By: Emilie St. John
COMPTON – The city of Compton is lauding the Sheriff’s department for its success in shutting down illegal cannabis dispensaries during its regular city council meeting held on Feb. 7.
The Compton Illegal Dispensaries Taskforce was established under former Sheriff Alex Villanueva which was designed to address the growing number of illegal dispensaries in the nine-square-mile city.
“Narcotics dispensaries increase crime in our neighborhood, devalue local property, and discourage commercial investment from coming into Compton,” said City Manager Thomas Thomas. “By being strategic and attacking this problem from multiple angles, our Task Force has proven to be successful in stopping these illegal operations.”
The task force was established six months ago and since then the City has filed 9 lawsuits against 34 defendants. Since September alone, they have been able to close and stop the operation of 6 illegal dispensaries.
“The City of Compton is at the forefront of cities in California taking action on this issue,” said Compton Station Sheriff’s Captain Terrence Bell. “We are proud to partner with the City on the Illegal Dispensaries Taskforce to shut these operations and prevent narcotics-related crimes.”
Newly elected Sheriff Robert Luna has yet to make a visit to the City to engage with the residents or members of the council since taking office in December.
The task force addresses shutting down the illegal dispensaries through a four-prong approach to identify and act against the operators.
The task force consists of members from the Sheriff’s Department, Code Enforcement Division, and other law enforcement agencies to conduct an investigation. Their investigation has identified approximately 20 illegal marijuana dispensaries in the City.
Once identified lawsuits are filed to obtain injunctions that prevent the illegal dispensaries from operating and the landlords from accepting rent from those businesses. Over the last 6 months, these efforts have permanently closed 6 illegally operating dispensaries and the City has obtained another 6 injunctions against illegal dispensaries and property owners.
The next step is the City enforcing penalties and fees against the illegal business, their owners, managers, and landlords under City Ordinances and state statutes. The City has determined that illegal dispensaries are liable to Compton for over $10 million dollars in penalties, fines, and fees.
Finally, the City seeks court orders against non-compliant properties to take control of illegally used property by the illegal marijuana dispensaries.
The City has not made any announcements of the seizure of property to satisfy back owed penalties, fines, and/or fees.
Former Mayor Aja Brown did not support the shutting down of illegal dispensaries citing the costs outweighing the benefits of enforcement.
Compton residents voted to ban cannabis dispensaries in 2018 when 76% of the voters rejected two ballot measures on the issue.
Civic and church groups banded together to campaign door-to-door against two ballot measures that would have allowed marijuana dispensaries and other cannabis manufacturing businesses.
“We’ve been working so hard trying to change the image of Compton,” said the Rev. Stanley W. Prince, at the time. “There is an economy that can be developed without having weed as the main product.”
“Drugs tore this community up,” said James Hayes, who unsuccessfully ran for mayor in 2021. “We saw people who started with marijuana and moved to heavier drugs.”
Emile St. John is a freelance journalist for 2UrbanGirls.com and a contributing writer for the Los Angeles Wave newspaper.
3 Comments
Our Trial against the City of Compton starts on March 20, 2023, in Superior Court in Beverely Hills. It is going to be AMAZING.
Good luck!
New Compton Councilman Jonathan Bowers in July 2021 called for more stringent rules and the closure of illegal dispensaries but was rebuffed by the then City Attorney Damon Brown, a disciple of former Mayor Aja Brown. Bowers then resubmitted his request to the new appointed City Attorney Eric Perrodin and still no action. It is good to hear of the convening of the Task Force and the renewed determination of the Sheriff Department to work with the City of Compton, the City Attorney’s office and Code Enforcement—especially given the Compton administration’s dubious past history of non-enforcement, going so fas as participation and endorsement of the entire marijuana industry against the will of the people. Remember, the many past officials (former Mayor Aja Brown, City Clerk Alita Godwin, City Manager Craig Cornwell and Building and Safety head Victor Orozco) were all hauled into court for depositions due the Michael Fletcher case where the city was collectively accused of shaking down multiple illegal marijuana dispensaries. Residents still have no information on how that case calling for millions on record was and if resolved. And then there was a notable incident a few years ago of a “politician-affiliated” illegal marijuana dispensary where the Sheriff Department had to turn to state authorities for the paperwork and permission to close the specific dispensaries since the Compton City Attorney’s office was blocking and dropping the ball. That is because not one, not two, but three different Sheriff Captains dating back to Thatcher in 2016 reported the City Attorney’s office to be the problem in holding up paperwork to close dispensaries not permitted in Compton. This though not one but two ballot initiatives went defeated by the people in 2018 to ban dispensaries and the entire marijuana industry from Compton. So applause to Bowers pressed the issue and Perrodin (needing a platform to substantiate his appointment) and the Sheriff Department for identifying and the intent to close 20 illegal dispensaries. But residents know there are many more than 20 illegal shops and some affiliated with past and present politicians and their friends and cronies. Will these also be targeted and closed? Or is the Sheriff Department going to be duped into acting like a private police force as it has been in the past to clear the way of competition so the “politically-affiliated” illegal dispensaries can continue to thrive? For this is Compton where corruption is on steroids. You can’t play checkers when these crooks are playing chess.