The action comes on the same day as an appellate court in San Diego rules that federal law does not preempt California's medical pot law.
By Jia-Rui Chong, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
4:24 PM PDT, July 31, 2008
Federal drug enforcement agents raided a medical marijuana dispensary in the 13400 block of Washington Boulevard in Culver City this afternoon, serving a search warrant as part of an ongoing investigation.
Sarah Pullen, spokeswoman for the Drug Enforcement Administration in Los Angeles, says the warrant to search Organica Collective is under seal and she was not able to discuss any specifics of the operation.
"As part of an ongoing investigation, we're looking for illegal substances and evidence to support the investigation," Pullen said.
A phone call to Organica was not immediately answered.
On a Web forum for medical marijuana users, news of the raid was posted shortly after 1 p.m. with a call for protesters to "please go down with signs and friends to show your support!"
The dispensary's MySpace page says it offers "the best of Los Angeles' medical cannabis, as well as several different types of clones. New patients receive a free gift with their first purchase! We are open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day, with free secure parking and friendly vibes!"
In addition, the section titled "Who I'd like to meet" solicits people without a "medical recommendation card" for marijuana.
"Suffer from migraines, cancer, glaucoma, depression, arthritis, nausea, anorexia, AIDS, insomnia, chronic pain or any other disorders?" the website says. "Medicinal marijuana might be for you! Come meet with our doctor and see if you qualify."
The raid came on the same day as an appellate court in San Diego ruled that federal law does not preempt the state's medical marijuana law.
"This is a huge win for medical marijuana patients, not only in California, but across the country," said Joe Elford, chief counsel for Americans for Safe Access, who argued before the appellate court on behalf of patients.
"This ruling makes clear the ability of states to pass medical marijuana laws with an expectation that those laws will be upheld by local and state, if not federal, officials."
San Diego County sued the state in 2006, challenging the validity of the state identification card program, as well as the foundation of California's medical marijuana laws.
But both lower and appellate courts found that the ID card program and state law remained valid and that they did not violate the state constitution.
In today's ruling, the court said the federal Controlled Substances Act "signifies Congress' intent to maintain the power of states to elect 'to serve as a laboratory in the trial of novel social and economic experiments without risk to the rest of the country' by preserving all state laws that do not positively conflict" with the act.
jia-rui.chong@latimes.com
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-marijuana1-2008aug01,0,7334306.story
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