San Bernardino authorities raid dispensaries

The San Bernardino city attorney and police raided a marijuana dispensary in the 3200 block of North E Street in the first of several sweeps aiming to shut down remaining store fronts in the city.

With the pungent smell of marijuana wafting along the street, an undercover narcotic task force and city attorney investigators shut down the e Street Collective and arrested four people on misdemeanor citations of operating a marijuana business, City Attorney Jim Penman said.

Its only signage are two green crosses on the windows and a backward, faded sign, “Pro Wrestling School.”

The two co-owners and two volunteers were handcuffed and declined to comment to reporters.
Inside the store, police seized 30 pounds of marijuana, including 80 growing plants. Police also found a loaded 12-gauge shotgun and more than $9,000 cash, Penman said.
Each person arrested was expected to be cited and released with an order to return to court next months.

Several patients stood outside the storefront shouting at police, but declined to comment or give their names.

On Monday, the California Supreme Court ruled that local governments can ban medical marijuana dispensaries. San Bernardino is among the 200 cities and counties statewide that have such a ban.

On Tuesday night, two City Attorney investigator teams served 30 marijuana dispensaries with notices to close, Penman said. For each day they remained open, they faced a $1,000 fine.

Most of the stores closed immediately, Penman said. But as of Wednesday night, 13 of the stores remained open. Police believe a few stores may have reopened after they initially closed.

“We’re treating these businesses as illegal drug houses and drug businesses,” Penman said. “What we hope to find today and everyday is that these stores have closed. Our goal is to shut everyone down.”

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