The District Attorney's office has shut down yet another medical marijuana dispensary in the City of San Diego. Yesterday agents and police officers raided the Next Generation Cannabis Club on San Ysidro Boulevard.
The raid comes one day after a state appellate court overturned the conviction of Jovan Jackson, a manager of a medical marijuana dispensary who was arrested for possession and distribution of cannabis in 2008. The appellate court decision was seen as a victory by proponents of medical marijuana.
"This is an important milestone, because until now, some law enforcement and lawmakers all have refused to acknowledge that patients can organize cooperative and collective associations that sell medical marijuana," read a blog post on the Americans for Safe Access website.
"Today’s decision may have far-reaching implications for local and state implementation and regulation of medical marijuana."
Unfortunately for proponents, the "far-reaching implications" have not extended to the District Attorney's office.
"It was the same thug mentality of smash and grab, break everything, guns in faces, screaming, and nobody gets arrested," says Marcus Boyd, vice-chair of the San Diego Chapter of Americans for Safe Access. "As a result, all the medicine and all the money is gone."
Boyd says the raid occurred around 1pm. "They ransacked the store. They kicked doors in, despite the fact that they were unlocked. At the same time about 30 to 40 patients in need of medicine were outside the store watching."
"The really sad part is the day before a woman came to me whose mother is suffering from terminal brain cancer," said Boyd as his voice begins to quiver. "She told me that the medicine prescribed to her mother was $3,000 a month and she just couldn't afford it. She asked for help to ease her mother's pain. I called Next Generation and they said that all terminal patients receive free medicine at the store.
"I don't have the heart to call her back. I don't know what to tell her."
Watch the video from Americans For Safe Access:
http://youtu.be/56a7rQaUXzQ
The District Attorney's office has shut down yet another medical marijuana dispensary in the City of San Diego. Yesterday agents and police officers raided the Next Generation Cannabis Club on San Ysidro Boulevard.
The raid comes one day after a state appellate court overturned the conviction of Jovan Jackson, a manager of a medical marijuana dispensary who was arrested for possession and distribution of cannabis in 2008. The appellate court decision was seen as a victory by proponents of medical marijuana.
"This is an important milestone, because until now, some law enforcement and lawmakers all have refused to acknowledge that patients can organize cooperative and collective associations that sell medical marijuana," read a blog post on the Americans for Safe Access website.
"Today’s decision may have far-reaching implications for local and state implementation and regulation of medical marijuana."
Unfortunately for proponents, the "far-reaching implications" have not extended to the District Attorney's office.
"It was the same thug mentality of smash and grab, break everything, guns in faces, screaming, and nobody gets arrested," says Marcus Boyd, vice-chair of the San Diego Chapter of Americans for Safe Access. "As a result, all the medicine and all the money is gone."
Boyd says the raid occurred around 1pm. "They ransacked the store. They kicked doors in, despite the fact that they were unlocked. At the same time about 30 to 40 patients in need of medicine were outside the store watching."
"The really sad part is the day before a woman came to me whose mother is suffering from terminal brain cancer," said Boyd as his voice begins to quiver. "She told me that the medicine prescribed to her mother was $3,000 a month and she just couldn't afford it. She asked for help to ease her mother's pain. I called Next Generation and they said that all terminal patients receive free medicine at the store.
"I don't have the heart to call her back. I don't know what to tell her."
Watch the video from Americans For Safe Access:
http://youtu.be/56a7rQaUXzQ