

A pedestrian walks by a medical marijuana dispensary in Sherman Oaks (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)

Federal agents and local authorities conducted raids yesterday on two medical marijuana dispensaries located in West Hollywood. Both of the shops, Alternative Herbal Health Services and Zen Healing Collective, are "among four that the city has authorized to operate," notes LA Now.

Details about the raids were in sealed warrants, however officials said the raids were part of an "ongoing operation." There have not been raids such as yesterday's in the Los Angeles area since 2007. Two years ago, the federal government under President Obama said they would take a more "hands-off approach" to dealing with marijuana stores that operated within state laws. However, the DEA has conducted a handful of raids in California since then.

The raid at Zen Healing took over five hours, and the owner's attorney told the Times he saw several employees in handcuffs, and "said agents seized marijuana and cash, but he did not know how much." Ultimately, between the two locations, only one arrest was made.

WeHo Patch paid a visit to both shops yesterday afternoon. At Zen Healing, an employee who refused to open the door told Patch “We’re closed permanently.” Down the street at Alternative Herbal Health Services, Patch observed "a handwritten sign on the door read, 'IM Sorry. We Will Be Closed for a Couple Days.' Beside the text was a sad face." Both shops had stunned customers outside, some pleading to be let in to make a purchase.