Operators of a Costa Mesa medical marijuana dispensary that was raided by police in January sued the city and its Police Department on Tuesday, alleging that officers had no right to force their way into the Harbor Boulevard storefront. The lawsuit, filed in Orange County Superior Court, claims that Costa Mesa police never presented a warrant during or after the search, in which they arrested employees and confiscated marijuana products. According to attorney Matthew Pappas, who is representing the dispensary, Costa Mesa Collective, the city has refused to provide a list of the items the officers seized. [continues 427 words]
Costa Mesa police say there was nothing to indicate that mall storefront was Native American sanctuary. Police officers who thought they were shutting down a marijuana dispensary in Costa Mesa last month were in fact raiding a Native American church that uses cannabis and other controlled substances in its spiritual ceremonies, according to a lawyer representing the organization's founders. Attorney Matthew Pappas said Oklevueha Native American Church was opening a branch in Costa Mesa when police stormed the Harbor Boulevard location. [continues 489 words]
Costa Mesa High School graduate Kory Bennion addressed about 100 parents and students at his former campus this week during the culmination of the campus' anti-drug event. "There were people that were really close to me that were addicted to alcohol and drugs," he said about his time in high school. "And these were my parents." Bennion was one of two closing speakers Wednesday afternoon. The previous day students watched a documentary about drug overdoses, and earlier Wednesday, parents were invited to a resource fair featuring law enforcement, treatment centers and other tools like home drug tests. [continues 257 words]