15 arrested in Bay Area pot club raids

15 arrested in Bay Area pot club raids



The Associated Press


Oct 3, 2006 8:44 PM



SAN FRANCISCO - Federal drug agents raided eight Bay Area locations connected to a medical marijuana club Tuesday and arrested 15 people, including the club's operator, authorities said.



The raids took place at buildings in San Francisco and Oakland belonging to New Remedies Cooperative LLC, formerly known as Compassionate Caregivers, and Potent Employment Solutions.



Drug Enforcement Administration agents confiscated 12,743 marijuana plants, computers, four vehicles and a total of $125,000 in cash and three bank accounts belonging to operator Sparky Rose, 36, and the two businesses, authorities said.



Medical marijuana advocates who witnesses some of the raids said agents targeted New Remedies' growing facility, administrative offices and the pot club itself located in San Francisco's Mission District.



"Obviously, the DEA is on a little bit of a rampage this week," said advocate William Dolphin, citing other pot club crackdowns in Granada Hills, San Fernando Valley and Modesto.



Rose and the 14 others arrested were scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.



Medical marijuana has been legal in California since voters approved Proposition 215 in 1996, but the drug remains illegal under federal law.



"Federal drug laws prohibit the cultivation and sale of marijuana. Anyone who breaks these laws to run a lucrative drug trade, buy fancy cars, boost their bank accounts, and exploit vulnerable citizens is not compassionate, they're criminal," DEA Special Agent in Charge Javier F. Pena said in a statement Tuesday.



There are currently an estimated 30 to 40 clubs in San Francisco, according to city officials.



Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.



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