San Jose Pot Clubs Close In Protest Of County Drug Crackdown
(KCBS) - Several pot clubs in San Jose have decided to close up shop in protest of recent raids by law enforcement.
Dozens of marijuana advocates, including dispensary owners and patients, spoke out at the city council meeting Tuesday asking the city to intervene and put a stop to recent drug raids.
"The voters made this legal for us in the State of California," said Alisha Alexander, fighting back tears. She is a breast cancer patient who uses marijuana. "So I don't understand how you can sit up here and allow your city to take my rights away."
KCBS' Matt Bigler Reports:
At least seven pot clubs have either been shut down, or voluntarily closed in the wake of raids by the Santa Clara County Special Enforcement Team, which has been targeting problem pot clubs selling marijuana for profit.
Mayor Chuck Reed noted that the city is not involved in the drug raids, saying that San Jose Police have no jurisdiction in the matter. But Councilmember Pierre-Luigi Oliverio asked the city manager to gather additional information before the council takes up marijuana dispensary zoning rules next month to deal with the recent explosion of pot clubs in the city.
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