VIDEO: John Grace public comment regarding medical marijuana in Long Beach

John Grace public comment regarding medical marijuana in Long Beach. From Long Beach City Council Meeting April 17, 2012.

NEWS: In Long Beach City, Frustration Leads to Desperation in Solving Medical Marijuana Issue

LONG BEACH, Calif. - On March 21 at 4:41pm, plain clothes officers not providing identification of the Long Beach Police Department, along with Long Beach Department of Finance workers, initiated an illegal raid against NatureCann Non-Profit Patient Group. Acting without a warrant or court order, the officer incursion involved forcefully breaking into the patient collective where three (3) patient volunteers were assisting fellow patients. An observer recording the event outside of the collective was knocked down by an officer who told him the police "can do whatever they want." Scores of businesses along the Atlantic Avenue Corridor were disrupted by the police presence and activity.

Although no warrant was obtained by the department, and no resistance was offered by NatureCann, specialized assault equipment and armed tactics were utilized to force entry into the property. In an attempt to avoid being filmed and prior to making entry, an electronic video surveillance system designed to assist law enforcement was instead destroyed and disabled by the officers. Three (3) volunteers were abducted by the officers on-site while other officers arrested the collective's security guard at a nearby restaurant where he was on break.

When asked about the reason for the incursion and arrest, one of the female NatureCann patient volunteers who declined to be named for fear of reprisal said, "I was in fear for my life, looking at the end of a loaded firearm pointed at my head, by an unidentified intruder twice my size. They broke in and started attacking us. We follow all State laws and provide for seriously ill patients." It was later determined that the volunteers had been arrested under a city ordinance recently rendered invalid by a higher court.

In February, 2012, the Long Beach City Council enacted a ban of all medical cannabis patient dispensaries after its permitting ordinance requiring "substantial" and non-refundable fees was deemed unconstitutional by a California appellate court. Although the ban states it applies to all medical marijuana dispensaries in the city, dispensaries that had paid the substantial fee are not being targeted by authorities. The city announced it would enforce the ban only against patient groups that had not paid the fees. Days after Long Beach passed its ordinance banning all collectives, another California appellate court deemed similar bans illegal.

In June, 2011, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge found that an earlier warrantless raid by Long Beach police officers and officials was improper. Patients involved in that case have filed a suit against the city seeking damages. In addition to being arrested, the volunteer said the police had taken all of the patient group's medication as well as electronic equipment without inventorying or reporting the seizures.

For more information contact Sergio Sandoval,Director of Public Relations, Pappas Law Group,Phone #949-382-1485Email – sergio.sandoval@pappaslawgroup.com

Source: NatureCann

NEWS: Long Beach Police searching for suspects in shooting of medical marijuana patient

LONG BEACH -- Homicide detectives will be canvassing the Hellman neighborhood on Saturday in the search for three suspects wanted in connection with a brazen midday shooting that left a 32-year-old Long Beach man paralyzed.

The Oct. 4 shooting might have been the result of a botched robbery after the victim left a local medical marijuana dispensary, said Nancy Pratt, a Long Beach Police Department spokeswoman.

Though the victim is not a gang member, the shooter and the other suspects are believed to be in a gang or affiliated with a gang, police said.

The shooting occurred on Rose Avenue, just north of Seventh Street, at about 1:45 p.m. when the gunman got out of a small red car and opened fire on the victim, who was sitting in a blue car, police said.

A passenger in the victim's car was able to avoid being hit by gunfire when he bailed out of the victim's vehicle.

The victim, however, was struck in the upper body. Though he survived the shooting he was left paralyzed, Pratt said.

Long Beach Gang detectives have been investigating the shooting since last October and have exhausted all leads, prompting police to turn to the community for help, Pratt explained.

"They've run with everything they could, but they're kind of at a dead end now," Pratt said.

To help in the investigation, Homicide detectives and Police Explorers will canvass the neighborhood Friday afternoon, searching for possible witnesses and passing out fliers with descriptions of the suspects and their vehicle and a stock photo of a car similar to the car used in the crime.
The shooter is described as a male black, 25 to 29 years old. The driver of the suspects' vehicle was a female black, 19 to 21 years old. A third suspect who got into the suspects' vehicle as the victim walked out of the marijuana dispensary was described as a male black in his 20s, Pratt said.

"The descriptions are a little vague, but we're hoping that someone who was in the area at the time might have information that could aid in the investigation," Pratt said. "They might not know that they saw something significant or this could jog their memory and they might recall seeing the car or the suspects."
Anyone with information is urged to call the Gang Enforcement Detail at 562-570-7370.

Anonymous tips can be sent via text or e-mail at www.tipsoft.com.

Source: Long Beach Press-Telegram

NEWS: Two more arrested in former Chico man's killing in Long Beach

LONG BEACH — Two more suspects have been arrested in the killing of a former Chico man in 2011 in what's believed to be a medical marijuana robbery.

Phillip Victor Williamson, 29, of Los Angeles, died March 25 of that year, after being found in an alley the previous night, suffering from a gunshot wound.

Investigators discovered Williamson was involved in the distribution of marijuana from Chico to medical marijuana collectives in Los Angeles.

Williamson was thought to be carrying about $500,000 in cash and seven pounds of processed marijuana when he was killed. None of the money or pot was recovered.

Marcel Maurice Mackabee, 29, was taken into custody by Long Beach police in Chico last July 31 followed a lengthy investigation.

Mackabee's wife, Rosemary Sayegh, 32, was charged as an accessory on July 29 in the slaying of Williamson, but the case against her was later dismissed without prejudice.

Prosecutors said it could be refiled at a later date.

On Thursday detectives on the Long Beach Police Department's Career Criminal Apprehension Team arrested two more suspects. Kenneth Ray Johnson, 36, and Charles Anthony Mackbee, 42, both of Long Beach, were arrested at approximately 10 a.m. at their homes without incident. Charles

Anthony Mackabee and Marcel Mackabee are cousins.

Today the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office charged both new suspects with one count of murder.

Anyone who may have information on this case is asked to contact homicide detectives Scott Lasch and Donald Goodman at 1-562-570-7244. Anonymous tips may also be submitted via text or web by visiting www.tipsoft.com.

Source: Chico Enterprise-Record

NEWS: Long Beach judge recuses himself from medical marijuana case before sentencing

LONG BEACH -- A local judge recused himself from a medical marijuana case at the 11th hour Wednesday, admitting he made a serious error when he sent a complimentary letter to the prosecutor prior to sentencing.

Long Beach Superior Court Judge Charles Sheldon voluntarily removed himself from the case of Joe Grumbine and Joe Byron, the owners and operators of a trio of medical marijuana collectives who were convicted of illegal drug sales last month.

In a stunning revelation that drew exclamations from many in the courtroom, Sheldon admitted he sent a "complimentary letter" to Deputy District Attorney Jodi Castano before the matter was finished.


"I don't know what I was thinking," Sheldon said, adding that he meant what he said in the missive, which was dated Jan. 5, but it was inappropriate to send while the case was still active.

His recusal drew raucous applause, cheers and shouts from a courtroom brimming with about 50 medical marijuana advocates who have rallied inside and outside the Long Beach courthouse throughout Grumbine and Byron's trial.

Defense Attorney Christopher Glew said outside court that the letter congratulated the prosecutor on a job well done and showed the judge's clear bias in case.

"I've never seen anything like it," Glew said. "But it was obvious from the start that Judge Sheldon was biased ... he said from the very beginning there are no legal sales of marijuana of any kind."

Grumbine and Byron were convicted Dec. 21 -- on 13 felony counts including illegal sales of narcotics, grand theft, and filing false tax returns -- following a roughly three week trial.

Supporters of the defendants insist the charges are nothing more than an attack by zealous police and prosecutors in violation of the state's medical marijuana law and have accused authorities of fabricating evidence.

Castano insisted in her opening statements to the jury the case was about two men using the sick and infirm as a shield for illegal drug deals.

"This case is not about whether people have the right to medical marijuana," Castano told the jury at the start of the trial last month. "This case is about two wolves in sheeps' clothing. It's about two men who were out to line their pockets ... with millions of dollars."

Grumbine and Byron were arrested in December of 2009 after police raided the three locations, two in Long Beach and one in Garden Grove.

The legal wrangling began long before the trial, with numerous motions heard as both sides sought to block some witnesses and evidence.

The district attorney and defendants' attorneys disagreed from the start over whether a medical marijuana defense could be presented. Initially, Sheldon ruled no such a defense would be allowed, said supporter Cheri Sicard.

Glew and co-defense Attorney Allison Margolin challenged Sheldon's ruling in a higher court and was awarded a judgement that required the lower court to allow the medical marijuana defense, Sicard said.

Nonetheless, police and prosecutors insisted the defendants used the collectives as profit-driven drug dealing operations run like stores with frequent flier cards, specials and discounts offered inside the businesses.

The defendants, Castano said, tried to hide the businesses by using fictitious business names. She also said the accused stole electricity from neighboring businesses to hide the large amount of power needed to grow the plants.

Bills were paid by money order to eliminate paper trials, the prosecutor noted. The defendants, she said, under-reported their sales tax for two years, pocketing more than $2 million.

Though Sheldon has recused himself from the case, the convictions still stand. However Glew and Margolin said they are preparing motions for a new trial, which will be heard in a new court, by Judge Joan Comparet-Cassani, on April 3.

The motions will include arguments that Sheldon's bias denied their clients a chance at a fair trial and will also cite juror misconduct, Glew said, referring to one jurors revelation post conviction that the group used the Internet to look up the definition of marijuana collectives even though they were instructed by the court that they could not use any outside source of information while deliberating the case.

Even the appointment of the new judge looked as though it was going to be a tough fight Wednesday morning, as Glew and Margolin told Long Beach Superior Court Supervising Judge James Otto they opposed the case being transferred to Comparet-Cassani.

Moments later, however, they withdrew their challenge of the venue.

Outside the courtroom, Glew explained that though he is concerned about Comparet-Cassani's strict ruling record the only other options left at the Long Beach Court would prove even more unfavorable to the defense's case.

"We don't have a lot of options for a fair trial in Long Beach," Glew said.

Source: Press-Telegram

VIDEO: Long Beach City Council Postpones Medical Marijuana Dispensary Ban

NEWS: Joe Byron and Joe Grumbine Trial: It's a Kangaroo Courtroom

There's a reason why the marijuana-selling trial of Joe Byron and Joe Grumbine, the former owners of a pair of Long Beach cannabis collectives, is unfolding in Long Beach Superior Court's Department K. The letter, as Judge Judith Meyer (who last month referred the case to Judge Charles Sheldon) once drew laughs for explaining, stands for that lovable bouncy rodent from Down Under: the kangaroo.

As jokes go, it's not that funny, though: As the first week in Byron and Grumbine's trial in Sheldon's courtroom draws to a close today, it's becoming rapidly clear the robe-wearing octogenarian isn't exactly worried about appearing overwhelmingly biased against the two defendants.

First of all, Sheldon denied the two Joes their right to mention medical marijuana in their defense. This prevented their attorneys from sending subpoenas to witnesses who could testify they were following state law, which, in California, allows patients to smoke marijuana for medical reasons and to establish collectives to grow the plants. But thanks to a ruling last week by the California Court of Appeal, Sheldon was left with no choice but to allow such witnesses to testify.

On Monday, when confronted with this ruling, however, Sheldon refused a follow-up motion by the defense to delay the trial for a week so defense lawyers Alison Margolin and Christopher Glew could get ahold of those previously off-limits witnesses. No dice, ruled Sheldon, who insisted the trial start right away. It's been all downhill from there. According to court observers and the blog of the activist group The Human Solution, Sheldon has ruled against almost every defense objection, including ones in which prosecution witnesses were rambling onstage without answering any pending question, in which cases Sheldon simply instructs prosecutors to pose a question so that the witness can keep going.

Today, Sheldon went so far as to order a screen erected between the jury and the audience to prevent jurors (some of whom observers have already been noticed rolling their eyes at Sheldon) from seeing audience members, most of whom support the two defendants.

Supporters have been protesting the trial for weeks now, gathering every morning at 8 on the courthouse steps. The protests--and the trial itself--are scheduled to resume Monday morning.

Source: OC Weekly

NEWS: Rights of All Medical Marijuana Patients at Risk in Long Beach Case

In what will soon become one of the closest-watched court cases in medical cannabis history, Long Beach Superior Court sets the stage for a series of ongoing protests that highlight an injustice to all medical marijuana patients, providers, and advocates.

As medical marijuana patients poured out of the courtroom, another group pounded the pavement, as protests errupted for a second straight week as The People of the State of California VS. Joe Byron and Joe Grumbine unfolds.

The People vs. Joe, one of whom is a Long Beach business owner, the other an Executive Director of the non-profit group The Human Solution, is Los Angeles County’s DA Steve Cooley’s Flagship Case in his efforts to silence the two community leaders with his premise that “All Sales Are Illegal.”

Unfortunately, it’s working on Judge Charles Sheldon (who has a record of sentencing 3-strikes cases to the fullest, even on non-violent cases), as prosecutors got their way today in their motion to suppress the same rights the will of the people voted awarded people like Byron and Grumbine fifteen years ago.

“The law is clear, but Judge Sheldon, citing no reasons, is not allowing the defendents to exericise their rights to an Affirmative Defense, which the voters have clearly voted on,” reiterates Allison Margolin, one of the attorneys for one of the Joes.

This could be bad news for patients and dispensaries, providers and caregivers, and anyone who believes in the fundamental right to choose from the form of medicine, natural or synthetic, a patient finds to be most effective.

Kamala Harris inched her way to victory over Cooley largely due to the efficacy of the Americans for Safe Access ‘Not Cooley’ campaign in last year’s California Attorney General’s race because of this very issue.

The same population that could’ve turned Prop 19, which would’ve made California the first state to create regulations for marijuana use by adults, from a loss to a victory but did not, are the same group of people that didn’t want Steve Cooley making his “ALL Sales Are Illegal” perspective a state-wide stance.

Now that Cooley has set his sights on a target closer to the Los Angeles DA’s radar, the ‘Cooley’s Not Cool’ hat is back, as Joe and Joe both lost their right to their Affirmative Defense as medical marijuana patients directing a collective.

Most Federal medical marijuana cases do not allow patient’s rights to be shown to the jury, and this form of information censorship and manipulation tactics is being replicated in Cooley’s current case against the two men who had dotted all I’s and crossed all T’s while providing medical marijuana to qualified medical cannabis patients.

Even the rules they were following will not be allowed to be introduced to the Jury, once the trial begins. Long Beach’s current Congressman is even a Co-sponsor of the Truth in Trials Act, to ensure that the truth be a part of a blind Justice System.

While our Congressman, who recently endorsed the “Regulate Marijuana Like Wine” Initiative, to be a Co-sponsor on a bill that ensures transparency in medical cannabis cases, are we to assume that there is a clear need for such transparancy?

We don’t have to assume any longer, now that the lies to build the laws are being dismantled one by one, as right-leaning groups like the RAND Corporation are even publishing studies to prove than medical cannabis dispensaries make areas more safe because crime goes down, not up, like our ‘leaders’ would like us to believe.

Even elected officials in Long Beach, like Councilmembers DeLong, O’Donnell, and Schipske, who were buying the lie and perpetuating it tenfold, throwing the entire permitting process back several steps (as if their process wasn’t already flawed enough).

It’s not that Justice in Blind, however, it’s that for the prosecution to win this case, they need the Jury to be.

Unfortunately for the lead prosecutor in the case, Jodi Castano, who has admitted to not fully understanding the Endogenous Cannabinoid Signaling System (eCBss), which regulates the human body systems that keep us all alive, and doesn’t want the Jury to understand it either.

In fact, she is quoted as saying, “I’ve never even heard of it,” underscoring a larger problem.

Unless local Long Beach residents have been living under a rock these past few years, the jury pool will fully understand that this is a medical marijuana case, and they may follow Montana residents, where Jury Nullification has come up, and where Missoula couldn’t even seat a jury.

If they understand science and have access to a smart-phone or computer, and if they live in Long Beach, they most likely understand marijuana IS a medicine also, even if they know even less than Castano about the eCBss, who is prosecuting a case that is the clearest representation of wasteful spending as California reaches a second recession and resources become more scarce.

Many innocent people every day are victims of violent crimes, and many of those crimes go unsolved. Perhaps our law enforcement and court systems could be less controlled by politics, which is the driving force behind the perpetually-flawed perspective the war-mongering in the War on Drugs provides.

Long Beach is even in the process of providing permits for the same thing Joe Byron and Joe Grumbine are being accused of doing.

Twelve charges of sales occurred by undercover officers and informants who obtained legal medical cannabis recommendation by physicians, and then went into the medical marijuana dispensary to get the medicine their doctors deemed worthy of introduction to their own body’s marijuana system it makes.

Sounds like normal medical cannabis dispensing center (MCDC) protocol: a qualified patient comes in, gets what they were unable to grow for themselves, and pay for it.

As a matter of fact, it sounds like America to me too. Not that a California MCDC can earn a profit, but I do notice that health care delivery in America is for profit.

Health care insurance is for profit, the medicine is for profit, health care delivery is for profit (which is why 50 millions Americans don’t even have it), and even marijuana in a pill, Marinol, is FOR PROFIT!

Joe Byron and Joe Grumbine were operating a MCDC, and for those that found it too difficult to even go to a safe access point like their dispensary, they would set up and teach patients how to grow their own.

The whole plant is also much more effective than a synthetic, isolated, pathetic attempt to replicate the safe and natural substance in the first place. So natural in fact, we make it ourselves naturally.

One such natural body chemical, called Anandamide, Sanskrit for ‘Bliss’, is like Delta-9 THC, which is the psychoactive property. It only becomes psychoactive when THCA is heated up and turns into Delta 9.

Our body also has receptors that link with the cannabis plant’s properties that bind to each other like a key in a lock, many keys and many locks really, as our body’s cannabis system is responsible for maintaining homeostasis and regulating every other body system we have.

So it’s rather important that elected officials and appointed persons understand what they are trying to regulate, let alone restrict, which is what will happen if Cooley’s case is made by manipulation, omission, and censorship.

If Castano is forced to finish fighting Cooley’s War, more than one Braggart Soldier will ride away, taking marijuana prohibition with them, going quietly into their watermark, swept away by mandate.

Source: MedicalMarijuana411.com

NEWS: Citizens Outraged Over Wasteful Long Beach Trial

LONG BEACH, CA – Hundreds of medical marijuana advocates and activists from throughout Southern California will be holding a rally outside Long Beach Superior Courthouse on September 15th to protest the city’s wasting millions of tax payer dollars investigating, raiding, and prosecuting legal medical marijuana collectives while vital public services are being cut.

That is the day when Judge Charles Sheldon will decide which witnesses, if any, will be eligible to testify for the defense in the trial of Joe Grumbine and Joe Byron, the former operators of two legal medical cannabis collectives in Long Beach and Garden Grove. The city claims the collectives were operating outside of the law, yet ironically a Riverside County judge found Grumbine in complete compliance with California’s medical marijuana laws just 5 weeks before the city of Long Beach sent 120 armed SWAT officers, drug sniffing dogs, and helicopters to raid 17 locations. The December 2009 raid started the men on an entire new prosecution ordeal that’s been dragging on nearly 2 years.

Citizens have presented the Long Beach City Council with numerous FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) requests on the exact amount spent on what they consider to be a frivolous and unnecessary investigation and prosecution at a time when the city is cutting services and California has been ordered to reduce its prison population due to overcrowding. The requests have gone ignored and no actual figures have come from Long Beach officials, but activists estimate the amount to be upwards of 5 million dollars.

“I recently attended a town hall meeting with Long Beach council woman Rae Gabelich where citizens were complaining about their local police station annex being understaffed,” says Long Beach resident Madeleine Johnson. “Yet the city found it wise to send helicopters, dogs, and 120 SWAT officers after a man who had already been found to be following the law? It just doesn’t make any sense.”

Johnson was one of about 80 concerned citizens who filled the courtroom and hallways of Long Beach Superior Court during Byron and Grumbine’s August 16’th pre-trial hearing. At least 3 times that number is expected for their September 15th Jury Selection. Supporters from as far south as San Diego and as far north as San Luis Obispo have pledged to attend the rally.

“People all over the state are fed up with law enforcement and our elected officials ignoring the medical marijuana laws meant to protect patients and wasting enormous tax dollars in the process,” says Grumbine.

Local chapters of numerous organizations including The Human Solution (a non profit organization founded by Grumbine), Americans for Safe Access (ASA), the National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), Marijuana Anti Prohibition Project (MAPP), the Landa Prison Outreach Program (LPOP), and Long Beach’s Committee of Patients (COP) are currently planning how to best show their outrage at the system and support for the two men caught in the crosshairs of California’s deeply flawed justice system concerning medical marijuana.

Those wishing to join the rallies, participate in court support, or donate to Joe Grumbine and Joe Byron’s legal defense funds can do so at The Human Solution’s website (www.the-human-solution.org) or phone 951-436-6312 for additional details.

Long Beach Medical Marijuana Dispensaries, Collectives and Co-ops

1 Love Beach Club
2767 E Broadway [map]
Long Beach, CA 90803
Hours: Mon-Sat 11am to 8pm, Sun 12am to 5pm
Phone: 562-343-5388
E-Mail: info@1love420.com
Web: http://www.1love420.com

562 Discount Meds
2025 E 10th St. [map]
Long Beach, CA 90804
Phone: 562-343-7007
Web: lbmmd.com

Alternative Therapeutic Solutions
5707 Atlantic Ave [map]
Long Beach, CA 90805
Phone: 562-428-7033
Fax: 562-372-3315
Hours: Mon-Sun 10am to 7pm
Web: facebook.com/ATS.MEDS
Twitter: twitter.com/ATSMEDS

Avalon Wellness Collective

1302 Gaylord [map]
Long Beach, CA 90813
Phone: 562-628-8881
Web: Weed Maps

Belmont Shore Natural Care
5375 E 2nd St., Long Beach, CA 90803
Phone: 562-987-0210
Hours: Mon-Sun 9:00am to 7pm
Website: belmontshorenaturalcare.com

C.A.R.E. Collective
3009 E. South Street [map]
Long Beach, CA 90805
Phone: 562-633-5874

Chronic Pain Releaf Center
1501 Santa Fe Ave. [map]
Long Beach, CA 90813
Hours: Mon-Sun 9am to 7pm
Phone: 562-432-5555
Website: http://www.myreleaf.com

Cornerstone Health & Wellness

1838 E. Wardlow St.
Long Beach, CA 90807
Phone: 562-426-9800
Hours: Mon-Sat 10am to 8pm, Sun 10am to 5pm
Website: cornerstonemeds.com/

Dank Depot
5595 E. 7th Street
Long Beach, CA 90804
Phone: 562-597-6041
Hours: Mon-Sun 10am to 8pm
Website: http://www.DankDepot.com
E-Mail: dank_depot@yahoo.com

Green Earth Center
3748 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach, CA 90807 [map]
Hours: Mon-Sat 11am-8pm, Sun 11am-6pm
Phone: 562-989-0300
Email: info@greenearthcenter.com
Web: greenearthcenter.blogspot.com



Greenhouse Caregivers
1428 W. Willow St. Long Beach, CA 90810 [map]
Hours: Mon-Sun 10am to 8pm
Phone: 562-290-8180
Email: ghcaregivers@verizon.net

Herbal Solutions:

1. 1206 E. Wardlow Rd. Long Beach, CA - 562-997-2929 - Hours: Daily 10am-8pm
2. 5746 E. 2nd St. Long Beach, CA - 562-434-5075 - Hours: Daily 10am-8p

High Quiggle Healing Center
1532 E. Broadway [map and more]
Long Beach, CA 90802
Phone: 562-951-3975
Hours: Mon-Sat 10am to 8:00pm, Sun 1:00pm to 8:00pm
Email: 420firestarter@gmail.com

Industry Green Collective
2200 N. Lakewood Blvd. [map]
Long Beach, CA 90815
Phone: 562-986-9400
Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 11am-6pm

Irie Collective
1424 E. Broadway Ave. [map]
Long Beach, CA 90802
Hours: Mon-Sun 10am to 7pm
Phone: 562-432-2111

Long Beach Collective
1731 E. Artesia Blvd. [map]
Long Beach, CA 90805
Hours: Mon-Sat 9am to 7pm, Sun 10am to 7pm
Phone: 562-934-2520

Long Beach Green Room
1735 E. 7th St. [map]
Long Beach, CA 90813
Hours: Mon-Sun 9am to 7pm
Phone: 562-591-0001

Natural Solutions
2130 W. Cowles St. [map]
Long Beach, CA 90813
Phone: 562-425-8310

NatureCann
4340 Atlantic Ave.
Long Beach, CA 90807
Hours: Mon-Sat 11am to 8pm, Sun 12pm to 5pm
Phone: 323-515-4500
Website: www.naturecann.com
Email: info@naturecann.com

Covers the following zip codes in Long Beach, California: 90745, 90746, 90747, 90749, 90755, 90801, 90802, 90803, 90804, 90805, 90806, 90807, 90808, 90809, 90810, 90813, 90814, 90815, 90822, 90831, 90832, 90833, 90834, 90835, 90840, 90842, 90844, 90845, 90846, 90847, 90848, 90853, 90888, 90895, 90899

VIDEO: Nichole West discusses medical cannabis on Healthy OC

Patient-advocate Nichole West of CannaCollective Long Beach shares her insight on medical cannabis.

VIDEO: David Zink on the medical marijuana dispensary case known as PAC vs Long Beach

David Zink during public comment at the Long Beach city council meeting shares some insight into a medical marijuana dispensaries case PAC vs Long Beach. From Tuesday, February 8, 2011.

VIDEO: Madaleine Johnston testifies on medical marijuana ordinance at LB council meeting

NEWS: LB tightens up medical marijuana law

LONG BEACH - Medical marijuana advocates came close to getting some leeway Tuesday in the city's marijuana regulations, but fell one vote short of a more lenient version of the law.

The council voted 5-4 to finalize an amended ordinance that prohibits medical marijuana collectives from being within 1,000 feet of parks, among other requirements. The council had already approved a law in March that outlawed collectives near schools, in residential areas or near one another, but decided to make it more restrictive.

The change is expected to force 11 collectives or cultivation sites to close, leaving 26 citywide, mostly in the western half of Long Beach.

The original law also required that collectives go through a permitting process, and that process hadn't been completed when the council decided late last year to alter the ordinance.

Council members Rae Gabelich, Steve Neal, James Johnson and Dee Andrews voted against the amendment. The council also voted 7-2, with Gabelich and Andrews dissenting, to establish a one-year moratorium on issuing new medical marijuana permits.

"I continue to oppose the changes in this ordinance because it changes the playing field midstream," Gabelich said. She added that changing the ordinance opens the city to more litigation.

Long Beach was already facing seven lawsuits over the law, and Deputy City Attorney Mike Mais said that an eighth lawsuit was filed this month.

Johnson voted against the law for a different reason from the others, maintaining his position that the city should restrict the number of collectives to two in each of the nine council districts so that no area has an over-concentration of them.

Other aspects of the new regulations are a 45-day public comment period on proposed collective locations, after which the council will have a hearing to determine whether the collectives should be allowed; a requirement that video surveillance systems be installed; and limiting collectives' hours of operation to 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Each collective also will have to submit an annual audited report on revenues, expenditures and operational costs.

Source: Long Beach Press Telegram

NEWS: Medical marijuana law will again go to council

LONG BEACH - Proposed medical marijuana laws are scheduled for a final vote by Long Beach City Council members Tuesday night.

Usually at this point, the vote would be simply a rubber stamp and wouldn't warrant further discussion by the council.

But considering that this is a revision of a previously approved law, which never fully went into effect - and the council was divided over changing it - there could be attempts to alter it one more time.

In March 2010, the council approved stringent rules for marijuana collectives, including prohibiting them near schools, in residential zones or close to one another.

The proposed additional regulations, which got an initial vote of support in December, would also restrict collectives from being within 1,000 feet of parks, among other regulations.

Medical marijuana advocates and operators of collectives weren't happy with the initial ordinance, but they were livid over the council's attempt to change it after collectives had invested money, paid fees and gone to the trouble to meet all of the original law's rules. About a dozen collectives or cultivation sites will be forced to close once the new parks restriction is in place.

The vote on the proposed laws is the last item on the council's agenda.

Source: Contra Costa Times

Video: Long Beach City Council Discusses Medical Marijuana Ordinance and Further Restrictions

Long Beach City Council Meeting (December 14, 2010)

Part 1 of 2


Part 2 of 2

NEWS: Pot Collectives Vow To Fight Further City Restrictions

The medical marijuana collectives facing elimination in Long Beach have vowed to keep fighting for their right to exist — in the face of a second reading to finalize the law this January.

During its Dec. 14 meeting, the City Council passed a first reading for the medical marijuana ordinance that will eliminate as many as a dozen more collectives. Many of those collective owners have come out publicly, or through an attorney, pleading with the council to allow for relocation.

Some collective owners said they are trying to remain optimistic they will get an opportunity to relocate.

The original ordinance was enacted in the late summer, eliminating many of an estimated 90-plus collectives through an application and lottery process. After the lottery, the number of potential collectives was reduced to 32.

Then in early November, Third District Councilman Gary DeLong, Fifth District Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske and Fourth District Councilman Patrick O’Donnell introduced an agenda item for further restrictions. The council decided to enact park buffers. It was believed then that an additional nine collectives would be eliminated with the newer restrictions added.

Vance Watson, president of One Source Discount Caregivers, 5115 Atlantic Ave., said he believes his operation has legal grounds to stop the city from shutting it down. His dispensary was a winner in the lottery earlier this year, but would be shut down by the new ordinance restrictions not allowing collectives near a park.

“They pulled the rug right out from under us,” he said.

Watson said he has been working with three different lawyers in regards to what types of action his dispensary can take, depending on whether the council passes a second reading with no changes from the Dec. 14 vote.

To some owners, the process has been discredited with the latest round of restrictions, which appear to single out certain collectives — including Herbal Solutions Naples, 5746 E. Second St.

In a statement released by ownership, Herbal Solutions accused the council of “trying to exercise their legislative powers in an unabashed attempt to change the outcome of the lottery.”

“This is not a minor issue and all citizens of the city should be concerned with the precedent that this amendment sets,” the statement says.

Watson said the City Council removing beaches from the definition of parks also has raised some eyebrows.

“Who benefits from them not including beaches?” he said. “Aren’t kids still at beaches? What kind of politicking is really going on behind the scenes?”

Ninth District Councilman Steven Neal initially brought up striking beaches from the definition during the council meeting. He said his intent has been to move forward with rules that follow the original ordinance as closely as possible.

“The city has been levied with several lawsuits to date, and any changes would add further lawsuits,” he said.

The removal of beaches from the parks definition is likely to spare one or two collectives, according to initial estimates.

DeLong said his intent with further restrictions were motivated by his constituents.

“My goal is to significantly reduce the amount of dispensaries and we accomplished that goal on Tuesday (Dec. 14),” he said. “It’s hard to predict the future, but I don’t expect any additional changes going forward. However, I do expect changes a year from now (when the moratorium on accepting applications ends).”

There is still some optimism that relocation will be allowed for the nine-plus collectives that are scheduled for displacement, Watson said.

“Everyone in my situation believes the city will allow for relocation,” he said.

Herbal Solutions also is holding out hope.

“Herbal Solutions Naples has publically offered to relocate its collective out of Naples in a good faith effort to address community concerns,” the statement said. “The city’s refusal to provide relocation is baffling and amounts to nothing more than a penalty and spot zoning. Herbal Solutions Naples remains hopeful that the council will vote to allow impacted collectives to relocate when the ordinance is considered again in January, but is prepared to take legal action to protect its rights in the event that the council insists on adopting an unjust and unlawful amendment.”

Watson said his lawyers are looking at the law in regards to vested rights issues and potential impact studies they feel the council should have authorized before voting on the law.

The City Council does have the right to revisit the issue in January (Jan. 4 is the next scheduled council meeting) before passing a second reading, assistant city attorney Mike Mais said. He said the city’s attorney’s office is confident the law will stand up in court regardless.

“We feel like we’re on legally solid ground,” he said. “We’ll do our best to defend it.”

Source: Gazettes

NEWS: Restrictions That Will Close 12 Marijuana Dispensaries Approved

The City Council extensively debated the current restrictions and ordinances governing medical marijuana dispensaries in the city of Long Beach last night, ultimately deciding to close any dispensaries operating within 1,000 feet of parks (but not including beaches).

Councilmembers Dee Andrews, James Johnson and Rae Gabelich dissented in the 6-3 vote.

The move is expected to close 12 currently operating dispensaries, according to the Press-Telegram today. The Council also approved a 60-day relocation provision, and decided that site inspection hours will coincide with the dispensary's operating hours.

An earlier motion by James Johnson to restrict medical marijuana dispensaries to two per Council district was not approved (2-7, with Johnson and O'Donnell in approval).

Source: Long Beach Post

NEWS: Council Tweaks Medical Marijuana Law Again

The number of possible medical marijuana collectives in Long Beach continues to shrink.

The City Council passed a first reading Tuesday of the medical marijuana ordinance that will eliminate about a dozen more collectives by adding a buffer zone for parks after several different substitutes and amendments were turned away.

The council passed the following rules:

• Collectives will not be allowed to exist within 1,000 feet of parks (in addition to the 1,000-foot restriction to elementary and middle schools, 1,500 feet from high schools and 1,000 feet from other collectives). However, beaches were stricken from the definition of parks for the purposes of this ordinance.

• There will be a 45-day public comment period regarding the propriety of issuing a permit for a particular location. There will be a City Council hearing within 60 days after the 45-public hearing period.

• Each approved collective will need to install and maintain video surveillance equipment that will allow the police department to monitor the exterior grounds for the purpose of looking into criminal and nuisance activity.

• Collectives will be allowed to operate only between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.

• Each collective will be required to submit an annual audited report prepared by a CPA that will detail statements including revenue, operational costs and expenditures.

• There will be a one-year moratorium on accepting any new applications starting immediately.

The original law had been enacted in the late summer, eliminating many of an estimated 90-plus existing collectives through an application and lottery process. After the lottery, the number of potential collectives was reduced to 32.

Then in early November, Third District Councilman Gary DeLong, Fifth District Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske and Fourth District Councilman Patrick O’Donnell introduced an agenda item for further restrictions. The council decided to enact the park buffers. It was believed at the time that an additional nine collectives would be eliminated with the newer restrictions added.

For much of the meeting, the debate centered on three issues: Whether patients’ rights were violated with further security camera measures, if collectives eliminated by newer restrictions should receive a 60-day relocation period and whether the council should go further and enact rules that would restrict the number of collectives to two per district.

Eighth District Councilwoman Rae Gabelich said she was concerned with requiring collectives to have a “live tape” setup for the Long Beach Police Department to use at all times. Several people in the public comment portion of the item echoed her sentiments.

“Is it (this kind of measure) going to be at a CVS or Walgreens?” asked Christina Roberts, a First District resident and U.S. Army veteran.

Seventh District Councilman James Johnson remained adamant that the council vote to cap the number of collectives to a maximum of two per district. He pointed out that as the buffer zones stand right now, that his and other districts in north Long Beach have a much larger number of collectives. He said he wanted a “more equitable distribution” so that no district was overburdened, and that patients would have equal access all over the city.

Ninth District Councilman Steven Neal made a motion to adopt the further restrictions, but to allow those displaced a relocation period of 60 days — and to remove beaches from the parks definition for this specific ordinance. That motion passed 5-4.

However, during the council’s vote to impose the one-year moratorium, it appeared as though Schipske had a change of heart. She asked the council to reconsider the vote that had passed 5-4. She then changed her vote and the measure failed 5-4 (Schipske, O’Donnell, Johnson, DeLong and Second District Councilwoman Suja Lowenthal voted against).

Earlier, the council voted 7-2 (Johnson, O’Donnell dissenting) against Johnson’s request for a maximum collective cap of two.

The council passed its final ordinance 6-3 (Johnson, Gabelich and Sixth District Councilman Dee Andrews dissenting).

The new restrictions could open the city up to more lawsuits from collectives. Attorney Richard Brizendine warned the council that nine collectives already had approached him about potential litigation against the city.

Lobbyist Carl Kemp, who said he was representing four collectives, pleaded with the council to at least allow for the 60-day relocation amendment to pass.

“You have to let people relocate if you change the rules (further),” he said.

The council still must pass the ordinance change on a second reading before it goes into effect.

Source: Gazettes

NEWS: Long Beach pot law gets legal setback

COURTS: Judge must determine if city can regulate a federally illegal drug.

The future of Long Beach's medical marijuana regulations - and potentially of medical marijuana throughout the state - is in question after an appeals court ruling Wednesday.

The 2nd District Court of Appeals ruled that a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge must reexamine his decision Nov. 2 upholding Long Beach's new medical marijuana ordinance.

At issue is whether Long Beach's issuance of permits for medical marijuana collectives is a violation of federal law, which considers marijuana an illegal drug. That is exactly what the plaintiffs, medical marijuana patients Ryan Pack and Anthony Gayle, argue in their lawsuit.

The appeals court ruled that the lower court didn't fully address the matter.

"The issue of federal preemption was raised but not considered in the trial court," the appeals court says in its order. "This court believes that this is an important unresolved question that should be addressed."

Long Beach's law requires collectives to meet a range of requirements before they can be given a permit to operate. Among other things, the ordinance prohibits collectives from locating in residential zones, near schools or near each other, and it requires that the marijuana be grown within the city limits.

The appeals courts decision to stay the lower court's ruling doesn't have an immediate impact on the enforcement or enactment of Long Beach's law.

Matthew Pappas, the attorney for the plaintiffs, couldn't be reached for comment Wednesday, but City Attorney Bob Shannon didn't seem to consider the appeals court decision a loss.

"I am frankly relieved a court is finally addressing the elephant in the room - the elephant in the room being the impact that federal law has on state law," Shannon said.

Under a 1996 voter-approved proposition, California allows the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes if recommended by a doctor. Advocates say that cities and counties must provide patients with reasonable access to the drug, which is used by cancer patients, AIDS patients, those with chronic pain and others.

If the Los Angeles County court rules that Long Beach's ordinance violates federal laws, Long Beach would likely have to repeal or rewrite its ordinance.

The ruling could set a precedent for similar cases around the state, or if appealed, it could eventually work its way up to the state Supreme Court. Any decision there could have far-reaching effects on California's medical marijuana laws, possibly reinterpreting what state or local governments

"It's a bigger issue than just simply Long Beach's ordinance," Shannon said.

That, he said, is why it seems strange that medical marijuana advocates would use such a tactic in fighting Long Beach's regulations. The city is fighting five other legal challenges of the ordinance as well, but none of them uses federal preemption.

"Even if you accept the argument that there is preemption, how does it benefit medical marijuana advocates? It doesn't," Shannon said.

Long Beach is one of many California cities that have attempted to regulate or outright ban medical marijuana in recent years as the number of collectives and dispensaries has skyrocketed.

Almost daily, it seems, there are new developments in marijuana laws around the state.

On Tuesday, the County Board of Supervisors voted to create a ban on medical marijuana outlets in unincorporated areas of the city.

Last week, the Long Beach council voted to rework its ordinance to make it more restrictive by implementing new rules, such as prohibiting collectives near parks. The move, which came after months of debate over the initial version of the law but before permits had been issued, sparked an outcry from the local medical marijuana community.

Source: Long Beach Press Telegram