We use cookies for certain features and to improve your experience. See our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy to learn more

Leafly

Shop legal, local weed.

Open
advertise on Leafly
ShopDeliveryDispensariesDealsStrainsBrandsProductsCBDDoctorsCannabis 101Social impact
  • Sign in
  • Create account
  • Strains
  • Shop
  • Shop
  • Delivery
  • Deals
  • Dispensaries
  • CBD Stores
  • Brands
  • Products
  • Learn
  • Cannabis 101
  • News
  • Leafly Learn
  • Science of cannabis
  • Doctors
  • Social impact
  • Lab partners
  • Download the Leafly App
  • Advertise on Leafly
    • Leafly.comUSA flag
    • Leafly.caCanadian flag
    • Leafly.deGerman flag
  • Help
  • News
  • Cannabis 101
  • Growing
  • Strains & products
  • CBD
  • Politics
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Science & tech
  • Industry
  • Reports
  • Canada
  • Podcasts
  • Leafly Lists
Politics

Did a Disgruntled Employee Talk Cops Into Raiding Sonoma County Cannabis Company?

Lisa RoughPublished on June 17, 2016 · Last updated July 28, 2020

First, the good news: Care By Design operations manager Dennis Hunter, who was arrested in a police raid on the cannabis company’s headquarters in Santa Rosa, Calif., on Wednesday, was released on his own recognizance on Thursday night. He looked pretty pleased about regaining his freedom:

Care By Design resumed operations on Friday, the company said in a statement. Now for the tougher questions. Wednesday’s raid, carried out by California law enforcement in conjunction with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, has left the cannabis community wondering: Why? And more importantly, why now?

According to multiple sources in the cannabis industry, Care By Design (aka CBD Guild) isn’t a sketchy, outside-the-lines company. It’s one of the state’s most respected, award-winning medical marijuana businesses. The company is on excellent terms with local government officials. In fact, Nick Caston, the spokesperson for Care By Design, told Leafly that three weeks ago the company held an open house for state regulators, who toured the company’s facilities and discussed the future of cannabis regulation with Care By Design executives.  

Why are Legal States Setting More Limits on Cannabis?

“In the last week of May, we held a tour with over a dozen state regulatory agencies and legislative offices of the facility,” Caston said. That same facility was among the six sites raided on Wednesday. “They were there in order to be educated on how a professional operation is running while they’re drafting regulations for AB 266,” Caston added, referring to California’s new medical marijuana regulatory bill. 

The raid and subsequent arrest of Dennis Hunter, operations manager for CBD Guild, triggered an emotional outpouring from the community. Companies like Project CBD and CannaCraft circulated emails in support, arguing that Care By Design has always maintained the strictest compliance with California medical marijuana regulations.

WE LOVE CARE BY DESIGN. This is heartbreaking???? we stand in total solidarity with @carebydesign & @AbsoluteXtractshttps://t.co/vm1P7a44RE

— Stay Lifted (@getliftedmag) June 16, 2016

Not happy to learn about the raid of @carebydesign in Sonoma County. They were compliant in local and state lawshttps://t.co/Lr9xQ2VmPR

— Lux415SF (@lux415sf) June 16, 2016

A lot of #CannaBabies have benefited from the great products and amazing heart of Care By Design, who also… https://t.co/03Nn6kXecz

— CannaMoms (@cannababies) June 16, 2016

 Calm Down, East Coast: Cannabis “Shatter” Media Coverage Woefully Overstates Its Dangers

If Care By Design was on such good terms with local and state officials, then what prompted the raids? 

“We believe it was a disgruntled employee who had recently left and was starting a competing business” Caston told Leafly. “We believe he made false claims about safety conditions” in the company’s facilities. 

Shop highly rated dispensaries near you

Showing you dispensaries near
See all dispensaries
  • Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
  • Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
  • Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
  • Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
  • See all dispensaries
See all dispensaries

At least one of the claims was that CBD Guild used butane as part of their cannabis extraction process, a claim Caston said is false.

“None of our medicine is made with butane at all. Any of our products.”

Behind the Big Ban: Why California Towns are Scrambling to Oust Dispensaries

Hunter was arrested on felony charges for manufacturing a controlled substance by chemical extraction. He was held overnight on $5 million bail, a shockingly high amount that raised the eyebrows of many supporters. By comparison, James Howell, the heavily armed man recently intercepted on his way to the Los Angeles Pride Parade and since charged with child molestation, had his bail set at just $2 million.  

The police action prompted supporters of Hunter and the company to mount a protest at the Sonoma County Courthouse on Thursday morning. 

More than 150 supporters came out to support Hunter and Care By Design. Later that day, after confirming that the allegations against the company were, in fact, false, Dennis Hunter was released on his own recognizance. There are no charges remaining against him. It’s unclear whether police officials intend to return the machinery and products seized during the raid. 

“I want to emphasize that law enforcement’s response was nonviolent and professional,” Caston stressed in the aftermath. But it’s important to note, he added, “The investigation is ongoing.”

 Why Do the Feds Keep Targeting California?

Shop highly rated dispensaries near you

Showing you dispensaries near
See all dispensaries
  • Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
  • Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
  • Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
  • Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
  • See all dispensaries
See all dispensaries
BHOCaliforniacbdconcentratesraidsSonoma County
Lisa Rough
Lisa Rough
Lisa is a former associate editor at Leafly, where she specialized in legislative cannabis policy and industry topics.
View Lisa Rough's articles

The latest in Politics

  • How US import tariffs are impacting cannabis prices and products image
    How US import tariffs are impacting cannabis prices and products
    Leafly Staff
  • Ohioans must activate to defend cannabis freedoms from lawmakers image
    Ohioans must activate to defend cannabis freedoms from lawmakers
    David Downs
  • Montanans must activate to protect legalization in 2025 image
    Montanans must activate to protect legalization in 2025
    David Downs
  • Analysis: Don’t hold your breath for legalization under Trump 2.0 image
    Analysis: Don’t hold your breath for legalization under Trump 2.0
    David Downs
Get good reads, local deals, and strain spotlights delivered right to your inbox.

By providing us with your email address, you agree to Leafly's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.



Stay In Touch

Receive updates on new products, special offers, and industry news.

Something went wrong, please try again.

By providing us with your email address, you agree to Leafly’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Leafly mobile app
Get high for less.
Download the Leafly app.
Download Leafly: Marijuana Reviews on the App StoreDownload Leafly Marijuana Reviews on Google Play

Business Solutions
  • List your store
  • List your CBD store
  • List your brand
  • List your practice
  • Business log in

About Leafly
  • About us
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Investor relations
  • Contact us
  • FAQs
  • Accessibility

Dispensaries in
  • Los Angeles
  • Seattle
  • Portland
  • San Francisco
  • Toronto
  • Detroit

Privacy & Terms
  • Terms of use
  • Commercial terms of use
  • Privacy policy
  • Do not sell my personal information

* Statements made on this website have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Information provided by this website or this company is not a substitute for individual medical advice.


© 2025 Leafly, LLC
Leafly and the Leafly logo are registered trademarks of Leafly, LLC. All Rights Reserved.