DEA medical cannabis raids continuing despite Obama pledge
A photo snapped today by Micah Daigle at the dispensary in San Francisco.
BREAKING: I have just received a report from Micah Daigle, Associate Director of Students for Sensible Drug Policy, that he is watching a DEA raid unfold. This was sent on SSDP’s mailing list:
SSDPers,
Looks like Obama’s pledge to end the raids on medical marijuana
dispensaries was a lie. (Or the DEA is being insubordinate.)I’m currently standing outside a dispensary in San Francisco that is
being raided by the DEA. There are already a couple dozen protesters
gathered chanting “DEA to away!”More updates to come…
The Obama Administration recently pledged not to interfere with medical cannabis dispensaries in states where their operation is congruent with state law, as is the case in California. As always, I’ll keep you posted.
UPDATE 8:42PM:
(from Micah, on the scene)
The DEA still hasn’t come out of the dispensary. They brought in a
sledgehammer and a crowbar, so it look like this is yet another no-
arrest “smash and grab.” In other words, a robbery.
All the local media is here.
From what I understand, this dispensary was operating in compliance
with state law.
I’ll be uploading lots of video tonight.
ANOTHER UPDATE: A local CBS affiliate is apparently first out of the gate with this coverage, including a video.
YET ANOTHER UPDATE: Another witness to the scene contacted me and sent me this video:
Let me just say, as someone who supports legalization, but who has never tried anything because of the current illegality, that I support stopping the raids. I’m behind you on that.
But to call it “robbery” turns me way off. What do you think they do with it, sell it on the street?
There is a valid disgreement here, in my opinion. For example, I think one can *argue* the legality of alcohol, but fortunately it’s currently legal….
I’m just saying that the “robbery” rhetoric doesn’t help, in my humble opinion. It pushes away people who might otherwise be on the fence on this issue.
IMHO.
At any rate, hopefully this will all work out for the best.
Posted by Daychilde on March 25th, 2009.
TO: Daychilde.
Do you think they only take the medicine and burn it. They also take all the money they can find, computers, and anything else that would be considered in their view “evidence”. So I think where they are not in compliance with state law and disrespecting the constitution, “robbery” fits the situation very well. These people have to start from scratch when it’s all over.
Posted by Alex on March 25th, 2009.
They are taking more than marijuana Daychilde. Stop being so naive, they are taking money records computers, and weed.
Dumb ass.
Posted by PAt on March 25th, 2009.
Also, Daychilde: It’s important to remember that there are overwhelming financial interests at work here. The pharmaceutical industry, or at least a few of its biggest goons, have been at work for a long time to maintain the prohibition of cannabis, both as medicine and for its many other uses.
When one considers that these interests have, as big money nearly always does, into government favor, the thuggish nature of the DEA becomes more transparent.
Also, I think Micah is owed a little leeway – he was standing outside, typing on his cell phone, watching government agents carry sledgehammers into a place of business which is legitimate under state law. I think his rhetoric is quite reserved given the context.
And Pat: There’s really no need to treat another commenter like that. Daychilde has a very different perspective on this issue, and it’s our job to kindly point out the relevance of our position on the matter, no to berate him.
Posted by Justin on March 25th, 2009.
They (the DEA) are indeed the criminals here. They are ignoring state law and maybe even ignoring the president. Please contact Pres. Obama and tell him enough is enough!!!!!
http://www.whitehouse.gov
Than contact your other elected representatives and demand that we in the USA protect patients, not prosecute them!
Enough is Enough!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Rob on March 25th, 2009.
sinced i lived in the bay area(sonoma co)for over 30yrs i can say that i’m very disapointed by the raid in San Francisco due to the fact that Mr Obama said to stop the raids,but will the DEA obey his request?Dont they have better things to do?what about the meth problem our country’s facing,shouldn’t they be focusing energy on that? DEA , FUCK OFF AND LEAVE US ALONE !!!! LISTEN TO YOUR BOSS!!!!!!
Posted by Gregory J on March 26th, 2009.
Oh, yeah. Must have been a lie. Must have been. That razor sharp mind of yours is on guard, by god, against all kinds of malfeasance and PRESIDENT Obama should have changed every single thing about this country in 2 months and 6 days. You keep on thinkin’ pal, that’s what you’re good at. Dolt.
Posted by flywheel on March 26th, 2009.
Hopefully, everyone here is a libertarian, and this doesn’t apply to them:
The DEA’s argument is a gun. What’s your argument? Reason? Facts? Logic?
…Sorry. The gun wins.
Draw your weapon, or shut the fuck up. At least draw a camera, so we can all watch your brains get splattered by the gestapo’s sjamboks on the evening news!
If you are a liberal, and you support unlimited government, while supporting legalization, you are an idiot. The same is true if you are a theocracy-supporting conservative. Really, liberal and conservative are two different names for socialist state worshipper.
You can’t pick and choose property rights: you can only choose enough freedom to live, or not enough freedom to live. If you want to take people’s guns, drugs, or tax money from them, then you are part of the prohibition problem.
If you choose unfreedom for yourself, you might not live to see the gulag, but you can die with a shiver in your spine knowing that your children will.
Congratulations, Democrats and Republicans! You were born into a free nation, but your children will die in a prison state that puts Stalin to shame. You were born with John Locke and Adam Smith waved in front of your uncurious noses, and your children will inherit a Bible of cheap cave-man scribble printed on fine cardstock paper (because everything in it is false, and Leonard Peikoff is right).
The genius philosophy of freedom was tried: it didn’t work. It relied on complex decentralist memes being spread as easily as an idiot’s mythology.
The least you fucking chimps could do is learn your rights as jurors. http://www.fija.org http://www.isil.org
A loaded gun is a terrible thing to waste on an empty mind. …Do us all a favor.
Posted by The Freedom Jury on March 29th, 2009.