Medical Marijuana Raids in L.A.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and local law enforcement raided two Los Angeles area medical marijuana dispensaries today. Only limited information is available so far, but MPP will be watching the situation closely.
Tagged with: California and DEA and law enforcement and Medical Marijuana by the author
61 comments
Wasn’t there a bill passed to end DEA raids on medical marijuana recipients and despencaries? of does this just count for the DEA?
More of our money, and our citizens lives down the drain due to ignorance and power-of-law run amok.
And another dead dog to add to Law Enforcement’s belt notches. They must be so proud of themselves!
Can we please get the Democrats and Republicans out of office?
Hummm… So just what law are they going to say these dispenseries have broken? Makes me wonder…as pressure mounts on our leaders to do as we the people want them to do, who will they srtike out at? Maybe these dispenseries have broken some fed law….If not why are they busting them. Its a tragedy none the less.
Keep your eyes open, our leaders are taking it in the tail from WE THE PEOPLE on the health care and cap and tax bills. Corner a wild animal and it will strike out. They already are calling anyone who speaks out against these bills mobs, extremists,right wing nut jobs ect. ect. Who know what our leaders think of those of us pushing to end prohibition. Seems to me any dissent in this country gets you labeled and tagged lately. Thats ok, let them enrage the people. When they lose the people, they lose the war.
I honestly think the DEA is running without approval at this point doing what it pleases they should be disbarred. The only way we will have good legalization is if we get rid of the DEA and make a new drug organization that focuses on prevention and treatment of people on serious drugs instead of this tax payer funded war on the tax payers.
This is BS, we really need to stand up nd demand em to stop.
I’m sure the DEA”s reason will be amusing…can’t make too much judgement yet though, they might’ve actually done something wrong.
Was it fake?
“This webpage is not available.
The webpage at http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/08/dea-fbi-irs-raids-two-westside-pot-dispensaries-shoots-a-dog.html might be temporarily down or it may have moved permanently to a new web address.
More information on this error”
Update on previous post, the site works now.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/08/dea-fbi-irs-raids-two-westside-pot-dispensaries-shoots-a-dog.html
I don’t know if the link changed at all, so I’m reposting it.
Since the IRS is mentioned taxes must be part or all of the problem in these raids. I was very happy to read the pit bull is expected to make a full recovery at least. From my previous experience as a DEA agent myself, I know all police agencies have to have is, “Reasonable Doubt,” and from that point on it’s a matter of going to court and letting the judge determine if the case has enough information to attempt prosecuting defendants. The term, “Reasonable Doubt, ” is a catch all phrase when hard evidence isn’t immediately available to convict suspects. This whole situation may just be as simple as a late payment on taxes. All anyone can do is wait and see on this one when it goes to court for a preliminary hearing to see if there’s enough evidence to actually convict anyone.
What does president Obama have to say???
The DEA made him a liar.
Rick, what would be hilarious is if the IRS hadn’t collected federal taxes from the dispensaries, which they shouldn’t be expecting anyway due to the fact that medical marijuana is illegal on a federal level.
Well, maybe it would just be tragic.
Back in April I had finally had enough and I planted my Victory Garden of 17 plants. They are in a plot roughly 16X8 and now are at least 8 feet tall, all growing out in the open in the glorious sunshine. Needless to say, I’m more than a little nervous. Still, all the news is about 9,000 plant-plus grows getting busted. Just a few more weeks to go….they are just starting to bust out their flower nodes and I thank my lack of a God for every day. I’ve been trying for decades, and this may be the year…
The DEA needs to be put out of business and the Drug Czar and Obama held accountable. What is their excuse for these illegal raids this time???
WTF ? OMFGOD ! I want to shit cancerous blood on the DEA !
Damn them. Damn them to hell.
I never use the medical argument as I believe people own their own bodies so recreational use of anything is okay.
However, it is very maddening when they lie even when they give us good news. No more raids my ass. They just can’t help themselves.
Not surprising though. Prohibition began with lies and it will end with lies, whenever that day comes.
i’m sure god approves the jailing of innocent and ill people for a plant that was here way before all of us. congrats on your “cop work”!
Overland ave. is actaully one of my cross streets. I live in west La and the story even thus far is sickening. They shot a fucking dog durring their stupid fucking raid? Like even if a medical marijuana dispencerys door was open then like fucken break it. They should all die a painfull death.
Bear #12,
Yeah, it’s pretty confusing isn’t it? The whole ball of worms in this situation is the government contridicts itself on marijuana from patients to growing. What has happend though is the fact that marijuana is now more obviously seen as a money making tool in government agencies. NO ONE gives a rats patoot about your personal health as a pot smoker, it’s all about making money from everyone being caught with their hand in the cookie jar so to speak. Even when I was working undercover as a fed narc back in the middle 70’s we never targeted anyone who was non violent or honest in their dealings with marijuana. Bad deals and violence made most dealers a primary target for DEA agents. Think about it, we never cared that our family and friends got high but we did worry about their safety.
im curious to see the reason for these raids….. as soon as they spit out a reason that doesnt make sense i will have many people writing letters and making calls….. but first we need more information
Rick, since when has there ever been anything honest about drug dealing? Back in the 70’s marijuana was illegal, so you don’t make any sense. People back in the 70’s dealing marijuana well there honest so Johnny Law won’t come after you. Your a moron. The facts are that the owner of these dispensaries was involved in other drugs which are not legal, promoting his dispensaries with flyers at schools, and not paying all the fees. And those fees you want to know about just ask Darcy about her citation. You all exploited the sick, and now in these tough economic times you are dangling money in front of the desparate to push your agenda for legalization. Do you all really think by legalization you are going to fix the budget? It is the American way to be lazy, cheat, and step on anyone to fulfill your selfish needs. You legalize it and people won’t pay their taxes, won’t pay into works comp insurance, etc.. You plug your finger in one hole of the dam and six others pop up.
What’s the back story? If for some reason they were not compliant with state law, then they should have been given a window of time to comply. These raids were supposed to stop! No wonder there is a rise of militia activity. I’m not advocating violence, and most cannabis consumers are like cats and can’t be herded together in their own defense. Cannabis consumers have always been easy targets for law enforcement and politicians who want to appear tough on crime. That’s why you can get more time for cannabis than for a violent crime. These raids make me sick. I’ll never forget what they did to Peter McWilliams!
John… you make no sence….
Make marijuana legal and people won’t pay their taxes???
Does the current system of underground drug dealers collect taxes on their profits now??? Getting any income tax from this billion dallar industry — that you haven’t been able to eradicate in 72 years – the industry that produces America’s #1 cash crop? Any sales tax collected? So all the profits are going to the criminal underground and the Mexican Cartels so they can finance their other illict activities (hard drug sales, weapons trade, human trafficing)? AND YOUR OK WITH THAT POLICY???? YOUR OK WITH A POLICY THAT HAS LIED TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC FOR 72 YEARS???
GET REAL!!!
Reasonable doubt is the standard by which people are convicted, as in ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’ or ‘I have a more than reasonable doubt that you are telling the truth.’ Reasonable suspicion is what the police need to pat you down. Probable cause is the standard for getting a warrant or arrest. But Rick you would know that if you weren’t full of some bull.
I believe the dog lives, but why are the details of this incident so hard to come by? Are there certain segments of law enforcement going out on their own- against the president’s wishes?
Targeting dispensaries that are trying to operate within the law just pushes more business toward the crminal cartels. The cartels would be poorer and America would be safer if we implemented a Personal Use and Cultivation Permit: $100 per year for a dozen plants. Split the proceeds between the States and the Fed.
Let’s put the cartels out of business.
Let ordinary Americans grow a little marijuana in their own back yards.
John ..WTH! Pull you head outta your ass! People wont pay taxes if cannabis is legal? I do believe ,aside from the dispenseries, taxes are all going to underground blackmarket dealers/cartels. Your way off on this. As for people being lazy..This is America ,you have the right to be lazy if you wish ,cannabis or not, its your choice,same as it should be your right to put in your body what you want. If being lazy is the only reason you can come up with ….lol..well nothing need be said there.
As for taking advantge of sick people..you can get the fuck off! If my father,who died of cancer, could have had cannabis he would have been able to eat and just maybe survive or at the very least been more comfortable in his last days. You dont have the right to speak for sick people! So DONT!
As for your prohibition..Do you really like the idea that more have died in mexico than in Iraq and Afganastan. Do you like the idea that prohibition has ruin so many lives. Does it make you happy innocent people in mexico mainly and in the US have did from violence caused from your policeis? You go wash the blood from your hands and pray for forgiveness!
Till then dont speak.
Sounds like John is here from the wrong side of the tracks. For the majority of human history weed and all drugs were legal. Our ancestors turned out just fine. In countries with lax drug laws most pay their taxes and have a lower teen drug abuse rate than here. Then again, they also live longer and have a higher quality of life. But oh, forget the facts right?
Promoting in high school? Come on!
If you look on the DEA’s website they openly attack and discredit the value of medical marijuana. The go as far as to say that marijuana has no medical value. In my opinion the DEA should not have an opinion on any political views they should just do their job instead of trying to create thier own job security. I am close to losing faith in American Government.
Can we have an update on this?
(I want to know if the DEA defied Eric Holder again so that I can make several news reports on the resulting Obamafail.)
MY IDEA OF A SOLUTION! iNSTEAD OF BARNEY FRANK introducing legislation to legalize marijuana, I think it would be best if they instead said The DEA will supply medical grade weed to all legit medical groups that want to determine if marijuana has a legitimate medical value. This sounds fair and would surely get pot rescheduled, making it easier for yes votes. Rescheduling would come as soon as the first group finished their doubleblind studies
R.O.E.
You are right that people have the right to put what they want in their bodies, but there are consequences for those decisions and should be. My point about the taxes was that people are always looking for a way to get over on the govt. I do see your point about the money being recovered strictly by the blackmarket / underground, and so it is better for us to try and take that away. I’ll give you that one. But the cartels will find another way to recover the loss, guaranteed.
Now my brother-in-law fought brain cancer for 11 years until it finally beat him. He smoked marijuana and i saw first-hand how marijuana helped him. So I do have the fucking right to speak just as you do. Now in my experience in dealing with folks with recommendations, they are not dying from cancer or AIDS. Majority of so-called patients just want to be able to smoke weed and get high. I would not go after a cancer patient because he has marijuana or is cultivating. But I have arrested a double-amputee, because they were selling the weed they were growing to gang members in their neighborhood. That is not what the people had in mind when giving people with serious medical condictions the right to possess, transport, and cultivate marijuana. The medical condition is to substantial limit a persons ability to conduct one or more of the major life activities, and majority of the ones i’ve seen dont.
Mexico is a violent country. Mainly because there is no help for the innocent. The corruption is absolutely out of control and stretches from top to bottom. So innocent folks have no way to
protect themselves which is unfortunate. But you are crazy if you think that by legalizing marijuana, the violence will stop. The violence is stemming from a huge power struggle between the cartels, and NOT California’s prohibition. Marijuana doesn’t mean shit to them. It pays the bills for them. The violence won’t end until a cartel wins and takes over to get the rest in line.
When will they ever figure out that legalization, coupled with regulation and taxation, is the only just method available!???? I like what Brad Pitt is supposedly running on: no religion, same-sex marriage and marijuana legalization, and maybe something else. I told Mayor Newsom that he should do the same, but perhaps he isn’t as liberal as he appears!
John, you make at least part of your living putting people like me in jail. How do you sleep at night!? Have you no soul? If you want to hurt the cartels, or limit them at least, take away their money! How can that not stop them? You need to bone up on your history, specifically the hard lessons taught by alcohol prohibition. It ENDED the violence! But then, people like you, in the industry, and like the cartels, who make their livings from marijuana prohibition, DONT WANT IT LEGALIZED!!! Get a real job, asshole!
John ‘ one who buisness is it if people want to get high? NOT your, NOT the government. Government needs to butt out of our lives. I myself dont use cannabis, so dont think this is a selfish speak here.
I dont think adding to the problem down there is a good thing. If they find another way to make money other than Cannabis fine, at least WE are not giving them money. Mexico will have to deal with their own corruption, thats not our buisness. We need to worry about this country. If you think people having thier lives ruined through cannabis arrests in THIS country is a good thing..shame on you. If you dont, then be part of the solution ,not past of the problem.
Good day sir!
Oh, and John, you should go hit up the Prohibitionist websites – or – at least read about the prohibition of alcohol. And while your argument has a semblance of sense, could not you just argue about legalizing all drugs!?? And apparently as with the rest of America, you appear to be focusing on the near future and tomorrow. Instead of the effects, which would be welcomed in 10-20 years and farther down the line, but I know it must be hard to think that far ahead!
djm,
I have a real job. It is more real then you could possibly fathom. Horrors seen day in and day out, so don’t make such a stupid comment like that. On the other hand, i could not agree with you more about going after the cartels money. These have been done, are being done, and will continue. It is the fastest way to identify who is in charge by following the money. It is one of the great things Reagan did for LE regarding asset forfeiture laws.
ROE,
I don’t care if people get high. my issue is with people breaking the law. And I have never said i’m against people getting high. I am against people breaking the law and then running under the umbrella of oh but i’m a patient and thats bullshit. If you have a legitimate reason then light away. But would it shock you to know that I was able to obtain a medical marijuana recommendation? I have no medical condition, and i simply paid a doctor’s fee. Again bullshit.
You keep talking about prohibition and the violence. The violence is not about medical marijuana or about how marijuana is not legal in CA. The cartels don’t care if pot is legal or not. The money maker for them is coaine, methamphetamine, heroin etc..And right now there is a huge power struggle between the cartels for control over the distribution routes leading into the US. So stop with your nonsense about prohibition. Say marijuana was legal in CA, its not in Arizona or Texas which are home to key distribution routes. You still run into the problem of the cartels bringing in the harder drugs into CA. The violence is about control of those routes. They don’t give two shits about anything else..well except their money
Michael Vick would make a good D.E.A. agent. May God forgive them all; I can not.
Can we please get some new leaders in the DEA please and not just people who are lazy? “Hmm, who should we bust today? How bout we open the phone book in L.A. and pick a dispensary?” I mean, cmon. How bout you guys go and bust some meth labs, you know, that very hazardous drug that literally kills and destroys entire schools and towns? Oh, or would that take a bit of work to pull off? You know, actually looking for and finding Meth cookers and Meth labs? The DEA has turned into a joke.
John ;
If you could careless about people getting high,then maybe you could help by getting it legal? HUmm? Its been reported that 60-70% of drug cartels money is in cannabis. You cant tell us that reducing that money wouldnt make a difference.
Yes people break laws, its done everyday. People see this law for what it is.BULLSHIT! So they break it in protest and a big F**K you to the government! Do you deny at some point here the government is going to have to do as WE THE PEOPLE DEMAND?
You go ahead and do you job..what ever that is…we will do ours.
But by all means, if you feel the need, be part of our solution.
John ;
By the way,
L.E.A.P. advocates that all drugs be legal so we can deal with the drug addiction problems in this country. What is your veiw on this? I dont think people should be able to do meth ,its a terrible drug,but L.E.A.P. has a good argue ment. Allso if drugs were legalized, you cant tell me drug cartels wouldnt care. They would very much care,unless they have a bigger customers than the USA.
John:
You really should do some research before you make comments. 60-70% of the Mexican cartels receive their money from the sale of Marijuana to the US. That’s right 60-70% come from the US. The other 30-40% is from marijuana sales in Mexico and the rest of South America. Then you have profits from meth, cocaine, weapons trafficing and human trafficing. Legalizing Marijuana in the US eliminate more than half of the profits the cartels receive. Lower cash holdings will make their other illict trafficing activities that much harder to complete.
As you said the thing they care the most about is their money…
John:
You really should do some research before you make comments. 60-70% of the Mexican cartels receive their money from the sale of Marijuana to the US. That’s right 60-70% come from the US. The other 30-40% is from marijuana sales in Mexico and the rest of South America. Then you have profits from meth, cocaine, weapons trafficing and human trafficing. Legalizing Marijuana in the US eliminates more than half of the profits the cartels receive. Lower cash holdings will make their other illict trafficing activities that much harder to complete.
As you said the thing they care the most about is their money…
Good job to the D.E.A.! Keep up the good work! These scumbags hid behind prop 215 to sell ecstasy, coke and heroin.
to #13:
I wouldn’t be posting stuff like that on the internet…unless you wanna be caught.
Commonsense my friend…
Abolish the DEA.
A group that exists solely to stop consensual activities. A group that exists because culture warrior Richard Nixon had to find a way to criminalize as many opponents as possible without jailing them for no reason. A group of thugs that profit off of human misery and are essentially the fundamentalist police.
No to the DEA.
John
I’ve done 25 years of BIG TIME trauma medicine so pound that”Seen what I’ve seen” B/S right up your keester. The reason drugs are harmful is Because they are illegal. And it’s mindless holier than though Brown Shirts like you that the whole rotten system depends on. You have no right or mandate to determine what another person does with their bodies. Don’t you people ever get tired of spouting Harry Anslinger propaganda. John do you know who that is? Didn’t think so. Ignorant red neck. Try fighting some real criminals that don’t mind shooting back.
My question remains John, do you know who Harry Anslinger is and exactly how Cannabis became illegal? Sure hope at some point in your life you get busted for something and have to spend some quality time in the slammer with all your clientele.
WHAT THE FUCK THIS COUNTRY WILL NEVER BE FREE111 MPP you have been a hell of a source of information. and i have leared alot reading along .. BUT THIS SHIT IS GETTING OUT OF HAND IN CALI. THESE RAIDS HAVE TO STOP ..!!!where is our camander and cheif ??.. did he ?or did he not put a stop to the dispensery raids ….
Hum,mm….Seems a certain someone ran out of retoric.
And you “hero” Obama the liberal pig who gave his buddy Gil a job says he will stop those Federal raids on medical marijuana dispensaries.
Yes, Obama! Go Obama! Woot woot OBAMA!!! Free Healthcare to all the people who don’t have jobs because they’re lazy or just plain undereducated because of their laziness! How about free healthcare to the people who actually have had jobs or graduated from a college or tech school?
Go Obama! Make this the Socialist Police States of America!
If they were busted for dealing these other drugs, how do we know that they weren’t planted on them. What if they were framed. Do you really think that someone would be stupid enough to ruin what God has finally granted him by screwing up his heaven that he probably been dreaming forever of ? Could be the administration trying to “prove a point” or discredit the dispensaries? They won’t bust legitimate operations that operate within the boundaries but then they are the ones that decide whats bustable and whats not and if its borderline, whats to stop them from throwing in a little extra to put you over the line and have you locked up for life as a king pin? It still isn’t a safe environment or I would already be living in a medical state. I surely qualify as a patient. However, my wife wouldn’t go with me because she doesn’t trust the Government. Who can blame her? By the way, she qualifies too, with glaucoma, diabetes, chronic pain, and anxiety as well as insomnia. By the way, once they get you, they don’t charge you under state law, they charge you under federal and since its illegal under federal, your state medical card doesn’t provide any defense. Its barely even admissable and doesn’t apply to federal law.
Jackhooter:
You are right, they can change the rules of the game at will. The feds are good at that. Once they have you,thats it. Look at Charles Lynch, He wasnt even allowedto use words that he needed to defend himself. It says alot about our system when they can dictate to you how you are going to defend your self.
Dont wanna sound paranoid or conspiracy or anything but…
Has it ever occurred to anyone that once people step out of the closet ,so to speak, this adminastration and the feds could reverse all this and make the biggest arrest sweep of all time, just in the name of the drug war and..(cough) .. justice?
This is my reasoning for not using cannabis. Once you speak out,the eyes are on you. Last I heard you cant be arrested for peaceful protest and freedom of speech, though I wonder sometimes.
America? Maybe…maybe not.
Has the President made any kind of statement about Being made to look as if he lied to us all? With the IRS involved book keeping could be the issue. I wish I had more info…
For what its worth: One cannot access the MPP website from hotels in Seattle and Vancouver without permission from “the administrator”.
I sure like to hear an update on this story. So far it all sounded like a very bad set-up. Any illegal drugs that are not part of the dispenary can be traced, they cannot just materialize.
ROE,
Didn’t run out of things to say. Just sitting back and reading.
Slice,
I do know who Harry Anslinger is, and I just brushed up on how cannabis became illegal. As far as your response about your BIG TIME trauma medicine comment, you only get to see them when they show up to the hospital. Your enivronment has been controlled and sterilized with the devastation lying on a hospital bed. Unless you have stood in my shoes then you can not down play what I have seen or experienced.
Answer me this, as you stated “drugs are harmful because there illegal.” Say drugs are legal, and Bob goes down to the store picks up some meth and decides he wants to go on a binder and celebrate because things in his life are going great. Goes home after being up for three days and kills his family. What then? but I thought drugs were harmful because they are illegal.
Finally, if you know any criminals who would like to shoot back you be sure to let me know. And don’t hold your breath on me getting busted…actually on second thought go ahead.
DarthNole,
Where are you getting the info on 60-70% of cartel activity is related to marijuana sales to the US. In my experience, marijuana sales generate a small profit in comparison to other illicit drugs. Mainly because marijuana, unlike heroin or cocaine, in not diluted or “cut” in the intermediate phases of trafficking, but is sold in much the same form at the wholesale and retail prices which is about $300/lb.
Marijuana is bulky and difficult to transport in high-profit quantity: the profit generated from the retail sale of 700 pounds of commercial marijuana could most probably be equalled from the retail sale of one kilogram of diluted cocaine. Finally, trafficking marijuana implies increased risks of interdiction because the bulk of the drug makes it most visible to law enforcement authorities. Let me know where that info came from, I would like to read it.
Good golly MPP people, let’s not allow the ego laden John to get the last word in here. A troll for sure and a efficient product of Propaganda.
Seems you have more studying to do John. Look around this site and you’ll find all the information you need. BTW, stick to the Marijuana topic, which is the purpose of this blog and drop your hard drug talk.
I will if Slice would clarify. And don’t tell me people on this website are not for legalization across the board. People should be able to do what ever they want to their bodies. I have heard that one on more than one occasion Lea.
WHY DONT THE PEOPLE THAT DONT SMOKE LEAVE THE PEOPLE THAT DO ALONE. SMOKING SIG’S WERE OUT FOR A LONG TIME JUST LIKE THE M.J. BUT U DONT HEAR THE BAD SHIT THAT CAN HAPPEN TO WHILE UR SMOKING THAT SHIT!!!! I BELIEVE THAT THE SMELL IS HELLA BETTER!! AND DAMN, JUST LEAVE THE SICK ONE’S ALONG AND GET A LIFE FOR UR SELF. I DONT RECALL ANYONE GOING DOOR TO DOOR ASKING OUR OPPION ON HOW DO WE FEEL ABOUT ALL THE TABACOO SMOKE IN THE AIR AROUND ALL THE OTHER’S THAT CAN’T STAND THAT SMELL. AND OTHER JUNK THAT STUFF THAT CAN HARM U!!
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