Pubdate: Fri, 29 Apr 2016
Source: Porterville Recorder (CA)
Copyright: 2016 Freedom Communications Inc.
Contact: http://mapinc.org/url/AJm5UIc8
Website: http://www.recorderonline.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2887

LA PHYSICIAN ARRESTED FOR PEDDLING POT RECOMMENDS

The Tulare County Sheriff's Department arrested a Los Angeles 
obstetrician-gynecologist on Tuesday for illegally issuing medical 
marijuana recommendations.

Dr. Howard Ragland was taken into custody for two felony warrants 
which were issued after an investigation by the Sheriff's Tactical 
Enforcement Personnel team.

According to a Sheriff's Department press release, it came to the 
attention of the Department that Ragland, who had an office in 
Visalia, was issuing medical marijuana recommendations "in an 
unscrupulous and illegal manner."

The Sheriff's Department said it is the first prosecution of a doctor 
related to the issuance of recommends in Tulare County.

Ragland was taken into custody in Los Angeles without incident by 
detectives with the Sheriff's Department's County Apprehension Team 
Tracking Criminals in Hiding, who coordinated with the Los Angeles 
County Sheriff's Department's Major Crimes Fugitive Task Force.

Ragland was being held in the Los Angeles County Jail on Tuesday 
pending transport to Tulare County. His bail has been set at $75,000. 
Ragland also kept offices in Bakersfield, Fresno, Los Angeles and Beverly Hills.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom