Legalize it

[Drunk Monk]

Of all the places, Dm's 'hood is the biggest battleground in the Bay Area. Figures.

Never did get to check out the new club (no $) and now the old club is shut down again too.

Danville home, Newark pot club raided one week after another dispensary closed
By Chris De Benedetti
Fremont Argus
Posted: 12/14/2011 04:59:37 PM PST
Updated: 12/15/2011 09:10:26 AM PST

NEWARK -- Police raided the city's lone remaining pot club Wednesday, about a week after another marijuana dispensary ended its months-long fight with city officials by closing for good, authorities said.

Police served a search warrant about 3 p.m. at Happy Wellness Center at 7200 Jarvis Ave., near Haley Street, state Department of Justice spokeswoman Michelle Gregory said.

The Southern Alameda County Major Crimes Task Force assisted Newark and Union City SWAT teams in the raid, she said.

Police also searched a Danville home in the 100 block of Victoria Place, near Blackhawk Road, where four people "associated with the dispensary" reside, Gregory said.

Officers arrested Keila Santos-Gonzalez,
28, at the house, authorities said. Police are looking for the other three residents, Gregory said.

An undisclosed amount of cash was seized at the residence, she said.

The Danville home was dark Wednesday evening, surrounded by crime scene tape. The large home, with a fountain in front, sits on a cul-de-sac near tony Blackhawk.

The police operation occurred nearly six months after authorities raided NBD Collective, which opened in 2009 on Thornton Avenue in the Old Town neighborhood.

NBD agreed to close last week after its landlord received a letter from federal prosecutors threatening to seize his property if the dispensary owners did not leave, said Terrence Grindall, Newark's community development director.

"The landlord asked them to leave and they agreed," he said.

It was one of several legal challenges facing the pot club.

Five people, including NBD Collective owners Teddy Miller and Bob Uwanawich were arrested in a June 28 raid of NBD's facility.

They are facing more than 25 charges, including multiple felony counts, said Kirk Elliott, an attorney representing the defendants.

The city and NBD also waged legal battle for more than 18 months, as city officials claimed that a dispensary was not a permitted land use in that area.

Meanwhile, Happy Wellness Center opened more than three months ago and remained in operation until the raid Wednesday, said Scot Candell, the club's attorney.

Candell said the dispensary has done nothing wrong. "The collective is in full compliance with state law," he said.

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_19548877