Feds crack down - Page 2

Dispensaries around the state draw heat, from tax scares to seizure threats

10.11.11 - 5:06 pm | Steven T. Jones |

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But in June of this year, the DOJ release the "Cole memo," by Deputy Attorney General James Cole, which it said "clarifies" the Ogden memo. In fact, it reversed the position, stating unequivocally that federal marijuana prohibition prevails and "state laws or local ordinances are not a defense to civil or criminal enforcement of federal law with respect to such conduct."

"They're bringing the hammer down," said David Goldman, who works for Americans for Safe Access and sits on San Francisco's medical marijuana task force. "This is not U.S. attorneys doing this on their own, this is coming from the top levels of the DOJ."

Actually, Goldman and others suspect it goes even higher than that, right to Obama and his political team, who appear to be making a calculation that cracking down on medical marijuana is a good move before an uncertain reelection campaign.

"It's political. It's all about Obama appealing to the middle to win reelection," Goldman said.

"I don't think there's any rational basis for what's going on. It was clearly a political calculation," DeAngelo said. "Why do they think it's better for patients to buy their medicine from the black market?"

He said the crackdown will bolster the Mexican drug cartels, destroy a thriving industry that provides jobs and pays taxes, hinder efforts at better quality control and growing conditions (see "Green buds," Aug. 16), and waste law enforcement resources to seize and destroy a valuable commodity.

"It's a policy with all downsides and no upsides," DeAngelo said.

Mirkarimi said that this crackdown could finally force cannabis activists to take on the federal prohibition of marijuana directly: "Bottom line, marijuana is the United States needs to be reformed so it's not a Schedule 1 drug," referring the federal government's conclusion that marijuana is a dangerous drug with no medical applications.

But for now, DeAngelo said the industry will fight back: "We will fight it in the legal system, we will fight it in the court of public opinion, and we will appeal to Congress."

Comments

Big BACK OFF Feds Page...

Sorry to leave this comment here as it is not actually directed at this article per se (same subject). Is there a general 'letter to the editor' section of this website? If so, I didn't see it anywhere... Wouldn't you like there to be one?

Anyway! About that huge one page appeal to the Feds to BACK OFF in their effort to shut down the quasi-legal marijuana drug trade, well, first, thanks for that. We need as many people as possible telling them that in the face of everything horrible happening right now, this crackdown is beyond offensive - it's patently absurd.

Second, one gripe: I don't think it does the 'movement' (a term I use loosely) any favors to pretend that legalized marijuana is all about "therapeutic use" and "people who need medicine." That claim lies somewhere between 'not totally correct' and 'outright lie,' the Feds know that, and they're using it against us.

Let's face it: We'll do much better deflating their attacks by admitting that, yeah, it's just another form of recreation, only far less deadly than certain other forms of recreation that are not only legal, but aggressively pushed down our throats.

There is no shame in the recreational use of marijuana, and we shouldn't imply that there is by defending only its 'medical' benefits.

Posted by Guest on Oct. 12, 2011 @ 7:54 am

http://wh.gov/gP1 END MARIJUANA PROHIBITION White House petition

Please sign the online White House petition to END MARIJUANA PROHIBITION
http://wh.gov/gP1

Posted by Guest USMJP on Oct. 12, 2011 @ 8:21 am

End the Drug War

The drug war is flawed public policy. Nothing productive has been achieved in the past forty years, further evidence that prohibition doesn’t deter drug use. Rather, it creates black markets where disputes are settled with guns instead of courts, militarizes the police, and criminalizes citizens who engage in nonviolent, consensual transactions. It is time to end the epic failure known as the war on drugs. More commentary and coverage at http://spatialorientation.com/tag/drug-war

Posted by SpatialOrientation on Oct. 12, 2011 @ 8:24 am

The drug war is flawed public

Posted by SpatialOrientation on Oct. 12, 2011 @ 8:30 am

medicine

I am a patient and agree with the judges this time. While I do believe marijuana should be legalized they judges are correct. EVERY SINGLE club charges MORE for what they sell than they charge on the streets. I have seen clubs go from a shoestring budget to buying flatscreen tvs with all the belles and whistles in a matter of weeks. These people ar making so much money that they voted not to legalize pot in the last election and won. I am all for the patients rights but really would like to see all clubs go away. THEY ARE RUN by profitters. I know this for sure 100%. NONE of these clubs will give up anything but schwag if you have no money yet they are supposed to be non profit. All this crap about buying it on the black market is a joke, you are already buying it on the black market only from clowns. You see I remember these clubs when they did not even know how to tell if a plant is ripe. Didn't know how to make hash. Didn't know how to make oil. Didn't REALLY know the difference between indica and sativa or ruderalis. NOW they are experts???? Most of the shiny fuzzy new stuff they show you is total BS. WE the patients DO need prop 215 but WE can do without the clubs.

Posted by Guest tj on Oct. 12, 2011 @ 10:30 am

Jesus said...

Jesus said to do unto others as we would have them to do unto us. None of us would want our child thrown in jail with the sexual predators over marijuana. None of us would want to see an older family member’s home confiscated and sold by the police for growing a couple of marijuana plants for their aches and pains. It’s time to stop putting our own family members in jail over marijuana.
If ordinary Americans could grow a little marijuana in their own back yards, it would be about as valuable as home-grown tomatoes. Let's put the criminals out of business and get them out of our neighborhoods. Let's let ordinary Americans grow a little marijuana in their own back yards.
Here's one way that IT IS REALLY WORKING: Arresting the criminals and collecting a fee from registered growers (and bringing in thousands of dollars to support the county budget); what a great plan! This is the way to build a better America! http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/2011/07/the-pot-republic-one-she...
The current proposal before Congress, bill HR 2306, will allow states to decide how they will regulate marijuana. You can email your Congressperson and Senators at http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml to discuss HR 2306.
And a big THANK YOU to the courageous, freedom loving legislators, governors, and countless others who are working so hard to bring this through! You’re doing a great patriotic service for all of America!

Posted by Guest on Oct. 12, 2011 @ 2:32 pm

The big LIE ; there is a

The big LIE ; there is a difference between the corrupt democrats and corrupt republicans!

Legalize pot, tax it, use the funds to give free treatment to folks on hard drugs!!!

Posted by GuestSf T Party on Oct. 19, 2011 @ 10:20 am

headline should read ; "Feds

headline should read ;

"Feds action bolsters the profits of the Mexican drag gangs/terrorists"

Legalize POT!

Posted by GuestSf T Party on Oct. 19, 2011 @ 10:21 am