With a sign out front that says there is still a "lot" to live for, the Los Angeles Cannabis Resource Center is busy selling Christmas trees to raise money for its building trust and legal defense funds. Meanwhile, the City of West Hollywood declared itself a "sanctuary for medical marijuana use, cultivation and distribution, supporting the Los Angeles Cannabis Resource Center" at the Dec. 3 City Council meeting. The LACRC is selling Christmas trees and holiday wreaths instead of distributing medical marijuana because of the Oct. 25 Drug Enforcement Agency raid on the center, when its marijuana plants and medical records were seized and the LACRC bank accounts were frozen. [continues 575 words]
With waves of tears washing his face, Kirk Wilson described how he hadn't been able to eat in three days and needed medical marijuana. "I don't know now where to go to get anything. I feel sick all the time, it is really unfair," Wilson said through sobs. "Especially with all the [expletive] that is going on. It is the one stable thing. I knew I could come here. God, what more do they want from my psyche at this point?" [continues 1373 words]
Last Thursday at about 4:30 p.m. federal Drug Enforcement Agents came through the doors of the Los Angeles Cannabis Resource Center calling President Scott Imler's name. It was a bust. The DEA had a federal search warrant and declared the center a federal crime scene. About eight agents were present and some momentarily had their guns drawn outside, according to neighbor Chris Shaefer. Shaefer says the agents secured the exits, watched the windows and entered the building. The LACRC was closed for the day, but some members who work there had just finished baking marijuana goods, according to member Michael Mallory. [continues 995 words]
