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Noah Berger / AP
With marijuana proponents chanting behind them, federal agents raid Oaksterdam University in Oakland, Calif., on Monday.
Federal authorities raided Oaksterdam University, a “cannabis college” in northern California, on Monday morning.
Agents with the Internal Revenue Service, Drug Enforcement Agency and U.S. Marshals were spotted outside the medical marijuana facility, with some entering the site with power saws and a sledgehammer and other carrying out bags of material to a van, nbcbayarea.com and the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
Two other buildings in the city’s cannabis district -- known as Oaksterdam -- were also raided.
Calls and emails seeking comment from the IRS, DEA and Oaksterdam were not immediately returned. But IRS spokeswoman Arlette Lee told local media that the probe was under seal in a Northern District Court and the agents were serving a federal search warrant.
Federal prosecutors have recently been stepping up pressure on medical cannabis dispensaries, forcing hundreds to close, the Chronicle reported. They maintain that federal law trumps California's 1996 voter-approved law legalizing medical cannabis.
The raid comes about two weeks after the Oakland City Council approved doubling the number of medical marijuana dispensaries, approving four new potential operators, the Oakland Tribune reported.
Many view Oaksterdam as the heart of California's pot legalization movement. In business since 2007, Oaksterdam was founded by Richard Lee -- the main backer of the 2010 state ballot measure that would have legalized marijuana for recreational use if it had passed, nbcbayarea.com reported.
Oaksterdam University teaches classes on how to cultivate marijuana plants for personal use.
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just let the pot sellers do there thing ,its way less of a threat then those dirty doctors prescribing the OXY pills and the pill mills ,they do way more damages and long term harm and waste our taxpayer money too
yep.
If Obama wants to buy my vote he will have to do away with mandatory drug testing and legalize herb for everyone. Only dangerous jobs should require testing.
Get rid of weed testing and the unemployment numbers would go down.
Most employers do not want Drug Testing. It's big insurance companies who push for drug testing regardless of the employers and employees wishes.
God forbid you actually have to satisfy the conditions of employment to get a job.
Does the government even require drug testing? I have only seen it as part of corporate policy.
@Steve in CO...yes, the Federal government requires a pre-employment drug screening.
@AtheistLefty...most major employers are self insured. They require pre-employment drug screening as a precaution to potential future litigation. Some employers require mandatory drug testing for all reported "on the job" injuries. Again, it is used to eliminate or reduce potential future claims in litigation.
Its much more than that. Its a way to discriminate and play with peoples employment. Litigation from supposed "drug users" and or the results are no less than before this unconstitutional policy. If that was the case they would require alcohol testing which the majority of these criminal corps do not.
Its gives corps another avenue to eliminate employment based on discrimination. Plus the massive drug testing industry that has came about since Reagan implemented this abomination to the constitution.
@Midnight Toker...really? Discrimination? Since being a drug user is not a protected characteristic (neither is an alocoholic), it can't be discrimination. Drug testing has been found to be "legal" not unconstitutional. Alcohol quickly leaves the system. However, if a person shows up to work and meets certain criteria that may suggest an employee may be under the influence of alcohol, many employers have policies in place to have the employee tested.
Yes discrimination over which intoxicants a person chooses to use. The pursuit of happiness is protected which IMO this activity falls under. Not to mention unreasonable searches and seizures. Of course our corrupt corporate courts found this legal no big surprise there.
Employers should have NO RIGHT to search me or my body. I am not cattle or under corporate ownership. They pay for my expertise and time. Drug testing was illegal until the early 80's. Its a corporate tool nothing more.
@Midnight...obviously, you have no legal or HR background. You have answered your own question regarding the legality. It's legal...accept it or rally to change the law.
Your opinion regarding your interpretation has no legal base. It's just your opinion. No discrimination here.
Even if it was legalized, it wouldn't prevent an employer from testing you. There are many rules that employers have which make it a terminating offense. This applies to alcohol, prescription medications and/or illicit drugs.
Maybe you should change your name to "All day toker".
Change the law? haha yes this corporate subsidiary known as the three branches of government will not allow this injustice to continue SMH. Legality would eliminate pre employment screening which would eliminate most drug tests. Obviously you have no understanding of freedom or the freedom from illegal searches.
Maybe you should change your name to corporatist tool.
I am hardly a corporatist tool. It pays to know the law and the rules in order to stay informed. I believe that marijauna should be legalized for medical and recreational use. However, it should still have the same limitations that alcoholic beverages have. Our freedoms have slowly been chiseled away by courts giving more power to the federal government and taking away from the individual and the states. I believe this should be up to each individual state through a referendum of the voters. It's working in Spain.
The law is unjust as is drug testing. You clearly are not informed about the drug testing procedure per substance. MJ is the ONLY drug that is fat metabolized therefore the only one that stays in a human system for any period of time despite intoxication.
Cocaine? a day or two. Acid? about the same. The law specifically targets cannabis users. Drug testing is a search of ones own body which IMO is immoral especially considering its from an employer. The state and the corporate merge = fascism. Drug testing is fascism IMO.
@midnight,
I am thoroughly informed about the drug testing procedures per substance. I was responsible for the random drug testing during a stint in the military. I understand that cannabis is detectable longer. I understand your position on drug testing being fascist. However, the US Supreme Court has ruled and unless you get some amendment for federal declassification of marijuana as an illegal drug, your opinion is meaningless.
Drug testing is not designed to specifically target cannabis users. It is used to protect employers from litigation. Also, pre-employment drug testing is used as a means to eliminate drug users since drug abusers pose a greater risk of absenteeism, injury/accidents and theft. Now, I will concede that those statistics do not break it down by drugs used. It is obvious that alcoholism has more absenteeism in the work place than cannabis use. Like I said, I am all for the legalization of marijuana. Along with the commercialization, regulation and taxation of cannabis. Until that time, I will abide by the federal law.
Well I can respect your view although I disagree. IMO what makes America a country of freedom is fighting of unjust laws. I do not believe the reasons you give for pre-employment screening. Its not about absenteeism or injury or litigation IMO. Its part of the cultural war. Corporations like the military want mindless automatons.
@Midnight...I agree with your opinion on fighting unjust laws. Believe me, corporations are all about protecting themselves against litigation. To knowingly hire alcoholics and/or drug users, opens themselves up to negligence if the employee becomes injured or causes an injury or accident. It is statistically proven that alcoholics and frug users have higher absenteeism which has a real impact to the bottom line.
I served 23 years in the US Army. The military does not want mindless automatons.
The thing that bothers me most about this though is the government is attempting to stifle our ability to LEARN...
This ain't a Red state-Blue state thing. We all want freedom.
who said red or blue? I want to be allowed to educate myself when i want to on what i want to. Who is the government to tell me i don't have a right to learn? Makes me way more uncomfortable than them telling me i can't smoke my joint, anyday!
Sorry Gurl I wasn't trying to respont to you . I thought I was posting under you.
Great use of Federal money, now let's find more programs that benefit the poor to slash so we can keep giving tax breaks to the rich.
This is ridiculous... just legalize it.
so much for higher learning,lmao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Where are the candidates on this issue of state rights? Oh yea it only counts with birth control and insurance. Obama the fraud and liar.
Ron Paul is the champion for states rights and is against the useless war on drugs.
Stop wasting our tax dollars attempting to enforce pot laws.
Just like prohibition its not gonna work. So now tax dollars are also wasted prosecuting these pot criminals and then housing them. Really great way to spend our limited tax dollars.
Why not go after real drugs, like cocaine, heroin, meth.
Effin morons..
Yeah Odumbo you wont prosecute people for pot, yeah sure. I dont think everyone got the message..
The funny thing about the IRS taking interest in these facilities is, they could be raking in tax dollars off legal marijuana.
They are raking in millions of tax dollars from medical marijuna in those states. BILLIONS. When is the last time you heard of a Mexican Cartel filing taxes?
So Big Brother strikes again. When will the American Citizens get their rights back? The feds need to stop stomping on State's rights. This is a waste of taxpaper money. We have an alphabet soup of government offices playing like they own us. When is this going to stop..........
Where are the Tea-bag Party and the Christian right, they are all for states' rights when it comes to the healthcare law... Shouldn't they be right on the front line fighting against the federal government's interference in California's sovereignty? Why aren't they fighting the good fight for marijuana legalization? Don't tell me they are a bunch of hypocrites whose insistence on a strict and literal interpretation of the constitution lasts only as long as it serves their racist bigoted agenda???
Wouldn't the DEA be better suited to spending tax dollars to stop the cartels? I mean Medical Marijuna does pay huge taxes. Does the cartels? Oh wait, it must be an election year!
Obama lied. He said he would not do this. I live near Oakland and the FEDs are worse now than under Bush. Go to the White House web site and email the President. I may vote Green Party this year. Mr President you are pi$$ing off A lot of people who have stuck by you through thick and thin. Let's put California into play for November.
Thank you for not being partisan on this.
Pathetic. Just Fed muscle flexing that wastes tax dollars and resources that would be better used elsewhere. (um, securing our borders?) We can still claim "Home of the Brave" but, I see "Land of the Free" dwindling at a rapid pace.
I don't like lairs. I'm not casting a pres vote 2012. You blow it Obama. I guess he didn't want Romney to have all the lies.
Thanks lefty.
Wisdom and the Federal Govt are at each end of the spectrum...........Remember when we looked up to them?
Five people were wounded/shot today which is a horrific tragedy and yet many of you, only care about making this about race. Why not wait until the fact is in before saying these toxic things. This hurts everyone. Also, a few are trying to make this political that just as crazy. How about that the person was overwhelmed with their life challenges and wanted to take it out on the world. We don’t know what is in their head, nor do we know much about them. Aren’t you tired of just jumping to conclusions and blaming the other side. Especially,
when you look at the side that you support is just as dirty. Let’s stop the fighting for a minute and pray for those who were wounded that may be fighting for their life. Peace out!
I grow mint and make tea from the leaves for an upset stomach, why can't I grow MJ in my garden and use it for arthritis pain and insomnia? Because big pharma wants us to pay through the nose for some lousy chemical to accomplish what can be done naturally. There's too much money to be made from the war on drugs, that's why it won't end.
It's Mobocracy on the governments part. Going agaisnt the wishes of the people.
Obama, are you trying to push Democrats and Republicans closer? If you do, you won't get any votes!
Lefty. It's good to see that we can agree on some things. To hell with the 2 big parties. I'm not Red or Blue.
I really do hate both parties.
Meanwhile a big shooting happens at the righteous and God fearing Christian University ;/
Do you have any details? What's your point.
Something happened somewhere else. So why mention it?
Whether or not you are in favor of legalization, selling and distributing pot is still a federal offense.
So our opinions don't matter or what? By the people for the people... are we not "the people"? do you not have an opinion? or you just listen to what they tell you?
I'd rather be driving down the road surrounded by a million people smoking weed then driving with one person drinking. Federal government flexing their authority makes more sense thinking about the ridiculous and just plain stupid things some of our elected government officials have been saying. I sometimes think I will live long enough to fulfill a dream my best friend and I had while still in high school, to be sitting on a front porch in our rocking chairs while we sent the grand-kids down the road to buy us a pack of joints. It's things like this that make me doubt it'll ever be a reality in my lifetime.
It's just so damned stupid. Cigs and booze known to cause such major health problems and at times booze is responsible for major health problems and death in other people. Farmers raising tobacco the government makes it's money off of while it slowly kills the people using it, yet nothing in testing indicates the same damage being caused by weed. The government could make the same if not more money on marijuana as farmers phase out tobacco to grow it and in doing so, get rid of something known to kill. Tobacco companies have spent enough time killing people. People claiming weed is the first step down the road to major drug usage instead of admitting teens and young adults have a period in their lives where they believe themselves invincible willing to try anything.
Marijuana is an effective pain reducer with the major side effects consisting of the 'munchies' and maybe wanting a nap. It's great to use in lowering tension, anger, aggression and as a result, blood pressure. For women in their child-bearing years it's a wonderful tool to use against cramps. But like any medication I don't believe women should use or be exposed to pot when pregnant because not enough studies have been done to learn the damage it could cause an unborn child. I don't believe it should be legal for people until they are out of high school or 19 years of age, whichever comes first. The irony in sending people out to kill or be killed in our armed forces while they are too young to drink is a classic example of government thinking.
Government needs to step back from medical marijuana programs and allow them to function along federal mandated guidelines. Federal not state to keep the government from whining. Rather then close them down they need to create a government sanctioned study of the whole thing. They need to accept that marijuana is a natural substance used for hundreds of years in various cultures. And they need to admit they're wasting an awful lot of taxpayer money that could be better used elsewhere in order to 'crack down' on marijuana. With a government billions of dollars in debt it might be that throwing away tax payers money is criminal in itself.
Brought to you by the guys who blew up children in Waco. And their fellow child-killer, Gil Kerlichowske, the US Drug Fuhrer, and the Murderer of the WTO Protests.
Oaksterdam University will rise from the ashes...