Judge Denies Return of Assets to MedWest Distribution in San Diego

Photo by Ammodramus

Judge Jay M. Bloom denied the request to return the assets that were seized by San Diego police officers and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents during a raid on San Diego medical cannabis business MedWest Distribution on January 28, 2016.

The ruling was dated for Wednesday, November 16, however the attorneys for MedWest Distribution’s owner, James Slatic, heard of the ruling two days later on Friday. Slatic’s lawyers stated they plan to appeal the ruling.

Wesley Hottot of the Institute for Justice is part of the nonprofit representing Slatic. He told San Diego Union Tribune that the next plan is to appeal the ruling. “This isn’t just wrong; it’s unconstitutional,” Hottot said. “And we will be appealing to ensure that the Slatics’ money is quickly returned to them.”

The assets that were seized back in January were worth $324,000 in cash and inventory. Days following the raid, Slatic’s personal bank accounts in addition to his wife’s and two daughters were all frozen. MedWest was a licensee for 30 different kinds of cannabis medicine in addition to producing vape pen cartridges and cannabis infused products. Slatic was never charged with any crimes following the raid, despite two employees being arrested during the raid. They were also released without being charged. MedWest paid its business taxes, and city officials even toured the facility to ensure its compliance before it opened.

The Institute for Justice noticed these actions as unconstitutional, and they stepped up to represent Slatic. Attorney Allison Daniel previously told CULTURE, “What the government did to the Slatics is simply unconstitutional. The San Diego DA moved to seize money under California’s civil forfeiture statues. And while civil forfeiture can be complicated, the Slatics’ legal argument is simple.” She continued to explain that James Slatic did not commit a crime, therefore the money belonging to the Slatics cannot be connected to any crime. She continued to say, “All the family’s money must be returned under the California Constitution and the U.S. Constitution,” Daniel said. “This case illustrates the abusive power of civil forfeiture at its worst.”