SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5) — Federal drug agents raided a medical marijuana facility in San Francisco Wednesday night.
The raid occurred at Emmalyn’s California Cannabis Clinic at 1597 Howard Street. DEA spokeswoman Casey McEnry told CBS 5 the documents regarding the raid are sealed, so the DEA was not able to give many details.
“The documents relating to today’s enforcement operation remain under court seal. Based on our investigation we believe there are not only violations of federal law, but state law as well. As of now we are prohibited from releasing further details of the case. Items of evidentiary value were seized and no arrests have been made. The investigation is currently ongoing,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Anthony D. Williams in a written statement.
Emmalyn’s California Cannabis Clinic had a provisional permit, according to Chris Hermes, spokesperson for Americans for Safe Access, a national advocacy group for medical marijuana issues.
Hermes said at least two people were taken into custody at the facility.
“We’re shocked that after the Attorney General has made repeated statements that raids on California medical cannibis dispensaries would be suspended that we are seeing a continuation of that policy,” said Hermes.
“We call on the Attorney General to explain these actions by the DEA,” he added.
Attorney General Holder was clear that the feds would only go after dispensaries that break state law. If the feds have the evidence to show violations of state law, perhaps this is the Obama Administration’s way of putting the pressure on dispensary owners to strictly adhere to state law. However, if the DEA, rather than California authorities, are put upon to enforce California law, this is an unfair enforcement, as defendants in federal court will be unable to use their state’s medical marijuana law as a defense.
(Who has “less than a month” in the “next DEA raid pool”, anyway? I guess you never lose too many political bets by being too cynical…)
@martin: are u insane dude! throwing rocks n molotovs will only get ur ass KILLED! bro they SHOT A UNARMED MOM HOLDING HER BABY!! u think they give a dam about a patient or a rock?
Too many assumptions…here’s mine…lol what if he didn’t pay federal taxes, but paid state taxes. federal found, got search warrant. They went there to get fed eral & STATE papers. No arrests until they can prove their case. goodnight. F.LEE.Bailey (SIMPSON attorney) boooo
Yes. People need to be more aggressive towards DEA agents. People need to have BALLS. In regards to terrible regimes, not one has been toppled by being a nice guy. If it means arresting DEA agents DO IT. If it means that the people throw rocks or molotovs or get together in military type operations or whatever when they come DO IT. It is the only way. Have some guts guys. Only complaining on the internet is not enough. Liberty is worth risking and fighting for. Remember the Boston tea party my friends. And the war that followed. It wasn’t about being nice. Liberty is not gained just by complaining or writing. Most of the time it is gained by sacrifice and force.
further proof that obama’s support for med mj is too soft to trust and that the dea remains a rogue agency.
RRRRRRGGGGGHHHHH
Sorry, I can’t stop.
As far as I am concerned, if no arrests were made, it was breaking & enetering and robbery.
Where are the police????
QUIS CUSTODIET IPSOS CUSTODES!!!!!!!???????
I’m going to go outside and spit now
[apologies to Russ for CAPS and !!!!!!???????????]
Sorry for polyposting, but:
5) what gives McEnry and the DEA the right to “seal” records? Aren’t arrest records and such supposed be public information? We ARE paying for these travesties of justice, after all. We deserve to know–and to know ASAP after asking–what’s being done with our money.
As long as the DEA is allowed to commit felony robbery with impunity, and claim the records are “sealed”, the raids will go on.
One thing’s clear: this administration has no particular concern for consistency or the rule of law.
On the other hand, it’s pretty obvious that they have better instincts and a much more balanced view than the previous administration.
Just because they’re better than Bush doesn’t mean they’re good. We need to hold their feet to the fire.
Even though many of us are progressives, we should not give Obama a free pass on the issue of medicinal marijuana or decrim in general.
1) Agree 100% that state law needs to be enforced by STATE agencies.
2) Getting freaking tired of the excuse that the “infraction” was bad anough to take your cash and other property but not bad enough to arrest anyone. In this story, there seems to be conflicting info whether anyone was taken into custody–DEA says none, & Hermes says “at least 2″
3) I’d love to vote for abolishing the DEA entirely.
4) AAARRGGHHH
This gives me cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome every time I hear news like this.
I find this very disturbing. I hope the Whitehouse responds in some way, like by getting their rogue DEA agents under control. I’m still hopeful that the new administration intends to keep their word.
Considering that there are now 2 states pushing legislation for flat-out legalization and regulation, America is being forced to consider ending prohibition. I honestly believe that we are witnessing the end of these awful policies. I hope to live to see the day.
Frustrating news to wake up to. Again, they bust into a place claiming there’s illegal activity, confiscate property and money and make no arrests. What if they just pay the DEA off beforehand for protection?
I think Radical Russ basically has it right.
The feds believe that they can’t allow de facto legalization to happen in California. They have to keep “the fear of God” in the owners of dispensaries. Perhaps they want dispensaries run strictly, with close attention paid to the verifying the identity of the ill, just to make sure the law’s restrictions don’t become a dead letter. More likely, they just want to send out the message: “Don’t get too big and successful and popular or we’ll target you.”
As Russ points out, this is an abrogation of the rule of law. For one thing, state law should be enforced by the states. Second, and more important, the whole point of the rule of law is to enshrine the principle that “if you follow the rules, they can’t touch you–no matter how unpopular you are.”
The Obama administration seems to be purposely, cynically undermining that. Shame on them.
by closing that clinic just means less domestic herb and more Mexican Bloodweed will be consumed in that neighborhood.
Good thinking Holder.
how many more must die?
How is California going to pass a legalization Bill,when the Feds wont even let their sick have it?
I’m holding my breath on this one. If the dispensary was indeed in violation of not only Federal, but also State laws, then the DEA is enforcing federal law exactly as promised.
However the outcome is bad independent of whether or not the dispensary was breaking state laws.
If they weren’t breaking state laws then this is a clear overstep of policy.
Yet if they were in violation of state laws this demonstrates why the “Look the other way (most of the time)” policy is flawed. We have Federal agents acting to enforce State laws.
State laws are for the state to enforce how they see fit.
Either way, not good.