HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Two medical marijuana providers are suing the government over what they are calling unconstitutional raids of their Montana businesses as federal prosecutors threaten to crack down on medical pot operations across the nation. HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Two medical marijuana providers are suing the government over what they are calling unconstitutional raids of their Montana businesses as federal prosecutors threaten to crack down on medical pot operations across the nation.

The owners of Montana Caregivers Association and MCM Caregivers claim the March 14 raids exceeded the federal government's authority, pre-empted Montana's medical marijuana law and violated the pot providers' civil rights.

In their lawsuit against the government, the Department of Justice, Attorney General Eric Holder and U.S. Attorney for Montana Michael Cotter filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Missoula, the plaintiffs claim the aim is to shut down the medical pot industry.

"The federal government has made clear its intent to threaten and eventually eliminate any business or enterprise related to the medical use of marijuana," Christopher Williams of the Montana Caregivers Association and Randy Leibenguth of MCM Caregivers say in the lawsuit.

The Department of Justice did not have an immediate comment when contacted Wednesday. Also, Cotter's office did not comment on the lawsuit.

Federal agents executed 26 search warrants against pot businesses in Montana on March 14, seizing drugs, cash, weapons and vehicles in what Cotter said part of a drug-trafficking investigation. No charges have been filed and Cotter's office has since refused to comment on the investigation.