cannabisnews.com: Feds File Medical Pot Complaint





Feds File Medical Pot Complaint
Posted by CN Staff on September 09, 2004 at 08:02:36 PT
By Niesha Lofing -- Bee Staff Writer
Source: Sacramento Bee 
The U.S. attorney's office on Wednesday filed a civil complaint asking for a medical marijuana dispensary owner to forfeit his home and business.The complaint filed in federal court in Sacramento targets Richard Marino, whose Roseville store and Newcastle home were raided by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration on Friday.
Officials seized about 250 marijuana plants growing on his five acres in Newcastle and 20 pounds of processed marijuana, more than $105,000 in cash and 250 plants from his business, Capitol Compassionate Care in Old Roseville, the complaint states. Marino learned of the government's effort to take his home and business when contacted by The Bee."I'm kind of in a state of shock right now," Marino said. "I had no idea this was coming."Under federal law, the government can seize property used or intended to be used to violate federal drug law, which holds that dispensing or possessing marijuana is illegal. State law, however, allows for the growing, selling and use of medicinal marijuana, and Marino has maintained that he was fully complying with California's rules.The conflict between state and federal law deepened recently after two rulings by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals held that federal authorities don't have the power to go after noncommercial medical marijuana operations confined within the state.The cases are being appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, but until they are resolved, DEA officials say they will abide by federal law. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristin Door would not comment on the action taken against Marino on Wednesday."The complaint speaks for itself," Door said.Marino had reopened his store Saturday after DEA agents said there was nothing stopping him."I'm kinda getting mixed messages," Marino said. "They don't file charges against me. I open the next day. And now all of this has transpired."DEA officials say their message is clear: Marijuana is illegal.Snipped: Complete Article: http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/medical/story/10678107p-11596661c.htmlSource: Sacramento Bee (CA)Author: Niesha Lofing -- Bee Staff WriterPublished: Thursday, September 9, 2004Copyright: 2004 The Sacramento BeeContact: opinion sacbee.comWebsite: http://www.sacbee.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Medicinal Cannabis Research Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/research.htmDEA Seizes Pot from Medical Marijuana Operationhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19444.shtmlMedical Pot Shop Shut Downhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19441.shtmlPot Plot in Foothills Sparks High Anxietyhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19407.shtmlFew Complaints About Medical Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18666.shtml
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on September 11, 2004 at 13:46:51 PT
News Brief from The Sacramento Bee
Medical Marijuana Hearing PostponedBy David RichieSaturday, September 11, 2004CITRUS HEIGHTS - Fearing federal agents might stage an armed raid similar to a recent action in Roseville, city planning officials postponed a hearing on Mary Jennifer Berg's application to open a medical marijuana dispensary.
The Planning Commission delayed action Thursday, based on a recommendation by City Attorney Ruthann Ziegler.Ziegler told the commission the delay is necessary because of recent actions in Roseville and indications that federal agents are willing to make another raid if Berg were allowed to open her "Cannabis Patients Co-Op" at 6240 Greenback Lane.Berg, indicating she was willing to risk the wrath of federal agents, pleaded with the commission to proceed with the public hearing.Copyright: The Sacramento Bee Snipped:Complete Article: http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/story/10702657p-11621174c.html
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Comment #7 posted by Hope on September 09, 2004 at 10:52:28 PT
Thaks?
Sorry...didn't proof read the subject line. I meant...of course...Thanks, EJ.
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Comment #6 posted by Hope on September 09, 2004 at 10:50:51 PT
Thaks, EJ
You're right. I guess it's hard, especially for power wielding thugs in what comprises our government these days, to keep that "money maker", which is what forfeiture is all about, in the same pocket with ethics. The "Untouchables" of alcohol prohibition had a mission to stop alcohol smuggling. What might have been the present day "Untouchables", really don’t have such a simple mission. Their mission today is to "hurt them (the smugglers and anybody else they can hurt) in the pocketbook" and “grow” the budget. They are already "touched" when they start their mission.
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Comment #5 posted by E_Johnson on September 09, 2004 at 10:06:04 PT
They're no longer Untouchable, Hope
The Untouchables would have been against asset forfeiture, but that's because they knew how to do math and ethics at the same time.
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Comment #4 posted by Hope on September 09, 2004 at 09:54:49 PT
Am I the only one
who thinks law enforcement officers have been or are being "prostituted" because of forfeiture laws?I can just hear the boss man, "Get out there and use that money maker. We need that money."America the beautiful...God shed His Grace on thee.
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Comment #3 posted by kaptinemo on September 09, 2004 at 09:36:11 PT:
DEA's really crawling on their bellies now
Go to the link and read it ALL.The DEA has been sending an agent to try to trip up the clinic's administration personnel. First the goon shows up with a driver's license...and a fake prescription. Now, anybody who knows anything about this matter knows that California doctors CANNOT WRITE PRESCRIPTIONS for MMJ...ONLY 'RECOMMENDATIONS'. Needless to say, when the slime's 'prescription' was challenged by the admin people calling the doctor's office, said worm leaves the building in haste. He then returns months later with *another* 'prescription'. Again, the doctor's office was called; needless to say, no verification could be made because the 'prescription' was forged BY THE AGENT. This is entrapment, pure and simple. All this effort to bring down non-violent people, while dangerous criminals roam the streets. And the DEA plays games like this. They should be more worried about what their Federal brethren are doing TO THEM:DEA Agent’s Whistleblower Case Exposes the “War on Drugs” as a “War of Pretense”:
http://narconews.com/Issue34/article1063.htmlIn a nutshell, the CIA has been bugging DEA agent's offices in order to sabotage their efforts oveseas in places like Colombia when they conflict with CIA operations. Operations that often require the Agency goons to get their hands dirty HELPING their 'contacts. Like a cop having to be 'made' by the gangsters he has infiltrated. This has even gone to the point where confidential informants cultivated by the DEA have been 'plamed' by the CIA, 'outing' them and endangering the informant's lives. The CIA has nothing to bitch about Robert Novak's disclosure of Valerie Plame's covert status, as they are guilty of doing that themselves.This sabotage is EXACTLY like what happened to DEA Agent Celerino Castillo when he investigated the Iran/Contra coke-for-guns traffic going through Honduras so many years ago.DEA, your own backsides are wearing "Kick Me" signs, taped their by your supposed allies. I'd be more concerned about your own welfare given this fact, rather than chasing down such easy prey as Mr. Marino.
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Comment #2 posted by afterburner on September 09, 2004 at 09:07:17 PT
So, The Motives of US/Canada Govts Are Revealed
Refuse to comply with court rulings until the Supreme Court rules. This is unacceptable, a violation of due process and state's rights. --Amendments 10 and 14, U.S. Constitution - Bill of Rights http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.billofrights.html ; and --Sections 1 [reasonable limits] and 8 [search and seizure], Canadian charter of rights and freedoms http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/charter/#garantieego transcendence follows ego destruction when governments serve the people instead of trying to over-control and micro-manage them.
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Comment #1 posted by Truth on September 09, 2004 at 08:08:16 PT
rule of law
The rule of law says that the DEA is acting illegally. They should go to prison and maybe give up a home.
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