Feds Raid Eight Medical Marijuana Locations

[Spliff Twister]

Federal authorities raided eight different Bay Area locations today
associated with growing, prescribing and dispensing medical
marijuana, according to the U.S. attorney's office.

Drug enforcement agents and federal police seized 12,743 plants, more
than $125,000 in cash, cars, computers and manicured marijuana from
at least eight locations, five in San Francisco and three in Oakland,
all associated with New Remedies Cooperative and Potent Employment
Solutions.

Sparky Rose, the executive director of the organizations, was one of
15 people arrested. All are expected to be arraigned Wednesday in
federal court.

The raids were a collaborated effort by at least three different
federal agencies. The sheriff's offices of both Mendocino and Santa
Clara counties also helped in the investigation, which culminated in
the raid of dispensaries, grow sites, at least one personal
residence, administrative offices and a storage area.

At 1760 Mission St., federal police and drug enforcement agents boxed
up marijuana and hashish inside a medical-marijuana dispensary that
also served as a grow site.

The raid started at noon and went on for an hour as federal agents
used a sledgehammer to pound open two automated teller machines
inside the front office.

U.S. Attorney Kevin Ryan was at the scene but left around 12:30 p.m.
DEA Special Agent in Charge Javier Pena said at the time that the
raid was part of a "large-scale trafficking" operation and part of an
ongoing investigation.

Outside, at least 20 protesters marched with colorful signs and
chanted, "DEA, go away" and "patients rights."

Shona Gochenaur, executive director of Axis of Love San Francisco,
said several of the people arrested were patients.

"This is despicable and atrocious," Gochenaur said. "I saw them take
out an elderly man who was shaking."

Three San Francisco police officers and a sergeant were at the scene
of the Mission Street raid to provide a "safety zone" for the federal
agents.

Several blocks away in the Potrero Hill neighborhood, another
operation was also underway at 790 Tennessee St. Federal agents were
inside the warehouse until at least 2 p.m.

Also in Oakland at least two people were taken away in handcuffs from
an administrative office located at 1710 Franklin, According to
Dolphin, who also said all three locations were affiliated with New
Remedies, which was formerly known as Compassionate Caregivers.

DEA spokeswoman Casey McEnry said she did not know of any patients
under arrest. She also said the search warrants are sealed and she
could not release any more information on specific locations
targeted.

Javier Pena, who directed the raid, said the people arrested today
are nothing but drug dealers, in the business to make money.

"Federal drug laws prohibit the cultivation and sale of marijuana."
Pena said in a statement. "Anyone who breaks these laws to run a
lucrative drug trade, buy fancy cars, boost their bank accounts, and
exploit vulnerable citizens is not compassionate, they're criminal."

Newshawk: Spliff Twister - www.420Times.com
Source: cbs5.com San Francisco
Pubdate: 10/03/06
Copyright: MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc.
Website: CBS San Francisco

 

[bahnzo]

Anyone who didn't see this coming is blind. From reading various websites it's obvious that people who own these dispensaries were taking things too far, too fast. Selling to people without a script, $80 1/8's, selling oz's to single people who come back and buy more oz's the next day, etc.

Most of these clubs *are* nothing but dealers opening shop under the guise of compassion and caring. But from what I read, it's all about the money...I mean look at this one mentioned - 5 shops owned by the same people, 12k plants under cultivation.

I'm all for legalization, and it's my hope that places for *everyone* to buy marijuana exist. But right now we don't have laws in place to allow this, and these dispensaries are operating in a very gray area as it is right now. Not expecting the DEA to come in and do this is stupid thinking.

My hope is they are only targeting the places not checking for scripts and overselling.

 

[Spliff Twister]

UPDATE

Note that despite the sensational heading on this story, only one
facility, New Remedies, was targeted. This was hardly a huge
surprise, given that they were the only surviving spinoff of
Compassionate Caregivers, which has been under investigation ever
since their LA outlet was busted in May, 2005. They had an
impressive array of products, and will be sorely missed by their
loyal clientele. They were a victim of their own success, too large
not to attract adverse attention from the feds. It is a shame to see
them wasted by the federal juggernaut.
There are no indications that this was part of a larger DEA
sweep. Nonetheless, there have been a few other reported sitings of
DEA agents and informants around the Bay Area dispensary scene
recently. A team of DEA agents in a white Dodge van with dark
windows was seen photographing an SF dispensary the other day. It
would be foolish to assume that this is the last DEA medical
marijuana bust.
- D. Gieringer, Cal NORML