Feds Raid California Medical Pot University

...armed with sledge hammer, power saws
By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 3, 2012 12:26 AM CDT
Updated Apr 3, 2012 3:13 AM CDT
Feds Raid Calif. Medical Pot University
With marijuana proponents chanting behind them, US marshals raid Oaksterdam University in Oakland.   (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

A small army of feds yesterday raided California's only "medical marijuana university" in Oakland. Two of a mob of protesters who descended on the school—many of them smoking dope—were busted by cops as federal agents swarmed Oaksterdam, a college dedicated to training people how to grow and distribute medical marijuana. Agents used a sledge hammer and power saws to bust into the school, reports the San Francisco Chronicle. The entire building was surrounded with yellow crime scene tape as agents exited the building with trash bags filled with potential evidence. Everything's "under seal," said a spokesman for the IRS, referring to the search warrant and court documents relating to the probe. "We're not able to comment as far as the nature of this ongoing investigation."

Members of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the US Marshals Service were also involved in the raid. Agents also swept into the home of Oaksterdam founder Richard Lee, but he was not arrested, reports AP. Lee spent more than $1 million to back a defeated state ballot measure in 2010 that would have legalized pot for recreational use. The raid comes just weeks after Oakland city officials issued preliminary approval for four new medial marijuana dispensaries. California is ground zero for the federal crackdown on state laws approving limited marijuana use. (More Oaksterdam University stories.)

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