Santa Maria man charged with selling black market cannabis

January 26, 2024

By KAREN VELIE

Santa Barbara County sheriff deputies arrested a Santa Maria man on Thursday while also seizing nearly 100 pounds of black market cannabis flower from a home on S. Smith Street.

During the early morning raid, detectives seized approximately 90 pounds of cannabis flower, a non-serialized (ghost gun) AR15 rifle and over $300,000 in U.S. currency. Detectives arrested 24-year-old Apolinar Ordaz Soriano for sales and transportation of cannabis without a license, conspiracy, possession of cannabis for sale and illegal cannabis sales.

Following the arrest, deputies booked Ordaz Soriano in the Northern Branch Jail in lieu of $20,000 bail. Charges related to the illegal rifle are pending further investigation.

“Legalizing and regulating cannabis was intended to create a framework that ensures product safety, quality, and responsible consumption,” according to the sheriff’s office. “Illegal sales not only undermine these objectives but also pose serious risks to consumers who may unknowingly purchase products that have not undergone proper testing for contaminants or potency.”

 


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I’m curious about Helio Daysping being allowed to gift his business that he went to prison for to his girlfriend. Is that allowed anywhere else? Has it ever happened in the history of mankind?


i’d rather buy weed from this guy than from the corrupt, overtaxed Adam Hill monopoly in SLO County. He bragged about being behind every license and had part-ownership in every shop, now transferred to his girlfriend. We still do not know who really owns shops such as Megan’s Organic Market or how it was selected by the corrupt City of SLO for a license. Well, we do know how it was selected, we just don’t know by whom.


The Mexican drug cartels are doing well in Santa Maria. Ya think he’ll come up with the $20k bail and show up for court?


These MF’s should be dropping him a business immediately.I mean its self evident he could make them some cash…300,000 g’s and and a 100 P’S at 24 yrs old…


I thought the criminal drug trade was supposed to disappear. I guess we just move onto fentanyl, meth, smash and grab, prostitution and human smuggling. Try voting for different political leaders this year, not the same old recycled political hacks.


“Legalizing and regulating cannabis was intended to create a framework that ensures product safety, quality, and responsible consumption,” according to the sheriff’s office. “Illegal sales not only undermine these objectives but also pose serious risks to consumers who may unknowingly purchase products that have not undergone proper testing for contaminants or potency.”


NO! IT WAS ABSOLUTELY NOT! It’s about profits. PERIOD! No one cares one way or another about any of that. I have smoked pot since the early 70’s and If it’s not good enough, you smoke more, if it’s too strong you put visine in your eyes or eat. those “Ruin yer buzz” Of course no one should sell pot because it’s illegal. Posting the B.S. about selling out of concern for the consumer is absolutely embarrassing to see. C’mon.. When is the truth ever going to be used? You really think having a retail establishment is creating “Responsible consumption”?