Medical Marijuana Advocates In South Bay Claim Harassment

November 26, 2010 1:36 PM

Pot Warehouse Will Pad Oakland's Coffers

A medical marijuana dispensary worker shows marijuana plant buds. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

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SAN JOSE (CBS/KCBS) — Supporters of medical marijuana in Santa Clara County said they are being harassed by law enforcement, which has conducted several raids on local pot clubs.

So far, a county special enforcement team has raided at least three pot clubs in the San Jose area, targeting problem clubs operating for profit illegally.

But marijuana supporters told the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors this week that they are being victimized by overzealous officers.

KCBS’ Matt Bigler Reports:

Medical Marijuana Advocates In South Bay Claim Harassment

“If a collective is operating improperly, than regulations should call for appropriate procedures, but not an intimidating raid,” said one advocate.

Daniel Hovland with the Silicon Valley Chapter of Americans for Safe Access said he has been surprised by the raids.

“We were hoping that we could have a peaceful arrangement, and yet, to start raiding us and arresting us, it was definitely quite a shock,” Hovland said.

Outgoing Supervisor Don Gage they could call in the county sheriff to talk about the raids, but so far, he hasn’t heard of any problems with those operations.

San Jose Councilman Sam Liccardo said the number of pot clubs in San Jose has mushroomed over the past year to more than 80.

“The reason why so many cities and counties are struggling with the problem of how to regulate marijuana dispensaries is because the federal government has really advocated the responsibility here,” he said.

Liccardo is calling for the feds to push marijuana out of neighborhoods and into pharmacies, where it can be regulated by trained medical professionals.

Richard P Steeb

To keep Cannabis illegal while tobacco and alcohol are dispensed freely is MURDEROUSLY STUPID*. And so is the spending of funds earmarked for methamphetamine eradication on harassing providers of medicinal Cannabis.

Any questions?
Mike F

It seems like a pretty BAD idea to “push marijuana out of neighborhoods and into pharmacies, where it can be regulated by trained medical professionals.”–Pharmacies and Pharmacists often DIScourage or Disapprove of Medical marijuana often ONLY because that is what they have been Taught. They (Pharmacies and Pharmacists) often have 0 NO experience with marijuana either personally Or from a friend. Therefore trying to “push marijuana out of neighborhoods and into pharmacies, where it can be regulated by trained medical professionals.” IS A BAD IDEA–unless you are trying to eliminate medical marijuana…In that case it is a Politically Shrewd Move…Does Liccardo want to help? Or are his motives more mixed than they appear? Hmmm?
Denzil Duane Roper

Eggs Act Lee..! What pharmasist has ANY knowledge of weed? Special trained phd’s with weed!? I don’t think so! If ya want that training ya got’a go to Richard Lee Oaksterdam University. And I’ll bet if an employer hiring a pharmasist was too see that the applicant has graduated Oaksterdam ; then he’s not gonna be the employers’ 1st choice
http://www.vote4pot.com/some-lansing-residents-favor-moratorium/ Some Lansing residents favor moratorium

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