cannabisnews.com: Feds Raid Washington State Marijuana Dispensaries
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Feds Raid Washington State Marijuana Dispensaries
Posted by CN Staff on November 16, 2011 at 05:13:36 PT
By Laura L. Myers
Source: Reuters
Seattle, W.A. -- Federal agents and police raided state-sanctioned medical marijuana dispensaries across western Washington on Tuesday, targeting storefronts deemed to be engaged in illegal drug trafficking and money laundering.The dispensaries singled out by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration were essentially operating under the state's medical marijuana law to conceal criminal activity, U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan said in a statement.
Federal officials did not immediately disclose the number of suppliers shut down in the sweep.But the Cannabis Defense Coalition, a nonprofit advocacy group for marijuana, said on its website that 15 "medical cannabis access points" in at least six western Washington cities -- Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, Puyallup, Lacey and Rochester -- were raided on Tuesday.A spokeswoman for Durkan's office, Emily Langlie, said one person was arrested by federal agents, and that additional arrests had been made by sheriff's deputies in separate raids across three counties although she could not say how many.Search warrant affidavits unsealed in federal court cited evidence that the dispensaries targeted in the sweep were involved in large-scale drug distribution and money laundering.Storefront cannabis shops are neither explicitly permitted nor banned under a 1998 voter-approved state law that legalized pot in Washington for medical purposes, but they have widely proliferated nevertheless.State law does allow collective medical marijuana gardens of up to 45 plants, or a maximum of 15 plants per patient.Although cannabis is still listed as an illegal narcotic under federal law, 16 states and the District of Columbia have statutes decriminalizing marijuana for medical reasons, according to the National Drug Policy Alliance. Not Going After Patients Tuesday's sweep marked the first major federal crackdown on pot shops in western Washington since GovernorChristine Gregoire in April vetoed most provisions of a bill that would have established a new regulatory system for medical marijuana.Gregoire has said she was swayed by a legal opinion from U.S. prosecutors threatening to target not only dispensary owners but state regulators who would enforce the proposed new law.Federal prosecutors said they were not going after patients who have a legitimate medical need for pot."We will not prosecute truly ill people or their doctors who determine that marijuana is an appropriate medical treatment," Durkan said.Federal agents had raided more than seven dispensaries in the eastern Washington city of Spokane in May and April after facility operators there refused to shut down.Last month, federal prosecutors announced a get-tough stance against dispensaries in California that were found to be engaged in drug trafficking under the guise of supplying medical marijuana patients.The raids on Tuesday appeared to take dispensary operators by surprise, said Seattle defense attorney Aaron Pelley, who told Reuters that two pot dispensary clients were "served with pre-indictment paper" by law enforcement but not jailed."In eastern Washington and California, they fired a shot over the bow. Here in western Washington, it looks like the feds put boots on the ground and started kicking down doors."In July, Seattle's mayor signed into law a city licensing system for medical marijuana distribution, requiring suppliers to comply with city codes that govern public nuisance complaints, plumbing and food-handling, for example.Three of the facilities that Cannabis Defense Coalition said were raided are in Seattle.Editing by Steve Gorman and Cynthia Johnston.Source: Reuters (Wire)Author: Laura L. MyersPublished: November 16, 2011Copyright: 2011 Thomson ReutersCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #8 posted by runruff on November 17, 2011 at 11:09:37 PT
Ad hominem attacks not withstanding.
I do not always express myself in the highest way, but I do believe in righteous indignation and righteous anger. Without these emotions what would become of us?
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Comment #7 posted by afterburner on November 17, 2011 at 10:20:51 PT
runruff - Oleg the Tumor - dongenero
runruff - Speaking of anger issues: Comment Re Zuccotti Park Eviction{
If anyone wants to see who is causing the problems, look no further. The two gold bars signify his rank as a captain:http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/196997/slide_196997_473947_splash.jpgInstead of being management, perhaps he should explore anger management.
--HUFFPOST SUPER USER.
dblshell.
St. George to the crazies
}Oleg the Tumor: Your comment about God's "Marihuana" reminds me of a story: In six days the Lord created the world. Before he rested on the seventh day, He looked around and saw that there was "Marihuana" everywhere. He said to Himself, "I'd better create Republicans."dongenero: Issued civil seizure warrants:The same is happening in Canada, the federal government has never really embraced the Medical Marihauna program forced on them by the courts defending the health right of patients. The federal government has been sued by patients over access and delays in approvals of their exemptions. The government always appeals at the last possible moment and then when they are sanctioned by the courts make minimal changes and carry-on with their obstruction. When the law is called into question as Unconstitutional, they carry on as if the law has not fallen: they confiscate without arrests, they continue to arrest even though those who fight the charges later have their charges stayed. This year Matt Mernaugh won an important case "gutting Canada’s federal medical marijuana program, personal possession and cultivation laws." It is being appealed by the Canadian federal government."On April 11, 2011 in the case of R. v. Mernagh, an Ontario Superior Court judge struck down Canada's laws prohibiting the possession and production of marijuana, giving the Canadian federal government 90 days to fix the country's medical marijuana program before the ruling comes into effect and effectively legalizes cannabis in Ontario."
--Is Health Canada Getting Out of the Medical Marijuana Business? | Cannabis Culture Magazine
http://www.cannabisculture.com/v2/content/2011/06/15/Health-Canada-Getting-Out-Medical-Marijuana-BusinessMatthew Mernagh Reasons for Judgment Taliano J April 11 2011.pdf
http://www.whyprohibition.ca/sites/default/files/Matthew%20Mernagh%20%20%20%20Reasons%20for%20Judgment%20%20%20Taliano%20J%20%20%20%20April%2011%20%202011.pdf
{
DISPOSITION[345] For the foregoing reasons, this court declares that: 1. The Marihuana Medical Access Regulations, SOR/2001-226 and the prohibition against the possession and production of cannabis (marihuana) contained in sections 4 and 7 respectively of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, S.C. 1996, C. 19 are constitutionally invalid and of no force and effect; 2. This declaration of invalidity is suspended for a period of three (3) months; 3. The criminal charge against the applicant is permanently stayed; 4. The applicant is granted a personal exemption to possess and/or produce cannabis (marihuana) during the above noted period of suspension.Released: April 11, 2011
}Ontario Court of Appeal Dates Chosen R v. Mernagh.
By Matt Mernagh.
Created 08/15/2011 - 06:10
http://www.cannabisculture.com/v2/print/28035
{
Ontario Court of Appeal court dates have been chosen for R v. Mernagh. The court ruling gutting Canada’s federal medical marijuana program, personal possession and cultivation laws is set to be heard March 5 and 6.
Photo:
mernagh weed beltmernagh weed belt.
endPhoto.
A small team of talented lawyers will descend on Toronto, ON, Osgoode Hall for two days to argue before a panel of three judges. Earlier this summer federal prosecutors won a reprieve on a 90 day marijuana legalization deadline. In exchange for a legal time out - prosecutors were ordered to have their case ready by mid-November. Team Mernagh [1] was given an option to chose the dates. Given the lengthy prep required to defend their victory they've opted for March. Training will start in the new year.
more...
}Pushback works. Regulate. Legalize. Deschedule. Take cannabis out of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act in Canada & the Controlled Substances Act in the USA.
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Comment #6 posted by dongenero on November 17, 2011 at 07:56:08 PT
Montana raids
Issued civil seizure warrants......hmmmmm....Good work if you can get it. "Legalized" theft.Let me guess, the Feds will seize the funds from the bank and then never file any charges.
Of course they will not want it to go to court, but they will steal the money with no accountability, thank you.As Oleg says in his excellent post below;...."the government cannot prevail through the court system"....
So, they'll wield their over-stretched seizure powers while attempting to avoid any court hearings on the matter.
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Comment #5 posted by The GCW on November 16, 2011 at 18:53:11 PT
US CO: Medical marijuana license fee drops in Colo
http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20111116/NEWS/111119867/1078&ParentProfile=1055
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on November 16, 2011 at 17:35:51 PT
Feds Raid Western Montana Marijuana Operations
November 16, 2011Helena -- Federal law enforcement officials on Tuesday and Wednesday executed 12 criminal search warrants and four civil seizure warrants on medical marijuana operations in four Montana towns.According to the U.S. Attorney Michael Cotter's office, the crackdown was the culmination of a 12-month multi-agency investigation into what authorities say were criminal drug trafficking activities in Kalispell, Missoula, Somers and Whitefish.URL: http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20111116/NEWS01/111116017/
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Comment #3 posted by Oleg the Tumor on November 16, 2011 at 11:53:02 PT:
The Empire Fights Back!
So it's off to the races in Washington state.
It's the "Manifest Destiny" show, rerun for a new generation.
They might as well invade Canada (again) and grab all those miscreants in British Columbia who dare grow any plant NOT sanctioned by the United States Government!As far as the United States is concerned, God made a serious mistake by creating "Marihuana".In the name of all that is Correct And Holy, a number of people would take the Lord to task if they could, and demand that He issue some kind of recall notice as if they were talking about a Pinto with a leaking gas tank!
(Or some other creation of man)
But we're not talking about manufacturing here, we're talking about botany, the natural world; our place in it; the way we relate to one another and ultimately what we value.To some that means "life liberty and pursuit of happiness".Others value fear for the power it gives them over others.Especially when the weather is turning bad and the crop needs to be harvested, pronto.But those "Growers" (as they used to be known) in the American Southwest during the early 1900s also feared the snare that they knew they were using against migrant populations and therefore banned the use of this plant among their own. Thus, "Reefer Madness".As if the plant these workers smoked was the cause of the migrants misery, not the mistreatment, the lack of respect, the substandard wages (among many other complaints)
This is why the government cannot prevail through the court system; if the substance in question was a man-made substance, than the court would have no problem establishing "domain", or "jurisdiction" or whatever, citing "public safety" or some such.But marijuana is not a man-made substance and I can't imagine a jurist who thinks he has the power to rule that it is God who should be on the wrong end of an entrapment case. Or would that fall under product liability?The intent behind the prohibition of cannabis is what we are dealing with today.It looks like a snare to me.
I don't usually quote Scripture and to be honest I had to look this one up, but if the shoe fits…Proverbs 29:6 – Evildoers are snared by their own sin, but the righteous shout for joy and are glad.Legalize Freedom!
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #2 posted by FoM on November 16, 2011 at 11:05:24 PT
Feds Release More Details In Pot Raids
November 16, 2011 Seattle, W.A. -- Documents released in US District Court today reveal more details about the raids on two Seattle Cannabis Co-Op locations in the Rainier Valley and Ballard, as well as an alleged grow-ops in the south end.Federal authorities targeted medical marijuana businesses from Seattle to Lacey Tuesday as part of an investigation into, court records say, conspiracy to distribute marijuana, money laundering, possession of firearms in connection with drug trafficking.Court records say the “the targets of the investigation are entities and individuals that pretend to comply with Washington…medical marijuana laws, but in reality are simply fronts for drug dealing, money laundering, or other criminal offenses.”While Washington is one of 16 states where medical marijuana laws is legal, federal search warrants for the investigation note federal drug laws trump state regulations. However, the warrants says, ”our investigation is not currently targeting medical marijuana providers that comply with the letter and the spirit of existing state law.”URL: http://publicola.com/2011/11/16/feds-release-more-details-in-pot-raids/
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #1 posted by runruff on November 16, 2011 at 06:51:22 PT
Mickey Leonhart.
How many of you have seen Eric Cartman in his police uniform and tricycle with billy-club at the ready, "respect my athoratiiiii!", he screams as he bats away with his baton.This is a cartoon characterization of Mickey Leonhart. Take away her powerful position and the uniform and you have 5' foot coward with a Napoleon complex who grew up hating popular girls who did not apply their Clearasil with a trawl. She is emotionally scared from the kids calling her a nappy headed troll doll!She has self esteem issues as well as pent up anger issues. In other words she is a perfect foil for the purposes she is being used. A no empathy incomplete human.I have said here before that history is full of such personalities in fact; Hitler and Stalin said of them, they are useful idiots and disposable!
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