Federal prosecutors filed lawsuits Tuesday aimed at seizing the assets of three medical marijuana dispensaries on Colorado Boulevard in Eagle Rock as part of a wider enforcement action against 70 pot shops in Los Angeles and one in the City of Huntington Park.
The federal action, which involves all known marijuana dispensaries in Eagle Rock and downtown Los Angeles, comes just a little more than a week after marijuana advocates submitted enough signatures in a petition to force a referendum on the city's ban on such businesses.
“Over the past several years, we have seen an explosion of commercial marijuana stores—an explosion that is being driven by the massive profits associated with marijuana distribution,” said United States Attorney André Birotte Jr. in a prepared statement. “As today’s operations make clear, the sale and distribution of marijuana violates federal law, and we intend to enforce the law. Even those stores not targeted today should understand that they cannot continue to profit in violation of the law.”
The federal actions in Los Angeles were done with cooperation from the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office, and the Los City Attorney's office.
Federal prosecutors filed asset forfeiture lawsuits against the Together for Change Collective, a medical marijuana storefront operating at 2501 Colorado Blvd., where a prior marijuana store, American Eagle Collective, was raided by the LAPD in May on narcotics charges. Together for Change is already fighting a civil abatement lawsuit by the city attorney.
During the raid on American Eagle Collective, LAPD officers seized more than 500 marijuana plants and more than $5,000 in cash, as well as $14,912 in cash and a semi-automatic rifle from the home of one of the store’s operators, Birotte said.
Asset forfeiture complaints were also filed against ER Collective, which is located in the same storefront at 1121 Colorado Blvd. where the LAPD served a search warrant in June 2010, seizing about 25 pounds of marijuana, 10 pounds of hashish, liquid THC, and $17,000 in cash, according to Birotte.
The third Eagle Rock dispensary targeted in Tuesday’s enforcement was House of Kush, located at 1632 Colorado Blvd., which is also the target of a lawsuit by the city attorney’s office.
See the attached pdfs for details of the U.S. Attorney's asset forfeiture complaints against the three Eagle Rock marijuana dispensaries.
In separate enforcement actions Tuesday, federal Drug Enforcement Agency agents, accompanied by LAPD officers, served search warrants against three medical marijuana storefronts: Happy Ending Collective, 818 N. Spring St., downtown; Fountain of Wellbeing, 3835 Fountain Ave., in Silver Lake; and Green Light Pharmacy at 522 South Lorena St. in Huntington Park.
Federal prosecutors also sent warning letters to individuals associated with 68 marijuana stores that are either currently in business or were recently closed, the U.S. Attorney said. The warning letters give the storefront owners and landlords 14 days to comply with federal law or risk potential civil or criminal actions.
“As I’ve said before," LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said in a statement included with the U.S. Attorney's announcement, "in Los Angeles some medical marijuana clinics have been taken over by illegal for-profit businesses that sell recreational marijuana to healthy young adults and attract crime. These stores are a source of criminal activity because of the product they sell and large amounts of cash they have on hand. The LAPD will continue to work with our federal partners to remove these threats from our communities."
Councilmember José Huizar applauded the federal enforcement actions, which began across California earlier this year.
“Storefront medical marijuana dispensaries are not contemplated under state law and are therefore illegal,” Huizar said in a prepared statement. While he supports the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes, Huizar said, “the state needs to create a better way of providing access for seriously ill patients while removing the scores of profiteers and recreational users who currently dominate the market.”
Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council President Michael Larsen said he didn't have much to add to "the straightforward commentary" of the U.S. Attorney, LAPD Chief Beck and Councilmember Huizar, except to say that "sometimes the small voice of a strong community like Eagle Rock can make a difference and bring about change."
The best commentary on Tuesday's news, Larsen added, came from LA's Chief Deputy City Attorney Willaim Carter.
"The city has felt like it's been on its own trying to regulate hundreds of pot shops that don't want to be regulated," Carter was quoted by the Associated Press as saying. "It's like, be careful what you asked for. If you don't want to be regulated by the locals, you will be regulated by the federal government."
Tuesday’s asset forfeiture lawsuits and warning letters bring to more than 375 the total number of illegal marijuana storefronts targeted so far in the Central District of California, the U.S. Attorney's statement said.
Most of the businesses previously targeted are closed, involved in eviction proceedings by landlords, or they have faced additional federal enforcement actions, the statement said.
My Kindle takes creative license with spellings at times. But it is funny that using anecdotal evidence is acceptable when you or your cohorts do it, and not when your opposition does. How convenient for you.
"BB, when you start working 70 hours a week, and working seven days a week, then fell free to point fingers at those who already have." Been there, done that. Actually a bit more. A contractor's work is never done. Disiregardless, how can you have class warfare in a low class town that can't even decide what it wants to be and doesn't have the money to do it if it did? We need a couple of big box stores up in here to generate some income and jobs.
And my two cousins are both over 6'3. I myself am 5'8 with red hair, and nobody has ever mistaken any of us for one another. ERHSMoms, my contention is that the entire incident is a completely made(annecdotal) up story, And when I said I havent worked in the store for over 30 years she also 'questioned' the veracity of that staement. When I read that story of hers originally I thought, "Why wouldnt her husband confront the person who had insulted his wife like that"(that is, IF her husband thought he was face toface with me) and then I realized that by doing so it would 'out' her real identity, and at this point, I highly doubt that she will ever want to be outed. I doubt that the encounter ever happened, even with the case of smistaken identity that ERMOM is trying to claim.
Interesting how you continue to tout your family's virtues and yet you yourself posses none except when it comes to your loyalty regarding your school chum, Tim Ryder. Placing American flags on lawns throughout Eagle Rock in one breath, getting high with Ryder in the next. Every Eagle Rocker should be as classy and stoned as you. Ha! I feel for your poor father who worked so hard all the years at Tritch Hardware only yo have you tarnish your family name. What a shame.
This is it. These are great people, sensible people without a specific agenda who are willing to work hard AFTER the election and do the sometimes mundane, thankless work that community building requires. Please go to the web site and download their flyer and bring it with you next Saturday when you vote! http://www.eaglerockneighbors.info/
Nice back peddle, Guy. Try keeping your story straight.
Ok BB, another anonymous internet warrior. A low class town, well, maybe since you moved in, but I have to pretty much disagree with on that one. Hopefully the door doesnt hit you in the ass on the way out. I think a statement like that just might unite even the ERMOMS and myself. But his sint about any individuals, its about all of the people you just insulted, anonymously, like the good little keyboard warrior you are. Ajay, I know I have played my part in the disinntigration of the discussion here. Congradulations for letting the internet keyboard warriors run amok on your site, lying to and insulting every sinlge member of the community that this site is supposed ot be about.
You want big box stores? Shop in Pasadena. Or Glendale. Eagle Rock is just fine the way it is.
Hardly anonymous. Any 12 yr old with 5 minutes and Google can figure out who I am. And yeah, this place aint exactly Beverly Hills. Let's count the nail salons, the run down buildings and empty storefronts, not to mention the apartment buildings that sprout like weeds with no thought to the impact on traffic. Classy stuff.
"You want big box stores? Shop in Pasadena. Or Glendale. Eagle Rock is just fine the way it is." Once again you completely miss the point of something I said. How do you find your way home from the store?
Actually, it is you who missed the point. You opine that ER needs big box stores in order to create jobs and simulate the local economy. I disagree. If you want that sort of existence where mom and pops are run out of business because they have a tough time competing with national chains, then move to Pasadena or Glendale.
Ah but you did miss the point with your kneejerk post. You also didn't take time to consider the possible benefits. A Costco on Colorado around say, the old Pillars building would bring us a huge parking lot. That would stimulate all the business on the boulevard just like the parking lot at Walgreen's helps the businesses around it. Also, what mom&pops would be affected by a Costco? I can't think of a single one.
A Costco in the center of Eagle Rock would be awful for residents and small businesses alike. This community does not need the likes of a warehouse store with a huge lot that would destroy residential streets and create gnarly traffIc issues that would negatively impact this entire neighborhood and would destroy he small-town feel. Sounds like its tIme for you to pack up and head for Glendale.
I want to reassure you that I, and all the other members of the P&C slate, very much look forward to working with you (in your new role), and the council, and our neighbors to continue making Eagle Rock a great place to live.
"@Tim B*tch Interesting how you continue to tout your family's virtues and yet you yourself have none except when it comes to loyalty regarding your school chum, Tim Ryder. Planting American flags as a child riding through Eagle Rock in one breath, getting high with Ryder in the next. Every Eagle Rocker should be as virtuous and stoned as you." One wonders whether there is some double-standard in the moderation of this board? Salacious and threatening comments of this sort should have ERM banned for life....
Trust me Mr. Larsen - if this discussion weren't redirecting me from Venice - my appearances in Eagle Rock would be quite rare. As far as I'm concerned - you can have whatever fiefdom 50 votes entitles you to - there in Eagle Rock. But when your pretended and exaggerated "problems", become the excuse for a matter of city-wide, regional, state and now even National policy - I have a vested interest in intervening - if only to restore Law and Order. Riot is a felony. Citizens have not just the right, but the duty to intervene, to keep the Peace - which is the purpose of the Law - in the case of Riot. If you want I can get you the definition of riot - from either the Penal Code of the STATE OF CALIFORNIA or the trial of William Penn (which is the more traditional common Law version). In either case - it applies to your actions. And your concern for the "illegal" Pot-shops is like the concern of the Montgomery Bus Company for the "illegal" seating position of Rosa Parks - irrelevant. What matters is Lawfulness. And I've seen no evidence provided that any of your MMD's done anything to breach "the Law".
Thank-you for confirming my suspicions - that you were simply imagining what 'might' go wrong - or what 'could' be happening - and then stating these fictional instances as fact. That is, however, perpetrating a fraud upon this court. Your admission to perjury is duly noted for the record. However your case has been DISMISSED, already. You are now in CONTEMPT. Balliff - please remove this PERSON from the court. There is no point in continuing to argue with you - your matter has already been resolved. If this elderly gentleman, whom you claim was 'almost' run-over, wishes to be sworn-in and offer testimony under oath - by all means, have him bring it to my attention. But recklessness behind the wheel is already a crime - and unless you are suggesting that EVERY patient availing themselves of an ER MMD, has committed such an infraction or misdemeanor - you are arguing - once again - for "Collective Punishment". That is a notion foreign to our concepts of Justice. Perhaps you could bring suit somewhere that it is an acceptable idea...but not here. I find that you lack standing to sue. I find your perjury to be evidence of 'moral terpitude' - and duly note these findings for the record.
"... create gnarly traffIc issues that would negatively impact this entire neighborhood..." Yeah, we've already got plenty of that. I was just thinking that if Eagle Rock doesn't have the money to solve the parking problem, getting someone else to pay for it could be an option. Let's stick with the diagonal parking on Colorado that will turn Hill Drive into a racetrack. It's already happening anyway.
God, do I love the internet.
I've even been accused of BEING from Eagle Rock - by an LA County Lifeguard who thought that it was an insult... I thought that it was funny. But there is little that has done more to lower my opinion of Eagle Rock - or it's people - than the unlawful crusade of Michael Larsen, Jose Huizar, and a few of their supporters on this board. 'Cleaning house' in Eagle Rock appears to be the orders of the day - but I'll leave that to the people of Eagle Rock. You folks get to decide who creates the image of Eagle Rock going forward (or if you stick with Larsena dn NopeGuera, perhaps backwards)... I'll leave it to you to decide Mr. Smith. It looks like you've got the sense to do the right thing - for Eagle Rock and the rest of L.A..
many years ago my youngest brother an neice, bot about 10 at the time, were both working on projects for school. They were left alone in the house for a few hours. When mom returned the kitchen was a mess, someone had tried to make a cake, and both accused the other of making the mess. A week later, at a family birthday, we decided to have a mock trial and get to the bottom of this. Each kid had a sawyer, I was the judge, and we called witnesses. Then the final question was asked, "What grade did you get on your project." My neice said she got an A, and my brother said he got a B. OBJECTION<OBJECTION, my neice yelled, and she then presented evidence that my brother actually got a C on his project. ALthough the evidence was sketchy, the fact that my brother had lied in his testimony swayed the decision in favor of my neice. The gavel came down, my brother was guilty. At that point my neice stands up and says, "No double jeopardy,,,I DID IT." The moral of the story is, When you lie to try to justify your actions, it clouds your credibility. ERMOM, a valid as your points are, and as passionately as you feel about your opinions, making up false stories to try to sway people to your side only diminishes your credibility, and calls into question the true validity of other statements.
I actually played devil's advocate in that situation and gave you the benefit of the doubt. The apology wasn't genuine, but it was the right thing to do. While I don't believe you weren't in the store because you could be lyIng about that, I opted to drop it. When YOU mentioned your relative was in the store then I knew you were being dishonest about what actually happened. You probably were in that store and you're embarking on this elaborate charade so as not to further embarrass your nice father. Unfortunately, you have done a fantastic job in tarnishing your family's name. What more untruths and back peddling will you post now? I am sure you'll think up something.