Pubdate: Fri, 30 Mar 2007
Source: Tribune, The (San Luis Obispo, CA)
Copyright: 2007 The Tribune
Contact:  http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisobispo/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/391
Author: Leslie Parrilla

U.S. DRUG AGENTS RAID MORRO POT DISPENSARY

The owner of a medical marijuana dispensary in Morro Bay said he is 
unsure whether he'll reopen after federal and local authorities 
raided his business and his Arroyo Grande home Thursday.

The raid thrusts the business into the federal-vs.-state legal battle 
over medical pot.

Central Coast Compassionate Caregivers employee Abe Baxter, 26, of 
San Luis Obispo was arrested at the dispensary at 780 Monterey Ave. 
on a warrant for allegedly possessing marijuana or hashish for sale 
and selling or furnishing the drug, according to sheriff's Sgt. Brian Hascall.

He was booked at County Jail and is being held in lieu of posting 
$20,000 bail, jail officials said.

Dispensary owner Charles Lynch would not comment on what 
investigators seized from his house during the raid and said he's not 
sure what he'll do with the co-op.

"It depends on how things go," he said from his home. "Today's the 
first day of this. I'm not sure of what's going to happen."

Outside the Morro Bay business -- the county's only medical pot 
dispensary -- protesters yelled and held up signs in opposition 
during the search.

Sheriff's officials began the investigation about a year ago before 
teaming up with federal Drug Enforcement Administration agents and 
serving two sealed federal search warrants around 11 a.m. Thursday at 
the dispensary and Lynch's home.

About a dozen investigators carried records, cannabis plants, 
computer equipment and packaged marijuana from the co-op.

Los Angeles-based DEA officials said the searches were the only ones 
carried out in the area and would not comment on details of the case.

A steady stream of customers walking up to the dispensary every few 
minutes during the search were told by detectives that the co-op was closed.

One customer said he was going to a dispensary in Bakersfield to get 
about three grams of medical marijuana, while a woman said it was her 
first time going to the dispensary and said she was going back to her 
doctor's office.

"I think it's wrong that they do this all the time to different 
cannabis clubs," said Tim Oster, 39, of Morro Bay, who said he 
planned to pick up about two grams of marijuana for chronic migraines 
and back pain. "Now I have to go and try to hustle it up on the streets."

About 2,000 people in the area rely on the dispensary, according to customers.

The dispensary has been operating in the city through a business 
license for about a year. Voter-approved state law allows medical 
marijuana but conflicts with a federal law that restricts pot. 
Federal authorities can make arrests and file charges for selling the drug.

Kris Hermes, the legal campaign director for Americans For Safe 
Access, a national medical marijuana advocacy organization, said 
there has been an increase in such raids by federal agents.

"It's outrageous what the federal government is doing at this time," 
Hermes said. "They're (the dispensaries) abiding by state law. ... 
It's especially unconscionable to have local officials assist the 
federal government. Local officials are supposed to uphold the law of 
their state."

Hermes said the federal government has shut down at least 30
dispensaries around the state since June 2005. 
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MAP posted-by: Elaine