Are the feds going after medical marijuana in any state other then CA?

[Ohio Joe]

This came up in another thread and I'm wondering if anyone knows. I've not heard of this happening anywhere other then CA and it does not make sense to me if CA is the only state. Anyone know or have any ideas?

[mike_c]

1. currently I believe it's only CA, but CO has a dispensary model that's similar...

...so I expect they'll be next.

[Ohio Joe]

3. Any idea on why they are going with only one state right now?

I can't think of any good reason... manpower maybe? I don't know.

[teddy51]

4. Be interesting to know why they chose CA and no other State to date

to go after Medical Marijuana use. Wonder if it is being abused in there opinion in that State?

[cbayer]

6. Here is the SacBee's editorial on this

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/10/11/3973656/state-needs-to-clean-up-medical.html

[teddy51]

9. Thank you! n/t

[teddy51]

12. Guess that answers my previous post.. Abuse in there opinion. n/t

[cbayer]

15. To be frank, California has not enforced the law that is in place.

This has been a real mistake and done much harm to the overall movement to legalize for recreational purposes.

The referendum to legalize failed badly here and much of it was because people were reacting to the lack of current regulation, imo.

IMO, we had an opportunity to be the first state to get full legalization, and we blew it.

[teddy51]

17. Interesting.. hmmmm n/t

[mike_c]

25. I disagree-- I think you, as well as the Sac Bee, are misinterpreting the law...

...and of course the U.S. Attorneys are doing so intentionally in order to legitimize their attacks. The sole basis for the accusation that California dispensaries are "abusing" Prop 215 is the U.S. Attorneys' accusation that they are generally operating on a for-profit basis rather than a not-for-profit basis. Absent an audit, such accusations are specious and speculative at best, and I don't know that ANY federal audits of marijuana dispensaries have occurred. Their tax returns can certainly shed some light on this, but the IRS appears to be harassing them as well by claiming that marijuana dispensaries cannot deduct normal business expenses like the cost of rent, etc (although one would think this would make them LESS likely to make a profit than otherwise).

Another comment that has surfaced from the press conference is that medical marijuana was only intended to alleviate suffering from cancer, AIDS, etc, but it was not intended to be used for alleviating other medical conditions (headaches, sleeplessness, depression, etc). That argument too is ridiculous-- first, the compassionate use act does not make any such distinction, and second, pharmaceutical companies make billions of dollars selling treatments for precisely those maladies, and many others that marijuana appears effective at treating. That establishes the medical legitimacy of such treatment, and if pot is more effective-- in the opinion of a qualified medical professional-- then it's use for obtaining relief is just as legit and is protected under the compassionate use act.

Some of the U.S. Attorneys involved in this oppression haven't even tried to make the case for abuse of Prop 215. One mentioned that she wanted to shut down dispensaries because "they endanger children." No evidence for any child endangerment has EVER been presented, of course.

The arguments the U.S. Attorneys have made and the Sac Bee and others have quoted are bogus bullshit through and through.

[cbayer]

27. The emperor has no clothes.

Everyone here knows that the bulk of MMJ sold is for recreational purposes and that huge profits are being made by some.

California had the opportunity to do this right and move swiftly towards full legalization, and we blew it.

[mike_c]

28. and you have the audits to prove it, right?

No? Then you're making stuff up just like the feds are.

[cbayer]

30. I live here. I know people in the business.

I have a son in the business, and I underwrote his start up. I know what's going on, and so does anybody who is willing to admit it.

To put our fingers in our ears and squeeze our eyes shut and scream about how unfair this is is a mistake, imo. There is a problem and we should fix it so we can move towards full legalization.

I know this is not a popular position here, but it is reality.

[mike_c]

32. dude, I live here too....

In Humboldt County, and like you I have lots of friends, neighbors, and students in the business. I've been associated with recreational and medical marijuana cultivation, preparation, sales, and consumption most of my adult life. No one I know is making money hand over fist, BUT our entire local economy is based on marijuana-- every new car sale, every haircut, every bag of groceries is paid for with money that has passed through the hands of the marijuana industry. It is the economic engine of my community. If profits are being made, they're being made honestly, with respect for the community, in cooperation with local municipalities, providing a legitimate and necessary service, and AND THEY'RE BEING SPENT HERE IN THE COMMUNITY.

Yes, there have been some problems. We have seen rents increase because of grow house conversions. We have also experienced a few crimes that center around cultivation and distribution issues, but those are STILL mostly caused by the black market, not the prop 215 market.

Read this article in this week's NCJ about the economic impact of MMJ in northern California: http://www.northcoastjournal.com/news/2011/10/13/trimmers/

[Ohio Joe]

19. Wow... Interesting article. Thanks! - nt

[SomethingFishy]

24. I see. So they are angry that people are

actually using the MMJ.

That had to be one of the most pathetic attempts to justify these police actions that I have ever seen. "When we voted for MMJ we never thought people would actually use it". :eyes:

[cbayer]

29. No, they are angry that the law is being subverted by profiteers.

They are targeting for profit growers and dispensaries that are in the recreational MJ business.

I support MMJ and the eventual legalization of cultivation, sale and possession of MJ for recreational purposes. I also do not think that legitimate patients will be impacted by any of this, as there actually are some legitimate businesses out there.

But California blew it and blew it big time.

If this were about something that people on the left generally opposed, there would be full support for a crackdown. Let's say it was about prostitution in Nevada and there were houses that were employing underage girls or not enforcing health standards. If Nevada ignored the gross violations, I think many would welcome fed intervention.

Also, the people of California resoundingly defeated a referendum to legalize for recreational purposes, and, IMHO, they went that way because they saw how badly the state had handled this first step.

[SomethingFishy]

31. Well then they are wasting their time as anyone who lives

in a state with legal MMJ will tell you that in spite of the profit margin dispensaries have lowered the cost of MJ. I'm paying a hell of a lot less for medical than I was for "illegal" weed.

The only thing these raids have to do with is CONTROL. They want control. I mean do you really think they are raiding these places because they want to help the consumer by lowering the profit margin? Really?

[Frank Coffin]

35. You're right. I used to pay $60 for an 1/8th on the street

before I became legal.

And most of the time it is shit weed, not even the buds.

And I intend to remain legal as long as possible.

Now I only pay $10 per gram. Usually about $35 for 1/8 for the buds.

[SomethingFishy]

37. I'm in Colorado.. same price 10 a gram.

Where as the street price was up to $120 a quarter before I got "legal"..

[Upton]

33. That doesn't explain

what's going on in WA, RI, Ariz, and NJ..all have either received threatening letters from the DOJ, had dispensaries raided, or both..

There's been an obvious policy shift on this issue from the Obama administration..

[meow mix]

2. yeah, montana

the attacks on us here happened right as the senates were debating anti-mmj bills spearheaded by the mormon church.
the timing was pretty obvious.

and we dont have a good mmj infrastructure like cali.. so the effect was more devastating, comparatively.
close one provider down here and a lot of people are left out of luck. many of them in pretty bad shape.

[Ohio Joe]

5. ahhhh, so it is more then one state

Sorry about the situation there, A shame you guys are not getting more press on this. You would think the feds would have something better to do... Like go after the fuckers on Wall Street.

[CrispyQ]

7. Another DUer speculated that Obama feels he can go after CA

but not lose the state in the 2012 election. CO - maybe not so much, since we have only recently been blue.

[cbayer]

8. Colorado is tightening up, but that's coming from within the state, I believe

[Ohio Joe]

11. There was a state law passed recently

Something about the dispensary having to grow a certain percentage of what they sell. I missed the argument for why this would be required... or desired by anyone (before I moved here). I also saw in a few other places that there was no way for the state to really check up on if this was being followed or not. I do know that where I am, in SE Denver, there are dispensaries ALL over the place. There are six within a five block radius of me that I know of.

[cbayer]

13. There are more dispensaries than Starbucks in Denver.

I have personal information from a grower in Denver who is getting out and going to start organic vegetables. He feels that things are getting too restrictive and doesn't want to be deemed illegal.

[Ohio Joe]

16. That does not surprise me one bit

I see them everywhere I go.

[Frank Coffin]

36. I live in SE Denver

We must meet up and have a nice little toke one day...

[Ohio Joe]

41. Definitely

Send me a PM and we can set something up!

[OneGrassRoot]

10. Would you kindly educate me?

I've seen the various threads but haven't followed.

Without reading the details, I definitely get the impression the Obama Administration is being much tougher than previous administrations, which is beyond disturbing to people. Is that accurate?

Is it the prevailing opinion that this is being done to basically pave the way for Big Pharma to take control of medical marijuana in all ways?

All in all, it seems to suck royally.

:(

[Ohio Joe]

14. I don't think so

I do not see where shutting it down helps big pharma. If they wanted to get into it, they would have no real worries about the little guys, they could push them out no problem. Marijuana is not that hard to grow, cultivate or get to the dispensary. With their money they could create mega-pot-marts and destroy the little guys no problem. It is not like they would have to do 10 years of research (with those costs) first, they could dive right in. I don't really understand the motivation for it.

[OneGrassRoot]

18. Thanks. :) n/t

[SomethingFishy]

26. Then you must have missed these stories:

DEA to legalize marijuana chemical for Big Pharma but keep it a crime for everyone else

http://www.naturalnews.com/031489_DEA_legalized_marijuana.html

Medical Marijuana Big Pharma Style

http://blog.420petition.com/marijuana-topics/marijuana-industry/medical-marijuana-big-pharma-style/

Marijuana: Big Bucks for Big Pharma (big crime for you and I)

http://bluehoney.org/2011/02/26/marijuana-big-bucks-for-big-pharma-big-crime-for-you-and-i/

Yeah Big Pharma has no stake in MMJ. :eyes:

[Ohio Joe]

39. That shows nothing

The first is an un-sourced story. The second only says big pharma wants to get into it. The third points to the first for it's source. Nothing there that big pharma is behind the Obama going after dispensaries.

[Upton]

20. Washington state..

Earlier this year, the DOJ sent a letter to Gov. Gregoire threatening the prosecution of state employees and forfeiture of property if the state's new medical marijuana law regarding dispensaries was implemented...not so coincidentally raids in Spokane happened within days..

Gregoire subsequently vetoed most of the bill..

http://www.allgov.com/Controversies/ViewNews/Obama_Administration_Threatens_Washington_State_in_Battle_against_Legal_Marijuana_110420

[former9thward]

21. They sent the same letter to the Arizona governor.

[Ohio Joe]

22. Did anything come from either of these letter?

Are the states halting or going forward?

[former9thward]

38. Arizona has halted for now but filed suit against the DOJ

seeking clarification of the letters.

[Upton]

23. New Jersey and RI too...

Christie chose to ignore it. http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=6749

Chafee decided not to let the state license it's 3 dispensaries it had planned . http://justsaynow.firedoglake.com/2011/09/30/because-of-obamas-doj-threats-rhode-island-wont-license-medical-marijuana-dispensaries/

[Frank Coffin]

34. I saw this thread on the way home, and I wanted answer this.

I think there is a major difference between California's law and Colorado's law.

I think California passed a citizen initiative (a Proposition, if you will) that is just a part of a state law that can be ignored by a federal agency.

However, Colorado has amended their state constitution to allow for MMJ in their state. It is not easily ignored by the federal, and can cause major problems for the federal side under Article 10 of the Bill of Rights (respecting state laws).

I know both states have new initatives that will be even stronger and ready to pass for 2012. Colorado wants to make marijuana legal statewide (which I won't argue because I support it thoroughly), and amend the state constitution to allow hemp and cannabis for all uses.

It means $17.6 million in extra revenue (can't argue with that either - Colorado has suffered like everyone else) if marijuana was legal today.

[Mnemosyne]

40. That $17.6 million would at least double if CO goes legal, jmho, from the migration. n/t