Ventura County law enforcement officials said Wednesday they intend to crack down on medical marijuana dispensaries and delivery services, days after authorities arrested a couple on suspicion of running an illegal marijuana business in Thousand Oaks. "I have an easy message for them. Shut down or move out of the county," said Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Gary Pentis of the Special Service Division that oversees major crimes and narcotics. "We are looking at them. This is something that is definitely on our radar." [continues 733 words]
Drug investigators have arrested a Thousand Oaks couple on suspicion of operating an illegal marijuana delivery business and are seeking child endangerment charges because food cooked with marijuana was found in a refrigerator at the couple's home, authorities said today. Investigators said Fabian Citraro, 32, and wife Amanda Citraro, 30, are owners of Mary Jane's Bud in the 3500 block of Old Conejo Road in Thousand Oaks. Their arrests last week capped a monthlong investigation by the Ventura County Sheriff's Department. [continues 171 words]
Last fall, when dozens of medicinal marijuana users went to the Ventura City Council to urge it to show compassion and give them a legal place to get their medicine, the council responded just as every other community in Ventura County had in the past: It said no. But then the council did something unexpected: It gave the crowd hope and a challenge. The council adopted a 10-month moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries but directed city officials to use that time to further study the issue, hold public meetings and examine alternatives, including potential land-use language allowing medical marijuana cooperatives and collectives in certain areas of town. [continues 725 words]
The Ventura City Council indicated this week that it's willing to take a serious look at allowing medical marijuana collectives to operate legally in the city. Medical marijuana patients hailed the decision, but top city and police officials cautioned that pot clubs could pose enforcement and regulatory challenges and bring increased crime. After a long discussion and impassioned public input, the City Council voted unanimously Monday night to enact a yearlong moratorium on medical pot operations as it studies how to craft language allowing nonprofit collectives, which typically are operated by medical marijuana users and focused on patient care. [continues 872 words]
Dispensary In Ventura Sought Michael Meyer has watched with unease over the years as city after city in Ventura County has adopted moratoriums or other obstacles to block medical marijuana dispensaries. But the 61-year-old Ventura resident, who has used medicinal cannabis for years to cope with rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia and other ailments, has newfound hope. Recent polling shows more than half of Californians support legalizing pot and taxing it, the federal government has softened its stance, and some lawmakers are pushing for legalization to help cash-strapped cities and a state teetering on bankruptcy. [continues 711 words]
Council, Many Local Residents Want Medical Marijuana Facility To Close Operators and clients of an unauthorized medicinal marijuana dispensary in Westlake Village made impassioned pleas Wednesday night to keep their doors open, arguing it shouldn't be demonized for supplying pot to credentialed and seriously ill patients. The City Council wasn't having it, voting unanimously to reject the operator's appeal in a case being closely watched around the county. Minutes later, the council enacted a temporary moratorium to further strengthen the city's position that medicinal pot dispensaries aren't welcome. [continues 655 words]
