Feds trying to shut down all dispensaries after 15yrs in CA

SAN FRANCISCO — Federal prosecutors have launched a crackdown on pot dispensaries in California, warning the stores that they must shut down in 45 days or face criminal charges and confiscation of their property even if they are operating legally under the state's 15-year-old medical marijuana law.
In an escalation of the ongoing conflict between the U.S. government and the nation's burgeoning medical marijuana industry, at least 16 pot shops or their landlords received letters this week notifying them that they are violating federal drug laws, even though medical marijuana is legal in California. The state's four U.S. attorneys are scheduled to announce a broader crackdown at a Friday news conference.
Their offices refused to confirm the closure orders. The Associated Press obtained copies of the letters that a prosecutor sent to 12 San Diego dispensaries. They state that federal law "takes precedence over state law and applies regardless of the particular uses for which a dispensary is selling and distributing marijuana."

"This really shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. The administration is simply making good on multiple threats issued since President Obama took office," Kevin Sabet, a former adviser to the president's drug czar who is a fellow at the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Substance Abuse Solutions. "The challenge is to balance the scarcity of law enforcement resources and the sanctity of this country's medication approval process. It seems like the administration is simply making good on multiple statements made previously to appropriately strike that balance."
Greg Anton, a lawyer who represents the Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana, said the 14-year-old dispensary's landlord received an "extremely threatening" letter Wednesday invoking a federal law that imposes additional penalties for selling drugs within 1,000 feet of schools, parks and playgrounds.
The landlord was ordered to evict the pot club or risk imprisonment, plus forfeiture of the property and all the rent he has collected while the dispensary has been in business, Anton said.

The Marin Alliance's founder "has been paying state and federal taxes for 14 years, and they have cashed all the checks," he said. "All I hear from Obama is whining about his budget, but he has money to do this which will actually reduce revenues."

By LISA LEFF


This is straight bullshit. After 15 years of having collected taxes, which they knew exactly where it was coming from, all of a sudden it is a real big problem? Does this mean the government was in on this "illegal" act that has been going on? Whether you think marijuana is a good or bad thing, one thing you have to realize is that the government keeps our economy on a steady plummet and is just making it worse and worse. Is it any coincidence that election year is coming up? I don't like to bring negative stuff up, but there is certain things that we should all be informed of, and try to take a stand against the things that are not right. Now everyone will have to turn to buying from all the mexican cartels, which is adding fuel to the out of control fire that is too huge for anyone to even have a 20%contaiment over it. The tax revenue helps our economy and its being taken away. Goodjob goverment thank you for all of this. Everyone be careful.