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US: Federal agents raid marijuana clubs
J.K Dineen San Fransisco Examiner
Thursday 23 Jun 2005 Federal agents raided three medical marijuana clubs and more than 20 other homes and businesses Wednesday in what law enforcement authorities are calling a sprawling investigation into an alleged criminal organization involved in money laundering and other illegal activities. While the details of the investigation will not be officially released until indictments are unsealed today, the probe is focused on three medical pot clubs: the Sunset Medical Resource Center at 454 Judah St.; the Herbal Relief Center at 1545 Ocean Ave.; and the Alternative Relief Co-Op at 1939 Ocean Ave. Law enforcement authorities say the group, which has ties to Singapore and Vancouver, was allegedly laundering millions of medical-marijuana dollars through a number of specialized gardening centers catering to pot growers, including one on Filbert Street in North Beach and one on Ocean Ave. Money from the pot clubs, which are illegal under federal law, was allegedly funneled through the gardening stores, which police say were essentially fronts. "This is not a medical marijuana thing," said a high-ranking law enforcement official who has been working on the case for months. "This is an organized, criminal conspiracy to launder money, to make a ton of profit utilizing sick people and the medical marijuana laws of the state of California." The raids, which netted at least 15 arrests, came just two weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court, in a blow to medical marijuana advocates, ruled that the federal government had the authority to prosecute medical marijuana users, although medical use remains legal under state law. California voters approved Proposition 215 in 1996, which allowed the use of marijuana under a doctor's prescription for medicinal purposes. The City has more than 40 marijuana dispensaries and the Board of Supervisors recently passed a moratorium on new clubs opening until regulations can be established. Former District Attorney Terence Hallinan, who is representing the owners of the Sunset Medical Resource Center and the Herbal Relief Center, called the raids "a reaction to the Supreme Court decision." "I'm just surprised they didn't wait longer," said Hallinan. "These are legitimate medical marijuana clubs that have been operating for years serving thousands of sick people in San Francisco." Capt. Tim Hettrich, head of The City's narcotics division, said his investigators were involved in gathering evidence at some of the private residences and businesses, but did not partake in the raids on the cannabis clubs and did not serve any warrants. Police would not name those arrested Wednesday until federal indictments are unsealed today. Hallinan said one of his clients, an owner of the Sunset club, had been arrested at his home. Van Nguyen, 27, the proprietor of the Herbal Relief Center and a City College business student, was not arrested. He stood outside the center and watched through the window as federal agents packed up files and bagged marijuana. He said he did not know about the raids until an employee showed up for work at 11 a.m. "He called me up and said, 'I don't think we should open up today.' I said, 'What's the problem?' He said, 'We are already open - the DEA is here.'" Nguyen said he has run the business for more than five years and never made a profit. "If I was an international drug lord I wouldn't be standing here," he said. "I'd be overseas." Medical marijuana pioneer Wayne Justman, who worked on getting Prop. 215 passed, said he would not judge the merits of the raids until he had seen the evidence the federal government has against the suspects. "I hear talk of money laundering and gang activity, I don't hear Prop. 215 being challenged," he said. If marijuana clubs are laundering money, he said he has no problem with their prosecution. "If we have a rotten fish in the barrel, let's get that out, too," he said. E-mail: jdineen@examiner.com -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.8.2/29 - Release Date: 27/06/2005
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