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Riverside County Raids Three Cannabis Churches

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[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]T[/dropcap]he Riverside County District Attorney’s Cannabis Regulation Task Force raided three cannabis-friendly churches on Sept. 14, seizing up to $100,000 in cash and around 100 pounds of cannabis. The Vault Church of Open Faith has several locations that were systematically targeted.

Three church branches from The Vault Church of Open Faith were served search warrants. The locations include The Vault at 291 N. Yale St., a Hemet location at 5298 Mission Blvd., Jurupa Valley and 5024 Etiwanda Ave. in Jurupa Valley.

“The church has been violated of its rights but will continue to fight for what we believe in,” Gladys Camacho, a member of the church told The Mercury News. “We need people to understand we are NOT A DISPENSARY but a church who is trying to only do good towards our community.”

Both Jurupa Valley and Hemet have issued bans on commercial cannabis activity, but that could change this November with multiple ballot measures underway. Because WeedMaps doesn’t have a church category, the church was forced to create a dispensary profile in order to use the app.

The raid has a while to fully develop. On Aug. 15, Riverside Superior Court Judge Sunshine Sykes granted a lock-out order, giving authorities free rein to close the churches down at their discretion. Church members protested, and lead minister Gilbert Aguirre said they believe cannabis to be one of the ingredients of the anointing oil mentioned in the Bible and used by early Christians. The church is Christ-based, however it accepts people from all religious backgrounds.

The Vault is a member of The Association of Sacramental Ministries, and the church filed articles of incorporation with the California secretary of state on Jan. 19. Still, many members of local law enforcement don’t accept it as a church.

No arrests were carried out on Sept. 14, but the investigation is still ongoing.

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