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Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Drugs / Breaking News DEA Executes Orchestrated Raids on 14 Pot Dispensaries in Seattle Area (Updated)

Posted by Dominic Holden on Tue, Nov 15, 2011 at 2:39 PM

Pashabo/Shutterstock

Originally posted at 12:58 and continuously updated with new details.

Federal agents and local law enforcement are executing a volley of raids on medical-marijuana disperses throughout Western Washington this afternoon, according to several sources, who say some of the proprietors are being handcuffed and taken away in squad cars. Thus far, we've received reports of busts in Olympia, Lacey, Tacoma, Puyallup, and Seattle.

The Cannabis Defense Coalition has posted a tally of 14 dispensaries raided today.

Seattle DEA office spokeswoman Jodie Underwood confirms that federal agents "are operational at this point." She adds scant information, saying, "There is nothing we can release. We are hoping to have some information by the end of the day."

But many others confirm the crackdown. One person familiar with raids of the Seattle Cannabis Cooperative in Ballard and Rainier Valley says, "When the employees showed up, the DEA swarmed them and forced their way inside. The agents are hauling all of our shit out into a van."

Medical-marijuana activist Vivian McPeak has been hearing news from down the I-5 corridor: "There are major coordinated (apparently federal) raids happening right now in Western Washington: Seattle Cannabis Coop, The Game Collective, Seattle -Tacoma -and Lacey Cross, Lacey Patient Resource Center, and others."

Activists have been expecting the raids since Governor Chris Gregoire vetoed most of a medical-marijuana bill in April, leaving a jumble of laws that further weakened criminal protections for dispensaries. But it was unclear how that veto would affect Washington State. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced in 2009 that feds won't focus on people in "clear and unambiguous" compliance with state marijuana laws. And DOJ spokeswoman Emily Langlie pointed to statement in April from US Attorney Jenny Durkan, who said, "The position of the Department of Justice... has not changed." But given Washington's weak medical marijuana law—which now technically only allows collectives of up to 45 plants grown by up to 10 people—the dispensaries being busted today may fail the test of being in "clear and unambiguous" compliance with state law.

"This is because Gregoire capitulated to federal law, in defiance of the state legislature," says Washington Cannabis Association leader Philip Dawdy. "In addition to the feds wanting to flex their muscles on this, we just have a vague state law. It is imperative that we have state law that has criminal protections for collective operators and patients."

Jeffrey Steinborn, a criminal defense attorney, says he's received two calls today about raids in progress in Seattle. One is a dispensary in Seattle's Central District and confirm the Rainier Valley raid. At least five raids are underway in the Olympia area, Cannabis Defense Coalition leader Ben Livington says. According to an eyewitness he spoke to, "two people were taken away in handcuffs" inside a police cruiser while patients were allowed to leave the scene.

"It seems like a waste of money that it could be spent on more important things than arresting sick patients," Livingston says. The Olympian is reporting that these raids are the "culmination of a five-month investigation."

Many cooperatives are now shutting down for the day, says Washington Cannabis Association's Dawdy. Fremont's Dockside Co-op reports that they closed for the day, as has Emerald City Collective.

Like the DEA, other law enforcement agencies are elusive. "There's some law enforcement activity underway, and I don't have anything to share with you right now," says Emily Langlie, a spokeswoman for the US Attoreny's Office of Western Washington. "I hope to later in the day."

Comments (41) RSS

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I wonder if the anti-legalizers are still going to dunderheadedly vote down any initiatives. Y'know, because they might encourage the Feds to raid dispensaries!

Posted by undead ayn rand on November 15, 2011 at 1:03 PM

They're happening here in Denver too. The word I'm getting is that it's tied to Mexican drug cartels, but I can't verify that.

Posted by Fifty-Two-Eighty

on November 15, 2011 at 1:04 PM

FUUUUUUUUUUCK if its Obama FUCK THAT SHIT STOP THE RAIDS PREZ YOU ASSFUCK

Posted by aardvark on November 15, 2011 at 1:18 PM

@3: Givaways to the law enforcement unions and prison-industrials, I assume.

Posted by undead ayn rand on November 15, 2011 at 1:28 PM

@1: Not following you - neither I-502 nor any other conceivable state initiative would protect anyone from a federal raid.

Posted by seandr on November 15, 2011 at 1:30 PM

if i believed in our ability to vote for change, i would say these are the death throes of the government on pot prohibition, but considering our political landscape, i am afraid this is the beginning of an extended, targeted crackdown on people who smoke pot.

Posted by philosophy school dropout on November 15, 2011 at 1:38 PM

I have nothing against the Feds doing this.

By themselves.

With no State,County,or Municipal help at all.

Posted by Will in Seattle

on November 15, 2011 at 1:40 PM

How can this attack on state sovereignty be allowed?

Posted by TechBear on November 15, 2011 at 1:44 PM

Because that's how federal law works?

Posted by The CHZA on November 15, 2011 at 1:47 PM

@3, @4: The California raids were initiated by DAs. Obama was informed and did not step in the way. This looks like more of the same.

Pot legalization seems to have nothing going on at the federal level. Obviously, that needs to change.

Posted by seandr on November 15, 2011 at 1:48 PM

also, soooo depressing...

Posted by philosophy school dropout on November 15, 2011 at 1:51 PM

@8: What state sovereignty? What planet are you living on? Not this one.

Posted by Fifty-Two-Eighty

on November 15, 2011 at 1:51 PM

@10 I dont think I've ever heard of a federal strategy for legalization, except that somehow state decrim / legalization is supposed to somehow confront federal policies.

Posted by aardvark on November 15, 2011 at 1:54 PM

I'm frankly surprised they never tried this sooner. The DEA has technically always had the authority to enforce standing Federal law and raid the dispensaries. Why did they leave them untouched for so long?

Posted by Gomez

on November 15, 2011 at 1:55 PM

Federal policies like 4.5 hour nationwide media blackouts when Citizens try to use their First Amendment rights?

You mean like that?

Enjoy living in America - the Syria of the First World.

Posted by Will in Seattle

on November 15, 2011 at 1:58 PM

@5: "neither I-502 nor any other conceivable state initiative would protect anyone from a federal raid."

I know, I just recall that some of the kneejerk response was that we were "safer" and that raids would be more likely if any initiative passed.

Posted by undead ayn rand on November 15, 2011 at 2:12 PM

@8: "How can this attack on state sovereignty be allowed?"

Let me guess, Ron Paul fan?

Posted by undead ayn rand on November 15, 2011 at 2:13 PM

I'm so happy our nation has solved all its substantive problems so that we can waste taxpayer dollars on harassing people with cancer and glaucoma.

Posted by Geni on November 15, 2011 at 2:13 PM

If Seattle Police are assisting in these raids, please report on that. If they are, they are in violation of Seattle law. Jay walking is a higher crime, don't forget!

Posted by Joe Szilagyi

on November 15, 2011 at 2:15 PM

@17 More likely sarcasm?

Posted by care bear on November 15, 2011 at 2:20 PM

@14 They do it every now and again. Feds already hit MMJ providers in eastern Washington earlier this year.

Posted by JonnyH on November 15, 2011 at 2:22 PM

Interesting that all this is going down less than 24 hours after LEO's have been wading into OWS encampments all over the country clearing those "dirty, filthy, pot-smoking hippies" out of the way just in time for the holiday shopping season.

Coincidence?

Posted by COMTE

on November 15, 2011 at 2:23 PM

Nope, not a Paul fan in the slightest. And I recognize that "states rights" is typically a veneer for hard-core racism and religious bigotry. However, the Ninth and Tenth Amendments have never been officially repealed, and it took a constitutional amendment to ban alcohol exactly because it imposed federal regulations on the internal policies of the sovereign states. I have never understood how the Interstate Commerce clause be used to impose absolute federal authority over matters that are entirely internal to a state.

Posted by TechBear on November 15, 2011 at 2:31 PM

@22: I didn't even think about that, hrm. Anti-capitalist sentiment through the holidays might affect the prioritization of family and friends over the mad shopping rush.

Posted by undead ayn rand on November 15, 2011 at 2:38 PM

Way to focus on the real crimes.

Oh wait....

Posted by suddenlyorcas on November 15, 2011 at 2:43 PM

Marijuana advocates need to learn a lesson from the LGBT community. This action today should result in an equally loud public reaction. Then, advocates need to organize more strongly at the local, state and federal levels. You need someone on the inside like we do, so that when things go poorly we know we have someone to talk to. Clearly right now you have no one in the White House on your side talking to the President. That needs to change.

Posted by Simply Me on November 15, 2011 at 3:07 PM

Time to defund the SPD and KC Sheriff if they helped.

Posted by Will in Seattle

on November 15, 2011 at 3:16 PM

@22 media cover, more likely.

Posted by Will in Seattle

on November 15, 2011 at 3:17 PM

@23: Well, I've never understood it either, so you're not the only one. But as a practical matter, you might as well forget about those silly little inconvenient amendments. Everybody else has.

Posted by Fifty-Two-Eighty

on November 15, 2011 at 3:23 PM

According to The Olympian, five dispensaries in Thurston County also had their inventory stolen by federal thugs: http://www.theolympian.com/2011/11/15/18…

Posted by TechBear on November 15, 2011 at 3:30 PM

@5
And yet, in a previous thread, you attacked 502 by defending the status quo. What gives?

Posted by Some Old Nobodaddy Logged In on November 15, 2011 at 3:32 PM

Hear hear, @18.

Posted by Mattini on November 15, 2011 at 4:15 PM

Who needs marihuana when there's always the safer option of booze and cigarettes?

Besides, it's not like the citizens of Washington State approved the medical use of Cannabis way back in 1998 or anything.

Three cheers for fascist, tax-dollar wasting, prohibitionist policies devoid of all common sense!

Posted by Winston "Big Pharma" Corona on November 15, 2011 at 4:38 PM

@26 The annoying part is that when you stand up for LGBT rights, you're not violating any laws or even acting suspicious. When you stand up for marijuana legalization, you're making yourself a target of law enforcement. You're almost saying, "I do drugs!" It's stupid and unfair, but it's true.

Posted by GlassMoon on November 15, 2011 at 4:46 PM

Has anyone brought up the prison population in the US, vice rest of the world?
Look how many prison jobs would go away if we didn't resupply prisons with dastardly cannabis medical consumers.
Yes, some prison guards & leos COULD possibly find work other than the herding & incarceration of their human bros & sisters.

http://www.nolanchart.com/article3237-no…

Our current policies are long overdue for change

Posted by yelmguy on November 15, 2011 at 5:30 PM

@34 - Standing up for LGBT rights in the bad old days - which weren't actually that long ago - used to mean breaking the law, too. It used to be illegal to cohabitate and have sexual relations with a person of the same gender (or even a person to whom you were not married). They used to raid gay bars the way they're raiding pot dispensaries now (although that was pretty much always the local yokels, not the feds). Medical marijuana rights needs a Stonewall.

Posted by Geni on November 15, 2011 at 5:30 PM

@26 - Protest at the Federal Building, tomorrow at 11am. You'll be there, ya?

http://cdc.coop/dea_raids_western_washin…

Posted by NaFun

on November 15, 2011 at 5:33 PM

What the fuck! The president lied and the government acted against its people, and people were surprised, offended and some arrested.
Thank you for being
Front Runners in the movement. May your people support you and continue the effort! Go to jail with pride and honor. Do your time and make these laws structured and defined! Do not break weak continue to fight!

Posted by Vito63 on November 15, 2011 at 7:33 PM

Better to legalize it and have our economy profit from it than the illegal drug trade. Behind the illegal trade is corruption and murder.

Posted by misslydia on November 15, 2011 at 8:56 PM

some asshole slinging the right lingo appears hip to THE community... ships outdoor cali mafia bud up here complete with its pesticides and pimps it to patients... he buys it at $900 a pound and sells it to patients for $4500 a pound.... local growers struggle to find folks who will pay for quality... and the clueless defend the Asshole as some medical marijuana activist... those in the community WITH THEIR EYES OPEN on not bummed out.
Or does THE community really think we dont produce enough good medicine?

Posted by eyes open on November 16, 2011 at 8:44 AM

21. Yeah, but their raids have always been of regional sites well outside of Seattle. We never see the DEA take significant action inside city limits, even though the presence of pot in Seattle is so far beyond obvious that this actual rag has a fold-out section devoted solely to places where you can buy pot. Why has the DEA stayed away when they always had the knowledge and jurisdiction to come in and take places down? That to me is curious. Not that I support their action, but that they let an open target sit idle for that long is rather surprising.

Posted by Gomez

on November 16, 2011 at 9:07 AM