California Mendocino County Under Medical Marijuana Seige Now

[Are_grits_groceries]

On-going medical marijuana busts through-out Mendocino County have been arresting local residents daily. I was one of five busts made and charged with two felonies (cultivation and intent to sell/distribute) last Friday, February 20, 2009, even though I had my doctor recommendation and was growing with the guidelines published at the Mendocino county web site.
My name is Laurel Krause. Last Friday (2/20/09) as I looked out my kitchen window I was shocked to see 25 Mendocino County Sheriffs/Deputies coming through my gate very quickly. The lead man, Sheriff (don't know deputy, or what class) Jonathan Martin, showed me a search warrant, hand cuffed me and read me my rights. I was cooperative (I actually cried and begged for mercy, but that didn't work) as they searched my home, my grow area on my five acres (behind my locked gate--so no probable cause) and seized all grow equipment related to 24 medical marijuana plants in full bloom. They chopped down the plants and hauled them away as I was being grilled and bullied in my home. This number is significant because if you google the Mendocino County Sheriff's web page on MedMari guidelines it says 25 plants. You are probably aware of the 'fuzziness' of these guidelines. I have a recommendation from my doctor to allow me to grow med marijuana. They charged me with two felony counts, one for marijuana cultivation and another for intent to sell/distribute, carted me to Ukiah, CA to jail in handcuffs.

It gets worse. I was the #4 bust of 5 that day (Friday, Feb 20) and the guys let us know that they had five more for Saturday (yesterday) and five more on Sunday (TODAY!). Not individuals, but actual grows that might arrest multiple people. And most of the growers are women with kids (so now the children are possibly being taken away and bank accounts frozen). Real emotional and economic despair.

As I met others that were arrested in Ukiah, the county seat to jail (never before, first offense for everything for me) I learned they were my neighbors and not one had a 'commercial' size grow. So this Mendocino County Sheriff's dept sweep is coming up short as the take is not producing the kind of busts they claim they are after (i.e commercial, 500 plants & up), unenvironmental grows that scar the land (we all grow organic), we all have our recommendations that we paid for and actually care about the quality of medicine we are growing (it's in the past for me now).
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/02/23/18572738.php

This needs to stop!

[rcrush]

1. I guess the DEA is getting their jollies in before new drug czar takes over.

I read an Obama official said as soon as they get new justice department officials in and replace DEA officials that this would stop. And the new Drug Czar is supposed to be friendly. I just wish they would hurry it up.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

3. These weren't the Feds. This was Californian law enforcement.

[Baikonour]

5. Then they are breaking state laws.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

6. From what I read, it looked like a bust of everyone and then sort out who has the right to grow

later. Terrible.

[MagickMuffin]

2. I wonder if CNBC's program Marijuana, Inc has anything to do with this

Hopefully Laurel will find a good lawyer who can help her. I certainly hope so.

This is really going to far and like you said "THIS NEEDS TO STOP" :grr:

[ixion]

4. yes. it needs to stop...now.

all this does is destroy peoples lives. End the so-called 'war' on drugs, and stop destroying the lives of pot smokers!