Pubdate: Mon, 27 Jul 2015
Source: Merced Sun-Star (CA)
Copyright: 2015 Merced Sun-Star
Contact: http://www.mercedsunstar.com/284
Website: http://www.mercedsunstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2546

MERCED POLICE SHUT DOWN ALLEGED MARIJUANA DISPENSARY

The Merced Police Department served search warrants Friday and shut 
down Kiona's Farm'acy in downtown Merced, alleging the business 
operated as a marijuana dispensary.

The police also ordered an investigation into business owner Lakisha 
Jenkins for possible tax evasion.

But Jenkins says her business is a nonprofit and agriculture 
cooperative that has been operating in California for more than a 
decade. Though the Farm'acy does sell cannabis to some members, who 
Jenkins said mostly are cancer patients, it also sells hundreds of 
herbs, teas and organic produce. Jenkins calls it a "holistic health center."

She said the Merced Police Department and Merced County Sheriff's 
Department eradicated a cannabis garden Sunday in a raid.

"I had the displeasure of informing one of our 17-year-old patients 
with uterine cancer that she no longer had a (cannabis) garden," Jenkins said.

Merced police reported that the Farm'acy violated conditions of its 
business license because the city prohibits dispensaries. The Police 
Department served the business with a cease-and-desist letter in 
April, but Kiona's Farm'acy continued its business, police said in a 
news release. Officers cited Jenkins for violating business-license 
provisions, but she refused to sign the citation.

The Police Department was contacted by the California State Board of 
Equalization, which suspected Jenkins of sales tax evasion. But 
Jenkins said her business is exempt from state and federal taxes 
because of its nonprofit status. While the search warrant was being 
served Friday, police seized volumes of financial records and several 
computers at the Farm'acy and Jenkins' home.

Jenkins said she has served on the board of the California Cannabis 
Industry Organization, which works to legitimize the industry through 
legislation.

"If there's anything I'm versed in, it's the law," Jenkins said. "I 
make sure our organization is in compliance with all laws at all times."

Jenkins also operates dispensaries in Tracy, Turlock and Oakdale, 
police said. The Oakdale location has been the center of violence, 
police said. Both the Turlock and Oakdale sites have been shut down.

Jenkins was not arrested, but police said the investigation is ongoing.
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