Support for LAist comes from
Audience-funded nonprofit news
Stay Connected
Audience-funded nonprofit news
Listen

Share This

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

News

Day After DEA Raids, Protests Spark in West Hollywood

With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today during our fall member drive. 

()

In the wake of yesterday's LA raids by the DEA, about 100 protesters marched in front of the West Hollywood City Hall this morning. Clearly the state of medical marijuana in America has become the line in the sand between state's rights and the power of federal law.

Yesterday the feds flexed their muscle:

They confiscated several thousand pounds of processed marijuana, along with weapons and money. A spokeswoman for the Drug Enforcement Administration said about 20 people were detained, but no arrests were immediately made.

Officials would not provide details of the investigation, saying the search warrants remain under seal. - NBC4

Now if LAist was in charge of the DEA and knew that it was about to yank medicine away from AIDS patients, cancer survivors, and other people under doctor's care, we would have lots of details to dole out other than the broad "federal law overrules state law", especially since that's not always the case.And we'd especially have a good reason why the DEA spent the majority of its time taking medicine away from West Hollywood dispensaries, particularly since West Hollywood probably has more people using medical marijuana to ease the symptoms of HIV than any other city in Southern California.
Support for LAist comes from

94 LA medical marijuana dispensaries opened in 2006 alone, why did the DEA fixate on West Hollywood yesterday and spend more than half of their efforts on that part of town?

Those would be the sorts of answers we would have ready and waiting if we ran the DEA. Instead they hide behind seals as they take medicine away from sick people. Heck of a job, DEA.

photo by r0bz

At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.

But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.

We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.

Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.

Chip in now to fund your local journalism
A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right
(
LAist
)

Trending on LAist