DEA Raids Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Throughout Washington

When Washington voters legalized recreational marijuana last fall, drug enforcement agencies around the country knew it would be an uphill battle. After all, marijuana is still illegal under federal law. Yesterday, federal drug enforcement agencies flexed their muscles once again and raided several legal medical marijuana dispensaries in the Puget Sound region. Search warrants were issued and several medical marijuana dispensaries were targeted, including Seattle Cross, Tacoma Cross, and Bayside Gardens in Lacey.

Casey Lee of Bayside Gardens said that the DEA seized about $2500 worth of marijuana that was meant for medical patients. Bayside Gardens' employee Addy Norton said that the DEA seized personal cell phones and marijuana. She was also ordered to appear before a federal grand jury in September. According to the DEA, these raids were part of a two year investigation.

According to the DEA, "Several search warrants were executed today involving marijuana storefronts in King, Thurston, and Pierce Counties."

Drug Enforcement Agency Spokeswoman, Jodie Underwood told reporters earlier this year that these storefronts are in violation of state and federal law and that this action was part of an on-going comprehensive strategy to combat drug trafficking. In 2013, the DEA sent 41 warning letters to medical marijuana dispensaries in Seattle ordering them to cease and desist.

Even though Washington voters have clearly spoken up for their right to purchase medical marijuana and recreational marijuana, the Obama administration has continued to threated and harass the State of Washington and their medical marijuana dispensaries—even though most of them are completely compliant with state law. Since he took office in 2008, Barack Obama's administration has raided over 4x as many marijuana dispensaries as President Bush in half the time. 

Delivering a High: Marijuana Home Delivery Business Growing in Seattle

When Washington legalized marijuana last year, entrepreneurs across the state began salivating over the many business opportunities they could create. The latest seems to be a pot delivery business that would effectively deliver marijuana to your home.

Currently, there are several businesses that deliver medical marijuana to patients at their homes. One such business is known as Nurse Nancy Medical Marijuana Delivery and it offers pot right to your door, seven days a week between 10am and 2 am. The business itself promises discreet delivery in 30 minutes and is thriving.

With recreational marijuana ready to begin sales in 2014, many businesses are wondering if they too can begin home delivery. Unfortunately, there may be a few obstacles in their way because the drug is still deemed an illegal narcotic on a federal level. The Justice Department may not go after sick people who use medical marijuana, but they have made no decisions on what they will do to businesses—even licensed ones.

When legalized pot sales begin in 2014, delivery businesses will likely seek to expand to include home delivery of recreational marijuana. How the federal government will feel about this is still anyone's guess. If they choose to go after businesses for selling and transporting marijuana, licensed businesses (like Nurse Nancy's) could even find that they are facing criminal charges.