California Sheriff Raids Medical Marijuana Dispensary with DEA

Medical marijuana is legal in California and Attorney General Eric Holder recently said federal agents will no longer be utilized to raid dispensaries unless they are violating both federal and state law.

(BAKERSFIELD, Calif.) - In spite of recent announcements by the Attorney General that the days of federal agents raiding legal medical marijuana dispensaries are over, the Sheriff of Kern County, California utilized agents from the federal Drug Enforcement Agency Wednesday in its raid of a medical marijuana dispensary in east Bakersfield Wednesday afternoon.

Local TV station KGET 17 News reports that the search warrant was served on the Green Cross Compassionate Medical Marijuana Co-operative at 319 Bernard Street in Bakersfield.

The station's Website stated that their calls to the sheriff’s department were not immediately returned. They did contact the DEA who reportedly stated that the agency was there only to assist, insisting that the lead agency on the case was the sheriff’s department.

The story is taking place a couple of hours east of Morro Bay, California, where lawful medical marijuana dispensary owner Charles Lynch was singled out by the local sheriff who also used the DEA to conduct their raid.

Sheriff Donny Youngblood told KGET 17 News that his office will not interfere with the operation of non-profit medical co-operatives run by patients for patients. But, he said dispensaries that sell marijuana for a profit should be expected to be treated like other drug dealers.

The powerful group of advocates fighting for patient's rights in California are sure to be highly dismayed with this seemingly creative law enforcement approach.

Bakersfield, California is not a community known for progressive politics in law enforcement. There are many occasions over the years that Kern County deputies have reportedly violated the rights of news reporters and photographers on the job.

There is nothing more to report at this time, we will make calls and try to get more of the story.

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david October 12, 2010 11:08 am (Pacific time)

Pharmacies sell drugs that are approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). Pot is NOT approved by the FDA. Prohibition was repealed. Work to change the classification of Marijuana from a schedule 1 drug. Bickering will get you no where.

alonzo September 3, 2009 11:22 am (Pacific time)

man when are they gonna make medicinal meth?

Truth July 19, 2009 1:57 pm (Pacific time)

Legalize it and the stop the BS, they'll never stamp it out. It's safer than booze. All they do is spin their wheels forever to justify their jobs. Country is run by big brother redneck bible touting conservative believe what they want close minded hypocrites.

Bob May 30, 2009 11:24 am (Pacific time)

Is there anything in state law or regs that require dispensaries to be non-profit or are local communities creating these requirements on their own?

meesterD May 28, 2009 6:14 am (Pacific time)

That's his argument?!? Because they're making a profit? So then, by that logic, this guy should be chasing after the FDA for the rest of his life because that's all they do! Pills for profit. FDA doesn't help many people unless you pay them exorbitant amounts of money! Why can't we get decent smart people in the local offices? I wonder how much money his office got from the FEDS to pull this one off?!?!

Paolo May 26, 2009 2:52 pm (Pacific time)

This is great. No one should be getting rich off marijuana. We all rile against Glaxo and all the giant pharma companies BECAUSE they put profit above everything. Think about that. I am opposed to pot for profit. It will just turn into a big business taht will cause problems. Do you guys really want the mafia getting in on this action? By legalizing herb, we are trying to TAKE away from the mafia. Cmon guys, think!

Sherry from Missouri May 18, 2009 3:42 pm (Pacific time)

yes, they should raid "Philip Inuhoff May 10, 2009 12:04 pm (Pacific time)
The sheriff is a &*#$. Is he going to raid pharmacies that sell Glaxo, Pfizer, Merck, etc. That make BILLIONS in profit peddling toxic drugs? Hmmmm? Do you know why they never raid meth labs, even though you can smell them a mile away? Fear. Stoners lay down, cranksters shoot back." We are forced to eat poisons every day that are prescriptions. What are the side effects of Medical Cannabis.. HUNGRY and Sleepy.. Gosh I wished my meds had those harmless side effects

Morley May 15, 2009 5:16 pm (Pacific time)

It will be interesting to see how much helicopter time, at $400 per hour, goes into mj hunting this summer.

Morley May 15, 2009 5:14 pm (Pacific time)

I used medical mj when nothing else worked without terrible side effects. I like Eric's idea of broadcasting the seeds across the countryside.

ERIC May 13, 2009 7:58 pm (Pacific time)

IF ALL OF YOU WERE TO START CAUSING IT TO GROW WILD EVERYWHERE AND THE DEA GOT MILLIONS OF FAKE TIPS THEN POT LAWS WOULD BE UNENFORCEABLE

ERIC May 13, 2009 7:55 pm (Pacific time)

WAKE UP PEOPLE, THIS IS WHAT YOU GET WHEN FASCISM TAKES OVER. DO YOU ACTUALLY BELIEVE THAT WE STILL HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE REPUBLIC. THIS IS CORPORTISM. TIME TO REVOLT

ian jaresh May 13, 2009 9:46 am (Pacific time)

I LOVE POT. but the cops gave me a felony for it. screw them

alex May 11, 2009 4:01 pm (Pacific time)

Call the White House people! and let them know!!!!! Heres the govt. Comment line,(202)-456-1111 or (202)456-1414

Matt May 10, 2009 7:36 pm (Pacific time)

I live in Bakersfield and sheriff A$$hole raided this dispensary a couple of years ago with the DEA as well as all the others in town. He said he was only there in a supportive role for the DEA. The sheriffs dept used to issue the permits to operate but he put a stop to that because he said he could not issue a permit with a clean conscience when he may be called upon by the feds to help arrest the operators of these establishments at a future date. When Obama said the raids would end and the dispensaries started to reopen Sheriff A$$hole vowed to shut them down and requested the DEA to assist. Sheriff A$$hole is a two faced pile of krap hypocrite.

Philip Inuhoff May 10, 2009 12:04 pm (Pacific time)

The sheriff is a cock. Is he going to raid pharmacies that sell Glaxo, Pfizer, Merck, etc. That make BILLIONS in profit peddling toxic drugs? Hmmmm? Do you know why they never raid meth labs, even though you can smell them a mile away? Fear. Stoners lay down, cranksters shoot back.

Richard Steeb May 8, 2009 7:06 am (Pacific time)

So AG Moonbeam's "guidelines" have the force of law now? When did Communism become the law of the land? Profit is the prime motive in our capitalistic society. Tyranny is to be overthrown.

Mellow Yello May 8, 2009 5:36 am (Pacific time)

I would think the DEA would get bored "raiding" peaceful storefronts for "illegal drug possession" when it's clear no crime is being committed and there's a prominently displayed pot leaf in the window. But the DEA's funding is more important than working public policy, right? Wrong.

OkinKun May 7, 2009 11:14 pm (Pacific time)

So I guess, according to these cops, that we should start criminalizing the pharmaceutical companies, until they promise to go non-profit? LOL If huge corporations can make billions upon billions selling dangerous pills with horrible side-effects... How come a medical marijuana dispensary can't make money off a drug that is safer than pretty much every other drug out there, even the legal ones!

Mike May 7, 2009 5:14 pm (Pacific time)

check out MedicalMarijuanaNews.com for more info

Michael May 7, 2009 4:28 pm (Pacific time)

Are there no torturers? Are there no war criminals? Are there no criminal banksters stealing billions? Are there no rapists, muggers, child molesters, arsonists? are tehre no bent cops, crooked DEA agents?

earnie May 7, 2009 11:02 am (Pacific time)

the law forces their opion on the masses. and brain washes us by the laws they choose to enforce!

Scott May 7, 2009 10:59 am (Pacific time)

there the old saying (well, it's becoming old fast, and not so funny anymore) "All of Obama's promises come with an expiration date."

jeff n May 7, 2009 10:51 am (Pacific time)

legalize cannabis and hemp across the americas by 2010. Screw you pigs that continue to pursue those who wish to consume the flowers of this wonderful weed.

Dan May 7, 2009 10:40 am (Pacific time)

Like anyone has the right to say I cannot have what god put here for me. They are called rights. The police have no right to do this. they will continue until we force them to stop. -Dan

Jeremy May 7, 2009 10:17 am (Pacific time)

"But, he said dispensaries that sell marijuana for a profit should be expected to be treated like other drug dealers." Is he going to start raiding pharmacies? Last I checked they sell drugs for a profit. If he doesn't have a legitimate reason for this raid I hope his department gets sued.

Alf May 7, 2009 9:13 am (Pacific time)

Someone must have remided the AG there is a difference between the discretion to prosecute a case and the refusal to enforce a law. Maybe he reviewed the lessons of Gonzalez that refusing to enforce laws for political reasons causes a constitutional crisis.

Mark Montgomery May 7, 2009 9:28 am (Pacific time)

I agree with Jonathon, the police are out of control. They are acting like an enemy occupying force. They are spitting on the laws that have been voted for and passed in California decriminalizing medical pot. The real enemy in this war on drugs isn't drugs, it's the police. Mark Montgomery boboberg@nyc.rr.com

Dale May 7, 2009 9:25 am (Pacific time)

Counter-Productive

Jonathon May 7, 2009 8:48 am (Pacific time)

Sounds like the recent news of legalizing marijuana for recreational use in California has got the sheriffs a little scared that all the funding they have enjoyed for so many years for nothing more than people catching a mild buzz is on the chopping block, I hope this shows that law enforcement when it comes to the issue of marijuana feel they are the ones that make the laws,not just enforce them. Its obvious that a lot of law enforcement officer's in California are not mature enough to be enforcing laws as such pathetic public displays show.

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California Sheriff Raids Medical Marijuana Dispensary with DEA

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