Los Angeles County Criminal Lawyer Blog

After a three-year campaign by the Los Angeles Police Department to put an end to medical marijuana dispensaries in the northern San Fernando Valley, the final store was shut down at the beginning of February. The crackdown comes after the decision to shut down San Fernando marijuana dispensaries as the sale of the drug is still illegal despite the California law which makes its use legal for medical purposes, according to The Contra Costa Times.

The decision was made to shut down the shops after a large amount of community complaints about the stores and the reported rise in robberies, thefts, and assaults in connection to their presence. Additionally, because the dispensaries operate through donations made by members for the drug, the stores were seen as operating on a retail basis by authorities, which is illegal. During the string of drug store closures, police confiscated over a ton of marijuana, nine kilograms of cocaine, $2 million in cash, and 30 guns, as well as arresting 74 people.

The decision to close the stores has become controversial as the line between state and federal law has been blurry over the issue of medical marijuana dispensaries. Marijuana is considered an illegal drug by the federal government under the Controlled Substances Act, but its use and dispense under prescription is legal in California under Health and Safety Code 11362.5 pursuant to the Compassionate Use Act. Because of the contradiction, Los Angeles County has allowed dispensaries to set up shop, but there was never any hard rules covering the details of what dispensaries could and could not do. Now that many shops have been shut down, it's possible that the crackdown may continue on to other parts of Southern California.

All drug crimes in Southern California have complex guidelines and strict penalties for those found guilty. As such, those facing drug crime charges should quickly find an experienced criminal defense lawyer. San Fernando drug crime defense attorney Dan Kann has the experience and skills necessary to successfully defend his clients against harsh penalties in Southern California. For more information, call the law team at the Law Offices of Daniel Kann at (888) 744-7730.

The Ventura County Sheriff's Department conducted a raid off the coast of Ventura during the early morning hours of January 4, which resulted in approximately 2,000 pounds of marijuana being seized. Officials arrested 10 suspects during the raid which occurred around 3 a.m. in conjunction with an effort to curb drug trafficking along the California coast, according to The Los Angeles Times.

The raid found officers descending on a small, open watercraft powered by outboard motors known as a panga off the Ventura coast. Officials arrested nine suspects found on the boat and later arrested another suspect found hiding among the rocks on the shore. Another panga was found on January 3 on the Santa Barbara coast, which officials stated was used for drug smuggling, as well.

Police have not released details concerning what charges will be leveled against the arrested suspects.

While marijuana is subject to lesser fines and prison sentences than many other drugs in California, those caught illegally using such a substance will still face harsh penalties. If such a crime involves transporting marijuana into California, the penalties will be even greater. According to California Health and Safety Code Section 11360 (a), "Every person who transports, imports into this state, sells, furnishes, administers, or gives away, or offers to transport, import into this state, sell, furnish, administer, or give away, or attempts to import into this state or transport any marijuana shall be punished by imprisonment ... for a period of two, three or four years."

All charges of drug crimes can result in lengthy prison sentences and heavy fines for those found guilty. As such, it is important to hire an experienced criminal defense lawyer. If you or a loved one is facing such charges, contact a Ventura drug crime defense attorney at The Law Offices of Daniel Kann for experienced defense against harsh penalties and lengthy prison sentences. Call our offices today for a complimentary consultation on your case at (805) 290-4932.

Sources:http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/01/2000-pounds-of-marijuana-seized-off-ventura-coast.html; http://leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=hsc&group=11001-12000&file=11357-11362.9

It has been a bad year for those in the marijuana industry in California. Perhaps to fight the "War on Drugs" or perhaps to win political favor in an election cycle, federal authorities have been aggressively pursuing marijuana dispensaries and pot growers statewide as the difference between state and federal laws on the drug rages on.

The Los Angeles Times reports that seven people were recently arrested in a Ventura drug case where authorities allege people were running a marijuana plantation.

The newspaper also reports that a judge recently ruled in San Diego that pot dispensaries can be evicted; many cases have been coming up where U.S. Attorneys are threatening landlords to evict these legitimate businesses as a scare tactic.

Ventura criminal defense lawyers find it appalling that more than a decade after California passed a law making the drug legal for medicinal purposes, federal authorities are now trying to shut down businesses and trample the rights of patients and growers. State and federal law has differed for years, but now that it's convenient politically, it has come into focus.

Many people make their living selling this drug to help people who have bad illnesses and diseases. With unemployment soaring as it has, especially in this state, jobs shouldn't be threatened or taken away at such a tough time.

In Ventura County, authorities allege seven men were running the marijuana operation after they found 130 pounds of marijuana plants drying near Pyramid Lake. Deputies were on patrol in the area and found a campsite on a hillside.

Irrigation tubes were connected to a nearby creek, sheriff's deputies said. Land had been cleared and terraced for the marijuana to be grown. Deputies found food, sleeping bags and other materials.

They then followed footprints leading to the seven men, who were at a cliff side when deputies found them. Authorities believe they were trying to flee but ran out of room to run.

A San Diego judge has ruled that pot dispensaries aren't legal anywhere in that city because of zoning laws. A Superior Court judge ruled that private companies can evict marijuana dispensaries from their buildings legally.

In recent years, San Diego's city council passed a zoning ordinance allowing medical marijuana dispensaries. But activists thought it was too restrictive, so they put together a petition to have the issue put to a vote. Instead, the council rescinded the ordinance, outlawing the dispensaries.

In recent weeks, federal authorities have tried to convince landlords to evict the dispensary businesses to force the issue. Marijuana supporters have filed lawsuits and plan to file temporary restraining orders to stop the court ruling.

Even though many of these businesses are legit under California law, federal authorities are trying to crack down, which can lead to drug charges. These must be fought aggressively so that authorities can't try to make an example out of people who did little wrong other than follow state law.

Continue reading "Marijuana in Los Angeles Continues to Come Under Attack, Leading to Drug Charges" »

A 23-year-old man who allegedly bribed a Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) official to assist him in smuggling suitcases of marijuana onto a cross country flight was apprehended and arrested by the officers with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The accused is said to be the son of a prior fire chief in Los Angeles and the sibling of a current member of the L.A. Airport Police department; however, the FBI stated that neither family members knew of his activities trafficking or selling illicit drugs, according to a document about the case.

According to reporting by the Los Angeles Times, the man allegedly paid a 28-year-old Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) female officer to permit bags filled with pot to pass through security inspections. The smuggling run was busted when a baggage official for American Airlines caught the pungent odor of marijuana emanating from a suitcase already checked for a Boston flight. After alerting other TSA officials about the bags, which had been loaded on the plane, they were removed and searched. Approximately 15 pounds of pot was found bundled in plastic wrap. The man was then removed from the plane by the FBI and interrogated. On this specific run, the FBI claimed the man planned to sell the marijuana in Boston, on the other end of the flight.

The man told the FBI during interrogation that he executed nine comparable smuggling runs, and paid $500 to the same TSA official for her assistance on a per bag basis. The FBI said the TSA officer's job responsibilities included checking luggage for any illicit or dangerous materials through an x-ray apparatus, and then searching them if an alarm sounds. Both individuals charged in the matters were released on $20,000 bonds each and set for arraignment on November 14.

Committing any violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act within sections 11357-11362.9, pertaining to marijuana offenses, of the California Health and Safety Code can lead to severe consequences, especially for repeat offenders. If you've been charged with drug trafficking or possessing drugs with intent to sell in Los Angeles County, contact the Los Angeles drug crime defense attorneys at the Law Offices of Daniel Kann for experienced and vigilant legal representation. Call (310)593-2435 for a complimentary consultation.

Source: http://articles.cnn.com/2011-10-18/justice/justice_california-airport-drug-bust_1_drug-scheme-tsa-officers-fbi?_s=PM:JUSTICE