Last updated 9 months ago
The law in the state of California permits the use of marijuana, or cannabis, for the treatment of certain medical disorders. In order to obtain medical marijuana, patients must be diagnosed with a particular disorder and given a prescription by a doctor. Patients may then apply for a medical marijuana card, which entitles you to the following rights:
- Possession of up to eight ounces of marijuana: Your doctor will determine an appropriate amount of marijuana for your condition, as with any prescription. This amount is not to exceed eight ounces of processed product, 12 immature plants, or six mature plants. These may be grown at your residence. Edible marijuana products are also permitted for patients.
- Appropriate medical treatment: Because medical marijuana is regulated as medication for specific illnesses, possessing it is not a right that can be easily taken away from patients. You have the right to medical marijuana just as you have the right to any other medical treatment.
- Use of a Caregiver: You may designate a caregiver who can obtain medical marijuana on your behalf. This person may not be designated to another patient of the Medical Marijuana Program. Your caregiver will need to carry a medical marijuana card issued to him or her for the purpose of assisting you.
You should understand that as a member of the Medical Marijuana Program, you have responsibilities in addition to your rights. You must:
- Be a resident of the county in which you apply for MMP.
- Receive a physician’s recommendation to apply.
- Prove your identity upon application.
- Notify change of address or physician.
- Pay application fees.
If you are a medical marijuana patient, then seek the counsel of an attorney to better understand your rights. San Diego Defenders specializes in state marijuana laws, and we can help you stay within your rights and defend you against harassment from the federal government. To speak with one of our attorneys, call (619) 312-6623 or visit our website.
Disclaimer:
The materials available at this website are for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. You should contact your attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem. Use and access to this website or any of the links contained within the site do not create an attorney-client relationship. The opinions expressed at or through this site are the opinions of the individual author and may not reflect the opinions of the firm or any individual attorney.
Last updated 9 months ago
A Chaldean social club in El Cajon is at the center of a far-reaching criminal investigation involving the trafficking of drugs, guns and explosives with ties to a Mexican drug cartel and a Detroit crime syndicate, federal and local authorities announced Thursday.
Sixty people associated with the Iraqi social club at 811 E. Main St. have been arrested over the past 10 days in the investigation, dubbed “Operation Shadowbox,” and investigators were continuing to hunt for others implicated in the scheme.
SWAT teams served search warrants on the club late Wednesday night, seizing more than $16,000 in cash as well as evidence of illegal gambling, authorities said.
More than 100 people inside the club at the time were detained and then released.
The cornerstone of the alleged operation involves club members arranging narcotics shipments from Mexico with help from the Sinaloa drug cartel. The illicit products were then trafficked to the Chaldean Organized Crime Syndicate in Detroit, officials said.
The syndicate has operated since the early 1980s in Detroit, which has the largest concentration of Chaldeans in the nation, and has been associated with crimes including murder, arson, money laundering, fraud, alien smuggling, kidnapping and armed robbery.
Undercover agents made several drug buys over the course of the eight-month investigation, both in El Cajon and around San Diego County, with the amounts getting bigger and bigger, said El Cajon Police Chief Pat Sprecco. Agents and confidential informants also purchased or were offered various guns, explosives and even a hand grenade supplied from a Mexican military source.
The operation began in January, two months after Sprecco asked the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for help to combat a spike in drug sales and violence on the city’s streets.
After a number of hand-to-hand undercover drug buys, it became clear to investigators that all roads led to the social club, Sprecco said.
The club has long been a source of complaints from the public and a suspected hub of criminal activity, officials said.
Crimes documented there have included attempted murder, drug sales, gambling, illegal liquor sales and firearms sales.
Complaints have also been plentiful. Wives of men who attend the club have complained about how their family’s money is being gambled away. Neighbors have complained about drug sales and prostitution, both inside and outside the club. Club members themselves have noted their distaste for a criminal element hanging around the club.
Investigators learned that the club managers were aware of the criminal activity and demand a portion of the proceeds. Armed guards are often on hand during high stakes card games, Sprecco said.
There have been a number of busts and arrests at the club over the years, including a 1998 investigation into illegal gambling and a 2009 probe by the Regional Auto Theft Task Force of gun and grenade sales.
Despite the small successes, infiltrating the tight community of Iraqis proved to be difficult, Sprecco said. Help from the DEA, as well as from a host of state and federal agencies, helped strike at the heart of the organization this time, he said.
“We didn’t expect this level of success,” Sprecco said. “We were happily surprised with the inroads of this investigation.”
Eight defendants, including one of the alleged leaders, Nofel Noel Suleyman, is scheduled to be arraigned in federal court in San Diego Thursday afternoon. At least 21 defendants will be prosecuted by the District Attorney’s Office, mostly on methamphetamine-related charges.
Other agencies that participated included Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Border Patrol, Internal Revenue Service, sheriff’s and FBI bomb squads, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
“This is one case that has the ability to have a real impact on life and on the enjoyment of the quality of life,” said San Diego U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy.
The investigation has culminated in the seizure of more than 13 pounds of methamphetamine, more than<
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4 pounds of ecstasy and pharmaceuticals, 1 pound of crack cocaine, heroin and cocaine, and more than 3,500 pounds of marijuana, most of which was likely smuggled through maritime routes controlled by the Sinaloa cartel.
Investigators also seized more than $630,000 in cash, three luxury cars, 34 firearms and four improvised explosive devices.
Mark Arabo, a local Chaldean community leader who is president of the Neighborhood Market Association, said he had no knowledge of the goings-on at the social club and applauded police for making the city safer.
“This in no way, not even a half of one percent, is representational of the Chaldean community at large," Arabo said. "Chaldeans are hardworking, great family people, Christians and give back to the community. There are so many great things Chaldeans do for the community, so this just comes as a shock.”
Last updated 9 months ago
The Chula Vista Police Department today announced it will join nearly 10,000 other law enforcement agencies nationwide in support of an intensive crackdown on impaired driving August 19 - September 5, known as "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over."
A DUI/Driver's License Checkpoint is scheduled for August 20, 2011 at an undisclosed location within the city limits beginning at 6:00 PM in partnership with law enforcement nationwide during the Summer/Labor Day Campaign.
The crime of impaired driving is a serious one. In 2009 alone, 10,839 people died in crashes in which a driver or motorcycle rider was at or above the legal limit, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The age group with the highest percentage of alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities in motor vehicle traffic crashes was the 21-to-24 age group.
All too often, innocent, law-abiding people suffer tragic consequences and the loss of loved ones due to this careless disregard for human life. Because we're committed to ending the carnage, we're intensifying enforcement during the crackdown. Since twice as many alcohol-impaired accidents occur over the weekend and four times as many occur at night, we will be especially vigilant during these high-risk times when impaired drivers are most likely to be on our roads.
San Diego County Avoid the Fourteen will also deploy DUI Driver's License Checkpoints, Multi Agency DUI Task Force operations and local Roving DUI patrols during 18 day Summer/Labor Day Campaign.
Our message is simple and unwavering: if we find you driving impaired, we will arrest you. No exceptions! Even if you beat the odds and manage to walk away from an impaired-driving crash alive, the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for driving while impaired can still destroy your life.
According to Chula Vista PD, violators will face jail time, loss of their driver licenses, or being sentenced to use ignition interlocks. Their insurance rates go up. Other financial hits include attorney fees, court costs, lost time at work, and the potential loss of job or job prospects. When family, friends and co-workers find out, violators can also face tremendous personal embarrassment and humiliation.
The national Driver Sober or Get Pulled Over crackdown is led by NHTSA with the California Avoid DUI Task Force Campaign combining high-visibility enforcement and heightened public awareness through publicity. For more information, visit the High-Visibility Enforcement Campaign Headquarters atwww.StopImpairedDriving.org.
Statewide and local Avoid DUI Task Force Campaign Enforcement Schedules and Daily DUI Arrest/Fatal Stats, visit the www.californiaavoid.org. This Program is funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety who reminds everyone to please - Report Drunk Driving - Call 9-1-1
If you were recently charged with a DUI in the San Diego area, then pick San Diego Defenders for your representation today. With decades of experience, you will be in the right hands! Call (619) 312-6623 or visit our site for more information.
Last updated 9 months ago
Perhaps among the most controversial laws, The Compassionate Use Act of 1996 was the first state law permitting the medical use of marijuana. Advocates for this law defend marijuana as a legitimate drug that can help in the treatment of many serious diseases. However, there are also many arguments against the use of medical marijuana.
This video explains some of the arguments that are not in favor of medical use of marijuana. Some claim that the laws are a disguise for serious criminal activity in spite of the medical legitimacy of the drug’s use.
If you want to know more about California’s medical marijuana laws, then call (619) 312-6623 and speak to an attorney at San Diego Defenders. We specialize in criminal defense and we can protect the rights of patients using medical marijuana.
Disclaimer:
The materials available at this website are for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. You should contact your attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem. Use and access to this website or any of the links contained within the site do not create an attorney-client relationship. The opinions expressed at or through this site are the opinions of the individual author and may not reflect the opinions of the firm or any individual attorney.
