DEA Hits Seattle with Raids

subcool

Well-Known Member
I guess enough people are getting shot or raped or molested for these POS to do there actual jobs.

Medical marijuana activists tell KOMO News several marijuana dispensaries in Thurston, Pierce and King Counties were searched by law enforcement officials Tuesday.
Thurston County officials confirm they have served search warrants in at five dispensaries so far in their county.
"Our narcotics task force has been conducting an ongoing investigation for about the past five months into the medical marijuana dispensaries in Thurston County," said sheriff's spokesman Lt. Greg Elwin. "Today, that investigation culminated with five search warrants."
Deputies are making arrests as well, Elwin said, though he couldn't be specific about how many people have been arrested so far.


Elwin says the investigation centers on dispensaries that are selling marijuana to people who don't have medical marijuana cards or otherwise shouldn't legally have it. He said he's heard of similar investigations in King and Pierce County that were also culminating Tuesday.
Medical marijuana activist group 'Sensible Washington' tells KOMO News searches have been conducted so far at Seattle Cannabis Co-op, Game Collective, Tacoma Cross, Lacey Cross and Seattle Cross among others.
KOMO News asked DEA spokeswoman Jodie Underwood if agents were serving search warrants on dispensaries in other counties as well and she acknowledged agents were serving several search warrants locally.
Still Underwood would not provide more specific details about which properties were being searched or why. She did say they might have more information later Tuesday or Wednesday.
Callers into KOMO News indicated searches may have also taken place at dispensaries in Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia and Lacey.


[h=1]Madison marijuana dispensary hit in wave of federal raids[/h]Posted on November 16, 2011 - 6:46 am by jseattle
A wave of optimism for the industry that accompanied the opening of a collection of new marijuana dispensaries on Capitol Hill in the past year has been replaced by a wave of concern and uncertainty after a series of busts around the greater Puget Sound on Tuesday.
Overall, authorities say that more than a dozen dispensaries around Seattle were hit in the federal raids with twelve or more arrests. Included in the net was Seattle Cross, an offshoot of the Tacoma Cross effort that had set up operations near 23rd and Madison on the backside of Capitol Hill.
[HR][/HR]The Stranger offered this account of what happened there on Tuesday:
He told me that he heard the DEA agents announce they had a warrant, and then saw them carrying out large desktop computers and big plastic garbage bags full of marijuana. Then, he said, “they drove off in a quasi-caravan, and that was it.” (Another observer told me he read the warrant, and that it was very broadly written. This observer also said the DEA agents pulled carefully cultivated marijuana plants, intentionally separated by strain, out of their pots and threw them haphazardly into the garbage bags.)
In joint statements released by the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Department of Justice, federal authorities didn’t name the dispensaries or the suspects but enumerated the transgressions behind the busts:
As set forth in the search warrant affidavits unsealed by the U.S. District Court today, these businesses attracted the attention of federal law enforcement for a number of reasons: their failure to abide by state medical marijuana guidelines; indications that they were distributing large amounts of drugs; and evidence they were laundering large amounts of money. Some of these marijuana stores were the subject of complaints from their surrounding communities as well as medical marijuana supporters, concerned about businesses operating outside the letter and spirit of state law. One operator was arrested this morning for violating the court ordered terms of his federal supervised release for a prior federal conviction.
This spring, James Lucas, an owner of Tacoma Cross, told CHS he was bringing his co-op to Seattle to provide a service. “We try to keep the medicine high quality and affordable,” Lucas said. “I’m hearing prices of $400 an ounce. We’re going to come up there and try to help people out.”
Lucas said his dispensary system utilizes an identification card that also works like a membership rewards program. At the time, he said Tacoma Cross currently had about 3,500 members.
Eight people connected to Tacoma Cross were charged with felonies in 2010 after seven of their homes were raided. In the end, five people pleaded guilty to lesser misdemeanor charges and were let off without suspended or deferred jail sentences.
The Seattle Times reports that the federal legal paperwork details one alleged major transaction involving Seattle Cross ownership:
A search-warrant affidavit for those locations — and for homes where marijuana was being grown — accused both dispensaries of drug dealing and money laundering.
In federal court documents accompanying the search warrants, officers described a confidential informant buying 5 pounds of marijuana for $11,000 from the Seattle Cannabis Co-op.
The co-owner of Seattle Cross, according to an affidavit, posted a photo on his Facebook page showing three duffel bags of cash and a caption, “This gonna take all night to count … lol.”
Deposits in the Seattle Cross bank account totaled $850,979 in a year.
The legal environment around the city’s medical marijuana providers, already murky following the governor’s veto of a bill regulating dispensaries this spring, is now further clouded. Most providers continued to operate even as federal efforts to stamp out the industry increased in other states.
Toke of the Town reports that a law enforcement official said raids will be “culminating” on Wednesday.
It isn’t clear what will come next for other dispensaries operating on Capitol Hill. Our messages to Apothecary Seattle, a one-time CHS advertiser, and Pike/Pine’s BOTH Collective have not yet been responded to. Apothecary released a series of news posts to its Facebook page about the raids. The 10th Ave BOTH posted a message to its Twitter feed:


 

ScarabB

Member
This shits weak. It would be nice if the governor or state legislator would grow a pair and publicly denounce this kind of crap. The residents of Washington clearly want pot to be sold, and not just for medical purposes. Why are the lawmakers not protecting people that are operating under the rules (medicinal marijuana) that they set forth, that they, in their professional judgement, deemed acceptable and beneficial to the state of washington and its people? Boggles the mind that some federal dollars and chump change campaign money is all it takes for a person sworn to determine acceptable laws for the state to become a splooge rag for the feds, and let the people who are following their rules get fucked with. IMO the most interesting thing to see from this will be the reaction from the Microsoft guy that is planning to open recreational pot shops..
 

jaydub13

Well-Known Member
Here comes big brother once again... to shake the loose change out of your pockets. Someone else said it best...its obvious how much the Federal Government respects the voters of the state. What a crock.
 

UncleBuck

Well-Known Member
This shits weak. It would be nice if the governor or state legislator would grow a pair and publicly denounce this kind of crap. The residents of Washington clearly want pot to be sold, and not just for medical purposes. Why are the lawmakers not protecting people that are operating under the rules (medicinal marijuana) that they set forth, that they, in their professional judgement, deemed acceptable and beneficial to the state of washington and its people? Boggles the mind that some federal dollars and chump change campaign money is all it takes for a person sworn to determine acceptable laws for the state to become a splooge rag for the feds, and let the people who are following their rules get fucked with. IMO the most interesting thing to see from this will be the reaction from the Microsoft guy that is planning to open recreational pot shops..
http://www.marijuana.com/threads/tacoma-wa-dispensaries-ordered-shut-down.273137/

STACIA GLENN; Staff writer
Published: 10/19/1012:05 am | Updated: 10/19/10 6:46 am
9 Comments
.The city has ordered eight medical marijuana dispensaries in Tacoma to shut their doors by Saturday, sparking outrage among patients and providers and plans for an impromptu rally to show they won’t go quietly.*

In a three-paragraph letter dated Oct. 14, Tax and License Manager Jodie Trueblood tells the businesses that dispensing medical marijuana to more than one patient is illegal in Washington state and outlines possible penalties if dispensaries don’t comply.*

Their business licenses will be revoked, fines and penalties might be forthcoming, and criminal prosecution isn’t out of the question, according to the letter.*
 

ScarabB

Member
Thanks for directing me to that article, i am more familiar with California rules and regulations.. The "at any one time" clause is interesting. I wonder if there is a precedent set from other laws containing that language. It could be interpreted both ways but the people doing to the interpreting obviously prefer a 1:1 reading.



Edit: I didn't see the 2010 time stamp. If these blokes were operating without a license then they had it coming, but i suspect that is not the case.
 

Mithrandir420

Well-Known Member
Here comes big brother once again... to shake the loose change out of your pockets. Someone else said it best...its obvious how much the Federal Government respects the voters of the state. What a crock.
Anyone expecting anything different is being naive. The battle between fed vs. states rights has been going on since the beginning of our country. It was a major reason the civil war happened. The fed will always try to usurp states' powers and rights.

Come on, did anyone really believe that the federal branches of law enforcement were just going to let Colorado and Washington happen? No frikkin way. IMO what wash and colo have done is to make the feds dig their heels in further and bring out "the big guns". You watch, this will get worse before it gets better.
 

GandalfdaGreen

Well-Known Member
Portland Maine has a vote coming up to make things legal for recreational use. Only in Portland. I think it is going to pass. I wonder if that will cause the feds to break out the can of whoop ass here. :roll:
 

BurnRide

Member
It says they only tageted dispensaries that were selling to people without medical cards, cant do that shit, they had it coming, gives all other dispensaries a bad rep.
 

hydrosoil78

Active Member
remember this country was founded by pissed off (hemp) farmers. hey if they just block the sun nobody can grow weed. or anything else
 

UncleBuck

Well-Known Member
2100 for bulk in WA is top of the line, they were probably excellent meds. during the october flood, it's tough to even give it away for free around here.
 

myfather

Active Member
Yeah yeah...

here is the problem... some of us are doing things legitimately so that the FEDS will back the fuck off. There are always a few rotten apples in the bunch. There are several in Colorado that could use an audit or 2... as a MMJ business owner, we collectively have to defend the shield that we earned to keep things like this from happening... These Seattle guys make us all look bad to outsiders. Same goes for the college bars that are selling booze to those underage

thats my devil's advocate line for the day
 

thenotsoesoteric

Well-Known Member
http://www.marijuana.com/threads/tacoma-wa-dispensaries-ordered-shut-down.273137/

STACIA GLENN; Staff writer
Published: 10/19/1012:05 am | Updated: 10/19/10 6:46 am
9 Comments
.The city has ordered eight medical marijuana dispensaries in Tacoma to shut their doors by Saturday, sparking outrage among patients and providers and plans for an impromptu rally to show they won’t go quietly.*

In a three-paragraph letter dated Oct. 14, Tax and License Manager Jodie Trueblood tells the businesses that dispensing medical marijuana to more than one patient is illegal in Washington state and outlines possible penalties if dispensaries don’t comply.*

Their business licenses will be revoked, fines and penalties might be forthcoming, and criminal prosecution isn’t out of the question, according to the letter.*
This is what I knew was going to come from "legalizing bud". Say goodbye to medical in favor for heavily taxed "legal" weed. It is funny that you guys in Washington state are surprised by this. When there is money to be made,politics will make it so only the rich will be making that money. So much for that one idea.
 

Turtwig

Member
Yeah, it sucks. I'm here in Olympia and I hope the owners are alright. I'm fairly positive Bayside collective was hit because they are running a delivery service, which kind of defeats the purpose of an access point and makes it difficult to remain in legal boundaries. The raids were only a matter of time, and like above posters have said it's just because of the recent legalization and the preparation to make all cannabis taxed in Washington state.
 

RockyMtnMan

Well-Known Member
What I guess was missed by most in the article, is these dispensaries were selling and distributing WAY outside of their licenses and rubbing it in everyone's face! Selling 5 lbs ! come on! Or posting pictures of duffel bags of cash on Facebook?
It was clearly stated that they sold to people without mmj cards and sold pounds of weed.

I think weed should be legal everywhere, but until it is, those who are watched as examples, should try and stop portraying mj growers as gangsters and greedy cash croppers.
I believe the residents of legal states, should try to lead by example, not rub it in everyone's face.

I don't attend the 420 rallies in Co. because I feel lucky enough to live in an area where it is socially accepted.
Why rub it in their face at the Capitol Building?
Give all the antagonists more ammo to prove what stoned uncontrolled idiots they already believe we are?
That's like stealing a kid's lunch money and then making him spoon feed it to you. He's got the knife and utensils, eventually he's going to get pissed.
Register to vote, use responsibly and eventually we will see change. Not by marching with joints in our mouths demanding rights.
.
 

Mohican

Well-Known Member
When we start recalling the bad politicians they will all sit up and take notice. Power to the people!
 

stormtroopa

Active Member
Yeah yeah...

here is the problem... some of us are doing things legitimately so that the FEDS will back the fuck off. There are always a few rotten apples in the bunch. There are several in Colorado that could use an audit or 2... as a MMJ business owner, we collectively have to defend the shield that we earned to keep things like this from happening... These Seattle guys make us all look bad to outsiders. Same goes for the college bars that are selling booze to those underage

thats my devil's advocate line for the day
With all due respect you are wrong. If you think doing things "right" will protect you from the Feds or change their opinion on Marijuana you are sadly mistaken.

Doing things "right" will protect you in front of your peers if you're lucky enough to make it to a jury trial. More than likely you admit guilt to BS charges and plea out to protect yourself from being further financially screwed and your name from being further slandered by news/law enforcement publicly.

Please do not mistake my words as "do things dirty." My message is this: Do not judge and throw stones at those the Feds attack... Support them.

Let our People grow!
 
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