A Madison police officer cleans up a pile of shattered glass Wednesday in front of Lion of Judah House of Rastafari. Operations at Wisconsin’s first marijuana dispensary came to an abrupt end Wednesday when police swarmed the Lion of Judah House of Rastafari and arrested the two founders. “I woke up when I heard the smash,” said a woman staying next door, who said the raid happened shortly before 9 a.m. She said maybe 30 officers were at the scene of the former laundromat at 555 W. Mifflin St., which has drawn media attention and those seeking cannabis products since March. One of the church’s founders, Jesse Schworck, 39, said Tuesday the church dispensed marijuana and edible products laced with THC to members, which numbered about 20,000. In return, those receiving marijuana products offered a “donation.” At about 10 a.m., police were stepping over a glistening mound of shattered glass to enter the premises, past a storefront window decorated with a green neon “Cannibis” sign and picture of Bob Marley. On the other side of the building, torn yellow fiberglass insulation hung from another shattered door. In a brief incident report, Madison police said the raid was conducted by […]
