Pubdate: Thu, 19 Jan 2012
Source: Orange County Register, The (CA)
Copyright: 2012 The Orange County Register
Contact:  http://www.ocregister.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/321
Author: Salvador Hernandez

MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES RAIDED IN COSTA MESA

COSTA MESA Federal authorities raided two medical-marijuana 
dispensaries this week, including one where the owner promised a code 
enforcement officer he'd make a donation of $500,000 to the city every year.

The owner of the dispensary told the city employee he was going "to 
make so much money," he would be able to make yearly donations that 
would help fix the city's budgetary issues and prevent the layoff of 
city workers.

The following day, the city sent the dispensary a letter, informing 
the owner he was operating in the city without a business license.

This week, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration raided the 
dispensaries and several homes connected with the storefronts.

Federal officials said they also filed lawsuits against property 
owners where the dispensaries were housed, alleging the property 
owners knew they were allowing marijuana stores to conduct business.

Among the dispensaries that were raided was Otherside Farms on 110 
Broadway St., according to an affidavit for the search warrant. 
According to the affidavit, Otherside Farms had been in operation 
since December 2009, when the owner filled out a business license 
with the city.

On Aug. 31, 2011, the dispensary was inspected by a code enforcement 
officer with the city, according to the affidavit. The owner, 
Chaddwick McKeen, showed the business to the city employee and said 
he planned to make a donation of $250,000 to the city by the end of the year.

According to documents, McKeen told the code enforcement officer he 
expected to run all other marijuana dispensaries out of business, and 
to make donations of $500,000 every year afterward to the city.

DEA agents also searched a condo at the 3000 block of Rivoli in 
Newport Beach, which is believed to be the home of McKeen.

Authorities also served search warrants at American Collective, a 
dispensary at 128 Cabrillo St. in Costa Mesa, and a commercial 
building at 2246 Newport Blvd., which is believed to have been used 
as a marijuana growing to supply American Collective.
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