Pubdate: Thu, 24 Sep 2015 Source: Appeal-Democrat (Marysville, CA) Copyright: 2015 Appeal-Democrat Contact: http://www.appeal-democrat.com/sections/services/forms/editorletter.php Website: http://www.appeal-democrat.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1343 DEPUTIES RAID TRIBE'S POT OPERATION SANTA ROSA (TNS) The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office raided a medical marijuana growing operation on Indian land just north of Ukiah on Tuesday, disrupting a high-profile project that had garnered national attention and was hailed by tribal leaders as a new way to generate jobs and revenue for cash-strapped tribes. Deputies eradicated some 400 pot plants from an outdoor location. At another location, they began dismantling a "highly sophisticated" chemical laboratory where honey oil a sticky, concentrated pot product used to make edible medicine was being manufactured under the auspices of the Pinoleville Pomo Nation, said Sheriff's Capt. Greg Van Patten. More than 100 pounds of trimmed and drying marijuana also was found inside the laboratory building, a former car dealership on North State Street. Tribal representatives who helped launch what is widely believed to be the first large-scale, tribal-operated medical pot operation in the state had contended they had a right to grow marijuana on the tribe's 99-acre rancheria for the benefit of the estimated 250-member tribe. They decried Tuesday's raids, accompanied by court-issued warrants, on what they claim are legal operations. "I think what they're doing is not right," said Nori Baldridge, the tribe's director of economic development. "This is sovereign land, and this is a sovereign nation," she said. "We were shocked," said Mike Canales, president of the tribe's business board. He said he's been in frequent contact with Sheriff Tom Allman and expected to be notified before there was any kind of raid. He also contends the sheriff does not have authority over the tribe and said he will be asking the county grand jury to investigate the issue. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom