DEA Raids San Francisco Medical Cannabis Cooperative and Grow Sites

DEA Raids San Francisco Medical Cannabis Cooperative and Grow Sites

By Ann Harrison
San Francisco Bay Guardian
http://www.ontherecord.org

December 20, 2005

San Francisco -- DEA agents raided the HopeNet Medical Cannabis
Cooperative today, returning after dark to break down the door after
a three-hour standoff with the HopeNet supporters.

According to DEA spokesperson Casey McEnry, the raids were a result
of a two-year investigation that began as an anonymous tip. The
information led to home in Penngrove, California where the DEA also
served a search warrant today and seized 217 marijuana plants from an
indoor grow. Two additional marijuana grow sites in San Francisco
were also raided.
"I can tell you that it is a clear violation of federal law to
cultivate, possess and distribute marijuana," said McEnry when asked
why federal agents would raid a medical cannabis cooperative
operating under California law. "Today, as the DEA, we enforced
federal drug laws and conducted a lawful search of these four
locations and we seized marijuana."

McEnry said the investigation into the Penngrove site led agents to
the home of HopeNet directors Steve and Cathy Smith. DEA agents
presented a federal search warrant and raided the Smith's residence
and grow room on Clara Street in San Francisco today at 7 am.
According to McEnry, 122 marijuana plants were seized from the Clara
Street building plus an unknown amount of currency and processed
cannabis.

No arrests were made at either the Penngrove or San Francisco
locations. But McEnry said information seized from the Smith's
residence led agents to the HopeNet Cooperative and another warehouse
location on Clara Street. Agents seized approximately 500 marijuana
plants from the warehouse location and marijuana brownies and butter
from the cooperative at 223 9th Street. McEnry says agents secured
federal search warrants for each location.

"It was a DEA only investigation and did not receive any assistance
from the police," said McEnry.

No arrests have been made in connection with any of the raids. But
McEnry says the DEA is working with the San Francisco U.S. Attorney's
office to review the evidence. "Arrests are possible," says McEnry.
"We are evaluating information and the investigation is ongoing."

According to Steve Smith, ten armed DEA agents woke him and his wife
Cathy up at 6:30 am, took him outside in his underwear, handcuffed
him, and searched their house and grow room at 272 and 237 Clara
Street. Smith said his building is 25 feet from the home of San
Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris who Smith said confronted
the agents as they were raiding his home. "She came out and said it
was too bad," said Smith.

Smith said the agents confiscated $20,000 in cooperative operating
funds and personal cash, grow room equipment, a cell phone, keys, 80
marijuana chocolate milks, personal papers, business and patient
records. According to Smith, he and his wife have no bank accounts
that agents could seize. According to the search warrant, signed by
U.S. Magistrate Elizabeth La Port and special agent Christopher Fey,
agents were specifically looking for business records and lists of
customers.

During the search, agents found a business card for HopeNet which led
them to the cooperative. According to Smith, the cooperative left no
cannabis at its building overnight to discourage theft.

At 11 am, four DEA agents were parked in two black pickup trucks in
front of HopeNet. This reporter, another reporter and photographer
from the San Francisco Chronicle were the only people present in
front of the building.

Cathy Smith's son, William Curran arrived and was in the process of
unlocking the door when this reporter asked him if he was aware that
the DEA was parked a few feet away. Curran put the key back in his
pocket and was approached by two DEA agents who were waiting to gain
access to the building.

"You're not going to open today," said one agent.
"No? Why not?" asked Curran.
"You can do whatever you like sir," replied the agent.
"I don't have any options," said Curran. "What is your job here? Why
are you here?"
This reporter asked the agent to identify himself and he said his
name was Agent Casey. I asked him if he had a warrant and he became
irritated and returned to his black Ford F-150 4x4 pickup with
California plates 7V91988. Agent Casey declined to comment further
and asked me to identify myself. The two DEA agents in an identical
vehicle parked behind Agent Casey with California plates 5GYN9944 did
not participate in the exchange.

Curran said that HopeNet, which is well-regarded in the medical
cannabis community, provided free cannabis to 100 core patients who
are members of the cooperative. It also provided cannabis on a
sliding scale to another 900 patients who could typically purchase
1/8 ounce of cannabis for $35. Patients with medical cannabis
recommendations also purchased cannabis from the cooperative at
higher market prices that supported inexpensive cannabis for
cooperative members. According to Curran, HopeNet served
approximately 30 patients daily.

By 12 pm, a crowd of supporters had begun forming in front of HopeNet
asking why the cooperative had been targeted. "Someone dropped a dime
on these folks, said medical cannabis activist Wayne Justmann. "There
are thirty other medical cannabis facilities here in this city, why
aren't they being visited."

"HopeNet is well-respected and one of the most patient-friendly
dispensaries," said California Marijuana Party president Tony Bowles
who operates an office next door to HopeNet. "They really raised the
bar by providing high quality cannabis to patients in great need."

"This is stopping patients from having safe access to cannabis," said
medical cannabis patient Percy Coleman. "This is the government
trying to oppress patients.

Smith said he and his wife had an eighty marijuana plants seized in
2002 before they opened HopeNet, but charges were never filed.

"I think they will target others," said Steve Smith outside his
cooperative. "This is a test to see if the community will stand up to
them."

"I think this is related to the raids in San Diego," added Cathy
Smith referring to DEA raids of 13 medical cannabis dispensaries
there last week. "I don't know why they would pick on us, we don’t'
even advertise. We are the only people in town who don't advertise."

"How can the feds be the Grinch that stole Christmas from patients?"
asked Caren Woodson, campaign director of the medical marijuana
patients group Americans for Safe Access.

By approximately 12:30 pm at least fifty supporters had arrived
surrounding the two DEA pickup trucks where agents sat grim-faced
speaking on their cell phones. Activists chanted "DEA out of
California" and help up signs for passing cars which honked their
support.

A press conference was assembled and San Francisco City Supervisor
Chris Daly, who represents HopeNet's south of Market Street district,
spoke. Daly pointed out that his district includes most of the
medical cannabis dispensaries in San Francisco and noted that
supervisors just spent six months crafting a set of dispensary
regulations to discourage federal raids. "The outrage that we see
here will grow in San Francisco if they don't butt out of the medical
cannabis," said Daly.

Julia Davis, a spokesperson for Assemblyman Mark Leno read a
statement noting that seventy-five percent of Americans support
medical cannabis.

Richard Derus, who owns the building next door to HopeNet, said he
had no problems with his neighbors, but said the patients who use the
dispensary, "don't look too sick."

Another neighbor, who declined to give his name, said that several
buildings near HopeNet were crack houses whose customers broke into
cars in the neighborhood. "I think the DEA are sissies and cowards
who are afraid of the crack element," he said.

"All I can do is examine all the cards and run off anyone who
violates the law," said Smith. "We are a cooperative of patients who
grow for other patients, we are just a bunch of people trying to get
through our lives.

By 2 pm, San Francisco motorcycle police and tactical units had
assembled outside HopeNet and the DEA agents still had not produced a
warrant to search the cooperative. A cold rain began to fall and
supporters sang "We Shall Overcome."

"I think that city officials need to provide some answers and ask why
this is happening," said Kris Hermes, ASA legal campaign director.
"That would include the Board of Supervisors, the Chief of Police and
the District Attorney."

At around 2:20 pm, City Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, who spearheaded
San Francisco's new medical dispensary regulations, arrived. "The DEA
and the Bush administration need to understand that San Francisco is
committed to upholding patient's rights to medical cannabis," said
Mirkarimi. "I have no idea why they are doing this, they hold all the
cards. No matter what legislation we craft, we always have to look
over our shoulder."

Mirkarimi said he had been in contact with the San Francisco police
urging them to refrain from confronting the protestors and not
cooperate with the DEA. "We are asking the Chief of Police to find
out what is going on so we can find out why the DEA is coming in,"
said Mirkarimi.

Indeed, by around 3 pm, the San Francisco police left the area around
HopeNet leaving the DEA agents alone in their pickup trucks. By 3:30
the agents also left to the cheers of HopeNet supporters who counted
the action as a victory for their rapid response network.

But the reprieve was short-lived. By 5:30 pm, Curran said supporters
had assembled at the Smith's house to watch news reports of the raid.
As they left at around 5:45, Curran said four DEA vehicles packed
with agents pulled out in front of them and drove towards the Annex
building. By 6:50, Curran said he and a friend watched as the DEA
resurfaced again. "We just watched DEA agents hauling pot plants down
9th Street in the back of their pickup trucks," said Curran by cell
phone.

When Curran and his friend arrived at HopeNet shortly afterwards to
retrieve keys, he said he found a large portion of the door missing.
"They had broken down the door leaving the door open but nobody
there," said Curran. "They were just waiting for everyone to leave."

Inside, Curran said, agents had seized boxes of packaging materials
but left behind glassware, paraphernalia and computers similar to
those listed in the earlier warrant. He said agents also shattered
glass bong bowls used by patients, kicked in the bathroom door,
damaged extension cords and even bent and twisted the Christmas lights.

"They were malicious about the damage and they took it out on the
club," said Curran. "It looks like it was ransacked, it reminds me of
the last time we were robbed."

Curran said Steve and Cathy Smith took pictures of the club and said
they will sue for return of their property.

Contacted after the raid, McEnry said she could not confirm or deny
any damage to the club and said agents secured the door before they
left. "We obtained a warrant in the late afternoon," said McEnry. "We
waited until we thought it was appropriate to serve the warrant."