaack!

DA dismissed the charges, after the judge reamed the prosecution and the lead investigator. I've never heard a judge get so irate!

Problem is, we didn't win it on the merits of the case, the prosecution lost it due to the negligence of the sheriff's department. Their case was based on a bunch of bullshit, including another grower in my building saying "they are bigger then us, why don't you bust them!". That other retard blew his main electricity line and got the heat called on him, then PGE noticed our electricity usage, and the detective coerced that dude into snitching on us, even though he had never met or known about us!

I already filed the Tort claim for the lawsuit, and our PD wasn't ready to file the property return at the dismissal, so we have to do that on Wednesday. I've got it all reayd sitting here, but i'm taking my fam to the aquarium tomorrow. We are also filing an unlimited lawsuit against them at that time. We already know that they destroyed alot of our meds, which is actually good, because it opens the door for an easy win in civil, which pays for an attorney for the harder stuff like emotional distress, loss of reputation, loss of business income, etc.

Good times!

I'm going to be back and around more often again. It's too bad I erased my old screenname though. Now I have to go find everybody and let them know what's up!

Peace
 
Y

yeah

Member
Just found your post in a search. Glad to hear all is going well with your situation. Myself and a few others were looking at starting a co-op and had a few questions on getting it going. Is there a Lawyer in the area that helped you set up the co-op and get the necessary paper work to the state? Is it 100 sqft per card or total? When renting a space did you inform the landlord what you were renting the space for? Thanks
 
DoobieDuck

DoobieDuck

Senior Member
ICMag Donor
Veteran
Ethno B ..a big welcome a year late but you had to get all that other stuff out of the way...good for you..what a pain. I hope things go well for you now...if you are doing a collective post a review in our section for those..DD
 
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