Federal Raids Target Medical Marijuana

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By Kyle Midura
By Nicole Grigg

Story Published: Mar 16, 2011 at 6:47 AM MDT

Story Updated: Mar 16, 2011 at 6:47 AM MDT

BILLINGS - Authorities from the Drug Enforcement Administration and the FBI raided medical marijuana shops Monday including here in Billings. An advocacy group, Americans for Safe Access, claims at least 12 raids were carried out in at least six cities.

About eight people were in handcuffs outside "Montana cannabis" near Helena, while the site was searched. A spokeswoman at the U.S. attorney's office in Montana said the federal agents executed search warrants that are under seal.

However, the advocacy group said law enforcement was able to seize items such as plants, growing materials, cell phones, firearms, and business records.

The feds haven't released a list of all of the Montana shops that were raided. However, local caregiver Mark Higgins said he wasn't surprised to hear of the searches and seizures.

Higgins said he knows there are shops that do not operate according to the law. He said that hurts the industry. Higgins said you have to follow the strict state rules since medical marijuana is still classified as an illegal substance under federal law.

“It’s really nerve racking and it’s not just now because of the raids, its been nerve racking every day since I opened my store,” said Higgins.

Big Sky Patient Care in Bozeman was raided around 11 a.m. Monday morning. We spoke with owner Mark Sigler over the phone from Bozeman.

"They showed us the search warrant, we got there probably 30 minutes into it, they took everybody's name and released them," Sigler said.,

It's unclear exactly where the raids were executed Monday and if anymore are to come.
In October 2009, the Obama administration ordered federal prosecutors to stop going after authorized marijuana sellers and users, if they abide by state laws that legalize the drug for medical use. However, it did leave room for prosecutors to go after those with excessive profits, who among other things commit violent acts, and who sell to minors.

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Gmapirate said on Thursday, Mar 1 at 8:54 AM

This raid PISSSES me off. I agree with most of the comments above, how can they do this, I KNOW my provider operated under all the requirements. What about other states, is it because Montana was not smart enough to make a profit on this, I would be happy to pay a user tax, I already do to help my providers combat this enormus leagal crap they have to fight. We voted this in as citizens, LEAVE US ALONE. this friggin state is so right it's sad. Our President said not to do this, what is up with this.. I am so mad I am shaking... KMA, you need to go somewhere else to comment, we don't want to hear you, you are obviously uneducated and have very limited vistas. Grow up, learn about things before you run your mouth.

BSM said on Wednesday, Mar 16 at 7:37 PM

I'm sure this case isn't about Medical Marijuana. I'll bet in this case Medical Marijuana is the term being used to hide other illegal activities. Just a hunch. By the way, stop and think about how hard it must be to get a federal search warrant. I think that before one just starts ranting, one should now all the facts. Not just the facts that are available immediately.

JJ said on Wednesday, Mar 16 at 5:05 PM

Sad that some people prefer to be blind & dumb sheep following a government agenda or a man made religiosity without ever asking for TRUTH from the One. Stop judging as if you knew ALL truths. I am saved saved by grace. I prefer not to judge and realize there are many things He has created for us that we may not always understand the why's behind and the world (enemy) always seeks to distort the things God gives us. Cannabis is one of them. Woa to them who call evil good and good evil. Woa to you who calls what God has cleansed unclean. Who are you to determine which seed baring plants and fruits the Lord gave mankind are evil? Some of us can't afford medical and some of us choose not to use prescription drugs which we know for fact kill over 280,000 people each year. Do you take prescription drugs? Why aren't we angered about that fact? Do you have any idea what's in those drugs? Many of which have horrific side affects. Dumb blind sheep! Wake up.

Dennis said on Wednesday, Mar 16 at 8:58 AM

I hear the pros and cons but what about the religious aspect ? God said in Genesis 1 that Plants with seeds are for us all to use, God said it is Very good. So why are Christians against marijuana when their own God said it is good ? Ignorence I guess ! God said that it is the pharmaueuticals thst are poison, and that the Pharmacist will not be allowed into the kingdom of Heaven, so why are there pharmaceuticals sold out of almost every store in America ? And that seems alright to Christians ? Wake up folks, your Goverment(DEA, FBI, etc.) all are telling you that marijuana is bad and most people seem to believe those LIES ! Why? Where are the Church leaders that are supposed to give God's word to you ? Why have they not spoken on behalf of their God instead of silently giving a nod to the Pharmacueticals that God says are bad ? Enough is enough ! Where is God in your life, does His word mean nothing ?

GMK said on Wednesday, Mar 16 at 8:23 AM

It's amazing that those who claim to know all about cannabis have absolutely no personal experience. Their opinion is based purely on propaganda. Cannabis was legal in this country much longer than it has been illegal. Our founding fathers greatly appreciated this plant. They knew more about this subject 200 years ago than they know today.

tru said on Wednesday, Mar 16 at 7:41 AM

Bu-bye, but before you go please tell me where you get your info from. I really would like to know how you got all the answers while everyone else is so wrong. The only reason MM is not totally legal now is because the large pharmaceutical company's es if you ARE breaking the law then you need to be raided. This was no put for as a get rich quick scheme it is for the benefit of those in need. Bah, I'm rambling, my apologies. It just irks me when the ignorant try to tell me they have all the answers.

MO said on Tuesday, Mar 15 at 11:05 AM

I use medical marijuana and it is the safest drug out there. I am a combat veteran with ptsd and there is no way I can sleep at night without the drug. It is getting a little out of hand but they need to punish those that disobey!

Waiting for Tea Party Anger said on Tuesday, Mar 15 at 10:41 AM

This is the old guard of the DEA and FBI sending a message to anybody thinking of investing in, doing business with, or being employed by Medical Marijuana:They still consider it criminal enterprise, and on a whim anonymous thugs with guns facemasks will kick in your door, treat anybody present the same as a Cartel gangbanger, disrupt your operation, and collect the names of patients and business contacts for no reason but intimidation. The goal is to make the business of MM too risky to invest in, rely upon for employment, or conduct legitimate business with. The reason they conduct these big simultaneous raids is to make the news, and make an impression. When each "investigation" doesn't pan out any illegal activity, it will hardly be newsworthy, the result being that we are left with the impression that MM providers did something to get raided. Tea Party:If you actually stand for principals, take these a******* to court, make them halt this harassment of Montanans!

sb said on Tuesday, Mar 15 at 7:12 AM

This article is about authorities searching operations they believed were not operating according to the law - nothing more. Sounds like providers like Mark Higgings, who are following the rules like any other reputable businness owner, are just doing their jobs.

captn pipeline said on Tuesday, Mar 15 at 6:55 AM

this redicule is unforgivable.how can you as the media condone this behavior,you should be ashamed of your selves,this product really helps people,how about those little kids who you reported on,it really helped them.so you want those kids to die,huh.ill make sure everyone in the community knows this,and you wil have no viewers left.

JaDeen said on Monday, Mar 14 at 11:11 PM

I use MM and I do not smoke cigarettes, drink, gamble or do drugs. I am s regular church attender and I think it is sad that anyone thinks they have the right to judge another person! Medical Marijuana helps so many people in so many different ways. IT can be abused like anything else including food, sex, money, anything! We all need to be quicker to listen or to lend a helping hand to to scorn and to judge especially in this situation! There are real criminals out there doing hard core drugs and horribly affecting someone else's life and people have to argue about such menial things.

Bravo34 said on Monday, Mar 14 at 10:23 PM

Look at it from my stand point. I was in a wreck, it hurt me bad bad bad. So now for the rest of my life I have to take drugs like morphine, codeine, and a few others. Now figure the cost of these drugs, $5 - $15 per pill, it was the pain or to pay bills and eat.. THAT WAS/IS MY LIFE. I talked to a doctor who prescribed MM to me. The cost was only a fraction, a fraction! Of what I was paying for the chemicals. Not only that, MM is a herb, it does not hurt my body like the chemicals I was on. Now, who’s the bad guy! Please keep MM legal, it does help those in situations like my own and others.

jj said on Monday, Mar 14 at 10:20 PM

KMA...I hope and pray some day you end up with cancer. I hope someday you end up with fibromyalgia so bad you can't function or degenerative bone disease. I bet you condone cigarettes, gambling and alcohol to. KMA.. your obviously an uneducated idiot.. and a hypocrite! What goes around comes around.

Lori said on Monday, Mar 14 at 10:13 PM

Medical Marijuana is the use of cannabis and its constituent cannabinoids such as THC as a physician-recommended form of medicine or herbal therapy. The Cannabis plant from which the cannabis drug is derived has a long history of medicinal use, with evidence dating back to “2,737 BC”. Although the extent of the medicinal value of cannabis has been disputed, and despite the opposition to research and use put forward by most national governments, it does have several well-documented beneficial effects. Among these are: the amelioration of nausea and vomiting, stimulation of hunger in chemotherapy and AIDS patients, lowered intraocular eye pressure (shown to be effective for treating glaucoma), as well as gastrointestinal illness. Its effectiveness as an analgesic has been suggested (and disputed), as well.

Mr Moon said on Monday, Mar 14 at 10:07 PM

I would think that this would be considered harrasmet by the law.

nash'd said on Monday, Mar 14 at 10:01 PM

people who have not used canabis for releif or socialy should not speak out so loudly about something they know nothing about,

kma said on Monday, Mar 14 at 10:01 PM

kma, you have no logic what so ever... you're illogical.

herd said on Monday, Mar 14 at 9:19 PM

kma, go grab yo pills, booze, and smokes...you are wrong, sorry, your wrong.

clb said on Monday, Mar 14 at 9:02 PM

Close down the only way 4 me to spend quality time with my kids,4 me to accomplish the smallest of tasks that kma takes for granted. Take away my low income medicine & you take away my life

Gian said on Monday, Mar 14 at 8:14 PM

Compassion and err on the side of mercy is always a good rule...

vyk said on Monday, Mar 14 at 7:34 PM

@kma stuppid

j said on Monday, Mar 14 at 7:33 PM

and wait till someday when you might need it

Brandt said on Monday, Mar 14 at 7:27 PM

Marijuana is the safest drug with actual benefits for the user as opposed to alcohol which is dangerous, causes addiction, birth defects, and affects literally every organ in the body. Groups are organizing all over the country to speak their minds on reforming pot laws. I drew up a very cool poster for the cause which you can check out on my artist’s blog at http://dregstudiosart.blogspot.com/2011/01/vote-teapot-2011.html Drop in and let me know what you think!

kma said on Monday, Mar 14 at 7:16 PM

and hopefully soon they will close them all down.

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