DEA Raids Two Homes in Beverly Hills in Pot Dispensary Crackdown

Federal agents have raided and shut down several marijuana dispensaries in what was reported today to be the first move in a case they are building against a Los Angeles man.

Drug Enforcement Administration agents with the help of Los Angeles police late yesterday morning raided the Black Rose dispensary in Fairfax, Downtown Medical Caregivers off Main Street, Washington and Western Medical Group in Harvard Heights, Herbman in Exposition Park and two homes in Beverly Hills, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Authorities seized "a bunch of marijuana, cash" and a handgun, DEA spokeswoman Sarah Pullen told The Times. The same man owns all four dispensaries, Pullen said. No arrests were made and the investigation is ongoing, she said.

The name of the man being targeted was not released.

The Los Angeles city attorney's office is also helping in the investigation, according to the newspaper.

The raid came a day after City Attorney Mike Feuer announced the city is doing its own enforcement against L.A.'s pot shops. In a news conference, he said the city has closed 100 pot shops since it began enforcing new restrictions on the businesses.

The city has hired two new attorneys to exclusively tackle prosecutions under Proposition D, the measure passed by voters last spring, Feuer said.

--City News Service