Pubdate: Fri, 19 Jan 2007
Source: Washington Times (DC)
Copyright: 2007 News World Communications, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.washingtontimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/492
Author: Jerry Seper, The Washington Times
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Marijuana - California)

DEA RAIDS MEDICAL MARIJUANA CENTERS

Federal agents in California and Washington state have raided several 
medical marijuana distribution centers, seizing thousands of pounds 
of the drug, marijuana-laced edibles, weapons and cash. There were no arrests.

U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge 
Ralph W. Partridge, who heads the agency's Los Angeles field office, 
said his agents served 11 federal search warrants yesterday at 
marijuana distribution centers located throughout Los Angeles County, 
including five locations in West Hollywood, four in the San Fernando 
Valley, as well as locations in Hollywood and Venice.

"Today's enforcement operations show that these establishments are 
nothing more than drug-trafficking organizations bringing criminal 
activities to our neighborhoods and drugs near our children and 
schools," Mr. Partridge said.

He described the investigation as ongoing, adding that "leads are 
being actively pursued and developed."

In California, according to the DEA, there is no state regulation or 
standard of the cultivation or distribution of medical marijuana. The 
state leaves the establishment of any guidelines to local 
jurisdictions, which can vary widely.

The DEA and its local and state counterparts routinely have said that 
large-scale drug traffickers hide behind and invoke California's 
Proposition 215, even when there is no evidence of any medical claim. 
Prop. 215 created an exemption from criminal penalties for medical 
use of marijuana. But it does not legalize marijuana; it only changes 
how medical patients and their "primary caregivers" will be treated 
by the state's court system.

The DEA said high-level traffickers often pose as caregivers and are 
able to sell illegal drugs with impunity.

Drug-enforcement agents also raided the Everett, Wash., headquarters 
of an advocacy group for medical marijuana patients, confiscating 
what police documents said were more than 1,000 marijuana plants and 
computers whose owners said contain personal information on 200 
people authorized to use the drug for medicinal purposes.

Detective Roy Alloway, assigned to the federally funded West Sound 
Narcotics Enforcement Team, discounted assertions by spokesmen for 
the group that the center was designed as a source for medicinal 
marijuana only. He told the Associated Press the site was a 
drug-dealing enterprise, adding that it was "absurd" to think that 
the number of plants there would be covered by a medicinal marijuana 
medical authorization.

Washington law allows possession of marijuana in doctor-approved 
cases but makes no provision for obtaining it. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake