Search warrants served at local medical marijuana dispensaries | 911

Medical marijuana activists tell KOMO News several marijuana dispensaries in Thurston, Pierce and King Counties have been searched by law enforcement officials today.

"Our narcotics task force has been conducting an ongoing investigation for about the past five months into the medical marijuana dispensaries in Thurston County," said Thurston County Sheriff’s spokesman Lt. Greg Elwin. "Today, that investigation culminated with five search warrants."

Deputies are in the process of making arrests as well, Elwin said, though he couldn’t be specific about how many people have been arrested so far.

Elwin says the investigation centers around dispensaries that are selling marijuana to people who don’t have medical marijuana cards or otherwise shouldn’t legally have it. He said he's heard of similar investigations in King and Pierce County that were also culminating Wednesday.

Medical marijuana activist group ‘Sensible Washington’ tells KOMO News searches have been conducted so far at Seattle Cannabis Co-op in Seattle's Rainier Valley and Ballard neighborhoods, G.A.M.E Collective in West Seattle and Federal Way, Tacoma Cross, Lacey Cross and Seattle Cross on Capitol Hill among others.

KOMO News asked DEA spokeswoman Jodie Underwood if agents were serving search warrants on dispensaries in other counties as well and she acknowledged agents were serving several search warrants locally.

Still Underwood would not provide more specific details about which properties were being searched or why.  She did say they might have more information later today or tomorrow.

Callers into KOMO News indicated searches may have taken place at dispensaries in Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia and Lacey already today.