SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Federal agents are raiding several medical marijuana dispensaries in Spokane, following a warning from the top federal prosecutor there that such operations are illegal.
The raids began Thursday afternoon — just as about 30 medical marijuana activists were participating in a class on what to do in the event of a raid.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Rice tells KXLY-TV and The Spokesman-Review that several dispensaries were raided, but he declined to provide further details. Rice’s boss, Mike Ormsby, warned in a letter to earlier this month that the approximately 40 dispensaries in the area are illegal and must shut down immediately to avoid prosecution.
Gov. Chris Gregoire recently announced that she will veto legislation to create a dispensary licensing scheme in the state.
Among the dispensaries being raided are THC Pharmacy and Club Compassion.
