Promises, Promises
Well, that didn't last long. One of the shining positive moments I had with the Obama administration lasted a whole week. Attorney General Eric Holder had promised to call off raids on Medical Marijuana dispensaries who were operating their businesses within state laws. However, yesterday that all seems to have gone up in smoke with a DEA raid on a dispensary in San Francisco.
They hauled out large plastic bins overflowing with marijuana plants and loaded several pickup trucks parked out front with grow lights and related equipment used to farm the plants indoors. The dispensary had been operating with a temporary permit issued by the Department of Public Health. "Based on our investigation, we believe there are not only violations of federal law, but state law as well," DEA Special Agent in Charge Anthony Williams said in a prepared statement. Williams, who runs the San Francisco field office that covers a territory stretching from Bakersfield to Redding, would not specify the alleged violations. The information was under court seal. "As of now, we are prohibited from releasing further details of the case. Items of evidentiary value were seized and no arrests have been made," Williams said. A source in San Francisco city government who was informed about the raid said the DEA's action appeared to be prompted by alleged financial improprieties related to the payment of sales taxes. DEA Special Agent Casey McEnry, spokeswoman for the local office, would not comment on that information.
It was a good week, but one has to wonder how much of the 'we won't raid' statement was to bring business owners out of hiding? Apparently the DEA is now in the business of enforcing State Sales Tax violations that the state themselves don't see as an issue at the present time. Promises that can't last a week show an administration that is big on making promises and short on follow through.