Clergyman Based in Hollywood Says Marijuana 'Is the Tree of Life Mentioned in the Bible' LOS ANGELES -- A minister with mail order credentials who faces drug charges for distributing marijuana through his Hollywood church argued unsuccessfully this week that federal law protects his use of the drug because he believes it is a religious sacrament. The Rev. Craig Rubin, 41, the leader of the 420 Temple who has appeared in episodes of the Showtime comedy "Weeds," faces as many as seven years in prison if convicted of possessing marijuana for sale. Jury selection was to begin Wednesday. [continues 390 words]
LOS ANGELES -- Federal agents trailed Sparky Rose as he drove a Porsche Carrera convertible to his medical marijuana clinic. For the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration the fancy car was a sign Rose might be pocketing big money from the purportedly nonprofit clinic, New Remedies Cooperative. An investigation turned up records showing $2.3 million was deposited in a New Remedies bank account in eight months starting in December 2005. Rose also wrote himself weekly checks of $9,600, according to court papers. [continues 740 words]
LOS ANGELES -- Federal agents trailed Sparky Rose as he drove a Porsche Carrera convertible to his medical marijuana clinic. Under California law, clinics are supposed to dispense marijuana just to seriously ill people and clinic owners are to get only "reasonable compensation." But to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the sports car suggested that Rose might be pocketing big money from his purportedly nonprofit clinic, New Remedies Cooperative. Rose was arrested in October and accused of illegal drug trafficking - -- charges he denies. According to court papers, an investigation turned up records showing $2.3 million was deposited in a New Remedies bank account over eight months starting in December 2005, and Rose wrote himself weekly checks of $9,600. [continues 641 words]
Federal agents trailed Sparky Rose as he drove a Porsche Carrera convertible to his medical marijuana clinic. For the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the sports car was a sign Rose might be pocketing big money from the purportedly nonprofit clinic, New Remedies Cooperative. An investigation turned up records showing $2.3 million was deposited in a New Remedies bank account in eight months starting in December 2005. Rose also wrote himself weekly checks of $9,600, according to court papers. [continues 809 words]
LOS ANGELES - Federal agents trailed Sparky Rose as he drove a Porsche Carrera convertible to his medical marijuana clinic. Under California law, clinics are supposed to dispense marijuana just to seriously ill people and clinic owners are to get only "reasonable compensation." But to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the sports car suggested that Rose might be pocketing big money from his purportedly nonprofit clinic, New Remedies Cooperative. Rose was arrested in October and accused of illegal drug trafficking-charges he denies. According to court papers, an investigation turned up records showing $2.3 million was deposited in a New Remedies bank account over eight months starting in December 2005, and Rose wrote himself weekly checks of $9,600. [continues 632 words]
High Profits Show System Is Being Flouted, Agency Says [ Arizona voters approved a medical marijuana law for the second time in 1996. It allows physicians to prescribe marijuana to patients. Doctors, however, have never used the law, facing threats from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration that they would lose their authority to write prescriptions for federally regulated drugs if they did so.] LOS ANGELES - Federal agents trailed Sparky Rose as he drove a Porsche Carrera convertible to his medical-marijuana clinic. [continues 672 words]
LOS ANGELES -- Federal agents trailed Sparky Rose as he drove a Porsche Carrera convertible to his medical marijuana clinic. For the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration the sports car was a sign Rose might be pocketing big money from the purportedly nonprofit clinic, New Remedies Cooperative. An investigation turned up records showing $2.3 million was deposited in a New Remedies bank account in eight months starting in December 2005. Rose also wrote himself weekly checks of $9,600, according to court papers. [continues 1079 words]
City Manager Allan Roeder wants more information before Costa Mesa Police Department joins drug task force. COSTA MESA -- The Costa Mesa Police Department will have better access to drug-fighting resources -- and add to city revenues -- if it joins a coalition of anti-drug agencies, police officials say. But City Manager Allan Roeder counters that a Police Department report - -- which says the city would generate more revenue from assets seized in drug busts if it joins the Southern California Drug Task Force -- lacks important information. [continues 334 words]
La Vina Church Members Cross The Border To Save Souls, Distribute Toys And Necessities To Mexico's Poor Children TECATE, Mexico - He used to covertly run heroine, cocaine and marijuana into the United States across this same border. He carried a bottle of tequila in his hand, which he took slugs of to help numb his nerves as he scurried through the hills, ducking behind boulders and scrub, avoiding border patrol. But that was more than 20 years ago. On Wednesday, Pastor Jose Ramon Coronado of Costa Mesa's La Vina Church - joined by seven volunteers - carried a stash of more than 4,000 stuffed monkeys, lions and chickens, as well as blankets, sneakers and packets of cereal, back to Tecate. The group planned to distribute the gifts, along with colorful brochures providing instructions about where they could find God, to the city's needy children. [continues 689 words]
