New Medical Marijuana Dispensary in Murrieta Under Scrutiny

A medical marijuana cooperative and dispensary that opened in Murrieta nine days ago has come under scrutiny.

The city of Murrieta has called a special meeting Tuesday, in which Police Chief Mike Baray will ask Council to adopt a resolution declaring the operation a "public nuisance."

Owners Beth Burns and Charles Thompson of Azusa opened the cooperative at 26990 Madison Ave, Suite 103, and said they have 200 patients, mostly gained through word of mouth.

The name of the cooperative is CMG Outreach, or Cooperative Medical Group. The owners say they were issued a permit by the State Board of Equalization to sell medical marijuana.

On their fifth day of business, Burns' daughter, Lena Burns, also a partner in the co-op, was present when she said Murrieta police officers searched the facility. They said they have received several citations since then, ranging from $500 to $2,500.

Notice of the special meeting was posted by the city late Monday afternoon. Murrieta police could not be reached for comment as of publication time.

Medical marijuana cardholders are screened as they enter the door of the business, Burns said. Their cards are then checked against the Medical Board of California, as are the doctors who issued them, she said.

"This is safe access and if they are going to let one in the city, why not let one who is doing it right 150 percent," Burns said.

She said many of their patients are used to driving to San Diego or Los Angeles, but have expressed their gratitude for the closer, clean facility.

It has been a rocky opening for the dispensary, as the owners say it was burglarized late Friday night. The front door of the business is boarded up until it can be replaced, and is being monitored by two security guards employed by the co-op. The burglars were caught on camera, the owners said.

In 2005, the city of Murrieta adopted an ordinance prohibiting the operation of medical marijuana dispensaries. Excluded were clinics, treatment facilities and residential treatment centers.

The special meeting is set for 7 p.m. during the Council's regularly scheduled meeting at One Town Square, 24601 Jefferson Ave.

The meeting notice did not go into detail, and CMG's owners said they were not aware a meeting had been called.

"The state is granting us these licenses but we can't go anywhere," Burns said. "And I chose Murrieta because it is a safe place, with beautiful surroundings. I like the people and I want to operate safely here."