Feds raid Calif. marijuana university

With marijuana proponents chanting behind them, U.S. marshals raid Oaksterdam University in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, April 2, 2012. The facility, one of several that federal agents raided on Monday, teaches people how to grow marijuana. / AP Photo/Noah Berger

(CBS/AP) OAKLAND, Calif. - Federal agents on Monday raided a San Francisco Bay area medical marijuana training school at the heart of California's pot legalization movement.

The doors to Oaksterdam University in downtown Oakland were cordoned off by yellow tape and blocked by U.S. marshals. Agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration carted trash bags of unknown materials out of the school to a waiting van.

Arlette Lee, an IRS spokeswoman, told reporters that agents were serving a federal search warrant but said she could not otherwise comment on the purpose of the raid.

"What we are doing here today is under seal," Lee said.

Marijuana Nation: The war over weed

About a dozen protesters upset over the raid gathered out front of the multistory building adorned with a large mural that makes the school one of the neighborhood's most visible landmarks. Some of them smoked marijuana openly.

The demonstrators held signs demanding an end to federal crackdowns on medical marijuana.

Ryan Hooper, 26, of Oakland, wearing an Oaksterdam hat and sweatshirt, said he had finished taking courses at the school in February.

"This is not in the best interest of the city," Hooper said. "If they close the dispensaries, all of this stuff is going to go back underground."

Oaksterdam University was founded by Richard Lee, the main backer of the California ballot measure defeated in 2010 that would have legalized marijuana in the state for recreational use. The neighborhood has also been home to several medical marijuana dispensaries, including one founded by Lee.

Enrollment has decreased at Oaksterdam, where 15,000 students have studied cannabis cultivation and related careers since 2007, the Sacramento Bee reports.

Lee did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

The city of Oakland has long allowed four medical marijuana dispensaries to legally operate under city ordinances and recently awarded permits that would allow four more to open.

At the same time, federal prosecutors across California have been working for months to shut down dispensaries by threatening to seize landlords' property if they did not evict marijuana retailers.

[yujinn]

I came across this article about a year after it was published. I'm just sitting here thinking about all those anti-cannabis people that were commenting on here. Now that its legal in 2 out of 50 states. That leaves the rest of the 48. My prediction is that prohibition will be over in less than 10 years country wide. A lot of people are waking up to the FACT that is is probably one of the least harmful substances on the planet, and that it gives a bit of relief to those of us who live in constant pain. I probably could get the same pain relief from opiates. But instead, I choose not to drool all over myself like an empty shell of the person I once was. I am failing to see how my pain relief is justification for making me into a criminal. I think that the rest of the country is starting to see how harmless it is, and how much good it does.

[akita96th55]

The main reason they don't want to legalize it because of all the jobs they would lose just like the jobs of these turds who raided this school..I bet they came in there with assault rifles on the ready to shoot anyone they think needs shooting..Dam police state is all it is. I bet nothing was gained by this very expensive raid paid for by taxpayers...Waste of time and money..But it is as usual a show of power by the government letting us know who is really in charge.

[Live_in_Faith]

Next time you here of an unsolved rape or murder, think of the resources they put into stopping a seed from sprouting. We are going bankrupt as a nation. With policies like these, we deserve to.

[Tarzan98]

Colossal waste of taxpayer resources chasing cannabis growers & users. Just flippin legalize, regulate, and tax it like tobacco and alcohol. Then maybe these federal "agents" or "marshalls" can chase some real crime. Heck maybe they can go looking for the thousand or so automatic weapons that the ATF sent into Mexico through Texas gun dealers.

[richierichcomicbooks]

I think we are lucky, can imagine if your front lawn got you HIGH, and world with NO GRASS. The writing is on the wall and time to end the demonizing of both Mary Jane, and the "worlds strongest fiber" HEMP. Funny Bill Clinton said he tried it, but he didn't INHALE, Bush liked the coke, and where the Hell is Hunter S. Thompson, when you need HIM? It's cotton, paper, and oil are KING, cause a lot of RICH MEN MAKE A LOT OF MONEY, keeping HEMP IN THE BACKGROUND...right Jack?

[hello_wild_minds]

i guess they weren't ready for their raid, i can't believe there allowed to raid your place, when will weed be taxed in the united states

[marie_mrtt3]

In the US alone, enforcement of cannabis prohibition costs taxpayers around $10 billion each year. If it was taxed and controlled like alcohol, cannabis sales could generate an estimated $6.2 billion in yearly tax revenue. Cannabis has also been shown to ease symptoms of people with HIV/AIDS, cancer, multiple sclerosis and many other medical issues. It has been successfully used to TREAT nausea, appetite issues, glaucoma, muscle spasms, and many other types of pain. In 2010, nearly 45,000 Americans were serving time in state and federal prisons for nonviolent cannabis possession. In that same year, over 700,000 Americans were arrested for the same crime. The estimated total cost to the taxpayers is $9,000,000,000

The arguments for weed are endless: (1) It's impossible to overdose and there is no hangover; (2) People don't get violent when they are on weed like they do on alcohol; (3) Its smoke is not carcinogenic (cancer-causing) like cigarette smoke (and even if that were an issue you can eat it in brownies or use a vaporizer) (4) It's cheaper than alcohol; (5) It's much safer to drive on than alcohol; (6) Many successful people have smoked or still do smoked weed (many Presidents of the United States, famous scientists such as Carl Sagan, and countless musicians, writers and artists; (7) It's not physically addictive (it's really only addictive in the sense that fun is addictive, fun is addictive in many things besides weed), some people get addicted to television for example); (8) It's no more of a gateway drug than alcohol (most pot smokers eventually end of quitting having over done any other drug besides alcohol).

Thus, I think marijuana should be legalized.

http://bigbudsmag.com/lifestyle/article/cannabis-chef-makes-cooking-cannabis-easy-july-2012

[LindaTaylor1]

This is excellent news! Richard Lee belongs behind bars, not funding ballot initiatives with illegal drug money!

[GRINPAGE]

...how about Oxycotin, oxycodone, Valium, Jack Daniels and Budweiser, Malboros and Newports, anyone? How about customers of prostitutions are they addicts too? How about gambling known to be leisurely satisfying to many, perhaps therapeutically beneficial? Any side effects?
The protestors in Oaktown went overboard and maybe were paid to perform for some politician, that I won't doubt at all!

[Xpl0yt]

They don't have this problem in China.

[Xpl0yt]

The stoner who kicked the hornets nest.