East Bay DEA Bust - Medical-Pot Brothers Held on Drug Charges

Yesterday's DEA bust of Compassionate Collective of Alameda County
was regrettable but not surprising. CCAC was by far the largest
and most conspicuous dispensary in the East Bay, due in large part to
the suppression of its competitors by local regulations, raids and
bans. Contrary to rumors, only CCAC was busted, though a total of
seven different raids occurred on sites affiliated with it. CCAC
tried to operate as a legal business in full compliance with Alameda
County regulations. The Sheriff had said that if they did so, he
could keep the DEA out. Though that sheriff is now retired, his
successor failed to fulfill the promise. The sheriff's department
insisted they had no choice but to let the DEA make the bust, but
it's not clear how honest they were being. A few weeks ago, the
sheriff darkly hinted that there were problems with CCAC. No growing
plants were found, protecting CCAC from mandatory minimums for
cultivation, but the feds still charged them with conspiracy to
distribute more than 100 kilos (5-year mandatory) et al. As usual,
the DEA's press announcement made much of the millions of dollars in
business done by CCAC, without mentioning the millions of dollars
taxes they paid, or the dozens of workers they employed.
CCAC's closure could open the door to a new dispensary application
in Alameda County - the county's ordinance explicitly permits three.
We shall see. In the meantime, the bust threatens to create a
shortage of safe access for patients in the East Bay.
- D. Gieringer