Marijuana Raid of Licensed Grower That Delivers to Los Angeles Area Has California Pot Advocates Worried About Federal Crackdown

By Dennis Romero Thu., Oct. 13 2011 at 2:32 PM

northstoneorganics.com

Matt Cohen.

Updated at the bottom: The DEA gives us a cryptic response. First posted at 1:02 p.m.

A Northern California pot farm that delivers cannabis all the way to Los Angeles was raided by DEA agents today, according to an announcement from California NORML.

NORML state coordinator Dale Gieringer was outraged and told the Weekly the action has "gotta be" part of a new federal initiative against medical marijuana in California.

He described the target of the raid, Northstone Organics, as being about as legal as compliant a grower as you could wish for under the state's medical marijuana laws:

They have done more than anyone else to try to advance the model of regulated outdoor cultivation.

As Gieringer tells it, Northstone owner Matt Cohen spearheaded a program in Mendocino County to legalize and regulate nonprofit growers who want to have as many as 99 plants on site. The operations require sheriff's inspections and permits.

As such, the NORML leader argues, Cohen has been in the press a lot, perhaps making hin a target for the DEA.

Ironically, he argues, Northstone was trying to do it right: It's hard to fathom, for example, many dispensaries in L.A. proper that abide by the letter of state law, which only allows nonprofit growing among collective members who want to share their weed with others who are seriously ill.

Of course, federal law, which doesn't recognize any legal use for pot, is another matter.

"There are people in this business racking up millions and millions in profits," Gieringer admits. "Cohen isn't one of them."

He said that, as we spoke, Cohen was in handcuffs:

To go after him is to strike a blow in favor of the Mexican cartels.

We have a call into the DEA to get its side of the story.

[Update]: DEA Norcal spokeswoman Casey McEnry tells the Weekly, cryptically perhaps, that agents "are not at that location" in Mendocino County but that they are "are in [nearby] Ukiah and all the documents are under seal so I can't comment."

"Some word's gotten out that we are conducting an enforcement operation in Ukiah," she said.

Is it related to Northstone?

"I can't give you any details if it's related or not."

[@dennisjromero/djromero@laweekly.com]

Tags:

DEA, marijuana, medical marijuana, Medocino County, NORML, Obama administration, raid

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juju

first of all the feds TOOK HIS WEED! they did not burn it but,they stole it. this was a fantastic place and honest now you have these places stripping the THC out of the weed so,it does not get you medicated. northstone was over complient they where honest and did not take the THC out of the weed so it helped me to not feel down and bad depressed. F.T.P I think that gov. already has their own dispensories. how are people that need the drug for medication i mean tamporing with meds is against the law. i think the goverment should be in control of dispencing weed so no one gets screwed!!!!!!

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Nice videoWhat a clear, concise, valuable post.

Barbiejw2000

GET THE FEDS OUT OF THE STATES BUSINESS ~ RON PAUL - 2012

Jury Nullification

If this guy ends up going to court, make sure the jury is aware of "Jurry Nullification." If you, or someone you know, is ever on a jury for a MJ court case, make sure you/ they understand Jurry Nullification and explain it to your/ their fellow jurrors. The people have the power to stop convictions of these non criminals. We should send a message to the goverment. No longer will we accept their outdated and harmful laws. Imagine if every case brought by the goverment for possesion, use or sale of MJ was nullified. You would think at some point they would change the law, but then again, that would mean that they were willing to admit a mistake and learn from it.

Weedbay Guy

Outraged that during a financial crisis this is what the DEA is spending money on. These rogue federal prosecutors need to explain there agenda to circumvent California law.

disappointedvoter

"As such, the NORML leader argues, Cohen has been in the press a lot, perhaps making him a target for the DEA."

Exactly. When I recently saw the TV program with the deputy sheriff inspecting his commercial farming operation, I thought: "What a great idea," and then, remembering what type of government I currently live under, I immediately thought-- "Now he's got a DEA bull's-eye on his back." Anyone who trusts the government, especially LE, to voluntarily do the right thing is a certified fool. This is now a fascist run system essentially totalitarian in nature and un-democratic in it's general operation-- with it's "management" intent upon dictating exactly what citizens can and cannot do, even when a majority rules and expresses that position by undertaking a legislative vote and legally ratifying their desires.