Pubdate: Fri, 20 May 2011
Source: Helena Independent Record (MT)
Copyright: 2011 Helena Independent Record
Contact: http://helenair.com/app/contact/letters_to_editor/
Website: http://helenair.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1187
Author: Sanjay Talwani

FEDS SEARCH SLEEPING GIANT CAREGIVERS, REMOVE ITEMS

Federal agents Friday afternoon searched Sleeping Giant Caregivers, a 
provider of medical marijuana, as a federal magistrate authorized the 
seizure of more than $1.2 million in a bank account.

The only sign of the raid was a white, unmarked truck backed up to 
the rear entrance of the provider on Nicole Street, just north of 
Highway 12 east of Interstate 15, as agents removed items and 
eventually erected barriers to block the view of media.

A search warrant application filed by a Drug Enforcement 
Administration agent in federal court in Butte said agents were 
looking for controlled substances including marijuana and hashish; 
packing materials; drug paraphernalia including scales; firearms and 
ammunition (used in the commission of drug offenses); and records, 
including the identification and location of customers.

The search was related to violations of federal laws against 
manufacture, distribution and possession with intent to distribute 
marijuana, according to the warrant application.

The warrant application did not seek any arrests.

Jessica Fehr of the U.S. Attorney's office would not elaborate on 
potential charges. She said the investigation was the work of the 
DEA, Missouri River Drug Task Force and the IRS Criminal 
Investigations Division.

She said no other similar warrants were being served elsewhere in the 
state Friday.

Sleeping Giant owner Paul Schmidt did not immediately return a 
telephone message at the business seeking comment. The business 
occupies half of an aluminum-sided building, with a sign on the front 
noting that it's open only by appointment.

On March 14, federal agents executed 26 search warrants and raided 10 
medical marijuana providers around the state, including Montana 
Cannabis, which had a high-visibility greenhouse on Highway 12 just 
west of Helena. No criminal charges have been filed in those raids, 
and two of the businesses involved have sued the federal government.

Kimberly Davis, also a medical marijuana caregiver, was outside 
Sleeping Giant with her husband, Archie, while agents searched inside.

"We just came down to support Paul," she said. "We heard about what's 
going on and it's ridiculous."

She was critical of the Montana Legislature's recent passage of 
SB423, which strongly restricts medical marijuana use and distribution.

"What the Legislature did to the patients - they're forcing them to 
go to the black market," she said.

She said she was not concerned about legal trouble for her own 
caregiver business, describing it as small, legal under state law and 
distributing only through home delivery.

"Our patients can't get out of bed," she said.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart