Fontana Police Send Their Own Threatening Letters to Dispensaries

The California Federal Attorney’s recent letters condemning dispensaries Are still having repercussions in the medical marijuana dispensary industry in California. In Fontana, a town in Southern California’s San Bernardino County, the City’s police chief has taken a clue from the US attorneys and has started a similar campaign to rid his town of medical marijuana dispensaries. Fontana officials are hoping that a tough new policy that set in place, and the help of the pressure of federal attorneys will make it easier to get the doors closed on local weed shops. Police Chief Rodney Jones has mailed out 1000 notices to Fontana Retail and Commercial property owners warning them that to rent a space to a marijuana dispensary will risk the forfeiture of their property to the federal government. Police Chief Jones says that Fontana City Code makes it illegal to operate medical marijuana dispensaries. In a meeting today with the Fontana Chamber of Commerce, Chief Jones explained why enforcing the strict ordinance is difficult and expensive for the city. Through various legal actions, the city has been trying to close down a few dispensaries that are in violation of codes for over a year now. Jones reminded property owners who attended the public meeting that Marijuana is still a Schedule 1 drug and it is illegal to “knowingly open, lease, rent, maintain, or use property for the manufacturing, storing or distribution of controlled substances, including marijuana,” a sentiment he included in his mass mailing to property owners. Jones said that the federal attorneys may file the forfeiture order without sending a warning notice if they feel the property owner was aware of the illegal activity on his land. Also in the letter, a warning that operators of medical marijuana dispensaries will offer more rent than is being asked, a risk he says is not worth losing your property over. Councilman, and commercial space landlord Michael Tahan told the council that a real estate agent who was working to lease some space he owns brought him a top dollar offer, plus five months rent up front, plus two months rent as a deposit, an offer suspicious in these economic times. Turns out it was a medical marijuana dispensary making the offer, which he forcefully declined when he found out. A neighbor of a dispensary in town complained about finding a man passed out in his front yard one morning, that he picks up fast food wrappers daily, and recently found a filled marijuana prescription bottle on the street, which is close to a middle school. Town officials say they welcome the help of the US attorneys.