WEST HOLLYWOOD—The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration executed a search warrant on two medical marijuana dispensaries located in West Hollywood and Westwood on October 23.
At around 10:30 a.m., the agents raided the two locations of The Farmacy dispensary chain and confiscated money, computers and marijuana products. No arrests were made during the raid.
The Farmacy’s Venice Beach location was not part of the DEA’s operation.
Although the Department of Justice disclosed that they did indeed execute a search warrant on the aforementioned locations, they did not disclose the details as to reason behind the warrant.
The Farmacy’s staff continues to be adamant on the fact that they have been operating legally and in compliance of state laws since the business’ inception nearly 10 years ago.
A DEA agent speaking anonymously revealed that the raid was a result of the businesses’ operations, not merely the fact that it deals in cannabis. Selling cannabis, while legal in California, remains illegal under federal law.
James Cole, Deputy US Attorney General, last year laid out the guideline for when authorities should intervene in cases involving the sale of cannabis:
“In Preventing the distribution of marijuana to minors; preventing revenue from the sale of marijuana from going to criminal enterprises, gangs, and cartels; preventing the diversion of marijuana from states where it is legal under state law in some form to other states; preventing state-authorized marijuana activity from being used as a cover or pretext for the trafficking of other illegal drugs or other illegal activity; preventing violence and the use of firearms in the cultivation and distribution of marijuana; preventing drugged driving and the exacerbation of other adverse public health consequences associated with marijuana use; preventing the growing of marijuana on public lands and the attendant public safety and environmental dangers posed by marijuana production on public lands; and in preventing marijuana possession or use on federal property.”
Bill Kroger, an attorney representing The Farmacy’s owners, denied any wrongdoing by his clients.
Speaking with the Huffington Post, Kroger mentioned, “I represent a lot of medical marijuana clubs in L.A. and The Farmacy is the most compliant club in Los Angeles…they pay their taxes, go to all the city council meetings, they even helped put together the ordinance for the city of West Hollywood.”
