UCLA Students Take Over Building in Protest of Fee Increase Vote
Jason Segel Sings His Phone Number at the Swell Season Last Night
BART Cop Murder Trial to Move to Downtown L.A., Lawyer Predicts More L.A. Riots
-thumb-110x110-459458.jpg)
Bouchon Amuses Our Bouches
Midnight Movie: VICE Explores LA's Hidden Urban Oil Wells
Don Duncan of the California Patients Group in Hollywood talks to reporters through the door broken by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
As the Los Angeles City Council placed a moratorium on new facilities so rules could be drafted to better regulate them, federal agents raided 10 local medical marijuana facilities on Wednesday [LA Times]. What follows are pictures from the raid at the California Patients Group in Hollywood.
"I am greatly disturbed that the Drug Enforcement Administration would initiate an enforcement action against medical marijuana facilities in the City of Los Angeles during a news conference regarding City Council support of an Interim Control Ordinance to regulate all facilities within the City. This action by the DEA is
contrary to the vote of Californians who overwhelmingly voted to support medicinal marijuana use by those facing serious and life threatening illnesses. The DEA needs to focus their attention and enforcement action on the illegal drug dealers who are terrorizing communities in Los Angeles." ~ Dennis Zine, 3rd District City Councilman, former police officer for the LAPD and Republican
An Interim Control Ordinance by Councilman Dennis P. Zine that would temporarily prohibit the opening of any new medical marijuana dispensaries until a permanent ordinance is created to establish regulations was voted on for approval in City Council on Wednesday.
The Interim Control Ordinance is designed to prevent new Medical Marijuana Dispensaries from opening while an inter-departmental task force (led by the Planning Department) crafts an ordinance to regulate medical marijuana dispensaries and establish appropriate regulations. These regulations will focus on hours of operation, proximity of dispensaries to schools, recreation, residential, and other sensitive use sites, as well as rules for on-site consumption, security, and liability considerations. Additionally, no new dispensaries will open until a regulation strategy is developed and implemented.
The purpose of this interim control ordinance is twofold: First, it would place a moratorium on all medical marijuana dispensaries until a permanent ordinance is established. Second, all existing dispensaries would have 60 days to comply with regulations set forth in the Interim Control Ordinance.
“Our goal is to bring the sale of medicinal marijuana under control and regulated by a City entity so that distribution is safe and accessible to people that truly need medicinal cannabis to improve their quality of life,” said Councilman Zine, Member of the Committee on Public Safety. “The purpose of this interim ordinance is to protect not only the right of patients to access the medications that they need, but also to rid the current distribution facilities of abuses that harm the areas surrounding the dispensary sites.”
The first reading of the Interim Control Ordinance was approved 11-0, and final approval is anticipated within a week.
"Although voters in California approved the use of medical marijuana in 1996 and said users should not be subject to criminal prosecution, it remains illegal under federal law to possess, sell or cultivate marijuana and neither the federal nor state courts have resolved the matter." - LA Times
"Raising the stakes in the federal government's war against medical marijuana, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has warned more than 150 Los Angeles landlords that they risk arrest and the loss of their properties if they continue renting to cannabis dispensaries." - LA Times
"City officials aim to weed out dope peddlers who are ignoring the intention of 1996's Proposition 215, which allows Californians to obtain marijuana for treatment of chronic pain, anorexia, cancer and other serious illness.
"Since Los Angeles doesn't currently regulate or license shops - estimated at several hundred - the City Council voted to temporarily halt new stores while it develops a policy to separate ones selling the drugs for medical use from ones masking recreational sales under the banner of compassionate care." - Daily News
Chris Fusco holds the warrant allowing the DEA to raid.
All photos by Shay Sowden, special to LAist
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
tweet this
post to facebook
The Feds should be out finding Osama.
It's probably a good idea not to look so goddamn smug when holding up that kind of warrant. It's not the f-ing cartel.
These photos are fantastic! Not to be a total geek, but what lens did you use?
This is an incredible photoessay!
Why does the media consistently apply the "over 100 dispensaries" figure to the city of LA -- isn't that the countywide county?
Can anyone think of any other PD in the world that would be instructed to line up in veritable riot formation to monitor/provoke protesters outside a medical marijuana dispensary? Something tells me this would never happen in San Francisco.
I challenge anyone to submit a photoessay showing the LAPD actually preventing crime and patrolling dangerous neighborhoods. I know they do it. I HOPE they do it!
As for the feds... anyone want to run for governor on a California -- Secede platform?
Why to pot smokers think the fish-eye lens is so compelling. I hate that effect. But I support your cause so I will forgive it this time.
Fish lens was purely because the picture taking was undercover at hip level.
Fish-eye doesn't always work, but here it makes the cops look really scary. No wonder you snapped on the DL.
A few of the pics looked like a regular wide-angle, so I was wondering.
i used the tokina 10-17mm fisheye. I shoot lots of stuff with the lens, i think that it draws the viewer into the photo, stoned or not stoned, i like the look.
also, the gentleman holding the warrant, is not looking smug, i just happened to catch him when he was smiling, he was not happy about the raid, but was happy that the lapd released several people that they arrested.
The DEA is uber lame.
picture 4 looks like the chick from the tv shows Weeds heh
We need action taken against things like this. Just one step closer to cleaning up America's bad habits.
#11 (Guest), Really?
Why aren't they breaking down the doors of Anheuser-Busch, Coors, and every alcohol manufacturer in this planet?
Why aren't they taking down all the nicotine manufacturers?
Why aren't they crashing cocktail parties? Weddings that serve alcohol?
Why aren't they arresting people for obesity, because it is a bad habit and is a major drain on our health care?
Sell out another's right to their own personal choices, and you will find WE ARE COMING FOR YOUR RIGHTS!!!
This raid is a perfect example of the theory that
"Deep inside every conservative is a fascist screaming to get out" The Fascist in Amerika is out.
My father always said, if Fascism ever comes to America, it will be through the Republicans.
Why is the door broken?? Why does this raid look like it was done by Chief Wiggam??? Come on, its a business with posted hours and regular customers... they couldn't have just waited for the store to open???
#12 Uh, if your personal rights are against the law, then yeah, expect to have someone come after you.
Nicotine, alcohol and obesity are not against federal law.
Stupid potheads are trying to use "medical" excuses to get high. The logic doper's comments on this story aren't helping your cause either. Say nope to dope.
"personal rights" I meant "personal choices"
Thanks for the clarification on the warrant pic, DigitalShay. Goes to show timing is everything.
Let me see here. It's ok for the LAPD to break State Law and it's ok to cowtow to the DEA as their "lackies." Since it's the State that certifys them, maybe the State should take a closer look at those who turn their backs on State Law. Also, the City should look at "why" they pay them. I thought it was to function as a City Police Officer. Guess I'm wrong. "To Serve and Protect"...the DEA, not the People of the City OR State!
What an atrocity, and right as city officials were getting ready to implement regulation schemes! If we lived in a true democracy voters would be able to affect federal policy. As for #16's comment, try reading some books, maybe going to college and then come back and make an intelligent comment.
In reply to post number 12;
Because alcohol and tobacco are not illegal. Idiot.
Look at those silly fucking piggies. And to imagine, some of them may think they're doing good in the world
Wow, the pictures are amazing - and very scary! What country do we live in again? The land of the truncheon and the home of the jailed?
I guess all the crimes in LA are solved, and all the criminals are locked away. Now the police have a little free time to roust the sick and dying. It takes quite a show of force to take on a weed, guys! The tough cop attitudes are truly appalling - do these guys have no shame?
Whether you agree with medical marijuana or not, it is the law. Respect it! And show a little respect for the f'in constitution, will ya, DEA? Amendment 10 to be exact. Now there's a real crime. The state cops should be cuffin' the DEA guys for robbery, B&E, harassment, making terrorist threats, etc. What a disaster this country has become!
#21
What if coffee would become illegal, would you stop drinking it? Fact is alcohol and topacco kills people, weed does not.
If we can believe Hillary and the rest of the Dem contenders, once they're elected they have stated they will put an end to this DEA activity.
THAT SAID, I suspect the DEA is in their 'last throes'in their persecution of MM pharmacies and patients.
If DieBold gets its way, we'll have another Rep president--like they got in 2000 and 2004, Thanks Diebold--your corporate leaders deserve prison.
#13 Your Pop is absolutely Correct...
The Current pseudo-fascist Administration is a good example of what can happen--Squandering of Billions of dollars on a bogus war in Iraq, taking away our freedoms and liberties by spying on us.
I'm almost 60 years old and I've never seen anything like what has happened from the last two presidental elections.
I was happy reading this, cause rule is rule, rule for all. It means there won't be categories in punishment. Everyone should be seen through one view. But there are still things that should be prohibited to build a addicted free world.
ebinezer
http://www.marijuanaaddictiontreatment.com
Happy to read this, but there are still lots more to eradicate in the world of addiction.
ebienzer
http://www.marijuanaaddictiontreatment.com
wow... this pics say all...
No Prescription Needed