Mayor Miguel PulidoMayor Miguel Pulido
According to a federal lawsuit filed today, Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido conspired to derail a grassroots marijuana initiative in the city while soliciting cash from existing pot clubs who the Mayor allegedly promised winning slots in a Feb. 5 city-sponsored marijuana dispensary lottery. The lawsuit claims the payments were used to pay for gathering public support for the city's favored pot initiative.
The original Measure CC (which allowed for an unspecified number of pot collectives to apply for licenses) was defeated in the November 2014 election by the city-backed Measure BB, which allowed for licenses to be granted to only 20 dispensaries following a lottery process.
So far, no dispensaries have been granted licenses, and Santa Ana police have raided clubs operating in the city illegally, including lawsuit plaintiff Sky High Holistic Collective, where officers infamously insulted Marla James, an amputee (and co-plaintiff in the lawsuit), and were captured on camera apparently eating pot edibles and throwing darts in an incident that went viral late last week.
Related story: Santa Ana's Pot Shop Raids, Marijuana Policy Targeted in Lawsuit
