ANAHEIM – Federal authorities raided two medical marijuana dispensaries Tuesday morning, searches that were paired with three federal lawsuits filed against property owners where the dispensaries operated, officials said.

Officials with the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Tuesday also said warning letters were sent to a total of 66 marijuana operations in the cities of Anaheim and La Habra, part of a 10-month coordinated effort by federal authorities targeting not just the owners of medical marijuana dispensaries, but the property owners who lease space to the continually controversial shops.

Agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration were seen bringing out bags of cash from inside 503 N. Anaheim Blvd. on Tuesday morning, where officials with the U.S. Attorney’s Office said two marijuana shops operated.

“While these marijuana stores purport to be ‘medical marijuana dispensaries’ operating pursuant to California law, and claim to be distributing marijuana for medical purposes, such distribution is not a recognized exception to the (federal) Controlled Substance Act,” according to one of the suits filed in Los Angeles federal court.

According to a statement released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the three lawsuits target three properties in Anaheim that house marijuana dispensaries, including one location that accommodated three stores.

Tuesday’s searches were done at AAA Wellness Center and Anaheim Patients Association.

The searches bore several similarities to past searches conducted by federal officials, in which marijuana and cash were seized from the dispensaries while federal lawsuits were filed against property owners leasing the space.

Though medical marijuana was legalized in California, it continues to be against federal law. In Orange County, local law enforcement agencies have also searched and seized money and marijuana from several shops. In several of the cases, law enforcement agencies have alleged that the shops were operating for profit – a violation of California law.

The suits were filed in federal court, and allege that the shops were also not operating according to California law.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, federal authorities also sent warning letters to 66 “illegal marijuana operations” in Anaheim and La Habra. Thirty-eight of those are still operating in Anaheim, the statement read. About 24 have shut down in recent months.

Two of the stores were opened in La Habra.

The letters give the owners of the shops – and the landlords – 14 days to comply with federal law.

Federal officials have practiced similar strategies since October 2011, when federal officials began filing asset-forfeiture lawsuits against marijuana store owners and landlords. Since then, a total of 16 suits have been filed, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Two of those property owners were in Costa Mesa, where authorities raided two medical marijuana dispensaries in January and filed lawsuits in federal court against the property owners, alleging that they knew they were allowing marijuana storefronts to operate and conduct business.

According to the Department of Justice, five of those suits have resulted in the owners of the property forfeiting the rent collected from marijuana dispensaries, shutting down the businesses and facing forfeiture if they again rent to medical marijuana operations.

The properties targeted in Tuesday’s suits are:

•503 N. Anaheim Blvd., where AAA Wellness Center and Anaheim Patients Association operated.

•2601 W. Ball Road, where a medical marijuana store named Releaf Health & Wellness was located.

•3148-3164 E. La Palma Ave., where three marijuana stores are alleged to have been located: Premium Organic Treatments PCA, Mid-County Patients Association and DKG Group Corp.

Contact the writer: shernandez@ocregister.com or 949-454-7361