U.S. cracks down on "world's largest" medical marijuana dispensary

[Shadow]

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Federal prosecutors have filed civil forfeiture actions against an Oakland medical marijuana dispensary that bills itself as the world's largest, as part of a crackdown by U.S. authorities on California's massive cannabis trade.

The lawsuits, filed on Monday in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, seek forfeiture of two properties where Harborside Health Center operates, said Melinda Haag, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of California.

Harborside says it is the largest medical marijuana dispensary in the world, serving more than 100,000 patients in a "beautiful waterfront location," and is subject of the Discovery Channel reality TV show "Weed Wars."

"The larger the operation, the greater the likelihood that there will be abuse of the state's medical marijuana laws and marijuana in the hands of individuals who do not have a demonstrated medical need," Haag said in a statement on Wednesday announcing the actions.

http://news.yahoo.com/u-cracks-down-worlds-largest-medical-marijuana-dispensary-021351348.html

[DragonStryk72]

So basically, they didn't break the law, but the feds are pissed because they're succeeding? Fuck it! In this economy, we should just let it go.

[Shadow]

So basically, they didn't break the law, but the feds are pissed because they're succeeding? Fuck it! In this economy, we should just let it go.

Too much attention or advertising maybe...especially via the reality show they were involved in? Maybe they saw something they didn't like. That is kind of what I get from the following comment at least...


"The larger the operation, the greater the likelihood that there will be abuse of the state's medical marijuana laws and marijuana in the hands of individuals who do not have a demonstrated medical need," Haag said in a statement on Wednesday announcing the actions.

[Trinity]

He's managed to piss off a lot of people........


Medical marijuana advocates planning big protest of Obama’s East Bay fundraising visitWaiting for President Obama when comes to the East Bay for a series of fundraisers (http://blog.sfgate.com/nov05election/2012/07/10/obama-coming-to-oaklands-fox-theater-piedmont-for-fundraisers-next-week/)this month will be a lot of protesters who ordinarily would be fans: Medical marijuana supporters.
They are ticked at Obama’s duplicity on the medical cannabis issue, particularly after hearing about the feds plan to close Harborside Health Center (http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Feds-come-down-on-Oakland-pot-dispensary-3700704.php)– the nation’s largest medical marijuana dispensary. The proposed closure has again turned the spotlight onto the Obama Administration’s Justice Department and Attorney General Eric Holder.

http://blog.sfgate.com/nov05election/2012/07/12/medical-marijuana-advocates-planning-big-protest-of-obamas-east-bay-fundraising-visit/

[WiccanLiberal]

The problem is, to my understanding, that the local and state law allows the legal distribution of medical marihuana but federal law does not. Harborside has been big business for years and apparently drew way too much attention. Federal authorities seem to be making an example of the place.