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| DEA Raids Medical Marijuana Centers |
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Posted by CN Staff on January 18, 2007 at 21:18:33 PT By Jerry Seper, The Washington Times Source: Washington Times 
Washington, DC -- Federal agents in California and Washington state have raided several medical marijuana distribution centers, seizing thousands of pounds of the drug, marijuana-laced edibles, weapons and cash. There were no arrests. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Ralph W. Partridge, who heads the agency's Los Angeles field office, said his agents served 11 federal search warrants yesterday at marijuana distribution centers located throughout Los Angeles County, including five locations in West Hollywood, four in the San Fernando Valley, as well as locations in Hollywood and Venice. "Today's enforcement operations show that these establishments are nothing more than drug-trafficking organizations bringing criminal activities to our neighborhoods and drugs near our children and schools," Mr. Partridge said. He described the investigation as ongoing, adding that "leads are being actively pursued and developed." In California, according to the DEA, there is no state regulation or standard of the cultivation or distribution of medical marijuana. The state leaves the establishment of any guidelines to local jurisdictions, which can vary widely. The DEA and its local and state counterparts routinely have said that large-scale drug traffickers hide behind and invoke California's Proposition 215, even when there is no evidence of any medical claim. Prop. 215 created an exemption from criminal penalties for medical use of marijuana. But it does not legalize marijuana; it only changes how medical patients and their "primary caregivers" will be treated by the state's court system. The DEA said high-level traffickers often pose as caregivers and are able to sell illegal drugs with impunity. Drug-enforcement agents also raided the Everett, Wash., headquarters of an advocacy group for medical marijuana patients, confiscating what police documents said were more than 1,000 marijuana plants and computers whose owners said contain personal information on 200 people authorized to use the drug for medicinal purposes. Detective Roy Alloway, assigned to the federally funded West Sound Narcotics Enforcement Team, discounted assertions by spokesmen for the group that the center was designed as a source for medicinal marijuana only. He told the Associated Press the site was a drug-dealing enterprise, adding that it was "absurd" to think that the number of plants there would be covered by a medicinal marijuana medical authorization. Washington law allows possession of marijuana in doctor-approved cases but makes no provision for obtaining it. Related Articles: DEA Raids 11 Pot Clubs Agents Raid Medical Marijuana Advocacy Office Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #10 posted by ekim on January 19, 2007 at 20:33:32 PT |
| who will give the apology where are the Robert Redford's of the Industry that will stand up at all and any award shows to condemn these dastardly deeds. man this is great== i cant believe the Feds have handed such a gift to Ed Rosenthal he was alone now thousands of other humans will go under the Fed Law for all to see:) Marijuana Guru Pleads Not Guilty Posted by CN Staff on October 16, 2006 at 16:10:28 PT Bay City News Service Source: Bay City News http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/22/thread22290.shtml San Francisco -- Medical marijuana advocate Ed Rosenthal pleaded not guilty in federal court in San Francisco today to expanded charges that include tax evasion and money laundering as well as marijuana cultivation. Rosenthal, 61, of Oakland, was charged with the additional counts in a superseding indictment issued by a federal grand jury last week. He had previously faced a retrial on charges of cultivating marijuana and using an Oakland warehouse to grow the marijuana for the Harm Reduction Center, a now-defunct dispensary in San Francisco. U.S. Magistrate Nandor Vadas instructed Rosenthal to return to court on Friday for a hearing on prosecutors' request that he be ordered to sign a $100,000 personal bond while awaiting trial. Rosenthal's attorney, William Simpich, asked that he be allowed to remain free of custody without a financial bond. Rosenthal will also appear on Oct. 25 before U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer, the judge who will preside over the not-yet-scheduled retrial. Outside court, Rosenthal said, ``This case is really about the government trying to stop patients from getting their medical marijuana.'' ``The government is trying to use me as the point man to show what can happen to compassionate people,'' Rosenthal alleged. Rosenthal was previously convicted in 2003 of three marijuana-related counts and sentenced to a day in prison, but a federal appeals court overturned the conviction in April because of juror misconduct. That ruling paved the way for a retrial. The superseding indictment includes five marijuana-related counts against Rosenthal, four counts of laundering a total of $1,855 in alleged marijuana proceeds, and five counts of filing false tax returns by failing to include alleged marijuana income. Rosenthal, the author of 13 books about marijuana, claimed at the time of the earlier trial that he was growing starter plants for patients under California's Compassionate Use Act of 1996, which permits seriously ill people to use medical marijuana. But Breyer did not allow him to cite the California measure as a defense because federal drug law makes no exception for the state law. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #9 posted by FoM on January 19, 2007 at 19:48:56 PT |
| I've sent you a couple e-mails. I am starting to feel better but what I am wondering if I've arrived at the age where I must eat right because when I am eating right like today I don't feel bad. You know like fruit and vegetables! LOL! Way to much rich food over the holidays was consumed. I think it could be that. I hope you get your e-mail fixed ok. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #8 posted by Hope on January 19, 2007 at 19:40:38 PT |
| I'm so sorry and really worried about you. I've sent you an e-mail. I think my e-mails are going out...but nothing new is coming in...just repeats of mail. I guess I'll have to call a tech tomorrow if it doesn't straighten out soon. If it turns out to be pancreitis, you'll have to get help. It's like appendicitis...when it's time to get help...you'll just have to. But hopefully, maybe...it's just some more of the wonders of the golden years and will get better eventually. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #7 posted by FoM on January 19, 2007 at 15:37:25 PT |
| Since Sunday night but I have been feeling under the weather for a number of months now. It isn't a virus I don't think. When my husband was so sick a few years ago the VA did all these tests on him and nothing came back except that he had HepC. We didn't have to pay for those tests but I can only imagine what they would cost for me to have them and probably find nothing. I think it could be my kidneys or pancreas or liver. If I don't eat much and eat often I feel ok. I lived on diet cokes for years and I can't touch one now without feeling sick. Same thing with coffee. It's really strange. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #6 posted by Hope on January 19, 2007 at 15:25:31 PT |
| I'm dismayed to hear you are sick. How long have you been sick? Could it be a virus or something? [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #5 posted by FoM on January 19, 2007 at 07:55:26 PT |
| Thank you. I had a good night but have been sick this morning until a little while ago. I will go to the doctor next week if this doesn't let up. I tried to drink coffee and got sick but then had a cup of good green tea and I am feeling much better. I'm smiling again. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #4 posted by goneposthole on January 19, 2007 at 07:27:41 PT |
| I do hope that you have taken action and received some medical attention to help you to a recovery of your health and well-being. The site is still just great and so are you. Take care of yourself. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #3 posted by Storm Crow on January 19, 2007 at 07:24:40 PT |
| Couldn't they introduce a bill to end the OTHER war- the war on Cannabis users? That bill would end a lot of pain, suffering and dying, too! Cannabis, as a medical herb, will never go away! And think of the money the taxpayers would save! [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #2 posted by goneposthole on January 19, 2007 at 06:56:06 PT |
| Probably double or triple of what was stolen by the DEA yesterday. There will be more than three tons of new medical cannabis available in about two months. Grow more, 25 thousand metric tons of production each year will be increased some this year. The cannabis crop in California last year was good, just like all years. What Santa brought me was great. I can't thank him enough. Cannabis is the number one cash crop in California. I doubt very much that it will change any. The DEA has three thousand pounds of stolen medical cannabis today. The crow will be served to them later. Those lumps of coal that Santa brought to them could have been buds, but no, they have to settle for a lump of coal. That's what they get when they're bad. Be good, Santa will bring you some next year. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #1 posted by Toker00 on January 19, 2007 at 03:30:43 PT |
| BREAKING NEWS: Major New “End the War” Bill Introduced Take Action Now / Forward this Email Yesterday, Reps. Lynn Woolsey, Barbara Lee and Maxine Waters introduced H.R. 508: The Bring the Troops Home and Iraq Sovereignty Restoration Act, taking up the President’s challenge to come up with a plan for Iraq. Thirteen additional members have already signed on as co-sponsors. The bill would bring our troops home in six months. It’s up to PDA activists to spread the word – to friends, relatives, co-workers, other activists…and to media of every type, including independent blogs and websites. H. R 508 is a concrete plan – not just a symbolic, non-binding resolution – that progressives and Democrats can rally around. Email your member of Congress http://capwiz.com/pdamerica/issues/alert/?alertid=9264251&type=CO Email Speaker Pelosi http://capwiz.com/pdamerica/issues/alert/?alertid=9264341&type=CU Join Progressive Democrats of America http://pdamerica.org/join-ind.php Toke. [ Post Comment ] |
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