Pubdate: Fri, 04 May 2012
Source: Los Angeles Times (CA)
Copyright: 2012 Los Angeles Times
Contact:  http://www.latimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/248
Author: Victoria Kim

FEDS TARGET POT OPERATIONS

The widening federal crackdown on California's medical marijuana 
industry reached Santa Barbara this week, with prosecutors filing 
forfeiture suits, executing search warrants, and sending warning 
letters related to more than a dozen growers and dispensaries.

Three civil forfeiture complaints were filed Wednesday, targeting 
three collectives and farms in Santa Barbara County, including 
Miramar Collective in Summerland, which authorities estimate 
generated a profit of $840,000 in 2009. Two of the collectives are 
owned or operated by people who are being prosecuted for state 
narcotics charges, according to the release.

Warning letters were sent to people affiliated with 10 other 
dispensaries - six in Santa Barbara, three in Goleta, and one in 
Summerland, authorities said.

The actions are the latest in a series of moves across the state by 
California's four U.S. attorneys to clamp down on marijuana, 
including last month's raid on high-profile activist Richard Lee in Oakland.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom