Jim Finnel
Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
The DEA's stealthy raids of two medical marijuana dispensaries in West Hollywood this week had folks really scratching their heads.
Why? Well, unlike the city of L.A., Weho appears to tightly control and regulate its dispensaries. And these pot shops -- Alternative Herbal Health Services and Zen Healing ("Home of the real deal Skywalker OG," according to a YouTube video) -- were two of only four legally allowed in the city.
"We can't really figure it out," Bill Kroger, an attorney for the dispensaries, told the Weekly:
"We go to all the meetings with the city of West Hollywood," he said. "These are very legal within the city of West Hollywood."
Particularly after the Obama administration stated it would not go after legit pot shops in medical marijuana states, cannabis supporters are flummoxed after the federal drug agency moved in to such a tightly controlled market.
(Makes you think they think they might allegedly have something other than selling a few eighths, but who knows?).
The raids happened yesterday at the shops in the 7800 (Alternative) and 8400 (Zen) blocks of Santa Monica Boulevard, the DEA tells us.
Search warrants were served by the DEA with the help of the LAPD and sheriff's deputies at 2:10 p.m., according to DEA agent Sarah Pullen. The warrants are under seal and "part of an ongoing investigation," she said, which means we don't get to take a peak.
"One individual was detained initially," Pullen said. "However no charges have been filed at this time."
Kroger told us authorities "detained a lot of people" at the shops but eventually let them go.
"The owner was released," he said. "I haven't heard of anyone not being released."
Kroger said authorities seized pot and cash, but he wasn't sure how much.
Asked if the pot shops were connected via ownership Kroger said he couldn't comment.
NewsHawk: Jim Behr: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: laweekly.com
Author: Dennis Romero
Copyright: 2011 LA Weekly, LP
Contact: Los Angeles About Us LA Weekly
Website: Marijuana: DEA Raids Otherwise Legal West Hollywood Pot Shops, Won't Say Why
Why? Well, unlike the city of L.A., Weho appears to tightly control and regulate its dispensaries. And these pot shops -- Alternative Herbal Health Services and Zen Healing ("Home of the real deal Skywalker OG," according to a YouTube video) -- were two of only four legally allowed in the city.
"We can't really figure it out," Bill Kroger, an attorney for the dispensaries, told the Weekly:
"We go to all the meetings with the city of West Hollywood," he said. "These are very legal within the city of West Hollywood."
Particularly after the Obama administration stated it would not go after legit pot shops in medical marijuana states, cannabis supporters are flummoxed after the federal drug agency moved in to such a tightly controlled market.
(Makes you think they think they might allegedly have something other than selling a few eighths, but who knows?).
The raids happened yesterday at the shops in the 7800 (Alternative) and 8400 (Zen) blocks of Santa Monica Boulevard, the DEA tells us.
Search warrants were served by the DEA with the help of the LAPD and sheriff's deputies at 2:10 p.m., according to DEA agent Sarah Pullen. The warrants are under seal and "part of an ongoing investigation," she said, which means we don't get to take a peak.
"One individual was detained initially," Pullen said. "However no charges have been filed at this time."
Kroger told us authorities "detained a lot of people" at the shops but eventually let them go.
"The owner was released," he said. "I haven't heard of anyone not being released."
Kroger said authorities seized pot and cash, but he wasn't sure how much.
Asked if the pot shops were connected via ownership Kroger said he couldn't comment.
NewsHawk: Jim Behr: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: laweekly.com
Author: Dennis Romero
Copyright: 2011 LA Weekly, LP
Contact: Los Angeles About Us LA Weekly
Website: Marijuana: DEA Raids Otherwise Legal West Hollywood Pot Shops, Won't Say Why
