Pubdate: Sat, 16 Apr 2016
Source: Press Democrat, The (Santa Rosa, CA)
Copyright: 2016 The Press Democrat
Contact:  http://www.pressdemocrat.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/348
Author: Glenda Anderson

PINOLEVILLE POMO NATION FILES CLAIM AGAINST MENDOCINO COUNTY FOR POT RAID

The Pinoleville Pomo Nation has filed a claim against Mendocino 
County authorities for raiding a high-profile medical marijuana 
operation on the tribe's rancheria north of Ukiah last year.

The tribe's claim is on the Board of Supervisors' agenda for Monday. 
Such claims are routinely denied, but must be filed before plaintiffs 
can sue a government agency.

The tribe last year had launched what was believed to be one of the 
first large-scale, tribe-operated medical pot operations in the 
state. It claimed it had a right to grow marijuana on the tribe's 
99-acre rancheria for the benefit of the estimated 250-member tribe.

But Mendocino County sheriff's officials viewed the 400-plant garden 
and an alleged honey oil laboratory - where sheriff's officials said 
they found 100 pounds of trimmed and drying marijuana - as illegal, 
and in September raided the operations, removing the plants and 
chemicals. Their investigation into the operation is continuing.

The tribe's claim states it suffered damages of more than $10,000 for 
the loss of the plants and infrastructure. It also claims 
unreasonable search and seizure, trespass and due process violations.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom