Campaign of Terror? Feds Raid Northstone Organics Today and Threaten Media Outlets

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OiUEq-1BYs&feature=player_embedded]

In what can only be described as a frontal assault on medical marijuana, federal agents are currently raiding Northstone Organics.  The Mendocino collective is a well known provider of medical marijuana. The Executive Director, Matt Cohen, has recently been featured on Frontline’s epsisode, The Pot Republic. This not-for-profit co-op offers home delivery of cannabis grown organically in Mendocino county to patients throughout the Bay Area and beyond. Cohen and Northstone Organics have been pioneers in Mendocino County’s “ziptie” program which allows medical marijuana growers to pay a fee for a permit to grow a number of plants up to 99 in certain conditions.

The website of Northstone Organics appears to be partially taken down.  The site is showing a “Due to Technical Difficulties, our web site is currently unavailable” message. Speculation is that this is related to the raid.

California  NORML Coordinator, Dale Gieringer, denounced the raid as  a “shameful and despicable” attack on California’s most successful legally regulated marijuana cultivation program.  “The DEA  is doing nothing but encouraging lawlessness and disobedience to the law,” said Gieringer, “This is a victory for the Mexican cartels.”

The US Attorney Laura Duffy says that she’ll go after media outlets that advertise marijuana products.  According to 420 Medicated,

U.S. Attorney Laura E. Duffy, whose district includes Imperial and San Diego counties, said marijuana advertising is the next area she’s “going to be moving onto as part of the enforcement efforts in Southern California.” Duffy said she could not speak for the three other U.S. attorneys covering the state, but noted their efforts have been coordinated so far.

“I’m not just seeing print advertising,” Duffy said in an interview with California Watch and KQED. “I’m actually hearing radio and seeing TV advertising. It’s gone mainstream. Not only is it inappropriate – one has to wonder what kind of message we’re sending to our children – it’s against the law.”

This is going to radically affect the climate for cannabis in California.  The question is will patients, the growers, and the businesses that rely on them fight back or once again go underground?

Protests may be directed to the White House Hotline:  202-456-1111
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61 Comments
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Dave
Guest
Dave
12 years ago

I blame Obama for what’s happening. He lied during his campaign when he said he would respect state-compliant medical marijuana laws. He wasn’t in office a year before he directed idiot boy Holder to go after anyone involved with medical marijuana!
Since then the witch hunt has really taken off.
I can just see whoever is taking outraged calls to the White House hotline about these raids…they’re probably chuckling their ass off! The Feds could care less about state’s rights.

Ernie's Place
Guest
12 years ago
Reply to  Dave

I am not making a statement about marijuana, but a statement about how far down the common man has been beaten, and in how little regard we are viewed by the federal government. Squeal all you want, it won’t it won’t help you. We need to take back the control of our government. The wealthy are pulling all the strings, from who we get to vote for, to what we hear on the media. As disjointed as the “occupy” movement is, we should all consider taking a part. Make it TRULY a government of the people.

I know, I’m beginning to sound a lot like a crazy old man.

Gary Graham Hughes
Guest
12 years ago
Reply to  Ernie's Place

I almost never post a comment, even though I read Kym’s blog pretty much daily. These words have great spirit. Thanks Ernie, your comment will help me stay fired up for a good long while!! Hold your head up proudly North Coast, this is a dignified life we are working hard to nurture.

Goldie
Guest
Goldie
12 years ago

What exactly are they considering “marijuana advertising” ?

Staff
Member
12 years ago
Reply to  Goldie

Good question! I’ll bet a lot of media organizations are asking themselves that question right now.

Goldie
Guest
Goldie
12 years ago

What exactly are they considering “marijuana advertising” ?

Staff
Member
12 years ago
Reply to  Goldie

Good question! I’ll bet a lot of media organizations are asking themselves that question right now.

tra
Guest
tra
12 years ago

Kym asked: The question is will patients, the growers, and the businesses that rely on them fight back or once again go underground?

I think the answer is: Both.

tra
Guest
tra
12 years ago

Kym asked: The question is will patients, the growers, and the businesses that rely on them fight back or once again go underground?

I think the answer is: Both.

j.marko unknown (@obtusemental2)
Guest

the new silly has begun in earnest-circle up kids-r u 8 1 2-

j.marko unknown (@obtusemental2)
Guest

the new silly has begun in earnest-circle up kids-r u 8 1 2-

Phil Galbreath
Guest
12 years ago

more violence, more crime, and more money for the drug cartels. damn facist governm
ent!

Phil Galbreath
Guest
12 years ago

more violence, more crime, and more money for the drug cartels. damn facist governm
ent!

Matthew Meyer
Guest
Matthew Meyer
12 years ago

Over here in Shasta the local prohibitionists are loving the Feds’ new saber-rattling, and perhaps assault, on medical cannabis. The planning commission voted today to ban dispensaries in unincorporated Shasta, and they are proposing some very restrictive limits on cultivation (only 150 square feet outdoor for parcels between 2-20 acres; only 200 sq ft past that; can’t grow collectively; buffers from schools, bus stops).

Matthew Meyer
Guest
Matthew Meyer
12 years ago

Over here in Shasta the local prohibitionists are loving the Feds’ new saber-rattling, and perhaps assault, on medical cannabis. The planning commission voted today to ban dispensaries in unincorporated Shasta, and they are proposing some very restrictive limits on cultivation (only 150 square feet outdoor for parcels between 2-20 acres; only 200 sq ft past that; can’t grow collectively; buffers from schools, bus stops).

tom MORELAND
Guest
tom MORELAND
12 years ago

Obama doesn’t want to go after tortures, and war criminals but wants to go after sick people. One thing you can trust him to do is lie. but back to the good old days of federal price supports. Glad to see they have the money for it. go occupy walstreet

tom MORELAND
Guest
tom MORELAND
12 years ago

Obama doesn’t want to go after tortures, and war criminals but wants to go after sick people. One thing you can trust him to do is lie. but back to the good old days of federal price supports. Glad to see they have the money for it. go occupy walstreet

charlie two crows
Guest
charlie two crows
12 years ago

Kym, anyone wonder how two banks that supposedly were taking lots cash! Go belly up and get sold to Mendo savings! Maybe someone needed fed in the drive up window? Mendo savings having management meetings 3hrs a day for three weeks! Kym , know anybody at the bank? Lots of new faces! I smell a rat! They always follow the money!

charlie two crows
Guest
charlie two crows
12 years ago

Kym, anyone wonder how two banks that supposedly were taking lots cash! Go belly up and get sold to Mendo savings! Maybe someone needed fed in the drive up window? Mendo savings having management meetings 3hrs a day for three weeks! Kym , know anybody at the bank? Lots of new faces! I smell a rat! They always follow the money!

skippy
Guest
skippy
12 years ago

Partial excerpts from the Press-Democrat:

“…(Matthew) Cohen said he was shocked when machine-gun wielding federal agents woke him up just after 6 a.m. to serve a search warrant. He said he was handcuffed while agents ripped out the (99) plants, eliminating the year’s crop and medicine for 1,700 patients. He was not arrested…

THE early morning operation shook the medical marijuana community because Northstone has been a model of compliance with local and state laws.

I’m really puzzled. There are plenty of illegal marijuana organizations in Mendocino County,‘ said Aaron Smith of the National Cannabis Industry Association.

MEDICINAL marijuana advocates suspect the federal agents chose Northstone because it has been in the limelight. Northstone founder Matthew Cohen, an advocate of regulation, has been included in television documentaries as well as news articles on medicinal marijuana…

DEA officials declined to comment on the raid.

The California marijuana industry is not about providing medicine to the sick,‘ said Laura Duffy, the San Diego-based U.S. Attorney on October 8. ‘It’s a pervasive, for-profit industry that violates federal law.

MELINDA Haag, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California, said dispensaries near schools, parks and others areas where children gather would get special attention from her office. (But) the Northstone co-op is in a rural area far from schools or parks. It’s not a conventional dispensary in that it does not operate a store, but delivers marijuana to its members…

COHEN was among the first to obtain a permit from Mendocino County for his operation. Sheriff Tom Alman said Cohen appears to have followed all of the county’s regulations, which cost the cooperative about $8,500 a year…

A county supervisor and sheriff’s sergeant have testified on behalf of the cooperative earlier in Sonoma County court. The case against two Northstone members — arrested while driving through Sonoma County to deliver marijuana to its member patients — is pending.”

(More information found in the October 13th Press-Democrat article Feds Raid Medical Pot Co-op Near Ukiah)

skippy
Guest
skippy
12 years ago

Partial excerpts from the Press-Democrat:

“…(Matthew) Cohen said he was shocked when machine-gun wielding federal agents woke him up just after 6 a.m. to serve a search warrant. He said he was handcuffed while agents ripped out the (99) plants, eliminating the year’s crop and medicine for 1,700 patients. He was not arrested…

THE early morning operation shook the medical marijuana community because Northstone has been a model of compliance with local and state laws.

I’m really puzzled. There are plenty of illegal marijuana organizations in Mendocino County,‘ said Aaron Smith of the National Cannabis Industry Association.

MEDICINAL marijuana advocates suspect the federal agents chose Northstone because it has been in the limelight. Northstone founder Matthew Cohen, an advocate of regulation, has been included in television documentaries as well as news articles on medicinal marijuana…

DEA officials declined to comment on the raid.

The California marijuana industry is not about providing medicine to the sick,‘ said Laura Duffy, the San Diego-based U.S. Attorney on October 8. ‘It’s a pervasive, for-profit industry that violates federal law.

MELINDA Haag, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California, said dispensaries near schools, parks and others areas where children gather would get special attention from her office. (But) the Northstone co-op is in a rural area far from schools or parks. It’s not a conventional dispensary in that it does not operate a store, but delivers marijuana to its members…

COHEN was among the first to obtain a permit from Mendocino County for his operation. Sheriff Tom Alman said Cohen appears to have followed all of the county’s regulations, which cost the cooperative about $8,500 a year…

A county supervisor and sheriff’s sergeant have testified on behalf of the cooperative earlier in Sonoma County court. The case against two Northstone members — arrested while driving through Sonoma County to deliver marijuana to its member patients — is pending.”

(More information found in the October 13th Press-Democrat article Feds Raid Medical Pot Co-op Near Ukiah)

warm and fuzzy
Guest
warm and fuzzy
12 years ago

To hide behind all the medical bullcrap just to make yourself feel like your not stacking cash off of 12 year old’s lunch money is getting realy old! Most of these phony advocates are out of staters riding the green gravy train that has a slap on the wrist for boarding without a pass. Stick it to em and give the locals their land back! Thats what happens when you come here with no fear and try to make it public as if your making a difference in the community. These people are smoked out. Take it back into the hills – Bring the risk back baby and weed out the scared!! viva la survival!

warm and fuzzy
Guest
warm and fuzzy
12 years ago

To hide behind all the medical bullcrap just to make yourself feel like your not stacking cash off of 12 year old’s lunch money is getting realy old! Most of these phony advocates are out of staters riding the green gravy train that has a slap on the wrist for boarding without a pass. Stick it to em and give the locals their land back! Thats what happens when you come here with no fear and try to make it public as if your making a difference in the community. These people are smoked out. Take it back into the hills – Bring the risk back baby and weed out the scared!! viva la survival!

Scooter
Guest
Scooter
12 years ago

The feds have no idea how much ammonium nitrate and diesel fuel we have here on the northcoast. If they did they would be scared, very scared.

Mr T
Guest
Mr T
12 years ago
Reply to  Scooter

Pretty irresponsible post. I wish you would respect Kym’s blog more, she is really top notch, and deserves it.

tra
Guest
tra
12 years ago
Reply to  Mr T

Plus, if anyone actually carried out the threat implied in “Scooter’s” comment, that would be exactly the kind of thing that the Feds would use to justify a massive police-state crackdown in out region. Morally wrong AND totally counterproductive…. yeah, that’s not a real smart way to go.

Scooter
Guest
Scooter
12 years ago

The feds have no idea how much ammonium nitrate and diesel fuel we have here on the northcoast. If they did they would be scared, very scared.

Mr T
Guest
Mr T
12 years ago
Reply to  Scooter

Pretty irresponsible post. I wish you would respect Kym’s blog more, she is really top notch, and deserves it.

tra
Guest
tra
12 years ago
Reply to  Mr T

Plus, if anyone actually carried out the threat implied in “Scooter’s” comment, that would be exactly the kind of thing that the Feds would use to justify a massive police-state crackdown in out region. Morally wrong AND totally counterproductive…. yeah, that’s not a real smart way to go.

Mr T
Guest
Mr T
12 years ago

I believe in the complete legalization of marijuana. That being said, I think the pot liberation movement is a *mostly false struggle. When MJ finally becomes legal, the world isn’t really a better place, just a place where more people can check out and get numb without persecution. Pot is as misused as a medicine as tobacco, (a powerful shamanic tool) much of the bong-waving and indignation around this issue is fueled by the same ego-bloated drives as tea-party, etc. It is distasteful to use “sick people” as human shields vindicate the range of the MJ industry that runs from simply trying to make a living to greed and vice.

*My caveat is that anyone who is actually imprisoned because of MJ prohibition, is involved in a very real struggle for freedom.

Mr T
Guest
Mr T
12 years ago

I believe in the complete legalization of marijuana. That being said, I think the pot liberation movement is a *mostly false struggle. When MJ finally becomes legal, the world isn’t really a better place, just a place where more people can check out and get numb without persecution. Pot is as misused as a medicine as tobacco, (a powerful shamanic tool) much of the bong-waving and indignation around this issue is fueled by the same ego-bloated drives as tea-party, etc. It is distasteful to use “sick people” as human shields vindicate the range of the MJ industry that runs from simply trying to make a living to greed and vice.

*My caveat is that anyone who is actually imprisoned because of MJ prohibition, is involved in a very real struggle for freedom.

Laura Cooskey
Guest
12 years ago

Matt Cohen is featured in the last pages of the cover article of the most recent NC Journal. http://www.northcoastjournal.com/news/2011/10/13/trimmers/

I made my comment at the end of that article, but basically, i wish that issue had never come out.

Laura Cooskey
Guest
12 years ago

Matt Cohen is featured in the last pages of the cover article of the most recent NC Journal. http://www.northcoastjournal.com/news/2011/10/13/trimmers/

I made my comment at the end of that article, but basically, i wish that issue had never come out.

tra
Guest
tra
12 years ago

I think some of you are missing the obvious: The Feds are going after growers/dispensaries that are NOT problems for the local community, because those are the kind of operations that the Feds fear most. Can’t have local communities demonstrating that they can be responsible in the way they grow and regulate and distribute cannabis — the voting public might notice how smoothly it all works when regulated in a reasonable way at the local level, and more voters might come to realize that 99.9% of the problems related to cannabis are in fact caused by Prohibition, not cannabis itself.

So of course they’re going to go after those who are as responsible and low-impact as possible, because they don’t want responsible, well-run, “good neighbor” growers and dispensaries, they want irresponsible, greedy, “bad neighbor” growers and dispensaries, because that’s what justifies their salaries and keeps the War on Pot gravy train running.

skippy
Guest
skippy
12 years ago
Reply to  tra

Well said, Tra.

tra
Guest
tra
12 years ago

I think some of you are missing the obvious: The Feds are going after growers/dispensaries that are NOT problems for the local community, because those are the kind of operations that the Feds fear most. Can’t have local communities demonstrating that they can be responsible in the way they grow and regulate and distribute cannabis — the voting public might notice how smoothly it all works when regulated in a reasonable way at the local level, and more voters might come to realize that 99.9% of the problems related to cannabis are in fact caused by Prohibition, not cannabis itself.

So of course they’re going to go after those who are as responsible and low-impact as possible, because they don’t want responsible, well-run, “good neighbor” growers and dispensaries, they want irresponsible, greedy, “bad neighbor” growers and dispensaries, because that’s what justifies their salaries and keeps the War on Pot gravy train running.

skippy
Guest
skippy
12 years ago
Reply to  tra

Well said, Tra.

longwind
Guest
longwind
12 years ago

Yup, exactly. This strangely reminds me of the ‘Mexican cartel growers’ supposedly overrunning our National Forests. But of the 130+ people arrested there this summer, only 17 were growing while Mexican, and last I saw they were the only ones charged. It’s all even more sickening than infuriating.

longwind
Guest
longwind
12 years ago

Yup, exactly. This strangely reminds me of the ‘Mexican cartel growers’ supposedly overrunning our National Forests. But of the 130+ people arrested there this summer, only 17 were growing while Mexican, and last I saw they were the only ones charged. It’s all even more sickening than infuriating.

Scooter
Guest
Scooter
12 years ago

Indoor growers use a lot of both diesel and chemical nutrients. I was making a joke about indoor growing. Sorry if it was out of line.

tra
Guest
tra
12 years ago
Reply to  Scooter

Thanks for clarifying that it was intended as a joke, and not as an implied threat or a prediction. The way it came off (at least to me) was a little bit creepy.

The problem, of course, is that (unless I misunderstood the joke) implicit in that joke is the idea that someone might use that diesel and fertilizer to make a bomb.

I’m not sure why that’s funny.

Mr T
Guest
Mr T
12 years ago
Reply to  Scooter

Thanks for owning up. It’s so easy for our fingers to type something out before realizing that there are real people still grieving at places like OK City. I Don’t post on other blogs as most allow just any old comment, RHBB is like a neighborhood in which I would chose to live, different folk, varied opinions, but respectful.

Staff
Member
12 years ago
Reply to  Mr T

Thank you Mr T. You made my day!

Scooter
Guest
Scooter
12 years ago

Indoor growers use a lot of both diesel and chemical nutrients. I was making a joke about indoor growing. Sorry if it was out of line.

tra
Guest
tra
12 years ago
Reply to  Scooter

Thanks for clarifying that it was intended as a joke, and not as an implied threat or a prediction. The way it came off (at least to me) was a little bit creepy.

The problem, of course, is that (unless I misunderstood the joke) implicit in that joke is the idea that someone might use that diesel and fertilizer to make a bomb.

I’m not sure why that’s funny.

Mr T
Guest
Mr T
12 years ago
Reply to  Scooter

Thanks for owning up. It’s so easy for our fingers to type something out before realizing that there are real people still grieving at places like OK City. I Don’t post on other blogs as most allow just any old comment, RHBB is like a neighborhood in which I would chose to live, different folk, varied opinions, but respectful.

Staff
Member
12 years ago
Reply to  Mr T

Thank you Mr T. You made my day!

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
12 years ago

If you call it “terror”, then bombs are not out of the question.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
12 years ago

If you call it “terror”, then bombs are not out of the question.

Northrop Grumman
Guest
Northrop Grumman
12 years ago

Probably a predator circling right now. Good luck to ya Scooter, and to the rest of you…..don’t stand to close to Scooter.

Northrop Grumman
Guest
Northrop Grumman
12 years ago

Probably a predator circling right now. Good luck to ya Scooter, and to the rest of you…..don’t stand to close to Scooter.

jim
Guest
jim
12 years ago

Since we apparently seem to be striving to be a society of equalities and non-discrimination why are drugs exempt from this discussion? Alcohol, caffeine, sugar, etc. should all be lumped together with other mind altering substances and adjudicated EQUALLY for the masses! I find it interesting that the Calif. Physicians Org. has come out in favor of legalization and still refuses to acknowledge all of the international research on the efficacy of medicinal pot. What hypocrites dwell in the higher offices of the public trust.

jim
Guest
jim
12 years ago

Since we apparently seem to be striving to be a society of equalities and non-discrimination why are drugs exempt from this discussion? Alcohol, caffeine, sugar, etc. should all be lumped together with other mind altering substances and adjudicated EQUALLY for the masses! I find it interesting that the Calif. Physicians Org. has come out in favor of legalization and still refuses to acknowledge all of the international research on the efficacy of medicinal pot. What hypocrites dwell in the higher offices of the public trust.

G.I.B.
Guest
G.I.B.
12 years ago

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUze-oYsswI

Another lie from a professional poilitcian..

Obama stated that he would not have the justice department prosecute medical marijuana patients–as it would “not be a good use of our resources.”

This assault is nothing more than terrorism perpetrated by the Feds. The back country is covered with thousands of mega-greenhouses and Obama goes after medica? Hmmm.

G.I.B.
Guest
G.I.B.
12 years ago

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUze-oYsswI

Another lie from a professional poilitcian..

Obama stated that he would not have the justice department prosecute medical marijuana patients–as it would “not be a good use of our resources.”

This assault is nothing more than terrorism perpetrated by the Feds. The back country is covered with thousands of mega-greenhouses and Obama goes after medica? Hmmm.

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[…] schools and other areas involving children, on October 13, federal agents with weapons brandished raided Northstone Organics a Mendocino collective that was in full compliance with all laws and is described as California’s […]

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[…] schools and other areas involving children, on October 13, federal agents with weapons brandished raided Northstone Organics a Mendocino collective that was in full compliance with all laws and is described as California’s […]

trackback

[…] schools and other areas involving children, on October 13, federal agents with weapons brandished raided Northstone Organics a Mendocino collective that was in full compliance with all laws and is described as California’s […]

trackback

[…] schools and other areas involving children, on October 13, federal agents with weapons brandished raided Northstone Organics a Mendocino collective that was in full compliance with all laws and is described as California’s […]