Medical pot records targeted in search warrant

By Paul Shockley
Thursday, March 11, 2010

A search warrant executed on Tuesday authorized the seizure of records for more than 300 medical marijuana card holders, including doctors’ recommendations and personal contact information, after officers from the Grand Junction Police Department were called out to investigate a suspicious odor seeping from a building near the offices of the U.S. Census Bureau.

The warrant, which was signed by District Judge Thomas Deister on Tuesday, allowed for Western Colorado Drug Task Force officers to seize records, “in order to verify who the current primary caregiver is,” for the approximately 308 patient files found inside a large marijuana grow at 573 W. Crete Circle, unit 101.

The warrant further allowed for the seizure of records and receipts, indicating payment for marijuana sales and purchases, in addition to “photographs, video and samples of the marijuana plants in the business.”

“Task Force officers are looking to go through the records present to determine if they have adequate current medical marijuana card holders present to support the presence of over 1,000 marijuana plants,” an affidavit said.

The warrant was obtained after an employee with the U.S. Census Bureau, which is located in a unit at the same building, called authorities Tuesday afternoon reporting a strong “chemical odor” seeping from the ventilation system. The employee called the Grand Junction Fire Department, thinking there was fire, the affidavit said. The employee saw a man exit the rear of the complex, before the man ran back inside and locked a door behind him.

“(Employee) observed what he thought were probably grow lights inside while the door was open,” the affidavit said.

Officers notice a strong odor of marijuana, standing just 10 feet from the building’s back door.

The owner of the marijuana grow told officers the operation was legal and allowed them inside the building, while a second man told officers that the grow had been up and running there since October and they were growing for Naturals Wellness Center, a local medical marijuana dispensary.

No arrests have been made.