DEA raids medical marijuana dispensary in Laguna Beach

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

DEA raids medical marijuana dispensary in Laguna Beach

Agents took marijuana and edible products believed to contain pot, officials said. No arrests made so far.


By SALVADOR HERNANDEZ
The Orange County Register


LAGUNA BEACH Agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration raided a marijuana dispensary Tuesday, seized an unknown amount of marijuana and took into custody two people who were later released, authorities said.

With the assistance of detectives from the Laguna Beach Police Department, DEA agents served the search warrant at 2007 South Coast Highway, taking into custody marijuana plants and several edible products believed to contain marijuana, said Special Agent Sarah Pullen of the DEA.

Officers with the Laguna Beach Police Department assisted in containing the area but did not participate in the actual search, said Sgt. Jason Kravetz.

Two employees who were taken into custody were later released. No charges have been filed in connection to the case, she said.

The federal search warrant is under seal and details on how much marijuana was seized at the Laguna Beach Holistic Center could not be disclosed, Pullen said.

A call to the business was not answered Wednesday afternoon.

The search and seizure of the marijuana is the latest local example of the clash that has continued between California and federal laws, which contradict each other in the question of medical marijuana and has left cities and local law enforcement agencies in the middle.

Some cities, such as Huntington Beach, Laguna Hills, Mission Viejo, Fullerton and Santa Ana have banned marijuana dispensaries in their area. Brea has adopted a moratorium ban until March 2009.

In contrast, the Laguna Woods City Council passed an ordinance in September allowing medical dispensaries, although they would only be allowed to serve city residents.

Federal law prohibits the use and sale of marijuana, but voters in California passed the Compassionate Use Act in 1996, which allows people to use marijuana for medicinal purposes.

While local law enforcement agencies have usually allowed the local dispensaries to do business, federal authorities have served several search warrants and seized marijuana from the businesses.

Contact the writer: shernandez@ocregister.com or 949-454-7361


http://www.ocregister.com/articles/marijuana-laguna-beach-2184874-search-local
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