"medical" marijuana dealers busted

[BrianFromWA]

About freakin' time.

The coordinated raids across Thurston, Pierce and King counties targeted dispensaries that, according to law enforcement, were hiding behind the medical-marijuana law to make illegal sales, in some cases to people who were not patients. More than a dozen people were arrested.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Seattle said the raids in Seattle were part of four ongoing investigations.

"State laws of compassion were never intended to protect brash criminal conduct that masquerades as medical treatment," U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan said in a statement. It said one operator was arrested on suspicion of violating terms of his supervised release for a prior felony conviction.

Special Agent in Charge Matthew Barnes of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which led the Seattle raids, said they targeted those who cultivated and sold marijuana while exploiting state law "to satisfy their own personal greed."

Neighbors to the Seattle Cannabis Co-op in Crown Hill saw officers in DEA jackets and carrying a battering ram and shield swarm the dispensary just after 11 a.m. At least one employee was seen in handcuffs, though it was unclear if arrests were made.

On Capitol Hill, the Seattle Cross dispensary also was raided in the morning.

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.

...

Ed Troyer, spokesman for the Pierce County sheriff, said the targets were carefully chosen and left untouched some medical-marijuana dispensaries that "were operating under state law."

The five targeted in Pierce County had a "variety of issues" and had been warned they were out of compliance with changes to the medical-marijuana law that took effect in July. Officers served search warrants but made no arrests, Troyer said.

"We don't want to disrupt patients' legitimate right to medical marijuana but we need it to be conducted under the rules," said Troyer

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I wonder how much of that the cops will smoke.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Is this not OT because we are talking about pot in an NBA forum?

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Yes, let's spend federal resources cracking down on people selling and smoking mj and allow costco to sell hard alcohol.

I would tell the guy smoking or selling mj to go and pick up one of those twin packs of 5 gallon jugs of vodka (you know, where you have to buy 2 of them but it's really cheap). That is much better deal than buying mj . . . and better for society too!?

Good times

 

[BrianFromWA]

better yet, forget the laws. Costco should've just been selling hard liquor the whole time anyway, right?

 

[MickZagger]

Yes, let's spend federal resources cracking down on people selling and smoking mj and allow costco to sell hard alcohol.

I would tell the guy smoking or selling mj to go and pick up one of those twin packs of 5 gallon jugs of vodka (you know, where you have to buy 2 of them but it's really cheap). That is much better deal than buying mj . . . and better for society too!?

Good times

Haha, nice post. Couldn't agree more!

 

[MARIS61]

If you drink, or support the supply and use of alcohol, you will appear (and rightfully so) rather foolish and hypocritical campaigning against the supply and use of marijuana.

http://www.alcoholicsvictorious.org/faq/impact.html

 

[BrianFromWA]

I applaud people suffering the consequences of breaking the law. I made no comment about anything other than that.

Did you notice that the "legal" dealers weren't impacted?

 

[BrianFromWA]

If you drink, or support the supply and use of alcohol, you will appear (and rightfully so) rather foolish and hypocritical campaigning against the supply and use of marijuana.

http://www.alcoholicsvictorious.org/faq/impact.html

Is your point that alcohol should be criminalized, then?

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I applaud people suffering the consequences of breaking the law. I made no comment about anything other than that.

Did you notice that the "legal" dealers weren't impacted?

Do you ever quesion the law or the means in which they enforce it or is it that if it is the law, the gov't is justified spending money in pursuing, catching and prosecuting people who violate the law?

(Serious question)

 

[MickZagger]

I applaud people suffering the consequences of breaking the law. I made no comment about anything other than that.

Did you notice that the "legal" dealers weren't impacted?

Those darn law benders!!! Rot in hell I tell ya!

 

[RR7]

About time? was this a long time coming? Couldn't you say it's about time, then, when any crime is stopped? Seems odd.

 

[Ed O]

Do you ever quesion the law or the means in which they enforce it or is it that if it is the law, the gov't is justified spending money in pursuing, catching and prosecuting people who violate the law?

(Serious question)

I think that the law should be enforced or changed.

Medical marijuana legalization strikes me as a gateway law, if you will, for those who want pot legalized altogether. If it is merely for medical purposes--as many who supported the law seemed to assert--then illegal dealers should be punished as much or more than they were before.

If we want pot legalized in the state of Washington altogether, then we should pass that law. Hiding behind a law passed for another purpose is bullshit.

Ed O.

 

[MARIS61]

Is your point that alcohol should be criminalized, then?

My point is that all prohibition of marijuana in America is at the bequest of the 1%, and there is no legitimate nor logical justification for it.

It is done purely to support the alcohol, tobacco, and pharmaceutical industries monopoly on American addiction.

It is like outlawing jaywalking while legalizing murder to support ACME Hit Man for Hire.

 

[ABM]

My point is that all prohibition of marijuana in America is at the bequest of the 1%, and there is no legitimate nor logical justification for it.

It is done purely to support the alcohol, tobacco, and pharmaceutical industries monopoly on American addiction.

It is like outlawing jaywalking while legalizing murder to support ACME Hit Man for Hire.

You should just board yourself up.

 

[DaLincolnJones]

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are the views of MARIS61, a fictional message board character created for my amusement, and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of any real person alive or deceased.

ABM, you should know better than to carry a conversation with a fictional persona, it is rather obvious that his sole intent is to troll.

 

[ABM]

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are the views of MARIS61, a fictional message board character created for my amusement, and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of any real person alive or deceased.

ABM, you should know better than to carry a conversation with a fictional persona, it is rather obvious that his sole intent is to troll.

No, he's real, alright. He's a real estate agent living in beautiful Bend. That said, I think he tries to pull our chains most of the time. I let him get to me. I need to chill.

 

[MARIS61]

Nothing personal intended.

As for boarding up, cognizance is the strongest defense.

 

[ABM]

Nothing personal intended.

As for boarding up, ignorance is the strongest defense.

FIFY.

 

[Haakzilla]

...sadly, until further regulations and guidelines are set forth and accepted, the mmj industry will continue to attract criminals from the black market status quo!