Staff of West Hollywood Medical Marijuana Clinic Protest DEA Raid

Operators of a medical marijuana clinic raided by federal agents blasted the action on Friday as a "death sentence" for people who use the facility. The center, which has been open since 1996, provides marijuana to patients suffering from AIDS, epilepsy, glaucoma, cancer and other serious illnesses. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents searched the Los Angeles Cannabis Resource Center Thursday afternoon, seizing computers, financial documents, 400 marijuana plants and medical records of some 3,000 current and former patients, said Scott Imler, president of the resource center. "This action is effectively a death sentence for patients all across Los Angeles County," Imler said. "Our immediate concerns are our 960 patients who have no place to go for marijuana." At a press conference on Friday, Imler was joined by members of the West Hollywood City Council and a representative of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, both of whom expressed support for the resource center. "Our city is going to stand with our residents and this club," said councilmember John Duran, who also provides legal representation for the center. "These people will be forced once again into the streets to deal with drug dealers."

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