Law enforcement officers raided an undisclosed number of medical marijuana dispensaries in the San Diego region today.
Personnel from federal, state and local agencies served warrants at cannabis-dispensing storefronts in various locales in the county, according to Monica Munoz, a spokeswoman for the San Diego Police Department.
Authorities refused to release details -- including the reason for the raids and the number of related arrests, if any -- about the multi-agency operation, which apparently began around midday and targeted dispensaries in several San Diego beach communities, among other areas.
Amy Roderick, an information officer for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, referred questions to the San Diego County District Attorney's Office. Paul Levikow, a spokesman for the latter agency, declined to comment, saying his office would release details during a news conference Thursday.
The operation was ongoing in the mid-afternoon, Munoz said.
On Tuesday, the San Diego City Council agreed to form a task force that will seek to clarify local regulations governing the use of medical marijuana.
Among the panel's duties will be reviewing guidelines for the operation of cannabis dispensaries and evaluating issues involving police enforcement of the shops.
There are eight permitted medical-marijuana storefronts in San Diego and dozens of others operation illegally, according to city officials.
In 1996, the passage of Proposition 215 legalized physician-supervised use of marijuana to treat certain types of illnesses, including chronic diseases.
