Mendocino County Today: Saturday, Dec 20, 2014

• Helen Leslie
• Hoopa Confrontation
• Soggy Palace
• Cancer Resource
• Shale Game
• Irish Soup
• Let it Rain
• Smith River
• Portrait
• Year of Solar
• Secret Votes
• Winter Market
• Cannabis Legislation
• Listen, Yankee
• Catch of the Day
• Bust Anatomy

HELEN LESLIE, 67, of Willits, was found dead early Thursday morning off Highway 20 not far from Willits. The CHP said Ms. Leslie was driving a silver Chrysler minivan when she apparently lost control and veered off the road at an S-curve in the road. Her vehicle slid sideways and crashed into a Redwood tree, before sliding down an embankment. “She crashed some time during the previous night or early in the morning,” said CHP spokesman Kylar Adams. “Passers-by saw the vehicle this morning and called it in.” Adams said there was no evidence that anyone else was involved in the accident, but the cause of the crash was still under investigation as of Friday evening.

THE CHP announced Friday that a 17-year-old boy from Hoopa was shot to death by an officer responding to an early Thursday morning, single car accident near Willow Creek.

THE BOY had driven his vehicle off the road and into a telephone pole near Willow Creek but apparently emerged uninjured from the collision. When the officer arrived at the accident scene, the boy suddenly attacked the officer with a machete, and the officer, seriously injured, fired in self-defense. The officer is hospitalized at the UC Davis Hospital.

AMERICA'S LONGEST RUNNING REHAB PROJECT

http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/news/ci_27166391/ukiahs-palace-hotel-soaked-rain

IMAGINE HOPE & POSSIBILITY

By The Cancer Resource Centers of Mendocino County

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Imagine taking a trip to a place you have never been before. Imagine that this is a trip that was not planned, a spur of the moment trip. Imagine that you don't speak the language, can't read the roadmaps, don't know anyone in the country you suddenly find yourself in.

Imagine for a moment how powerless this can make you feel.

Imagine now how this experience could be different. Imagine that on this trip, you had a basic understanding of the language because you had met with a tutor and learned the meaning of some basic phrases. Imagine that you had a map that was created for you, was easy to understand and included the areas that most interested you. And imagine that you had people to accompany you when needed, people who understood you as an individual, and could act as an guide.

Imagine the sense of relief knowing that you are not on this journey alone.

So it can go when entering the world of a cancer diagnosis. I am sure you join me in the belief that no one should have to walk into this world of unknowns alone.

The Cancer Resource Centers has provided information, support and advocacy services free of charge for almost twenty years to those facing cancer in Mendocino County. All services are in place to support our vision that no one will face cancer alone.

We hope that you will make as generous donation as possible and help us continue into our 20th year as a lifeline of help and hope, where free support services will always be available for those facing cancer in Mendocino County. Your donation is a direct investment into the health of your community and a visible testament to your sense of community. Thank you in advance for your support!

Sincerely,

Sara O'Donnell Executive Director

Give to the Cancer Resource Centers:

http://cts.vresp.com/c/?CancerResourceCenter/aa9f26c7b9/bed003319f/862ed4daba

VISIT our website:

http://cts.vresp.com/c/?CancerResourceCenter/aa9f26c7b9/bed003319f/46cff21bf1

Contact Us: via email: info@crcmendocino.org

The Cancer Resource Centers of Mendocino County is a grassroots organization serving our communities since 1995, providing information, advocacy, and support services free of charge.

Our mission is to improve the quality of life for those in Mendocino County faced with cancer.

Our vision is that no one in Mendocino County face cancer alone.

Our Coast Office Monday - Friday, 9AM - 5PM P.O. Box 50 45040 Calpella St. Mendocino, CA 95460 (707) 937-3833 fax (707) 313-0013

Our Inland Office Monday - Friday, 9AM - 5PM 590 S. Dora St. Ukiah, CA 95482 (707) 467-3828 fax (707) 276-1001

The Cancer Resource Centers of Mendocino County has a non-profit 501(c)3 status with Tax I.D. #68-0357416.

FINANCE was the lifeblood of the global economy and scam after scam left it riddled with wormholes of fragility. That fragility has been waiting to express itself and the ability of bank wizards to squelch and conceal it may have come to an end. There will be no quick cure for cratering oil prices and the damage it will wreak among the shale drillers. Does that sound like much?

— James Kunstler

LET IT RAIN

It's hard to find the perfect time to say something

you know, is gunna change everything

Living with the shame,

it ain't nothing like the pain that I saw on her face

Now me and my pile of things

that she threw out the window,

Drowning next to me

No seven years of good cant hide the one night I forgot to wear that ring

So let it rain, let it pour, she don't love me anymore,

Just let it come down on me, let it come down on me,

Every word, let it hurt, even more than I deserve,

Let it come down on me, let it come down on me, let it rain

last thing I remember was the unfamiliar taste of someone on my lips,

It's to late to turn around,

When the shades start coming down,

The guilt you feels the last thing on your mind

— David Nail

STATE SENATOR McGuire Fights to Protect the Smith River from Proposed Devastating Strip Mine

Tuesday, December 19, 2014

Sacramento, CA – State Senator Mike McGuire came out fighting against the proposed devastating strip-mining project in the Smith River watershed. The mine is proposed for just over the California border, along the North Fork of the Smith River in southern Oregon.

McGuire delivered a letter to the Director of Oregon’s Water Resources Department – and in the strongest possible terms – voiced his objection to the most serious threat the Smith River watershed has faced in generations.

“The Smith River is one of the last unspoiled rivers in the West, and I plan to keep it that way,” said McGuire.

Oregon’s Water Resources Dept. is currently re-evaluating a dangerous proposal from the Panamanian based Red Flat Nickel Corporation to drill up to fifty-nine test mine shafts which could allow for one of the largest nickel, cobalt and chromium mines in the Western United States.

“Mining of any kind in the Smith River Watershed is simply unacceptable. I will work tirelessly to protect our river, which is one of the premier salmon fisheries in the lower 48 states and the source of drinking water for tens of thousands of residents in Del Norte County, including Crescent City,” said McGuire.

Background: The Smith River is the primary source of drinking water for the majority of Del Norte County’s 28,000 residents, and is a crucial waterway for the endangered Coho salmon and other important fish runs. The Smith also offers a multitude of recreational activities that are a primary driver of the Del Norte economy.

McGuire's action follows the unanimous objection of the Del Norte County Board of Supervisors, the Crescent City Council and the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors.

For more information or questions, please contact Jason Liles, Chief of Staff, at 916-651-4002 or at 707-570-7070, or email him at Jason.Liles@sen.ca.gov

2014: ANOTHER BANNER YEAR FOR SOLAR

Greetings Friends, Neighbors & Solar Supporters,

With renewable energy advocates still busy crunching year-end numbers, it's already obvious that 2014 has been another banner year for solar.

We are pleased to report that the amount of solar energy produced in the United States in 2014 is up 100% from the same period in 2013, which itself was a record breaking year.

Decreasing costs for utility-scale solar energy production means in some markets it is now cheaper to produce energy using solar than to produce energy using coal or natural gas.

As we often hear from our customers, environmental concerns weigh heavily when considering the switch to solar.

Similiar environmental concerns nationwide have helped to spur the development of consumer incentives for solar energy conversion which have helped to fuel the record growth in US solar energy production.

Incentives for going solar vary by state, and include federal tax credits, state and local rebates and access to net metering, which allows on-grid solar energy producers (including homeowners) to sell excess solar power to utilities (such as PG&E).

Here at home, 2014 has also been a great year for solar. This year Mendocino Solar Service celebrated our 20th Anniversary by installing a record 134.5 kW of solar power. In 2014, we installed and serviced solar systems all along the Mendocino Coast, as well as in Anderson Valley and Comptche. This year we also had the privilege to help convert the beloved Caspar Community Center to solar energy.

Here's to another great year to come!

Warm Holiday Regards,

Bruce Erickson & Maggie Watson, Co-Owners, Mendocino Solar Service

P.S. Be sure to check out the quick links we've included; for links to more online information just click on any green text.

PPS. PACE Comes to Fort Bragg

Mendocino Solar Service is now certified as a Participating Contractor with CaliforniaFIRST, a state-wide clean energy financing program.

CaliforniaFIRST financing became available for residents of the city of Fort Bragg in November 2014. Mendocino Solar Service is trained to work with Fort Bragg residents to understand the Eligibility Guidelines and to submit CaliforniaFIRST applications online.

The CaliforniaFIRST Program is a Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing program for residential and commercial properties. The program allows property owners to finance the installation of energy and water improvements on homes or businesses through the issuance of a municipal bond, and pay the amount back as a line item on their property tax bill. CaliforniaFIRST financing doesn’t rely on your credit rating and you don’t need to put any money down.

PPPS. Team Green

Over the past 20 years, Mendocino Solar Service has had the opportunity to employ and contract with many talented and hard working individuals.

Our 2014 team included: John Huxsol (Office Manager), Andreas Dahm (Lead Installer), Jason Vallina (Installer), Jez Anderson (Marketing), Devan Hemmings (Installer), Julia Vazquez (Bookeeper), and Eric Stromberger (Service & Installation).

Many thanks to you all!

COUNTY ADMITS IT DOES NOT RECORD VOICE VOTES DURING CLOSED SESSION II (Follow-up to yesterday's release)

Mendocino County Counsel acknowledged today [Friday, December 19] that the Board of Supervisors does not record the votes of individual supervisors when decisions are made in closed session. County Counsel Douglas Losak made that admission as Judge Henderson heard oral arguments on the County's motion to dismiss a petition to enforce the County's compliance with the California Open Meetings Law (the Brown Act).  Mr. Losak said that, instead of a recorded vote, the Board just "gives instructions to staff on how to proceed without a voice vote."  But the Brown Act requires that every decision be voted upon, and that every closed session vote be made available to the public when the transaction is finalized.  Otherwise important decisions are made in secret, and without accountability. Mr. Losak was given an opportunity after the hearing to amend or clarify his admission, but declined to do so. Judge Henderson will issue a written decision on the County's motion to dismiss, which will be distributed upon receipt.  His tentative decision indicated that he would deny the County's motion. For more information, please reply to the email address above.

— Dennis O'Brien

FOODSHED FRIDAY UPDATE 12/19

Boonville Winter Market tomorrow, rain for shine, in front of the Boonville General Store, 10-12:30.  Food and gifts for the holidays. Happy Solstice to all - enjoy the rain :)

‘WE ARE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY’

Lobbyist tells local cannabis growers that medical pot legislation will pass next year

by Jane Futcher

Hezekiah Allen, executive director and chair of the Emerald Growers Association, a trade group for cannabis farmers, said the California Legislature will almost certainly pass a medical cannabis regulation bill in 2015.

At a strategy session and EGA members meeting at Harwood Hall Dec. 18, Allen urged local growers and their allies to be “focused” and “disciplined” in approaching legislators, presenting a single “ask”: The California Department of Food and Agriculture must be the agency that regulates cannabis farming.

“We need to figure out a way to regulate cannabis as an agricultural product,” Allen said. “There isn't an agency perfect for us, but the Department of Food and Agriculture works for us. They understand rural communities. They’re used to working with folks who work the land. They understand that paperwork can choke small business, and they understand a lot of the challenges that we will face over the next few decades as we continue moving forward.”

In a riveting strategy session that detailed how laws are made in Sacramento, Allen noted that state Sen. Lou Correa’s SB 1262, which failed to pass this year, would have put cannabis regulation in the hands of the Department of Consumer Affairs. That would have been a disaster, he said, because the agency is huge, bureaucratic and more comfortable dealing with factories than farms.

“The Bureau of Consumer Affairs is an existential threat to our way of life,” Allen said. “We don’t speak the same language.”

Two hours after California’s new legislative session began in early December, Allen said lawmakers introduced two new cannabis regulation bills on the Assembly floor-- AB 26, nearly identical to Sen. Tom Ammiano’s AB 1894, and AB 34. Both proposed bills are “placeholders,’ to be written during the coming Legislative session.

Allen urged famers not to ask for too much now or lose heart because the new bill won’t include everything they want.

“It’s important to realize that while the vision is there, we can’t have it all now,” he said. “Many times I’ve watched perfect get in the way of progress.”

With regulation will come challenges, among them taxation for cannabis retailers and distributors, licensing fees and compliance regulations.

But Allen’s excitement was palpable as he described recent changes in cultural attitudes toward marijuana, both statewide and in the nation.

“The last few days, in particular, with all of the policy decisions coming out of Washington, D.C., it really does feel like at least with regard to the war on pot that we’re finally writing peace terms,” he said. “It’s a beautiful thing to be sitting at a table where we are negotiating that. It’s my personal mission and goal to ensure that the community that has carried that torch, that has been on the front line of this revolution for so many decades, is part of the conversation now that we are writing those peace terms.”

One reason for Allen’s optimism is the fact that Gov. Jerry Brown, fresh from winning an unprecedented fourth term, has made it clear he’s ready to sign a medical cannabis regulation bill when it reaches his desk – something he wasn’t inclined to do in 2014.

Also hopeful, Allen said, is the fact that newly elected Democratic California Sen. Mike Maguire, who represents the area from the Oregon border to the Golden Gate Bridge, has been voted chair of the Democratic Caucus, the fifth highest ranking position in the state Senate. Maguire and his aide are both friends of Allen’s, and have agreed to talk “right away” about a cannabis regulation bill for next year.

“I do believe on the Senate side our suggestions will carry some weight,” said Allen, cautioning that “politics is absolutely a game of compromise, and we absolutely won’t get everything that we want.”

For one thing, Allen said, the rural counties where cannabis growers live don’t have a lot of political clout in Sacramento. Out of 80 Assembly seats, 34 come from Los Angeles County. But only one assembly member represents the North coast counties from the Oregon border to Santa Rosa. Even adding votes from counties and communities that share a “culture and a vision” similar to the northern coastal counties, Allen guessed there would only be a total of 10 likeminded legislators statewide. Lawmakers from urban areas, he said, are more likely to be focused on issues such as public transit or inner city schools than cannabis farming and regulation.

What won’t be in a 2015 cannabis regulation bill? Definition of the size of farms or number of plants permitted probably won’t be included, or the right of the farmer to sell directly to consumers. Or an end to raids by law enforcement.

“We are trying to go forward positively,” said one audience member, upset about recent busts and raids from the air by unidentified teams. “But we have the sword of Damocles hanging over us.”

Allen said he’s had no “luck” talking with State Attorney General Kamala Harris’ office, which, from his understanding, is where a lot of the “energy” behind the frightening raids is coming from.

“We aren’t organized enough and we aren’t influential enough to ask for everything and to get everything,” Allen said. “We are a marginalized community, Prohibition has certainly left me somewhat mistrustful of government and the agencies, and I assume that’s fair for most of us. We are taking a step in to politics. We need to be realistic in what we’re asking for.”

As to recreational legalization, Allen said that will come in time but that legislators are likely to leave recreational pot to a vote of the people in a statewide referendum.

Before that, most politicians and stakeholders want to figure out medical cannabis regulation, Allen said, so they’re not caught off guard, as they were when Proposition 215 was passed in 1996.

“Nobody wants us to be in that in that position, especially when we are talking about expanding from a $1 billion to a $40 billion industry. Nobody wants us to have an unregulated sector of our economy that that’s large. Currently we don’t have the legal mandate to deal with anything other than medical, and that’s all that’s being discussed.”

Both Allen and Emerald Growers Association board secretary Casey O’Neill, told the group that as cannabis farmers move to “legitimacy,” showing their commitment to regulation and compliance and sound environmental farming practices, the court of public opinion will change, and the appetite for busts will fade.

“The prohibitionist culture isn’t going to bed quietly,” Allen said. “The tantrums that it throws as we put it to bed will probably involve more of us getting busted, losing livelihoods, losing crops. There will be more trauma that our community bears, but I hope we can find some solace in knowing that we are on the right side of history. Every step that we take is another step that we take toward a future where we don’t have to worry about that.”

(Jane Futcher. author of Women Gone Wild, a memoir about moving to northern Mendocino County, lives near Laytonville.)

C. WRIGHT MILLS

...As Mills wrote in Listen, Yankee, he had not thought much about Cuba until the summer of 1960 — 18 months after Fidel Castro took power in Havana. Cuba was forced upon his attention by visits to Brazil in the autumn of 1959 and to Mexico in the spring of 1960. ‘In both Rio de Janeiro and Mexico City’, he recalled, ‘Cuba was of course a major topic of discussion. But I did not know what was happening there, much less what I might think about it, and I was then busy with other studies’. He decided to ‘look into’ Cuba: by the time he went there in the late summer of 1960, he had set up one of his beloved ‘files’ and had read voraciously on Cuba and Latin America. The book which came out of that trip was written in six weeks, at white heat, the way Tom Paine must have written Common Sense, for another revolution.

Mills was rather detached about his previous books: the next ones would be much better. But he was proud of Listen, Yankee, and with good reason. For it is a good and brave book, in which one Yankee tried to explain, well and bravely, through the fog of misrepresentation with which the American press had shrouded the island, why the Cuban revolution was by far the best and most decent thing that had ever happened in and to Latin America. Mills did not go into Cuba gooey-eyed, nor did he come out of Cuba gooey-eyed. As he wrote, ‘...I am for the Cuban revolution. I do not worry about it. I worry for it and with it’. He did believe that Castro, having been his own Kerensky and Lenin, could avoid becoming his own Stalin as well.

His desperate anxiety to persuade his countrymen that the Cuban revolution should be helped, stemmed from his conviction that nothing was more likely to make the moustache and not the beard the symbol of the revolution than the United States’ attempt to destroy it. Long before it happened, he had come to believe that the United States would attempt to destroy the revolution by force. It filled him with bitter, helpless shame. In fact, it broke his heart. It was in December, 1960, that he suffered his first major heart attack. It was altogether fitting that, when Mills died fifteen months later, Fidel Castro should have sent a wreath to the funeral. For Mills was a casualty of the Cuban revolution, and of the revolution of our times...

— Ralph Miliband, New Left Review, 1962

CATCH OF THE DAY, Dec 19, 2014

FRANCSICO FLORES, Redwood Valley. Grand theft.

JOTHAN FORD, Willits. Probation revocation.

LEONARD HAMILTON, Ukiah. Probation revocation.

JAMES LANGTON, Ukiah. Possession of controlled substance and paraphernalia, probation revocation.

CHELSEY LAUGHTON, Willits. Under influence of controlled substance.

DIANA MARTINEZ, Fort Bragg. DUI, resisting arrest.

TRINIDAD PULIDO, Ukiah. Drunk in public.

DAVID ZEGLINSKI, Ukiah. Protective order violation.

ANATOMY OF A CHP POT BUST

AVA News Service

(Ed note: The bustee’s name has been changed since no charges were filed against him.)

Arrest/investigation report, August 8, 2014.

Location: Southbound Highway 101 North of Nelson Ranch Road near Hopland.

Arrestee: James B. Teknes, San Diego, a white male, age 27. Driving a rental car.

Report of Arresting CHP Officer: C. Ramsey

On August 8, 2014 at approximately 9:25 AM I was traveling northbound on US 101 north of Lake Mendocino Drive in the number two lane. I was driving a fully marked California Highway Patrol vehicle. The patrol car was equipped with an Applied Concepts Inc. DSR radar system unit #BS041956. I checked the function of the radar system prior to beginning my shift and it was working properly. The radar system was independently calibrated on August 12, 2013.

My attention was drawn to the suspect's vehicle, a white Ford Focus. The Focus appeared to be traveling well over the maximum speed of 65 mph. I visually estimated the vehicle to be traveling approximately 85 mph. I activated the patrol car's rear radar antenna and obtained a high-pitched steady Doppler tone consistent with my visual estimation. I looked at the reading on the radar and it indicated a speed of 86-87 miles per hour, a violation of the California Vehicle Code. The Focus maintained its speed and continued southbound on US 101. I made a U-turn through the break in the cable center median barrier North of Parducci Road and gave chase to the vehicle. I contacted Officer Hosford and advised him of the incident and the description of the vehicle. I caught up with the vehicle south of Talmage road. The vehicle would catch up to slower traffic and follow too closely. Traffic ahead of the vehicle would merge into the #2 lane and the vehicle would pass and gain speed. Officer Hosford parked on southbound 101 at Burke Hill and stood by for the vehicle. After the vehicle passed Officer Hosford, he related that the vehicle was traveling at 83 mph as it approached his location. North of Nelson Ranch Road I initiated an enforcement stop and the vehicle came to a stop in the dirt turnout north of Nelson Ranch Road. Officer Hosford came to a stop and parked behind me.

I made a right side approach on the vehicle and contacted the driver through the open passenger window. I advised him of the reason for the stop and requested his driver's license, vehicle registration and proof of insurance. The driver was identified as James P. Teknes. He was driving a rental car and he did not have any other documents. As I stood at the open passenger’s window I could smell a slight odor of marijuana emanating from within the vehicle. I asked Teknes if he had marijuana in the vehicle. Teknes stated, "No." I asked Teknes if anyone recently had been in the vehicle that may have had marijuana and he stated, "No." I returned to my patrol car and officer Hosford contacted Teknes in the passenger window and he smelled the odor of marijuana in the vehicle. Officer Hosford asked Teknes if he had a Proposition 215 card and Teknes stated "No." I asked Teknes if he had a 215 card and he stated, "No."

I advised Teknes that due to the odor of marijuana in the vehicle I was going to search the vehicle. I had Teknes get out of the vehicle. I searched his person and I did not locate marijuana or any other contraband on his person. I placed Teknes in the right rear seat of my patrol car and searched the vehicle.

I located a gray-blue-green backpack in the trunk. The backpack contained two black heat-sealed bags containing processed marijuana. The backpack also contained two small bottles of concentrated cannabis, a blue pill bottle with processed marijuana and corncob pipe and a glass jar with processed marijuana. The backpack also contained Teknes’s physician’s recommendation. I also located a cardboard box that was taped closed. The box contained a black plastic garbage bag. Inside the garbage bag was turkey bags containing processed marijuana. Based on how these bags of marijuana were packaged it is my opinion that they were packaged to conceal their odor and packaged for sales. I located Teknes’s cellphone on the driver's seat next to the center console. Based on my experience and training I know that cellphones are a common tool used to facilitate drug sales. I took possession of the cellphone.

Based on Teknes lying about not having marijuana, not having a recommendation for marijuana and how the marijuana was packaged I formed the opinion that Teknes was transporting the marijuana for sales. While Teknes was seated in the right rear seat of my patrol car I advised him that he was under arrest for marijuana possession for sale. I advised Teknes of his Miranda rights at 9:58am and he stated in, "Yes." He said he was willing to talk about this incident.

I asked Teknes the following questions.

Q: When I asked you if you had a 215 card what did you say?

A: No, just to avoid confrontation.

Q: When I asked you if you had marijuana in the car you said, "No." Why did you say that?

A: Just to avoid confrontation. Because I don't have marijuana that I'm smoking currently and it's not something illegal. It's all under the code.

Q: Then why would you say that you don't have marijuana or a 215 card when it's legal?

A: Because I just didn't want to, you know, that's how it is. I just did not want to go to that point if I did not have to. I was just trying to be cool.

Q: Just trying to be cool? The cool thing would be to be honest with us.

I had Teknes get out of the patrol car and I handcuffed him. After he was handcuffed I placed him back into the right rear seat of my patrol car.

I asked the following questions.

Q: Where did you obtain the marijuana?

A: By Shelter Cove.

Q: From a dispensary or just off some other guy?

A: Off a cannabis, you know, user, medical as well.

Q: Where do you live?

A: I live in San Diego.

Q: You drove all the way up here to buy marijuana?

A: Yes, because it is the best medicine. It's still in California and under the same code.

Q: So there is different grades of medicine?

A: Of course.

Q: So the stuff they sell in San Diego is different than they sell up here?

A: Of course.

Q: What are you looking for in medicine?

A: Just healing properties.

Q: And what would those be?

A: For myself or…?

Q: What are the healing properties?

A: Well there are a million healing properties.

Q: I asked you two or three times now, you can't name one. Name one.

A: Okay, arthritis, pain, sleep apnea, ADHD, asthma; there are a hundred properties and stuff for it. My medical reasons are for certain surgeries, I had injuries, sleep apnea.

Q: What kind of doctor prescribed it to you?

A: My doctor.

Q: The doctor who did the surgeries?

A: No. Not the doctor who did the surgery, the medical marijuana doctor.

Q: How about your general physician, did he prescribe it?

A: She's a physician.

Q: No, the one that diagnosed your issues and gave you the surgeries, did they prescribe it?

A: I don't have a doctor. I don't have insurance.

Q: Somebody gave you surgeries or did surgeries on you.

A: Right, when I had insurance. I don't any longer.

Q: They did not prescribe marijuana for you?

A: No, they did not.

Q: Did you ask them?

A: I did not actually.

Q: Why not?

A: Because I did not take anything for anything. I did not take pills. I'm allergic to Vicodin. I don't take any of those pain pills or any of that crap. It's my personal preference, I just don't. I'm not a drug user. I really don't like pills in general.

Q: What if they made a marijuana pill, would you take it?

A: They do make it a pill. No, I wouldn't because I like the stuff that grows in the ground. Because I know where it's from and I know it's organic and it is just one of those things.

Q: You know where it's from, you buy it from a guy in Shelter Cove and you know where it was grown?

A: Yes.

I transported Teknes to the Ukiah CHP office and interviewed him further and the following is a summary of our conversation:

I asked Teknes if he knew how many pounds of marijuana was in his vehicle. He related that there was a little less than 3 pounds. On August 1, 2014, Teknes traveled from San Diego to Reggae on the River in Humboldt County. He attended the concert and met a guy there. Teknes described this guy as a white male with brown hair in his 30s. Teknes would not or could not remember this guy's name. Teknes attended the concert for a couple of days and made friends with this guy. He then drove to Shelter Cove and camped by himself on Wednesday. Teknes was unable to tell me where he camped. He did not know the location or any landmarks near the area where he was camping. While camping in Shelter Cove he happened to run into the guy who he made friends with at the concert. This guy gave him two bags of marijuana and a cardboard box. Teknes did not know what was in this box. On August 7, 2014 he began his trip back to San Diego.

Teknes claimed that his recommendation and the doctor who gave him his recommendation said that he could have 99 marijuana plants and 4 pounds of marijuana. I read the exact recommendation and this was not stated on the recommendation. I aked Teknes if he discussed the risk of using marijuana with a doctor who gave him the recommendation and he stated, "No."

I transported Teknes to the Mendocino County Jail. While traveling to the jail Teknes inquired about his cellphone. I advised Teknes that his cellphone was being held for evidence. He asked me what kind of evidence? I explain the evidence that may be on his cellphone, and he asked me, "If I let you look at my phone and you don't find any evidence on it, could I keep my phone?" I answered, "Yes."

After arriving at the jail, I looked at a couple of text messages on Teknes’s cellphone. I found information indicative of drug sales. Teknes was looking over my shoulder while I looked through his messages. I had him explain some of the wording and/or codewords in his messages. Teknes was booked into the Mendocino County Jail on a violation of health and safety section involving marijuana sales.

Evidence included: Two turkey bags with just over a pound processed bud marijuana each, vacuum sealed bag with turkey bag containing about a third of a pound of processed bud marijuana, three glass jars with concentrated cannabis and bud marijuana, blue pill bottle with 60 grams of bud marijuana, corncob pipe, and Samsung Galaxy cellphone.

While processing the evidence I noted that the two bags of marijuana that were located in the backpack were packaged in two bags. The outside bag was a black "shield and seal" and it was heat sealed. The inner bag was a clear turkey bag. This type of packaging is claimed to preserve the contents of the bag. However, based on my training and experience it is my opinion that double bagging the marijuana with these materials was to conceal the odor of the marijuana to avoid detection.

Based on Teknes initially lying about not having marijuana or a 215 card, how the marijuana was packaged and the text messages indicative of sales, I formed the opinion that the Teknes was in violation of the health and safety code regarding transportation and sale of marijuana.

I recommend that a copy of this investigation be sent to the Mendocino District Attorney's Office for review and that Teknes be charged with transportation for sales and possession for sales.

Attached Evidence:

Physician’s statement and recommendation for Mr. Teknes dated June 5, 2014 through June 5, 2015 signed by Arnold S. Kramer, Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) in San Diego. The second page of the recommendation says “Pursuant to California health and safety code 11362.5 the purpose of this medical document is to identify this individual as a patient legally permitted to possess and cultivate 96 plants and possess 4 pounds of medical cannabis pursuant to California state law. This affirms the patient has been physically examined in our office and qualifies for the use of medical cannabis. The physician is board certified and licensed to practice medicine in the state of California. Risks and benefits have been discussed with the patient and understanding verbalized. This patient assumes responsibility for any and all risks associated with this treatment option. This patient hereby grants permission to discuss medical information for the purpose of verification. Void after expiration or if altered or misused.”