Dr. Reefer Busted

http://www.lvrj.com/news/federal-charges-filed-in-medical-marijuana-dispensary-raids-113030679.html

Authorities continued their assault on the city's medical marijuana dispensaries Thursday with the arrests of 12 people, including outspoken activist and convicted felon Pierre Werner, associated with the storefront businesses. The arrests followed the September raids of several Las Vegas dispensaries, including Dr. Reefer, a business operated by Werner's mother and brother at 8975 S. Pecos Road.


"There seems to be a pretty clear political agenda right now with the dispensaries as a whole," said Werner's attorney, Conrad Claus.


Federal prosecutors filed criminal complaints three weeks ago against 15 defendants, but the charges were sealed until Thursday. Among those arrested in Las Vegas were Werner, 39; his mother, Reynalda Barnett, 59; and his brother, Clyde Barnett, 21.
Werner and the Barnetts are charged with conspiracy to distribute marijuana. Reynalda and Clyde Barnett also are charged with distribution of marijuana. Werner and Reynalda Barnett face additional charges of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and concealing or failing to disclose information affecting Social Security benefits.

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Crap. I was going to try and "get legal" after I got my tax return this year. Now it seems as if I'll need to locate a new consultation service or just give up on the idea altogether. Or I could try doing it myself... does anyone have a guide of some sort on how to do this? I wouldn't want to shell out all this cash to have my application rejected due to an oversight or something. That was the big value in the consultation that Dr. Reefer provided, is that they supposedly knew all the ins and outs of a successful application. Also, they could send you to a Doctor who wasn't antagonistic to the idea that maybe pot, which has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years, could actually... uh... be used for medicinal purposes.

On a related note, how fucking stupid would you have to be to try and use your medical marijuana consultation business as a front to sell pot? Gee... that's the last place they'd look. That's why I give it a 50/50 shot, in the case of Dr. Reefer and family, that these are trumped up charges just meant to intimidate people. A 50/50 shot that they're legit, though, too. People get into a comfort zone sometimes and think they can get away with anything.

On the other hand... it's really hard to believe that the Dr. Reefer business alone wouldn't have been lucrative enough to sustain these guys. I mean... if you do 8 consultations a day at $150 a pop, that's $1200 a day... times 260 would be over 300 grand a year-- which would probably be more than enough to pay bills for the business, the advertising fees and enough left over for these guys to enjoy a 6 figure salary. Could they really be that greedy?

As for the dispensaries that got busted... I sympathize... but these people had to have known that dispensaries weren't protected under the Nevada Medical Marijuana Law, right?

Krang said:

Or I could try doing it myself... does anyone have a guide of some sort on how to do this? I wouldn't want to shell out all this cash to have my application rejected due to an oversight or something.

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Here's a guide: http://health.nv.gov/MedicalMarijuana.htm

Best of luck to you!

yah, these dispensary owners were fools for trying to distribute marijuana in a state that clearly had laws against such things..

racerboy71 said:

yah, these dispensary owners were fools for trying to distribute marijuana in a state that clearly had laws against such things..

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True dat. Although, I sympathize to a certain extent.

I mean... pot is still technically illegal in Amsterdam. The reason that very few people know that is because the law goes unenforced. I mean... at some point, in the Netherlands, there was a guy who got the bright idea to start selling weed over the counter and that's when everyone figured out that nobody cared.

So I can't blame them THAT much for trying. Someone has to every now and again, although the result was probably predictable, in their defense I think they got away with it for a long time before being shut down. It sure as hell isn't going to be me pushing that envelope, though. I'm so paranoid I wouldn't even sell to people I KNOW, much less whoever walked in off the street with a MMJ card. That takes some balls. I'd prefer my bung stay "exit only," thanks.

And cynicallyoptimistic, thanks for the site. I've visited before. I was more concerned because I hope the application isn't difficult to fill out. I'm not a stupid guy, but, for $50 plus whatever the processing fee is, I at least expect the application to be a couple dozen pages.

Hopefully this'll be easy enough.

Krang said:

And cynicallyoptimistic, thanks for the site. I've visited before. I was more concerned because I hope the application isn't difficult to fill out. I'm not a stupid guy, but, for $50 plus whatever the processing fee is, I at least expect the application to be a couple dozen pages.

Hopefully this'll be easy enough.

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I just got through sending in all my paperwork for my renewal. It's basically the same as the first time minus the fingerprints (Racket? What racket?). It's really not all that bad or that many pages. I think you will be surprised at how easy and straight forward it is. If you get stuck and need some help feel free to PM me.

Oh and just for point of interest - this was posted on the Dr Reefer website back in December which I posted over here. Whether it's true or not I cannot say. There's nothing about it on the Nevada Health Division website last time I checked.

Effective January 1, 2011 the Nevada Health Division Medical marijuana Program will only accept application requests and applications directly from potential/current patients and caregivers to ensure traceability and confidentiality throughout the approval process. All Medical marijuana correspondence and approval documentation will be mailed only to the address listed on the patient/caregiver request or application. Please make appropriate changes to your websites and program processes. Any requests or applications received from consultants after December 31, 2010 will be mailed back unprocessed. (full post here)

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That's cool. Thanks for the offer to help. I have no problem mailing it out myself. I also found a place that was WAY cheaper than Dr. Reefer, anyway, so maybe the bust was a good thing. (for me saving like $100, I mean... for... you know... him, his family and society, probably not, I'd venture) So unless it's necessary for me to disclose if I had help filling the thing out, then I don't think it'll be a problem. But thanks for letting me know to mail it out myself due to the new rule change. A potential problem averted.

I may just give it a go myself. I should have done a bit more reading before complaining about how this was going to mess me up. Sorry to be a spaz.

Sucks that the application won't be any simpler the next time I do it, though.

It's also odd (and creepy) that they charge $50 just to send you the application packet. I wonder why they don't just post it online in pdf format and add an extra $50 or whatever to the processing fee? It's an extra step in the bureaucracy for me to send them a check for them to send me something and it's not like having easy access to the application actually gets me anything. It would just save both of us an extra step. I guess you would have lost revenue from people who would order the packet but never return it, but that would have to be more than offset by the ease of printing it yourself and mailing it in and I think more people would apply that way. *shrug* F'in weirdos. Just give me my card and I'll stop complaining.

Krang said:

It's also odd (and creepy) that they charge $50 just to send you the application packet. I wonder why they don't just post it online in pdf format and add an extra $50 or whatever to the processing fee? It's an extra step in the bureaucracy for me to send them a check for them to send me something and it's not like having easy access to the application actually gets me anything. It would just save both of us an extra step. I guess you would have lost revenue from people who would order the packet but never return it, but that would have to be more than offset by the ease of printing it yourself and mailing it in and I think more people would apply that way. *shrug* F'in weirdos. Just give me my card and I'll stop complaining.

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Expecting efficiency from a bureaucracy is like expecting honesty from a politician. In both cases you will be very disappointed!

"we the medical cannabis people" need to lobby all states that have current medical cannabis laws to from a" legal medical cannabis act 2011 " in which the voice of all 15 state stand as one voice...one law one love cannabis.....sin city cannabis club

Last year the plans for the cannabis expo called Cannapalooza was cancelled by the Mandalay Bay Casino because of pressure put on them by local Las Vegas and Nevada politicians and law enforcement groups.
Although I don’t know and haven’t talked yet to the organizers of Cannapalooza 2010 it upsets me that Las Vegas "Sin City" thinks it is too good for people like me who use cannabis as a medicine. Let's face it we have gambling, prostitution and 24/7 drinking on every street corner in "SIN CITY" not to mention all the strip clubs that we all love cuz we know those ladies be working hard for their children lets be real..

It is time for cannabis users (both medical users and recreational users) to start using their economic power to punish those who want to keep us in the dark ages of prohibition. We Vegans don't want cannabis users BOYCOTTING LAS VEGAS "Sin City". Look around the west on all sides but Utah and we all know thats a church ran state. Medical cannabis is the future and now we have a way to tax it...Let's bring jobs to the our state, to provide a Medical Friendly law such as Montana or Michigan, So Vegan's Honor those states in which we our in support of medical cannabis. 30% of the United States is a medical Cannabis state so the people our speaking up and old lies our Leaders once told us are being proven wrong...And our government has sold us "the people" out to the highest bidder....we our economic slaves to big corporately Held American.....75% of the USA is in favor of Medical Marijuana .45% for decriminalization even the 700 Club rev Pat Roberson.

Let’s not BOYCOTT LAS VEGAS "Sin City" Cannabis freedom fighters ..let's fight for our rights.. the people have spoken in the state of Nevada and they said yes with a loud 65% said yes to 453 over ten years ago....My Uncle is dying of cancer has we speak..he does not have the time nor the strength to grow his own little alone get out of bed ,we need to fix our s laws to Help the sick and dying ....so Mr Mayor you said the people were not yet ready for medical cannabis... We the People Are Ready...Mr newly elected Governor being of Hispanic heritage and former judge of Nevada you have seen first hand what happen to young men and women who go to prison for simple non-violent use of Marijuana/ Cannabis and once in the prison system they learned or where raped into a life of crime....this whole drug wars is on the poor, sick and dying there is not a family in america has not been hurt bye the Drug War...lets here what the Rev.Pat Robertson has to say.....2011 lets make Our Freedoms Heard so come 2012 we have the same tools our fore fathers George Washington who wore hemp all threw the night on that cold river so i could have a voice.....Today...I've served this country for my rights


have a peaceful day,

Sin City Cannabis

please forward this to your friends.

wa

Yeah... but as much as it sickens me to say it... 2000 may have been our only shot for a LONG time to do this thing right. (with dispensaries and all)

Nobody is going to put time and money into getting enough signatures to REVISE our current medical marijuana laws. I doubt NORML and the likes will put in all that effort for a dispensary referendum. And even if they did, I forsee that such a referendum would be very easy to defeat as the "Weed being sold on street corners amendment," sadly.

*shrug* It could be worse. And hell... people should grow their own, anyway. Much more economically and environmentally sound! Still sucks for people who are lazy, rich or very ill, though. It's not hard to find a weed hookup in Vegas, but a lot of people just moved here, or are shy or just don't want the hassle of messing around with drug dealers. (and who can blame them?)

Krang said:

I also found a place that was WAY cheaper than Dr. Reefer, anyway, so maybe the bust was a good thing. (for me saving like $100, I mean... for... you know... him, his family and society, probably not, I'd venture

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Which place did you find? I'm almost ready to go find a clinic to get the dr recommendation but it seems like it's difficult to find one. I was thinking of using these people. http://thc-foundation.com/nevada/

ASFx said:

Which place did you find? I'm almost ready to go find a clinic to get the dr recommendation but it seems like it's difficult to find one. I was thinking of using these people. http://thc-foundation.com/nevada/

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I've never gone through them but I have heard a lot of excellent things about them. I'd say it was a good choice!

just the bitch ass gov,. looking for money with there broke asses... making sure the lil guy cant be too well off and making sure he pays his taxes

I currently offer services to get you legal including step by step on what you have to do. All the paperwork that is needed to get legal and where to go to get them signed. Everything is very detailed with directions to places you have to go, and referrals to doctors you HAVE to see to get legal. Everything is conducted in an organized professional matter. Please if interested send me a PM. I also can provide information on caregivers if you are unable to grow on your own but need a steady supply of medicine.

uhoh. I called the nevada number for the the thc-foundation and the number is out of service

ASFx said:

uhoh. I called the nevada number for the the thc-foundation and the number is out of service

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That sucks! I guess they are not that great afterall.

Referall service and doctor 80$ total durango n twain 702 366 5255

Thought this article might be of interest...

Mother helps Las Vegas marijuana activist post bond
Carri Geer Thevenot | Las Vegas Review-Journal | March 22, 2011

Marijuana advocate Pierre Werner is expected to get out of jail sometime today.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Lawrence Leavitt approved Werner's release Tuesday after the defendant's mother, Reynalda Barnett, put up her two Las Vegas homes as collateral for his $100,000 bond.

The judge reminded Barnett that she could lose the homes if her son violates any of the conditions of his release.

"Are you still willing to post these securities as collateral for the bond?" Leavitt asked. Barnett said she was.

Werner was one of 14 people, including his mother and younger brother, arrested Jan. 6 in connection with marijuana sales at Las Vegas dispensaries.

Leavitt released Werner's brother, Clyde Barnett, and mother the following day without requiring a bond, but federal prosecutors argued that Werner, who has prior felony drug convictions, should be detained pending trial.

As a career offender, Werner "is looking at a significant sentence in this case," Assistant U.S. attorney Bradley Giles said in January.

Giles repeated that sentiment in court on Tuesday, saying, "He's potentially a career offender in this case."

Outside the courtroom, Werner's newly appointed lawyer, Michael Kimbrell, said the family has been involved in plea negotiations with prosecutors.

"The spirit is toward resolution for the entire family," the defense attorney said.

Kimbrell declined to discuss specifics of the talks but suggested that Reynalda and Clyde Barnett would get probation.

The arrests followed the September raids of several Las Vegas dispensaries, including Dr. Reefer, a business operated by Reynalda and Clyde Barnett at 8975 S. Pecos Road. Clark County suspended Dr. Reefer's business license in November.

Storefront marijuana dispensaries are not recognized under Nevada's Medical Marijuana Act, the U.S. attorney's office has said, and it is illegal to sell medical marijuana in Nevada. Medical marijuana patients and caregivers in the state must grow their own.

Werner's previous lawyer, Conrad Claus, said Dr. Reefer's business plan was established in a way that kept Werner out of daily operations. Werner was wearing a Dr. Reefer T-shirt when he appeared in court the day after his arrest.

In an interview outside the courtroom Tuesday, Reynalda Barnett said Werner had nothing to do with her dispensary. She described the dispensary as her "stupid idea" and said she provided marijuana to patients in exchange for "donations."

"I regret it now," she said.

More...

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Thanks cyn I was just gonna post the same thing

Actually they have updated the law. We ALL need to speak in favor of AB235, which allows for collectives, co-ops, and the such to be fully legal. It also eliminates the need for registering with the state, so a dr's note is ALL you need.

Any any word on if those 2 consultant services above are still in operation?