A massive police raid of 25 Denver metro area homes on Jan. 25 that resulted in 16 people being arrested may have netted a number of people legally authorized to distribute marijuana, a local criminal defense attorney said. If true, the arrests indicate the continuing confusion surrounding Colorado's medical marijuana laws.

The raids took place in the city of Denver, plus nearby cities such as Broomfield, Erie and Breckenridge and Adams and Weld counties. Authorities claim that the arrested people were part of a network of marijuana dealers that distributed the drug across the country. The use of the U.S. mail system may be the reason some of the accused were indicted on racketeering charges. Other charges include marijuana distribution and money laundering.

Though police would not respond to media requests to answer questions, in a statement authorities denied that any of the arrested suspects were licensed medical marijuana caregivers. But an attorney with some familiarity with the case said he had information that some of the arrested were caregivers. Under Colorado law, a person who obtains a medical marijuana caregiver license is allowed grow the drug in his or her home and a sell it to a small number of patients with a prescription.

The attorney predicted that in the end, it will turn out that police made a mistake in a number of the raids.

Colorado law enforcement is still adjusting to the state's new medical marijuana laws. Anyone who believes they were wrongfully arrested on marijuana charges should consult with a criminal defense attorney before speaking with the police.

Source: Denver Post, "16 charged in Denver-area pot-growing raids," John Ingold, Jan. 26, 2012