Pubdate: Fri, 29 Apr 2016 Source: Porterville Recorder (CA) Copyright: 2016 Freedom Communications Inc. Contact: http://mapinc.org/url/AJm5UIc8 Website: http://www.recorderonline.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2887 LA PHYSICIAN ARRESTED FOR PEDDLING POT RECOMMENDS The Tulare County Sheriff's Department arrested a Los Angeles obstetrician-gynecologist on Tuesday for illegally issuing medical marijuana recommendations. Dr. Howard Ragland was taken into custody for two felony warrants which were issued after an investigation by the Sheriff's Tactical Enforcement Personnel team. According to a Sheriff's Department press release, it came to the attention of the Department that Ragland, who had an office in Visalia, was issuing medical marijuana recommendations "in an unscrupulous and illegal manner." The Sheriff's Department said it is the first prosecution of a doctor related to the issuance of recommends in Tulare County. Ragland was taken into custody in Los Angeles without incident by detectives with the Sheriff's Department's County Apprehension Team Tracking Criminals in Hiding, who coordinated with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Major Crimes Fugitive Task Force. Ragland was being held in the Los Angeles County Jail on Tuesday pending transport to Tulare County. His bail has been set at $75,000. Ragland also kept offices in Bakersfield, Fresno, Los Angeles and Beverly Hills. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom