Kern Sheriff’s deputies and agents from the Drug Enforcement Agency were searching a medical marijuana store in east Bakersfield Wednesday afternoon.
The search warrant was being serviced at the Green Cross Compassionate Medical Marijuana Co-operative at 319 Bernard St. That’s near Bernard Street and Alta Vista Drive, between Memorial Hospital and Bakersfield College.
Calls to the sheriff’s department were not immediately returned. A spokesman from the DEA said that agency was there only to assist. The spokesman said the sheriff’s department was the lead agency in the case.
The use of marijuana for medical purposes is permitted under California law, but prohibited under federal law. President Barack Obama ordered the federal government to give precedence to local law and not raid the shops.
Sheriff Donny Youngblood said his office will not interfere with the operation of non-profit medical co-operatives run by patients for patients. But, he said, dispensaries that sell marijuana for a profit should be expected to be treated like other drug dealers.
KGET has a reporter at the scene and will have a live report on 17News@5 and 6
