Pubdate: Thu, 01 Nov 2012 Source: Willits News (CA) Copyright: 2012 Willits News Contact: http://www.willitsnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4085 Author: Melissa Pinion-Whitt San Bernardino DEA SWEEPS TWO MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES SAN BERNARDINO - The Drug Enforcement Administration on Tuesday raided two medical-marijuana clinics on Highland Avenue, seizing dozens of pounds of marijuana, hash and edible products containing the drug. "No arrests were made pursuant to the search warrants, however, local authorities did take one individual into custody on an outstanding arrest warrant on unrelated charges," said DEA spokeswoman Sarah Pullen. Both businesses - Alternative Solutions Patient Care and Advanced Healing Qualified Patients Association - had been fined for violating city codes and were told by the DEA to shut down for violating federal law. A sign on the doors of the clinics advised customers that the places were closed. San Bernardino police said they'd been working with the DEA for several months in response to complaints from residents about the businesses. "There have been complaints about people loitering, citizens complaining about smells, suspicious suspects," said police Lt. Paul Williams. "We've had numerous, numerous complaints." One woman, who wished not to be identified, said she recently decided not to renew her lease in the shopping center in part due to the two dispensaries. "It's not like there was an increase in crime," she said, "but a lot of my customers were concerned about the people hanging out outside. They were a little worried, especially the ladies that came to me." An undercover San Bernardino County sheriff's deputy visited both clinics on Aug. 22. The warrants indicated the deputy is in good health, but he got a doctor's recommendation for marijuana, according to the search warrants. State law allows the use of medical marijuana. The deputy purchased one gram of marijuana labeled "Pre 98 Bubba" for $15 from Advanced Healing Qualified Patients Association, the warrants say. He bought two grams of marijuana labeled "Jamaican Gold" for $20 from Alternative Solutions Patient Care. Both clinics gave the deputy free marijuana products for being a new patient. Seven deputies staked out ASPC the same day. From 11:30 to 11:55 a.m., officers saw one or two customers per minute entering the ASPC clinic, investigators wrote in a warrant. The DEA, assisted by San Bernardino police and sheriff's deputies, returned to both businesses Tuesday. They seized about 55 pounds of marijuana, four pounds of hash - a concentrated form of the drug - 147 pounds of edible marijuana products and 183 marijuana plants, Pullen said. "I don't see a big problem with it," said Chris Marsden, 46, of Highland. "As long as they're not selling to kids and they're following the rules, why not? Personally I see a lot more people get addicted and messed up on prescription drugs like Oxy(Contin) than on pot." Kattia Marie Wright, identified in the warrants as the owner of ASPC, could not be reached for comment. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom