Denver Police Arrest 13 Bud Tenders In Pot Shop Raids

DENVER, CO -- Denver and Aurora Police raided several locations of a legal marijuana company's shops Thursday. The Department of Excise and Licenses suspended the licenses of 26 Sweet Leaf operations, including medical, retail and cultivation, on the basis that staff had engaged in "deliberate and willful violations of state and local law," according to a spokesperson.

Police arrested 12 people at eight Sweet Leaf locations on charges of illegal distribution of marijuana, a statement from the Denver PD said. The operation followed a year-long criminal investigation into illegal distribution of marijuana, police said.

Search warrants were executed at the following addresses, police said:

• 1475 S. Acoma St., Denver
• 2647 W. 38th Ave., Denver
• 5100 W. 38th Ave., Denver
• 4400 E. Evans Ave., Denver
• 2609 Walnut St., Denver
• 4125 N. Elati St., Denver
• 7200 E. Smith Rd., Denver
• 15200 E. 6th Ave., Aurora

Suspects arrested were all "bud tenders" who allegedly sold undercover agents amounts more than one ounce or less, which is the maximum allowable personal amount established by Amendment 64.

A license suspension order was issued by the Department of Excise and Licenses. The company does business as Sweet Leaf, Herbal Wellness, and DGP.

"Today, Denver Excise & Licenses issued a summary suspension for 26 marijuana licenses doing business in the City and County of Denver as Sweet Leaf," wrote Daniel Rowland, the department spokesman. "The licenses include retail and medical marijuana stores and cultivation facilities, and one medical marijuana infused product manufacturing facility. Having reviewed an investigation completed by the Denver Police Department, Excise & Licenses has reasonable grounds and probable cause to believe the licensees have in engaged in deliberate and willful violations of state and local law, therefore invoking the suspension."

Denver Excise Order Sweet Leaf by JeanLotus on Scribd

Read more in the Cannabist here:

Happening now: Denver police raid multiple licensed marijuana stores https://t.co/EQiPvFmXHL pic.twitter.com/VL8sSaGRGW
— The Cannabist (@cannabist) December" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/cannabist/... 14, 2017

The is a breaking story. Come back to Patch.com for updates.