Pubdate: Thu, 30 May 2002
Source: Denver Rocky Mountain News (CO)
Copyright: 2002, Denver Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.rockymountainnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/371

DEA RAIDS SANTA ROSA MEDICAL MARIJUANA CLUB

SANTA ROSA, Calif.- Federal agents raided a medical marijuana buyers club 
here Wednesday and arrested two people.

A U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration spokesman said two addresses were 
searched, including the club near downtown. Marijuana, cash, a car and a 
weapon were seized.

Authorities declined to identify the arrested pair, saying all information 
about the case was sealed by a federal judge.

According to one witness, at least six DEA agents stormed the storefront 
around 10:45 a.m.

"They made a big show of it," Mark Nabavi, who runs the Printing Express 
store next door, told the Santa Rosa Press Democrat. "They took down 
everyone's license plate number."

In February, DEA agents raided a San Francisco medical marijuana club and 
arrested four people amid an ongoing tug-of-war between local and federal 
officials over the sale of pot for medicinal purposes.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year that it is illegal to distribute 
marijuana for medical purposes. But some local law enforcement officials 
have said their job is to enforce the laws of California, where voters 
overwhelmingly approved medical marijuana use.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens