SANTA MONICA—Santa Monica police responded to a call about a domestic dispute on Delaware Avenue on the morning of Saturday, July 24. Audible evidence of the disturbance prompted the officers to walk up to the entrance of the home and to declare their presence.

Crystal Anderson, 21, left the premises, informing officers that no one else was inside. Later, 25-year-old Stephen Nakashima emerged from the home and also stated that no one else was inside. Officers decided that the situation merited further investigation and proceeded to search the residence. They discovered that the residence housed a small marijuana-cultivation operation.

Since the citizens of Santa Monica voted yes on “Measure Y” in 2006 with a 65 percent majority, making non-violent, adult use of marijuana the lowest priority for Santa Monica Police, no citations have been issued for the personal use of marijuana. However, the cultivation of marijuana plants is still prosecuted in Santa Monica under California Health and Safety Code 11358, which states, “Every person who plants, cultivates, harvests, dries, or processes any marijuana or any part thereof, except as otherwise provided by law, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison.”

Nakashima was arrested on suspicion of cultivating marijuana. Crystal Anderson was arrested for domestic abuse of a cohabitant, a crime which may be treated as a felony, as well as cultivation of marijuana. Detective Duane Hicks of the Santa Monica Police Department told Canyon News that only one of the parties involved is officially being charged with cultivation of marijuana, but he was unable to publicly disclose which one. No court dates have been set as of press time.