DA’S CANNABIS REGULATION TASK FORCE SERVES WARRANTS

RIVERSIDE – Ten illegally operating marijuana dispensaries were served search warrants by the Riverside County DA’s Office’s countywide Cannabis Regulation Task Force the morning of Jan. 31, 2019.

Today’s operation comes after several months of investigation into alleged illegal operations at these 10 dispensaries. None of these locations are licensed to sell cannabis or cannabis products. 

The 10 locations were: 

•    Hidden Gem, 125 E. Stetson Ave., Hemet
•    Herbs and Essential Oils, 207 E. Mayberry Ave., Hemet
•    Hemet Healing, 207 E. Florida Ave., Hemet
•    Valley Ice Cream, 125 N. Tahquitz Ave., Hemet
•    Green Empire, 72911 Ramon Road, Thousand Palms
•    Green Garage, 19065 Grand Ave., Lake Elsinore
•    Cannabis Castle, 27645 Jefferson Ave., Temecula
•    Reefer Shop, 6058 Mission Blvd., Jurupa Valley
•    The Mission Greens, 9646 Mission Blvd., Jurupa Valley
•    Supreme Cannabis Club, 4186 Ramsey St., Banning

As of 4:30 p.m., Jan. 31, 2019, approximately 90 pounds of finished cannabis product and a large amount of cannabis edibles had been seized from eight of the 10 locations. There were two arrests – one felony arrest for possession of a stolen handgun and one misdemeanor warrant arrest for driving on a suspended license. Final numbers will be available on Feb. 1. 

The purpose of the Cannabis Regulation Task Force is to protect properly licensed legal cannabis businesses and enforce regulatory requirements which protect the environment and consumers.  

The aim of the task force is not to shut down legally operating facilities, but rather to ensure fair business practices and keep criminal activity out of the legal cannabis industry and out of our communities. When dispensaries operate without following the law or regulations, their unfair business practices impact those dispensaries which are obeying the law. Illegal or unlicensed dispensaries also may be providing customers with untested and potentially harmful products.  

The Cannabis Regulation Task Force will continue its investigations into all unlicensed and illegal dispensaries in Riverside County.  

Agencies currently on the task force include the DA’s Bureau of Investigation, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, the Hemet Police Department, and the Riverside Police Department. Also assisting in today’s operation were personnel from the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Riverside County Probation Department; and the Cathedral City, Corona, Indio, and Palm Springs police departments.