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Oakland cops raid three houses in pot bust Police say more than $1 million of marijuana seized and two arrested in family-run operation By Hairy Harris, STAFF WRITER Article Last Updated: 12/16/2006 OAKLAND - At least $ I million worth of marijuana, including almost 1,300 thriving plants, was found at three houses used in a family-run cultivation and distribution operation, police said Friday.....Gang Unit Officer Doug Keely said police received information that Hin Hoang was a major marijuana dealer throughout Oakland who always carried a gun and grew th.e marijuana at three houses.... Each house had sophisticated growing operations, including timers, lighting, heaters, plant food, irrigation and ventilation systems, Keely said. ILeely confrmed Hin Hoang was wanted by San Francisco authorities on a no-bail warrant for failing to appear in court on concealed weapon and marijuana charges. He also is on probation. for a gun conviction, police said. He was spotted about noon Thursday driving away from the Coolidge Avenue house in a Lexus and was stopped by Gang Unit Officer Gino Guerrero. Kee1y said Hoang had about $1,000 worth of crystal methamphetamine on him, and asawed-off shotgun was found in the car. After the car stop, Gang Unit officers joined by Targeted Enforcement Task Force officers raided the three houses. A total of 1,298 plants, ranging from less than a foot high to several feet tail were found at the three houses, as well as more than 20 pounds of dried marijuana ready for sale. Keely said the Coolidge and. Dolores houses, which Hin Hoang rented under other names, were used strictly to grow marijuana, and the family had built an addition to the Foothi}l house for the weed..... Besides the marijuana at the Foothill house, police also found $40,000 in cash, transaction records that included nicknames of clients, and an assault rifle and bulletproof vest in Hin Hoang's bedroom. Hin's mother and father were at the Foothill house and admitted involvement in the operation, Keely said. The mother said the family "needed the money" the marijuana generated. Police confiscated the father's 2006 Mercedes E320. Besides his parents' involvement, Keely said Hin Hoang employed others to tend to the crops, paying them at least $100 a day. Source: http://www.insidebayarea.com/localnews/ci 4852099 Trio faces amplified drug charges manufacturing charges filed for trio in pot case SAN RAMON: Trial fuels debate between medical marijuana advocates and law enforcement officials By Bruce Gerstman CONTRA COSTA TIMES A fire and explosion in a suburban San Ramon garage in February exposed alesser- .known form of marijuana and ignited a debate about its safety. Prosecutors say three men were mixing butane with. crushed marijuana leaves to extract what is known as honey oil, a concentrated form of cannabis, which was going to be used in a medical marijuana dispensary. In what county prosecutors call a first for a marijuana case, the District Attorney's Office has fixed charges against the three men for manufacturing a controlled substance -- a charge usually associated. with methamphetamine and rock. cocaine. A conviction on the charge carries a penalty more than double that of cultivation charges. "If you're going to say this is medicine, then the public has a right to know how it's made," said deputy district attorney Dana Fillcowski. The District Attorney's decision brings out a dispute between law enforcement officials who say the manufacturing process might harm sick people and medical marijuana advocates who say butane use poses no health risk and patients know about the process...... 75A-77