Medicinal pot deliveries cropping up in S. Tahoe

By Kathryn Reed

Three businesses that are delivering medicinal marijuana in South Lake Tahoe may be violating the city’s laws.

City Manager Nancy Kerry told Lake Tahoe News she found out about the illegal operations on Monday.

“If it turns out they are operating a dispensary, they will be shut down,” Kerry said.

A man answering the Truckee number for Hip Joynt said his boss has been in South Tahoe since late last summer and in Truckee for a couple months before that. He, however, deferred all comments to his boss, who has not returned a call.

The woman answering the South Tahoe telephone for Hip Joynt said, “I’m not sure my boss is ready to be in the newspaper.” (The main number is out of the East Bay, as are most of the cities the company delivers to.)

The company’s website says, “We provide prompt, professional, discreet delivery of clinically tested cannabis and gourmet edibles throughout California, in strict compliance with state law.”

South Tahoe Police Chief Brian Uhler told Lake Tahoe News, “Transportation (of medicinal marijuana) is not covered in any provision of the law – state or federal.”

Pony Express, a company that tried to establish itself in South Lake Tahoe as a medical pot delivery service, was busted a little more than a year ago. The two defendants pleaded guilty to felony charges.

Uhler said he also recently became aware of the latest delivery services operating in town. He will be working with South Lake El Dorado Narcotics Enforcement Team to reel these ones in, too.

An Internet search of these types of services comes up with a handful on the South Shore and in the Truckee area.

A call to High Tides Medical Delivery went unanswered with no ability to leave a message. That business, according to its Yelp page, operates seven days a week from 9am-noon in South Lake Tahoe.

Chef Jenn’s Delivery Service has been operating in South Lake Tahoe since November. Jenn, who lives in town but would not give her last name, said she spoke with Kerry briefly on April 16.

“I don’t think I’m violating the law,” Jenn told Lake Tahoe News. “If there is a law I’m not following, please someone tell me so I can fix the problem. I’m more than willing to cooperate. I’ve never been a person who wants to break the law. I don’t want to cause problems.”

She deliveries the medicine to people who have medicinal marijuana cards. Some are shut-ins, some want privacy. It’s all by donation.

Jenn said 10 percent of what is collected is returned to the community. Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care has received a donation and the Boys & Girls Club of Lake Tahoe is next.

“I have real jobs. This is not how I make my money,” Jenn said.

In her kitchen she makes some of the edibles.

This, though, is in direct violation of the city’s medical marijuana ordinance. No one is supposed to be producing edible products in their homes.

Kerry said more time is needed to find out what the businesses are doing exactly and how they may or may not be complying with local, state and federal laws.