Obama administration cracksdown on medical marijuana use. Agents raid 10 businesses in Montana!

[Better Believe It]

So what states are next on the Obama administration agenda? I think California may be the last one after they successfully shut-down operations in other states that are easier to pick off. BBI


Federal agents raid medical marijuana businesses
By JOHN S. ADAMS Tribune Capital Bureau
March 15, 2011

HELENA — Federal and local law enforcement officials raided medical marijuana operations in at least six Montana cities Monday. According to the Oakland, Calif.-based pro-medical marijuana group Americans for Safe Access, at least 10 businesses were raided across the state, including in Helena, Missoula, Belgrade, Columbia Falls, Bozeman and Billings.

According to a search and seizure warrant served at one of the raided facilities, officials were looking for evidence of illegal drug trafficking offenses in violation of federal law.

Federal agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration were seen clearing hundreds of marijuana plants out of Montana Cannabis' greenhouses Monday as local law enforcement officials stood by outside the building. Montana Cannabis, with one facility just west of Helena, is one of the state's largest medical marijuana operations.

Tom Daubert, one of the lead authors of the 2004 marijuana law and founder of the pro-medical marijuana group Patients and Families United, condemned Monday's raids, calling them "calculated and political on the part of the federal government."

Read the full article at:

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20110315/NEWS01/103150323/1002/rss/Federal-agents-raid-medical-marijuana-businesses?odyssey=nav%7Chead


-------------------------------------------

Raids target medical marijuana business
March 15, 2011

Americans for Safe Access, a national medical marijuana advocacy group that happened to be touring Montana this week, issued press releases listing the names of raided businesses, as well as a copy of a search warrant for a Bozeman dispensary. In Billings, those businesses raided were Yellowstone Patient Care, A Kinder Caregiver and Montana Cannabis, according to the organization.

The Bozeman warrant obtained by Americans for Safe Access and signed by U.S. magistrate judge Jeremiah Lynch of Missoula listed 13 items to be seized, including marijuana and hashish, drug paraphernalia, computers and other electronic storage devices, cell phones, firearms, transportation and customer records, transaction records, cash, jewelry and vehicle titles.

The AP also reported that Montana Cannabis employee Brett Thompson, 30, said he stepped outside to smoke a cigarette and saw agents running up the driveway. “They came in, guns drawn, got us down on the ground and in cuffs as fast as they could,” Thompson said.

His bank accounts, both personal and business, have been frozen, he said.

http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_b9e7871e-4e74-11e0-837b-001cc4c002e0.html?oCampaign=hottopics

[msongs]

1. crackdown on clinics at home, trillions for war crimes abroad. some priorities nt

[WI_DEM]

2. Oh brother! I'm sure Obama is personally ordering these drug busts.

[niyad]

3. right, because the op blamed obama personally. obama's admin is doing this, just like his admin is

prosecuting these wars. what part of that do you not understand?

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[niyad]

12. "the buck stops here" remember that???

[Buzz Clik]

15. This jerk at the post office was rude to me: "Obama's Postal Service Customer Unfriendly?"

Bullcrap comes in all kinds flavors.

[Better Believe It]

17. Your comparing a postal clerk to the Attorney General and the directors of the IRS, DEA and FBI!!!!

These were well co-ordinated and executive raids planned and directed by top government officials in the Obama administration.

Do you really think these were just a few "local" agents acting without the knowledge and support of the Obama administration?

Come now.

You can't be that naive.

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Better Believe It]

22. I hadn't even thought of Ashcroft and didn't mention him in my post. So what's your point?

"You've been outed, buddy. You haven't heard the last of this."

And what exactly do you mean by that statement?

I'm listening.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[EOTE]

21. For fuck's sake, what won't you excuse?

Don't you get tired of being shit on and just accepting it as par for the course? Don't you think that the person who should take the lion's share of the blame would be the president? You know, the one who said that this kind of shit wouldn't be happening in his administration? Oh, that's right, the president doesn't have any power. Those that think he does are just being silly.

[droidamus2]

30. Don't you find it interesting

That people on DU seemed (yes its a generality so it does not apply to everybody) the accept that when Junior Bush was President that anything that happened was directly applicable to his idiocy (I think most things were but that is my opinion), yet with Obama you have these people saying that nothing rises to his level and things just aren't his fault. There is no way in hell that if Obama wanted Medical Marijuana facilities left alone that these kinds of raids would be happening.

[EOTE]

32. I find it very interesting.

Somehow, when a Democrat becomes President, he/she suddenly loses all powers a President would typically possess. It's like he just merges in with the Legislative and Judicial branches and simply goes along for the ride. Of course, when something good IS accomplished, that same group of people will rush in and talk about how this never could have happened without Obama's bully pulpit. I really wonder sometimes.

[Better Believe It]

4. President Obama is absolutely shocked by these "drug busts" and has ordered them stopped!

You're right.

He doesn't have a clue.

Now are you ready to buy the Brooklyn Bridge?

[joeybee12]

5. You're right of course, he's not in control at all over anything, so they just do what they want...

Either it's ultimately his call, or he has no control...which do you want?

[Buzz Clik]

11. What do you suppose is the function of the DEA and similar agencies?

Should they be disbanded? Or is your complaint only that they targeted a facility that also was involved in medical marijuana?

[Better Believe It]

19. To enforce whatever priorities and laws the administration decides on.

That's how things really work.

During the first two years of the Obama administration they didn't raid these businesses.

So the Obama administration just found out about medical pot being dispensed last week?

[Webster Green]

26. Yes, they should be disbanded,

While they're stealing medicine from patients, they smuggle cocaine and other drugs.

DEA are fucking scum.

[Upton]

27. The DEA should be disbanded like RIGHT NOW..

and whatever happened to Obama's promise of ending raids on medical marijuana dispensaries?

[PufPuf23]

43. There were raids in California about the same time as

POTUS Obama's rhetoric but not many and not publicized early in the Obama Administration.

[Buzz Clik]

6. Of course he was. Pictures to follow.

:rofl:

I have to wonder what political party these people belong to.

[Better Believe It]

24. When did the FBI, DEA and IRS cease being part of the Obama administration?

[ReggieVeggie]

40. He's the president of the united states

he is effectively endorsing these actions

[Better Believe It]

41. No, no no! Blame a local assistant U.S. attorney for the raids.

[PufPuf23]

42. POTUS Obama is not personally ordering the state-legal,

Federal medical marijuana busts.

Cannabis has existed in human society long before the politics of now. There are benefits and side effects that are probably less than tobacco and alchohol.

Obama hired DOJ Holder who ignores war crimes, financial fraud, and fails to act in good faith regards to international treaties and organizations.

[Enthusiast]

7. Considering the desperate

times faced by working Americans this looks like a poorly misplaced priority. And think about it, this 'homegrown' marijuana will only be replaced by imported drug cartel marijuana. Trade deficit, anyone?

[hifiguy]

8. To say that I have buyer's remorse

about this guy is like saying the Grand Canyon is a significant hole in the ground. WTF happened to the guy whose speeches I applauded in 2008?

Bush lite.

[Le Taz Hot]

10. Oh, just let him try in California!

Just let him try. You lose California, big boy, you'll lose a second term. The natives out here are already restless with this huge disappointment, he goes after the dispensaries here and his asterisk in history will be even larger than George W's. **"Barak Obama, handed the 2012 election to Batshitcrazycandidate by single-handedly closing down 25 dispensaries in California." (In the meantime, 4,000 more opened up in places we're not telling you about.) Dumb shit!

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Better Believe It]

16. Obama administrations says California medical marijuana dispensary can't deduct business expenses!

It appears the Obama adminstration has begun waging a major two front war against medical marijuana, raiding and shutting down businesses in some states while at the same time not allowing them to deduct normal business expenses from their taxes. Oh .... I almost forget. This is all news to President Obama and as soon as he finds out about it he will direct the IRS and DEA to backoff. BBI


IRS tells Fairfax medical marijuana dispensary it owes millions in unpaid taxes
By Richard Halstead
Marin Independent Journal
March 9, 2011

The Internal Revenue Service has notified the Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana in Fairfax that it owes millions of dollars in unpaid back taxes, according to the alliance's founder and director, Lynnette Shaw.

Shaw said the IRS audited the alliance's tax returns for 2008 and 2009 and disallowed all of its business deductions. She said that although dispensaries throughout the state are being audited by the IRS, the alliance is the first to be told it can't deduct business expenses.

"Every dispensary in the nation, past, present and future is dead if this is upheld," Shaw said.

Shaw said the IRS disallowed her deductions — for buying marijuana, hiring employees, securing office space and more — based on section 280E of the federal tax code, which states that no deduction shall be allowed for any business trafficking in controlled substances.

Read the full article at:

http://www.marinij.com/business/ci_17576520

[Webster Green]

29. They are attacking her because she was one of the first to open.

She's been at it since the beginning, with the full approval of the town of Fairfax and the state.

They want to make an example out of her, since she is one of the pioneers of medical pot dispensaries.

I worked at the Marin Alliance, and she is my ex, BTW. :hippie:

[Better Believe It]

38. Thanks for the info and I'm sure almost everyone on DU wishes her well.

[meow mix]

18. bill maher is wrong. a friend who fatally stabs you in the back is worse.

than an enemy... at least you know the enemy wants you dead.

[dkofos]

23. They could be using this manpower to round up the bankers.

[femrap]

25. 2 words.....

Howard Dean

[Webster Green]

28. Fucked priorities.

This administration is clueless.

[truebrit71]

31. A rudderless ship it seems...I thought Holder said he was going to back off these things...

..or did I mis-read that?

[Webster Green]

33. You didn't mis-read it. I guess the statement is "inoperative".

As they used to say in the Nixon administration.

[truebrit71]

35. How said it is that we can equate some of the Obama admin's actions with Nixonisms...

..like the 'plausible deniability' of the treatment of PFC Manning.."I have been assured it is appropriate"...well thank goodness for that!!

[krabigirl]

34. Scary stuff.

The timing on this is typical. Their senate failed to pass the mmj repeal there recently, so i guess the republicans called their friends in the obama dea to get their revenge.

[FLAprogressive]

36. But look over here at Door #3! Republicans are doing X! (While Obama is acting like a Republican)

[Octafish]

37. Hey, Holder! When you gonna fire Leura Canary?

Alabama Bingo Democrats like me want to know.

[Better Believe It]

39. 8 Federal government agencies organized the raids! Here's the government news release on the raids.

But, do you think President Obama knew about planned raids or do they keep him in the dark on such matters? If he knew, this should help President Obama get three or four more votes from "conservatives" in the 2012 election. Way to go! BBI

U.S. attorney outlines medical marijuana raids in 13 towns
March 15, 2011

U.S. Attorney Michael W. Cotter,announced today the culmination of a 18-month multi-agency investigation into the drug trafficking activities of criminal enterprises operating throughout the State of Montana.

In a news release, Cotter said 26 criminal search warrants were executed Monday in Belgrade, Big Sky, Billings, Bozeman, Columbia Falls, Dillon, Great Falls, Helena, Kalispell, Miles City, Missoula, Olney and Whitefish.

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20110315/NEWS01/110315011/U-S-attorney-outlines-medical-marijuana-raids-13-towns?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFrontpage

The U.S. Attorney news release on medical marijuana raids:

U.S. Department of Justice
Michael W. Cotter
United States Attorney
District of Montana
NEWS ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 15, 2011
Contact:
Victoria L. Francis
Assistant U.S. Attorney
District of Montana
(406) 247- 4633

THE U.S. ATTORNEY FOR THE DISTRICT OF MONTANA ANNOUNCES
THE EXECUTION OF 26 CRIMINAL SEARCH WARRANTS
AND 4 CIVIL SEIZURE WARRANTS IN MONTANA.

The United States Attorney for the District of Montana, Michael W. Cotter, announced
today the culmination of a 18-month multi-agency investigation into the drug trafficking
activities of criminal enterprises operating throughout the State of Montana. In furtherance
of that investigation, a total of 26 criminal search warrants were executed on March 14,
2011, at premises in the following communities: Belgrade, Big Sky, Billings, Bozeman,
Columbia Falls, Dillon, Great Falls, Helena, Kalispell, Miles City, Missoula, Olney and
Whitefish. Items seized by law enforcement may be disclosed after search warrant returns
are filed with the United States District Court.

In addition, Civil Seizure Warrants for financial institutions in Bozeman, Helena, and
Kalispell seeking up to $4,000,000 were executed.

Search warrants and civil seizure warrants were issued based on judicial findings that
probable cause exists to believe that the premises located in thirteen Montana towns are
involved in criminal enterprises that have violated the Controlled Substances Act (CSA)
related to marijuana, a Schedule I controlled substance. Specifically, it is alleged in the
search warrants, civil seizure warrants and related documents that the premises or property
identified were involved in some or all of the following violations of federal law: manufacture
of marijuana and possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and distribution of marijuana
in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841, conspiracy to commit the offenses of manufacture of
marijuana, possession with intent to distribute marijuana and distribution of marijuana in
violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846, structuring or assisting in structuring any transaction to evade
currency reporting requirements or causing or attempting to cause a domestic financial
institution to fail to file Currency Transaction Reports in violation of 31 U.S.C. §§ 5324(a)(1)
and (3).

Congress placed marijuana in Schedule I of the CSA. Under federal law, growing,
distributing and possessing marijuana (other than in a federally authorized research
program) is a violation of the CSA. A substance listed under Schedule I has: (a) a high
potential for abuse, (b) no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States,
and (c) a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical
supervision. Because of the danger posed by Schedule I substances, the Department of
Justice continues to focus its enforcement and investigative efforts in targeting large-scale
drug organizations that cultivate, manufacture, distribute, or sell marijuana.
United States Attorney Cotter said that “Twenty-six search warrants were carried out
yesterday where there is probable cause that the premises were involved in illegal and largescale
trafficking of marijuana. When criminal networks violate federal laws those involved
will be prosecuted."

Individuals with illnesses who are in clear and unambiguous compliance with state
law are not the focus of this investigation.

The following federal, state and local law enforcement agencies participated in the
execution of the search warrants and the seizure of the civil assets at multiple locations
across the state of Montana: the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and
Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service,
the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of
Investigation, the Environmental Protection Agency-Criminal Investigation Division, U.S.
Customs and Border Protection-Border Patrol, and the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration. These federal agencies were assisted by the Montana Division of Criminal
Investigations, and local High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task forces, the Northwest Drug
Task Force, the Kalispell Police Department, the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, the
Missoula Police Department, the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office, the Missoula High
Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, the Great Falls Police Department, the
Cascade County Sheriff’s Office, the Central Montana Drug Task Force, the Billings Police
Department, the Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office, the Eastern Montana High Intensity
Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, the Dillon Police Department, the Beaverhead
County Sheriff’s Office, the Park County Sheriff’s Office, the Bozeman Police Department,
the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, the Missouri River Drug Task Force, the Helena Police
Department, the Lewis & Clark Sheriff’s Office, and the Eastern Montana Drug Task Force -
Miles City.

The information contained in the search warrants, civil seizure warrants and related
documents are based on the information discovered during the course of ongoing
investigations. To date, no federal criminal charges, indictments, informations or complaints
have been filed against any of the named individuals identified in the search warrants, civil
seizure warrants and related documents. All named individuals and locations identified in
the search warrants, civil seizure warrants and related documents are presumed innocent
until proven guilty.
# # #

[Liquorice]

44. Sad, but not at all suprising at this point. nt