Pubdate: Wed, 18 Jul 2012
Source: Press-Enterprise (Riverside, CA)
Copyright: 2012 The Press-Enterprise Company
Contact: http://www.pe.com/localnews/opinion/letters_form.html
Website: http://www.pe.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/830
Author: John F. Hill

DEA RAIDS DISPENSARY, TAKES MARIJUANA

Federal agents raided a medical marijuana dispensary in 
unincorporated Lake Elsinore on Tuesday, July 17, the second time the 
operation was hit in three months.

Drug Enforcement Administration agents served a federal search 
warrant at Compassionate Patients Association, in the 17500 block of 
Grand Avenue. No arrests were made.

The agents seized 313 plants, 6.4 kilograms (14.1 pounds) of 
processed marijuana and 76 kilograms (167.6 pounds) of edible 
marijuana, said DEA spokesman Jose Martinez.

Karen Ann Jackson, who took over as the dispensary's president after 
the first federal raid in April, said she isn't sure whether the 
dispensary will re-open. A steady stream of patients arrived at the 
nondescript storefront shortly after the agents left, and were 
disappointed to find it closed.

Peggie Delroy, of Lake Elsinore, said she uses medical marijuana for 
pain and anxiety.

"Without this, I'm going to be in pain and probably going to be 
depressed," she said. "We need to keep these places open."

The agents didn't take any money or paperwork, Jackson said. She said 
they told her marijuana is illegal under federal law, despite what 
state law allows, and they told her to shut down.

Martinez the agents were serving a federal warrant and that the case 
would be forwarded to the U.S. attorney's office for review.

No one has been charged in connection with the first raid on the 
dispensary, said the group's attorney, Christopher S. Hammatt.

California voters in 1996 legalized marijuana for medical use, but 
federal officials have increasingly targeted marijuana storefronts 
for raids and prosecutions in recent months. Marijuana is illegal 
under federal law.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom