It’s pretty clear the Oaksterdam raid was federal payback. Payback for opening the cannabis college. Payback for running Prop 19. Payback for being unashamed.
How else should we interpret the news that one year after sixty federal agents raided the downtown Oakland businesses, not a single charge has been filed against Oaksterdam operator Richard Lee? The federal message to pot’s thought leaders seems clear: “Shut your mouth. We can end you at will.”
Oakland North’s Madeleine Thomas does good work on the anniversary story April 2, detailing how Oaksterdam stayed afloat after the raid and persists to this day.
