South Lake Tahoe marijuana collective raided Monday
A large team made up of members from multiple agencies served a search warrant on South Lake Tahoe's sole marijuana collective and the home of its owner, Cody Bass, early Monday morning.
Agents from the Franchise Tax Board, Board of Equalization, Department of Insurance, South Lake Tahoe Police Department, and El Dorado County Sheriff's Department were on scene at the Tahoe Wellness Cooperative, according to Tami Grimes, information officer with the FTB in Sacramento.
"The contents of the search warrant are sealed," said Grimes. The cannabis collective is located at 3445 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South lake Tahoe.
Cody Bass, owner of the non-profit Tahoe Wellness Cooperative, told South Tahoe Now that he thinks the search warrant was served in response to a recent letter he wrote to the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors. In that letter, Bass said he organized a call to action about Mark Zlendick of the EDCSO. Zlendick is the deputy who was recently arrested on drug charges in Douglas County.
"They took my computers, my phones, my keys, all of the medicine," said Bass. "As soon as they are done emptying out the clinic, I'll be reopening by tonight. We've been open seven years and we'll continue on. Of course, this is a bummer."
"We employ 30 people and take care of our community," continued Bass. "This action today was very swift so I believe it was in response to my letter to the Board of Supervisors about Zlendick."
The glass door to the collective's community center was broken down by law enforcement. Bass said his employee offered a key, but an unidentified member of law enforcement said they wouldn't have broken down the door had the key been made available.
Bass said he'll be in Placerville first thing Tuesday morning to speak to the Board of Supervisors during their schedule meeting.
A press release is expected from the El Dorado County Sheriff's Department to explain what happened. This story will be updated as soon as this occurs. Follow the story at SouthTahoeNow.com.
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