OFFICIALS RAID MONTANA MARIJUANA SHOPS

HELENA - Federal law enforcement officials on Tuesday and Wednesday
executed 12 criminal search warrants and four civil seizure warrants
on medical marijuana operations in four Montana towns.

According to U.S. Attorney Michael Cotter's office, the crackdown was
the culmination of a 12-month multi-agency investigation into what
authorities say were criminal drug trafficking activities in
Kalispell, Missoula, Somers and Whitefish.

The four civil seizure warrants executed at financial institutions in
Missoula seek an unspecified amount of money, according to a news
release issued by the U.S. Attorney's Office on Wednesday afternoon.

The release states that the warrants were issued based on judicial
findings that probable cause exists to believe the operations were
"involved in criminal enterprises that have violated the Controlled
Substances Act related to marijuana, a Schedule I controlled substance."

Authorities allege that the premises or property raided this week
were involved in the illegal manufacture and distribution of
marijuana, conspiracy and money laundering.

While 16 states, including Montana, have legalized some form of
medical marijuana use, the federal government still considers the
drug an illegal controlled substance with a high potential for abuse
and no accepted medical use.

"The Drug Enforcement Administration will continue to enforce all
laws under the Controlled Substances Act, including the targeting of
drug trafficking organizations involved in the cultivation and
distribution of marijuana," acting special agent in charge Kevin
Merrill, of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, said in a statement.

The federal government has cracked down on dozens of medical
marijuana caregiver operations across the state this year. Medical
marijuana advocates say the Obama administration abruptly reversed
its policy on medical marijuana, which it set forth in a 2009 Justice
Department memo.

The so-called "Ogden memo" was widely viewed as indication that the
Obama administration would no longer pursue medical marijuana users
who followed their state's medical marijuana laws and did not
otherwise engage in criminal activity.

Supporters of Montana's medical marijuana community said they were
saddened by Wednesday's raids.

"For one thing, why are we any different than California?" said Kate
Cholewa, policy and communications director for the Montana Cannabis
Industry Association.

According to news reports, the Justice Department last month ordered
landlords in Northern California to evict at least four Bay Area
medical marijuana outlets within 45 days or face prosecution.

Supporters of Montana's medical marijuana community wonder why
federal authorities didn't give Montana caregivers the same courtesy.

"It would have been nice if we got 45 days," Cholewa said. "I don't
believe there's something uglier happening in Montana than there is
in California. Why are they doing this here?"

"When criminal networks violate federal laws in Montana, those
involved will be prosecuted," Cotter said in a statement.

Cotter's statement adds, "individuals with illnesses who are in clear
and unambiguous compliance with state law are not the focus of this
investigation."