It may be a new year, but the DEA is up to its same old tricks. To wit: on Jan. 18 agents in Los Angeles Co. carried out simultaneous raids on 11 medi-pot dispensaries – in West Hollywood, Venice, Woodland Hills and Sherman Oaks – seizing thousands of pounds of pot, hundreds of live cannabis plants, sacks full of cash and several firearms to boot. Twenty folks were detained but, to date, it appears no charges have been filed against anyone.
The latest round of DEA raids of dispensaries that provide access to marijuana for seriously ill patients who use the drug in compliance with state law, has apparently pissed off local officials – especially in West Hollywood, where the medi-pot movement has long enjoyed the support of city officials. “Medicinal marijuana provides comfort and relief to people who are seriously ill and seemingly [the DEA views] those people as drug addicts who belong in jail as opposed to people who deserve compassion and assistance,” Council member Jeffrey Prang told the L.A. Times.
This article appears in January 26 • 2007.