Vanessa Gregoriadis

What was happening? He could have spent all day, every day, driving around town, meeting up with middlemen, visiting his dispensaries. I started accompanying him on some of these drives and meetings.

What was happening? He could have spent all day, every day, driving around town, meeting up with middlemen, visiting his dispensaries. I started accompanying him on some of these drives and meetings.

Eddie's hustle was impressive and nonstop.

Eddie's hustle was impressive and nonstop.

And that's when I started to get scared. Because I started to realize that medical marijuana at this time in the late 2000s was hella dangerous. Like a giant game of Frogger. And Eddie had to make sure he didn't go splat. Eddie would be on the 405, weaving in and out of lanes, talking on his cell phone. He was one of those guys who's a hero to everyone, always staying in touch.

And that's when I started to get scared. Because I started to realize that medical marijuana at this time in the late 2000s was hella dangerous. Like a giant game of Frogger. And Eddie had to make sure he didn't go splat. Eddie would be on the 405, weaving in and out of lanes, talking on his cell phone. He was one of those guys who's a hero to everyone, always staying in touch.

I mean, his assistant had just gotten her boobs done and she was in a lot of pain. So he had to check in on her. And a woman he was dating and he had had a disagreement. And he called her to say, you're more important than a wholesaler. If you want me to cancel... I'll just say something more important came up because you are more important.

I mean, his assistant had just gotten her boobs done and she was in a lot of pain. So he had to check in on her. And a woman he was dating and he had had a disagreement. And he called her to say, you're more important than a wholesaler. If you want me to cancel... I'll just say something more important came up because you are more important.

I went with him to meet another wholesaler to buy some weed, basically. We had to wait forever because the guy refused to use his cell phone since he didn't want to be tracked, and we didn't know when he was going to show up. The wholesaler was this sort of scrubby guy, scruffy beard, I mean, playing to type.

I went with him to meet another wholesaler to buy some weed, basically. We had to wait forever because the guy refused to use his cell phone since he didn't want to be tracked, and we didn't know when he was going to show up. The wholesaler was this sort of scrubby guy, scruffy beard, I mean, playing to type.

And when he showed up, he said even he had a problem on this route of selling weed in L.A. because he couldn't find his original doctor's note, and a bunch of pot stores wouldn't let him in. Regardless, the whole thing was just 100% absolutely a drug deal. And I was witness to it. When we were done, Eddie paid for the whole thing in cash. Because, of course, he had to.

And when he showed up, he said even he had a problem on this route of selling weed in L.A. because he couldn't find his original doctor's note, and a bunch of pot stores wouldn't let him in. Regardless, the whole thing was just 100% absolutely a drug deal. And I was witness to it. When we were done, Eddie paid for the whole thing in cash. Because, of course, he had to.

That's when I realized that Eddie was driving around with thousands of dollars in cash on him, basically at all times.

That's when I realized that Eddie was driving around with thousands of dollars in cash on him, basically at all times.

When you have that much cash, you probably also want to keep something on you for protection. Eddie said he was absolutely against guns, but my mind started racing. I began looking at all these cars driving beside us, being like, are they also filled with drugs and cash and maybe guns?

When you have that much cash, you probably also want to keep something on you for protection. Eddie said he was absolutely against guns, but my mind started racing. I began looking at all these cars driving beside us, being like, are they also filled with drugs and cash and maybe guns?

Some dispensaries kept millions of dollars in cash or weed in giant safes. And though I didn't see Eddie's, I did see one of these safes. It was insane. It was the size of one of those massive light-colored wood closets you buy at Ikea, stuffed full of vacuum-sealed bags filled with weed. And these safes made the dispensaries a huge target for thieves. Let's say thieves did target your store.

Some dispensaries kept millions of dollars in cash or weed in giant safes. And though I didn't see Eddie's, I did see one of these safes. It was insane. It was the size of one of those massive light-colored wood closets you buy at Ikea, stuffed full of vacuum-sealed bags filled with weed. And these safes made the dispensaries a huge target for thieves. Let's say thieves did target your store.

Who was going to help you? Not the cops, that's for sure. And actually, Eddie told me that at one unlucky dispensary, the robbers dressed up as LAPD officers and pretended to be raiding the store, only to steal everything. Ocean's 420s. That's what people in the scene called those robbers. You know, a combo of Ocean's 11 and 420, police code for weed.

Who was going to help you? Not the cops, that's for sure. And actually, Eddie told me that at one unlucky dispensary, the robbers dressed up as LAPD officers and pretended to be raiding the store, only to steal everything. Ocean's 420s. That's what people in the scene called those robbers. You know, a combo of Ocean's 11 and 420, police code for weed.