from an email received at 4:16pm:
SAN FRANCISCO - In an unusual move, DEA agents left the scene
without raiding the HopeNet MMJ co-op. The agents had hung around
inside their vans for a couple of hours in front of the co-op as if
waiting for a search warrant, but apparently gave up. This appears
to be a victory for the SF patient community, who showed up in force
to demonstrate their support for HopeNet. It remains to be seen how
much of their medicine the DEA grinches left behind.
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Dale Gieringer (415) 563-5858 // canorml [at] igc.org
2215-R Market St. #278, San Francisco CA 94114
email received from Dale at 3:45pm
The rationale behind the DEA's raid on the SF HopeNet MMJ co-op
remains unexplained. The operation began with an early morning
(6:30) raid on the home of Steve and Cathy Smith, HopeNet's
directors. Agents took away a modest garden (122 indoor plants),
some dried medicine, a computer, and assorted records. They told
Steve and Cathy they were not there to arrest them. Only afterwards
did they proceed to the actual dispensary on 9th Street, where a
crowd of angry protesters had already gathered. Passing motorists
honked in support while DEA agents hunkered down inside their vans
awaiting a search warrant to enter the club, which they still didn't
have as of 1 pm. Sup. Chris Daly addressed a spirited band of
demonstrators, http://www.canorml.org/temp/Rally.JPG remarking that
HopeNet was one of the most highly regarded dispensaries in the city,
and that the DEA should "butt out" of SF. It is unclear how the
DEA became involved, since Steve and Cathy's co-op was not of typical
federal size. There was no indication of involvement by local law
enforcement. Fortunately, Steve and Cathy remain free.
Unfortunately, the federal government remains very much out of
control.
More Pictures:
http://www.canorml.org/temp/CathySmith.JPG
http://www.canorml.org/temp/SteveSmith.JPG
http://www.canorml.org/temp/HopeNet.JPG

- D. Gieringer, Cal NORML
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Dale Gieringer (415) 563-5858 // canorml [at] igc.org
2215-R Market St. #278, San Francisco CA 94114