Obama May Not Favor Medi-Pot Raids, But DEA Sure Does

Agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration raided the Holistic Solutions medi-pot dispensary in South Lake Tahoe, Calif., on Jan. 22 -- just two days after President Barack Obama was sworn in, making this the first federal medi-pot raid under the new administration.

Obama has said that he does not support federal raids on medi-pot patients using the drug in compliance with state laws ("You know, its really not a good use of Justice Department resources," he told New Hampshire Democrats in 2007), but he has not yet named a new head of the DEA, meaning Bush's acting DEA administrator Michele Leonhart is still running the show. (Leonhart earlier this month ended the years long stall in the Lyle Craker case, turning down his bid to grow a research pot crop, prompting some to argue that the DEA is trying to squeeze in as many pinches of medi-pot patients as possible before Obama changes the agency guard.) "Whether or not this unconscionable raid on a medical marijuana provider is the fault of federal officials from the previous administration, President Obama has an opportunity to change this harmful and outdated policy," Caren Woodson, director of government affairs for the medi-pot advocacy group Americans for Safe Access, said in a press statement Thursday. "We are hopeful that these are the last remnants of the Bush regime and that...Obama will quickly develop a more compassionate policy toward our most vulnerable citizens." (ASA is asking folks to call the White House to voice opposition to this latest raid.)

According to ASA, the DEA raided more than 100 California medi-pot dispensaries during Bush's time in office. In last week's raid, the DEA seized cash and pot, but made no arrests.