Venice pot doctors shut down after raid by state medical board and police
One of the Venice boardwalkâs eye-catching only-in-California features, the storefront pot doctors who lure patients with barkers, was shut down Wednesday, when the state medical board and law enforcement officers raided three locations linked to Medical Kush Doctor.
Investigators carted boxes and at least two large plastic bags that appeared to contain marijuana out of the deep-blue building next to Muscle Beach that houses a doctorâs office, a smoke shop and a popular dispensary called the Medical Kush Beach Club.
Jennifer Simoes, spokeswoman for the Medical Board of California, said the warrant was sealed. She declined to discuss the reason for the boardâs investigation, but said the warrant was served at 1313, 1811 and 2017 Ocean Front Walk.
Attorneys for Medical Kush Doctor raced to the beach, but said they were not allowed on the premises. Graham Berry, one of the lawyers, said the warrant authorized a search of the offices, vehicles and âanything else that your imagination could run to.â He said it also allowed officials to seize records related to the unlicensed practice of medicine. âSince all these doctors appear to be duly licensed, I donât know what they are referring to,â he said.
Berry said that the raid started about 10:15 a.m. and that by the time he arrived at 11, he found a line of patrol cars, a crowd gathered outside, news cameras and a news helicopter fluttering overhead. âOnce I arrived, they pulled the sliding gate door down,â he said.
The Medical Kush Beach Club was also shut down, but Berry said, âIt appeared to me that the target was the doctors and the practice of writing recommendations and the collective was a collateral casualty.â The Medical Kush Beach Club is operated by Sean Cardillo, who is also the registered agent for Kush Dr., the limited liability corporation that runs the doctorâs offices.
Cardillo could not be reached for comment.
Stewart Richlin, another attorney who represents Cardillo, said that agents seized 5 pounds of marijuana from the dispensary but that he expected it to be returned. âThey involved the Medical Kush Beach Club unfairly,â he said. He added that he did not know whether any cash or equipment was seized but said no one was arrested in the raids.
Richlin said Kush Dr. rents space and provides promotional services for medical marijuana doctors. He said he believed the doctors followed state law in issuing recommendations for marijana use.
âAs far as I know, itâs by the book. Iâm surprised that this is happening,â he said. âI have a feeling by the time the fat lady sings on this it will be a lot of sound and fury signifying nothing.â
Simoes said the operation was conducted with the Los Angeles County district attorneyâs office, the Los Angeles Police Department, the county Sheriffâs Department and the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, which provided search dogs.
I guess there are serious issues in all the medical states with DRs writeing recommendations.
It seems like these Drs and shops might get into some trouble,Or is this just a way for the DEA to put pressure on the states and Drs etc?
They give recommendations to anybody from any state or any country even though the medical marijuana laws state that its for California residents only. All they want is your money.The Dispensaries that accept these recommendations with out of state id’s should be shut down. Medical marijuana is not what it used to be that’s for sure. Everybody and there brother can get a card now with no problem, its all about money.
These doctors on the Venice Boardwalk are the “Doc in a Box”. They give legitimate doctors recommending medical marijuana a bad reputation. These docs just want a fast buck, and obviously aren’t being honest, and that’s why they are receiving unwanted attention.
These doctors on the Venice Boardwalk are the âDoc in a Boxâ. They give legitimate doctors recommending medical marijuana a bad reputation. These docs just want a fast buck, and obviously arenât being honest, and thatâs why they are receiving unwanted attention.