MARINA, Calif. -- "If you have cancer, HIV or PTSD that's all I need to know," said Kevin Saunders. Saunders wants to help people in pain and he believes the city of Marina should too, by letting him open a dispensary.
Saunders grows and sells medicinal marijuana to dispensaries in Santa Cruz because Marina is one of the many cities on the Central Coast with a ban on pot shops. But Saunders said Marina should lift the ban. Now, he's taking his message and his pot to the street, to get the city's attention.
"This could fix the financial difficulties of a cash strapped city that has the potential of being a world class city," said Saunders.
Saunders wants to be a part of the "shop local" push on the Central Coast. Saunders said Marina won't let him open his business in the city limits. That's because the city has a ban on any medical marijuana dispensaries.
"Lift the moratorium so I can apply for a business license,' said Saunders.
That's exactly what Saunders asked the Marina City Council to do last Tuesday. Saunders didn't get the response he wanted, so now Saunders is selling pot on the streets to anyone with an illness.
Saunders said Friday, he went to the Otter's Den in Marina with the intent to sell marijuana illegally, which he did. Saunders said he told police he was going to do it, but police never showed up.
Saunders said he doesn't care if he gets arrested. He said he already has bail money set aside if he does, and will do it as many times as he needs to, in order to prove his point, the community needs a medical marijuana dispensary.
"I will continue 24 hours a day, if I get a phone call to deliver medical marijuana to anyone that needs it. And medical marijuana card be damned," said Saunders.
Central Coast News has reached out to Marina Police and the Sheriff's Department about Saunders' plans, but we are wating to hear back.
