Jacob Bell
New Member
Murrieta police and code enforcement officers searched the city's only medical marijuana store late Wednesday afternoon ---- two days after it reopened.
A search warrant was served after a Riverside Superior Court judge agreed with police officers that one was needed to ensure the cooperative is complying with the law.
According to a copy of the search warrant provided to The Californian by Cooperative Medical Group owner Beth Burns, police officers will have the authority to search the business at 26690 Madison Ave. for a total of 14 days.
The warrant is the latest development in the ongoing controversy over whether Cooperative Medical Group, a state-licensed marijuana cooperative, has a right to operate in Murrieta. Dispensaries have been banned in the city since 2005.
"They are trying to find something wrong with us," Burns said. "But (state) law protects us, and that's why we're here."
Cooperative Medical Group opened July 9 next door to a shipping business and Dream Box, an adult-oriented store. Sky High Party Zone, an arcade and jump-house party venue for children, is in a nearby strip mall.
Shortly after the cooperative opened, Murrieta's legal team secured a restraining order that forced the immediate, temporary closure of the business after they successfully argued to a Riverside Superior Court judge that the collective posed a public nuisance. Store owners closed the business on July 22 to comply with the court order.
Late last week, however, a state appeals court overturned the temporary closure, and the business reopened Monday.
Since reopening, Cooperative Medical Group has received $2,500 in code enforcement fines every day, Burns said. On Wednesday, the cooperative also received a citation from a representative of the Riverside County district attorney's office for failing to provide workers' compensation insurance for three employees.
Burns said Murrieta police officers also handed her a $100 fine for the cost of the search warrant.
Burns and Charles Thompson, a second owner, said Wednesday that they consider the fines to be harassment and in violation of the appeals court order that has allowed the business to remain open.
"When they won their case, we went home and closed our doors," Thompson said. "We expect them to do the same thing."
Robert Mahlowitz, an attorney for the city, said in a telephone interview Tuesday that code enforcement officers are entitled to issue Cooperative Medical Group at least two separate fines each day: one for operating a business without a business license and a second for operating a business that sells marijuana.
"We need a court order to (shut the business down) and we are still in the process of obtaining that," Mahlowitz said. "But nothing is on hold in our ability to enforce our law. The city will be pursuing all of its options and seeking to ensure that its laws are respected."
News Hawk- Jacob Ebel 420 MAGAZINE
Source: nctimes.com
Author: Nelsy Rodriguez
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: North County Times
Website: MURRIETA: Police search medical marijuana co-op
A search warrant was served after a Riverside Superior Court judge agreed with police officers that one was needed to ensure the cooperative is complying with the law.
According to a copy of the search warrant provided to The Californian by Cooperative Medical Group owner Beth Burns, police officers will have the authority to search the business at 26690 Madison Ave. for a total of 14 days.
The warrant is the latest development in the ongoing controversy over whether Cooperative Medical Group, a state-licensed marijuana cooperative, has a right to operate in Murrieta. Dispensaries have been banned in the city since 2005.
"They are trying to find something wrong with us," Burns said. "But (state) law protects us, and that's why we're here."
Cooperative Medical Group opened July 9 next door to a shipping business and Dream Box, an adult-oriented store. Sky High Party Zone, an arcade and jump-house party venue for children, is in a nearby strip mall.
Shortly after the cooperative opened, Murrieta's legal team secured a restraining order that forced the immediate, temporary closure of the business after they successfully argued to a Riverside Superior Court judge that the collective posed a public nuisance. Store owners closed the business on July 22 to comply with the court order.
Late last week, however, a state appeals court overturned the temporary closure, and the business reopened Monday.
Since reopening, Cooperative Medical Group has received $2,500 in code enforcement fines every day, Burns said. On Wednesday, the cooperative also received a citation from a representative of the Riverside County district attorney's office for failing to provide workers' compensation insurance for three employees.
Burns said Murrieta police officers also handed her a $100 fine for the cost of the search warrant.
Burns and Charles Thompson, a second owner, said Wednesday that they consider the fines to be harassment and in violation of the appeals court order that has allowed the business to remain open.
"When they won their case, we went home and closed our doors," Thompson said. "We expect them to do the same thing."
Robert Mahlowitz, an attorney for the city, said in a telephone interview Tuesday that code enforcement officers are entitled to issue Cooperative Medical Group at least two separate fines each day: one for operating a business without a business license and a second for operating a business that sells marijuana.
"We need a court order to (shut the business down) and we are still in the process of obtaining that," Mahlowitz said. "But nothing is on hold in our ability to enforce our law. The city will be pursuing all of its options and seeking to ensure that its laws are respected."
News Hawk- Jacob Ebel 420 MAGAZINE
Source: nctimes.com
Author: Nelsy Rodriguez
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: North County Times
Website: MURRIETA: Police search medical marijuana co-op
