BUELLTON: Medical-marijuana dispensary could soon be restocked after July raid

CENTRAL COAST NEWS


BUELLTON: Medical-marijuana dispensary could soon be restocked after July raid


By Julian J. Ramos/STAFF WRITER




The Hezekiah Inc. medical marijuana dispensary in Buellton was raided by federal drug agents on July 26. //Julian J. Ramos /staff




Although the shelves of a medical-marijuana dispensary in Buellton remained empty after a federal raid on July 26, they could be restocked soon.

The dispensary, Hezekiah Inc., was open last week, but Jonathan Trevizo, who manned the office, said supplies could be stocked as soon as the go-ahead comes from the group's lawyers.

“They robbed us blind,” Trevizo said of the DEA raid.

Ten kilograms of marijuana, 263 grams of hashish, 2 kilograms of hash oil, 12 kilograms of edible products with marijuana and 175 plants were seized, according to Sarah Pullen, a spokeswoman for the DEA in Los Angeles.

Other federal search warrant raids of medical marijuana dispensaries occurred in the Los Angeles area the previous day. Pullen said no one was arrested in Buellton, and the investigation is ongoing into possible violations of federal laws related to manufacturing, distributing, dispensing or possessing marijuana.

Although it is a crime under federal and state law to manufacture, distribute, dispense or possess marijuana, the state of California makes an exception for the use of marijuana for medical purposes.

In 1996, 56 percent of California voters approved Proposition 215, called the Compassionate Use Initiative, which allows marijuana to be used legally by qualified patients who receive a prescription from a doctor. It was the first statewide medical marijuana voter initiative adopted in the nation.

Hezekiah, located at 92 Second St. #H, opened in January 2005, and is the only medical-marijuana dispensary in northern Santa Barbara County. Others are located in Santa Barbara.

This March, the Buellton City Council approved an extension of a previous moratorium on medical-marijuana dispensaries in the city through March 14, 2008. The moratorium prohibits the issuing of “any entitlements for the establishment or operation of a medical-marijuana dispensary.”

The moratorium gives the city time to review its zoning code, which does not include details of regulating marijuana dispensaries; develop potential zoning amendments; and research existing laws to determine the effect of potential congressional action.

Solvang, Lompoc, Santa Maria, Pismo Beach, Grover Beach and San Luis Obispo all have passed similar ordinances.

Julian J. Ramos can be reached at 688-5522, Ext. 6008 or jramos@santamariatimes.com.

August 12, 2007

http://www.santamariatimes.com/articles/2007/08/12/news/centralcoast/news07.txt


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