LAPD Shuts Down Chatsworth’s Last Medical Marijuana Dispensary

It was the last medical marijuana dispensary standing. While a ban of all medical marijuana dispensaries operating in the City of Los Angeles is in the works, the LAPD continues to crack down and wrapped their storefront sweep in Chatsworth Monday afternoon. The last remaining medical marijuana shop in the district was closed down, resulting in three arrests.

Narcotics officers from the LAPD’s Devonshire Division served Herbal Medicine Care, located in the 10100 block of Topanga Canyon Boulevard, a search warrant around 3pm, following an extensive investigation into criminal conduct at the store, reports City News Service. Police confiscated over 50 pounds of marijuana, including 156 plants, along with the store’s medical records. The weed was valued at over $600,000.

Over 60 medical marijuana businesses once existed in the Devonshire Division, but a crack down beginning in December 2008 has cleared out shops. After investigating 37 facilities in the area, members of the Devonshire Division Narcotics Enforcement Detail found them to be in violation of state law and shut them down. Violations included armed security guards clad in plain clothes, guns and assault weapons on the premises and possession of cocaine. Since the start of the enforcement, police have arrested 74 people and seized over $2 million in cash, 30 guns and “a ton” of marijuana, says CNS, along with LSD, hashish, cocaine and anabolic steroids.

During Monday’s news conference, police were sure to note that although California voters approved Proposition 215 in 1996, which permitted the medicinal use of marijuana, state and federal law enforce that using pot for recreational use is illegal. Deputy Chief Jorge Villegas said, “We’re not done yet. There are approximately 200 other locations within the San Fernando Valley that we’re also going to be targeting,”

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