Although California law authorizes the legal use of medical marijuana, it is illegal under Federal law. Over the last several years Federal Agents have regularly raided California marijuana dispensaries and filed Federal criminal narcotic charges against these dispensary owners.

However, the new Obama administration has announced a change to this policy. United States Attorney General Eric Holder stated this week that the Drug Enforcement Administration would end its raids on state-approved marijuana dispensaries.

Federal raids on medical marijuana distributors continued at least into the second week of Barack Obama's presidency, when federal agents shut down at least two dispensaries in California on Feb. 3.