Officials Seek Ways to Bar Medical Marijuana Group

Before a San Francisco appeals court ruling threw the future of medical marijuana outlets in doubt, an organization calling itself the Orange County Cannabis Co-op was taking steps to open an office in Garden Grove.

Marvin Chavez, who listed a Garden Grove post office box as his address when he applied for a business license, said he hoped to open an office where meetings of a medical support group could be held and where marijuana could be offered to the sick and suffering who have a medical prescription for it.

But city officials, anxious to keep Chavez from establishing roots in the area, will examine ways to keep the co-op out of the city.

“He paid a business tax. We have no authority to deny him the right to pay that tax,” Police Capt. Dave Abrecht said. “If he opens up a storefront and tries to sell or furnish marijuana, we would arrest him.”

“Frankly, this is very alarming,” said City Councilman Ken Maddox.

This month, the 1st District Court of Appeal reinstated a ban on the sale of marijuana in San Francisco, despite passage of California’s medical marijuana initiative.