Medical marijuana groups claim DEA unfair

HAYWARD, Calif., Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Larger California dispensaries of medical marijuana claim they are being unfairly targeted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.

Among them is Shon Squier, 34, of Hayward, Calif., whose major storefront operation was shut down last month by the DEA, which also froze bank accounts containing $1.5 million and confiscated several expensive cars, motorcycles and $200,000 in cash, the Los Angeles Times reported Monday.

Further down the street, a much smaller operation wasn't touched, leading Squier to allege he is being unfairly targeted for being successful, the Times said.

California's two medical marijuana laws, Proposition 215, approved by voters in 1996, and Senate Bill 420, passed in 2003, are not clear about how much money proprietors of the estimated 170 medical marijuana outlets in the state can make.

The DEA does not recognize California laws legalizing the sale of marijuana to patients with doctor's prescriptions, and special agent Gordon Taylor said the businesses have nothing to do with compassion for the terminally ill.

"When you pull the mask off, you see that they are nothing more than common dope dealers," Taylor told the Times.