Three people held in raids at San Diego marijuana dispensaries
Wednesday, August 6th, 2008 at 11:00 am | By: Radical Russ
Three people held in raids at marijuana dispensaries | The San Diego Union-Tribune
SAN DIEGO – Narcotics agents raided four San Diego marijuana dispensaries, made three arrests at the locations and seized about 20 pounds of pot yesterday.Federal authorities said the businesses were not selling the drug within the limits of state Proposition 215, a 1996 initiative legalizing the sale of marijuana by prescription to seriously ill patients.
[A DEA spokeswoman] said marijuana and pot-laced brownies, ice cream, chocolate and fruit bars were seized at the businesses, along with a loaded handgun and thousands of dollars. She said the investigation took several months, and continues, to trace where the pot came from.
Meanwhile, the county Board of Supervisors is continuing its court battle against the state’s medical marijuana laws.
The board voted 4-1 yesterday, with Ron Roberts opposing, to ask the state Supreme Court to review its lawsuit challenging the state requirement that counties issue government identification to qualified medical marijuana patients.
The county contends the requirement conflicts with federal drug statutes that categorize marijuana as a dangerous drug with no medical benefits.
A Superior Court judge rejected the county’s case in 2006, and an appellate court backed that decision Thursday. The state Supreme Court will be asked to review last week’s ruling, said Tom Bunton, senior deputy county counsel.
I thought it was interesting for the DEA to note that the businesses weren’t operating within the limits of Prop 215, as if obeying Prop 215 would keep the feds from making the bust! And between four operating dispensaries, you could only seize 20 pounds of pot – that’s five pounds per dispensary. Using the inflated DEA estimate of $3,000 / lb., that’s a whole $60,000 worth of pot y’all rounded up. I’m betting the salaries and equipment costs involved in the raid cost more than that.
Notice also the detail in describing the medibles – “pot-laced brownies, ice cream, chocolate and fruit bars”. Why wouldn’t the spokesperson say “marijuana and marijuana-laced foods”? Because the DEA is constantly hyping the threat of marijuana being marketed to children, and kids love ice cream! They must think adult patients wouldn’t also like brownies, ice cream, chocolate, and fruit bars; adults should take their drugs in pill form.
Also they’ve got to mention the loaded handgun and the thousands of dollars, which you could likely find in any small business dealing with lots of cash. That’s to hype the “medical marijuana dispensaries are like dangerous drug dealers” meme.
Finally, looks like San Diego is going to take the ID card case all the way to the California Supreme Court. Some people just can’t take “No” for an answer.
FREE JOE NUNES FREE JOE NUNES
Can sombody help me out I have the best job In the world, My job is to check ID at a marijuana dispensary, and IM a Armed Officer.
Is their any guid lines for the dispensary, and of stachut, or laws that the dispensary has to fallow, and how can I be ashered that I will not be arrested, and loos all my licnes and perment’s
It’s legal in the state, but it’s not legal federally, but Obama or the attorny general of the adminitration said they will not be wasting time or money on persuing these places. So you are safe from feds until Obama is ousted in 2012 or retires in 2016 or the people you work for do not follow the guidlines of prop 215 or SB 420 (google those and you will get a bunch more info).
How much of taxpayer’s money given the debacle that San Diego is in has been used to continue this fight against ID cards when the Federal Supreme Court already spoke to the issue of state governments rights to pass their own laws even if they conflict with Federal law. The people spoke when they passed Prop 215. There are legitimate businesses out there trying to live according to the law; for those that aren’t they should be held to the standards of the law and loopholes should be closed. However, to continue this fight when there are so many more serious issues that face not only San Diego, but the entire world verges on the absurd.
One of those raided in SD have far more to worry about then the DEA.
Try NLR (Nazi Low Riders) for those who need educating.
It is a personal thing that the operators of Cronic Care on Dagget have gotten themselves into. NLR has key to their front door, a long time customer. A cash cow ripe for the taking on or off site.
Think SD police know….lol…. how do you think I found out.