22 arrested at marijuana meet-up, 175 others let go

EAST FRANKFORD (WTXF/AP) - Police arrested almost two dozen people when they busted a marijuana meet-up, and released about 175 more without charges, Saturday night.

They say officers "conducted an investigation of large-scale marijuana sales" in East Frankford at about 7:45pm.

Fox 29 was on the scene at a warehouse in the 4500 block of Worth Street as it went down. About 200 people were inside the building, allegedly smoking and selling marijuana.

Witnesses said some people there had chronic medical needs but couldn't get medicinal marijuana elsewhere.

There were 22 arrests: 19 males and three females.

Police say they also confiscated about 50 lbs. of bulk marijuana, about $50,000 in cash, four handguns and about 100 lbs of THC-infused edibles.

They say the meet-up was organized online by Philly Smoke Session. The event's invitation - which said attendees had to pay a $50 entrance fee -- could be seen publicly on Instagram, but appears to have been taken down by Sunday morning.

L&I was also there and said the location was a fire and safety hazard due to crowd size, use of butane torches, and there being only one way in and out.

Neighbors told Fox 29 News they're glad the cops moved in on the warehouse when they did, as they've noticed activity there previously.

Police also executed two other search warrants -- in the 1300 block of S. Jackson Street and the 2400 block of S. Hutchinson Street -- seized more contraband there.

In 2014, the city made possession of small amounts of the drug punishable only by a citation and a fine, but selling marijuana was not decriminalized.