Sorry, future graduate hopefuls, but, at least for now, the feds have succeeded in closing the doors of Oaksterdam University. Following raids by the DEA and IRS last week, activist Richard Lee announced on Friday that he would be closing his cannabis related businesses and leaving Oakland. He stated that because of his current legal situation, he felt that it was time for him to step back and let others take his place on the front lines of the medical marijuana movement.
Richard Lee has been one of the nation's leading activists in the movement for over 17 years and was the founder of Oaksterdam University in Oakland, CA. The University was the nations first cannabis college, dedicated to teaching the history, cultivation, and business of medical marijuana. Federal agents raided Lee's home and other businesses as well, confiscating bank accounts, computers, files and plants, effectively putting him out of business.
These raids came as a part of an ongoing federal offensive against cannabis related businesses in California and Colorado. Despite Obama's claims of allowing states to self-regulate, these raids continue. None of Lee's businesses actually distributed marijuana, and the feds have yet to say what they were looking for.
Showing posts with label oakland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label oakland. Show all posts
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Federal Raids in Oaksterdam
Federal agents raided several medical marijuana related locations in Oakland, CA early Monday morning, including Oaksterdam University, the nation's first school dedicated to medical marijuana cultivation.
Oakland has long been a stronghold of the medical marijuana movement, making it a target for federal crackdowns. Despite the Obama administrations earlier stance that they would not interfere with businesses operating in compliance with state law, Federal agents have been cracking down on California dispensaries for the past year. In some cases these crackdowns were done with the assistance of local officials, not so with pro-cannabis Oakland.
Early Monday morning Federal agents raided Oaksterdam University, the Oaksterdam Gift Shop and the Oakland Cannabis Buyers Club, none of which actually distribute medical marijuana. The University's founder, activist Richard Lee, was detained at his home and four university plant tenders were arrested in the raids.
This is just one more case of the Federal Government stepping in where it is not wanted or needed spending the taxpayers money going against the taxpayers wishes. The medical marijuana movement has been nothing but good for the city of Oakland, leading to a revival of it's downtown area and an influx of businesses and revenue for the city. The city of Oakland and it's residents are clearly pro-cannabis; why is the federal government spending millions of dollars raiding this cities legal businesses? In my hometown of Detroit crime is running rampant and unemployment is nearly the highest in the country; yet the federal governments priority is spending millions of dollars of taxpayers money raiding legal businesses in prospering cities??? Legal businesses that the vast majority of Americans approve of and support???
These communities have democratically voted these businesses in, their residents approve of them, support them and want them there, and these businesses are improving their community! What happened to democracy? It's time for the people to raise their voice. Whether you support medical marijuana or not, would your rather have your tax dollars go toward shutting down legal medical marijuana businesses or towards revitalizing our nations economy and creating new jobs???Would your rather have your tax dollars go towards shutting down legal medical marijuana businesses or or shutting down the crack and heroin dealers on the corner??? Something to think about.
Oakland has long been a stronghold of the medical marijuana movement, making it a target for federal crackdowns. Despite the Obama administrations earlier stance that they would not interfere with businesses operating in compliance with state law, Federal agents have been cracking down on California dispensaries for the past year. In some cases these crackdowns were done with the assistance of local officials, not so with pro-cannabis Oakland.
Early Monday morning Federal agents raided Oaksterdam University, the Oaksterdam Gift Shop and the Oakland Cannabis Buyers Club, none of which actually distribute medical marijuana. The University's founder, activist Richard Lee, was detained at his home and four university plant tenders were arrested in the raids.
This is just one more case of the Federal Government stepping in where it is not wanted or needed spending the taxpayers money going against the taxpayers wishes. The medical marijuana movement has been nothing but good for the city of Oakland, leading to a revival of it's downtown area and an influx of businesses and revenue for the city. The city of Oakland and it's residents are clearly pro-cannabis; why is the federal government spending millions of dollars raiding this cities legal businesses? In my hometown of Detroit crime is running rampant and unemployment is nearly the highest in the country; yet the federal governments priority is spending millions of dollars of taxpayers money raiding legal businesses in prospering cities??? Legal businesses that the vast majority of Americans approve of and support???
These communities have democratically voted these businesses in, their residents approve of them, support them and want them there, and these businesses are improving their community! What happened to democracy? It's time for the people to raise their voice. Whether you support medical marijuana or not, would your rather have your tax dollars go toward shutting down legal medical marijuana businesses or towards revitalizing our nations economy and creating new jobs???Would your rather have your tax dollars go towards shutting down legal medical marijuana businesses or or shutting down the crack and heroin dealers on the corner??? Something to think about.
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