Pubdate: Tue, 30 Oct 2012 Source: Highland Community News (CA) Copyright: 2012 Highland Community News Contact: http://www.highlandnews.net/forms/letters/ Website: http://www.highlandnews.net/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5208 POT SHOP BUSTED Controversial Store in San Bernardino Is Closed; Operators Arrested Federal Drug Enforcement Agency officers descended in force on the A.S.P.C marijuana shop at Palm and Highland avenues Tuesday morning, making arrests and confiscating evidence from the store. Highland Mayor Pro Tem Penny Lilburn said the city of Highland should get a lot of credit for the raid, since the city has been complaining about the drug sales and its clientele, even though it is in the city of San Bernardino at Highland's northern boundary. Tony Mauricio, manager of the Stater Bros. Market in the same shopping center, said the sales of marijuana had been a detriment to his business, and many shoppers said they were reluctant to stop at the center after dark. Highland sheriff's officers and San Bernardino city police accompanied the drug task force during the raid, which started at about 10 a.m. As the raid progressed, several vans and cars drove by slowly, eyeing the process and making alternate plans for their next buy. The popular store was just in the process of expanding into the next-door suite, which would have just about doubled its floor space. Sales of medical marijuana are legal in California, but against the federal law. Many stores have been closed because of their questionable practices in prescribing and selling the drug. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom