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Federal agents are compiling evidence seized in raids on a San Francisco medical marijuana club and pot-growing operations in the city and Sonoma County, which could soon lead to narcotics charges, a Drug Enforcement Administration spokeswoman said Wednesday.
Agents raided the South of Market club late Tuesday after an earlier visit drew a raucous crowd of protesters.
Agents said they had seized a small amount of baked goods at the marijuana club at Ninth and Howard streets and 500 plants at a warehouse on nearby Clara Street.
Earlier Tuesday, agents raided the home of the club owners, Catherine and Steve Smith, and confiscated 122 plants, along with financial records and growing equipment.
A simultaneous raid in the Sonoma County town of Penngrove turned up 217 plants. The DEA said the investigation there led agents to the Smiths.
No one has been arrested. Casey McEnry, a DEA spokeswoman, said that the value of the seized plants was about $2 million and that agents had also taken away 20 pounds of processed marijuana.
"We're working with the U.S. attorney's office, and they are reviewing the evidence to make the determination on whether charges are filed," McEnry said.
The U.S. attorney's office would not comment.
Although medical marijuana growing and use was legalized by state voters in 1996, it is still against federal law.
Steve Smith said Wednesday that he was in "constant fear" of being arrested and had been unable to sleep.
The Smiths dispute the government's report on the size of their growing operation, saying there were only 130 plants -- not 500 -- in their warehouse. They said the agents had also taken about $50,000 in cash from their residence.
Snipped:
Complete Article: BAY AREA / Narcotics charges possible after medical marijuana raids
Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)
Author: Wyatt Buchanan, Chronicle Staff Writer
Published: Thursday, December 22, 2005
Copyright: 2005 San Francisco Chronicle
Contact: letters@sfchronicle.com
Website: Home
Agents raided the South of Market club late Tuesday after an earlier visit drew a raucous crowd of protesters.
Agents said they had seized a small amount of baked goods at the marijuana club at Ninth and Howard streets and 500 plants at a warehouse on nearby Clara Street.
Earlier Tuesday, agents raided the home of the club owners, Catherine and Steve Smith, and confiscated 122 plants, along with financial records and growing equipment.
A simultaneous raid in the Sonoma County town of Penngrove turned up 217 plants. The DEA said the investigation there led agents to the Smiths.
No one has been arrested. Casey McEnry, a DEA spokeswoman, said that the value of the seized plants was about $2 million and that agents had also taken away 20 pounds of processed marijuana.
"We're working with the U.S. attorney's office, and they are reviewing the evidence to make the determination on whether charges are filed," McEnry said.
The U.S. attorney's office would not comment.
Although medical marijuana growing and use was legalized by state voters in 1996, it is still against federal law.
Steve Smith said Wednesday that he was in "constant fear" of being arrested and had been unable to sleep.
The Smiths dispute the government's report on the size of their growing operation, saying there were only 130 plants -- not 500 -- in their warehouse. They said the agents had also taken about $50,000 in cash from their residence.
Snipped:
Complete Article: BAY AREA / Narcotics charges possible after medical marijuana raids
Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)
Author: Wyatt Buchanan, Chronicle Staff Writer
Published: Thursday, December 22, 2005
Copyright: 2005 San Francisco Chronicle
Contact: letters@sfchronicle.com
Website: Home
