Image: Oakland Tribune

Hundreds of medical marijuana patients and advocates rallied Monday in Oakland, Calif., in advance of an evening fundraiser by President Obama, calling on him to freeze federal crackdowns on cannabis dispensaries until he clarifies his administration’s policies on operations that are following state and local laws.

The rally came two weeks after a federal forfeiture action against the Oakland-based Harborside Health Center, the nation’s largest medical marijuana dispensary and one that has won acclaim as a model for the industry. In April, federal agents raided several Oakland businesses operated by prominent marijuana activist Richard Lee, forcing his dispensary — which, like Harborside, was permitted, taxed and backed by local officials — to close.

More from Lee Romney, Los Angeles Times

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