Photo: one of the dispensaries being raided
TEMECULA – The team-up of the Temecula PD with the Riverside County DA’s countywide Cannabis Regulation Task Force has effectively closed down every illegal dispensary within city limits. The city of Temecula does not allow licenses for cannabis dispensaries to operate in their municipality.
Two months ago, the multi-agency task force began serving search warrants. Over that time, eight different locations were served a total of ten warrants – resulting in multiple lockdowns.
Two of the locations boldly reopened, resulting in two more search-warrant shutdowns. Voluntary closures took place by several other illegally-operating dispensaries.
Riverside District Attorney’s Office announced the closures of the unlawful operations. “Search warrants and cease-and-desist orders were served at the following locations in Temecula: Golden State on Commerce Center Drive, Temecula Healing Center on Roick Drive, Temecula Valley Patient Care on Roick Drive, Bud Buddies on Remington Avenue, Karma Collective on Remington Avenue, 420 Friends on Zevo Drive, High Society Social Club on Via Montezuma, and Kings of Cannabis on Business Park Drive.”
The health and protection of the citizens is at the forefront of these enforcement actions. The search warrants resulted in seizures of 232 lbs. of finished cannabis products. Untested, and potentially harmful, unregulated product is a common byproduct of this type of criminal activity.
“The purpose of the Cannabis Regulation Task Force, operated by the DA’s Office, is to protect properly licensed legal cannabis businesses and enforce regulatory requirements which protect the environment and consumers,” said the Riverside DA. “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.”
All of the active and ongoing investigations are provided by the team effort of the DA’s Bureau of Investigation, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Dept., the Hemet Police Dept., the Riverside Police Dept., and the Temecula Police Dept.
Personnel from the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration assisted in the multiple operations.
