The federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) conducted aggressive, SWAT-style raids on Thursday on at least three dispensaries in Spokane, Washington, that provided medical marijuana to qualified patients.[1] Federal agents are raiding several medical marijuana dispensaries in Spokane, following a warning from the top federal prosecutor there that such operations are illegal.[2] The raids came three weeks after Spokane US Attorney Michael Ormsby warned the 40 dispensaries in the area that they should close up shop or face federal enforcement actions.[2]
What was hit
About 10 agents entered Club Compassion with guns drawn and seized all the marijuana there, an amount owner Rhonda Duncan estimated at less than 10 ounces, and ripped out about 14 of her personal plants.[2] The other raided dispensary was THC Pharmacy at 1108 S. Perry St., where activists chanted “DEA, go away!” in protest on Thursday, 28 April 2011, while most dispensary owners and activists were at a meeting about how to handle DEA raids.[2][1] About 30 activists attending a raid-preparedness class at the Spokane library left en masse to protest the raids.[2]
No arrests, bill pending
Tom Rice, a spokesman for the US attorney’s office in Spokane, confirmed law enforcement actions at least one dispensary but declined details, citing the ongoing investigation, and said he did not know of any arrests being made.[2] The raids landed as Governor Chris Gregoire weighed a bill passed by the Legislature that would license dispensaries and grant arrest protection to registered patients, after Ormsby warned that state employees involved in licensing could face prosecution.[2][1]
