By Ciara Perez, News Reporter | iSkyCreations - News & Media (ISC) Publish Date: August 20th, 2024
Polk County, FL. - According to the Polk County Sheriff's Office, in a story that seems ripped straight from a movie, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office made a high-profile bust on August 14, 2024, taking down an illegal mobile marijuana dispensary operating out of a flashy bus dubbed the "Cannibus."
The bust took place after a concerned citizen tipped off deputies to the bus selling weed illegally in a shopping center parking lot along Highway 192 in the Clermont area. When deputies arrived, they found the eye-catching Eldorado bus wrapped in marijuana leaf decals and loudly advertising, “No Medical Card Required!”
Upon investigation, deputies learned that the Cannibus was anything but legit. Inside, a sign offered a brazen solution for those without medical marijuana cards: “NO MEDICAL CARD? NO PROBLEM! USE OURS! FOR $5.” In Florida, where recreational marijuana remains illegal, this shortcut was a direct violation of state law.
Detectives discovered online ads promoting the bus as “FL’s 1st Recreational Dispensary”—a bold claim considering Florida only allows medical marijuana. The law requires individuals to have a doctor’s recommendation and a state-issued card before purchasing cannabis from licensed dispensaries.
The masterminds behind the operation, Jimmy and Bianca Andrial, admitted to detectives that they were buying marijuana legally with Jimmy’s personal-use card, repackaging it, and selling it from the bus without any licenses. The couple refused to disclose where they obtained the packaging materials and supplies. Along with their employee, Daniel McCreary, they were arrested at the scene.
Inside the bus, detectives found multiple containers of marijuana, vape cartridges, packaging materials, and drug paraphernalia. The bust also uncovered a digital scale with cocaine residue, and 12 packages of marijuana—well over the 20 grams needed for a felony charge.
But the real drama started during the arrests. Daniel McCreary resisted deputies and became violent. Meanwhile, Jimmy Andrial made threats to the officers, bragging about his previous four stints in prison, including time served for battery on law enforcement officers.
“I thank the concerned citizen who brought the ‘Cannibus’ to our attention. Our detectives easily discovered that this was not a legitimate medical cannabis dispensary and these drug-pushers were out-right selling marijuana to anyone who wanted to buy it. We arrested three suspects who all have prior criminal histories. Something tells me these folks might have been over sampling their own products.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
Key Takeaways:
Illegal mobile marijuana dispensary: Operating without proper licenses, the Cannibus sold weed illegally in Polk County, Florida.
Bold advertising: The bus openly offered marijuana without a medical card and promoted itself as a “recreational dispensary.”
Arrests made: Three individuals with prior criminal histories were arrested, with one suspect resisting arrest and another making threats to law enforcement.
Ongoing investigation: Authorities are now looking into the Cannibus's online activities and sources for its products.
-------- Disclaimer: This material is not to be redistributed or rebroadcast without permission from iSkyCreations, LLC. For media inquiries, contact support@iskycreations.com.
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