Feds order pot shops to close within 45 days

[Bosonic]

Source: AP

SAN FRANCISCO -- Federal officials are warning California medical marijuana dispensaries they must shut down within 45 days or face criminal prosecution and having their property confiscated.

The state's four U.S. attorneys sent letters Wednesday and Thursday notifying at least 16 pot shops or their landlords that they are violating federal drug laws, even though medical marijuana is legal in California. The attorneys are to announce their coordinated crackdown at a Friday news conference.

The move marks an escalation of the conflict between the government and the medical marijuana industry.

Read more: http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/state&id=8381783

[gateley]

1. This has got to stop! What about the people who are depending on

this? WHY is the Fed even getting involved in this?

[kristopher]

14. It isn't the Feds,"San Diego City Attorney Jan Goldsmith filed complaints against them"

SAN DIEGO — It took exactly two weeks for 12 medical marijuana dispensaries to be shut down after San Diego City Attorney Jan Goldsmith filed complaints against them to Superior Court and if he has his way, they will not be the last.

On Wednesday, Judge Ronald Prager signed orders to close nine of the 12 dispensaries Goldsmith’s office said were operating within 600 feet of schools, a violation of state law. The other three dispensaries settled with the city, according to their laywer Jessica McElfresh. All of them will have to shut their doors within 48 hours.

Goldsmith said in a statement he was pleased with the results of the case, but said his work was not done yet.

“Marijuana advocates and their lawyers have been wrong to assume that federal and local laws could be ignored and that cities like San Diego could be strong-armed into looking the other way,” he said in the statement. “Our job is to enforce the law and we will do it.”

Technically, ...

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/oct/05/marijuana-dispensaries-to-shut-down-after-city/

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

23. Looks like a newbie pol grooming himself for a higher office

by jumping on the backs of the proletariat.

Reminds me of Robert Vaughn's character in Bullit.

[slackmaster]

149. Goldsmith is no newbie. He's served in the state Assembly.

His pet issue there was an effort to legalize keeping ferrets as pets. (He's pro-ferret.)

[xxqqqzme]

167. He's the one!?

Last year, I received multiple mailings from the pro-ferret faction. As a candidate, I also received the 'questionnaire' to answer and return if I wanted to be endorsed by the ferret group. The mailings and emails became so numerous, they became a nuisance. I had several friends running for office and we would all joke about it.

[slackmaster]

168. I believe he is no longer involved in the ferret legalization movement

He's too busy with his job, and (lately) running for re-election. (Hint: He's running for re-election.)

[BiggJawn]

109. Goldsmith? Any relation to former NYC Deputy Mayor Goldsmith?

Little Stevie the wife-beater?

[slackmaster]

165. No. Jan Goldsmith is a former Superior Court Judge in San Diego County.

He's also a former member of the state Assembly.

[flamingdem]

127. thanks

don't want to wade through the blame the administration posts!

[No Elephants]

137. So, we should ignore the OP?

[slackmaster]

161. Yes. The Obama administration gets to slide because they're all Democrats.

City Attorney Goldsmith is a Republican (and a Jew), so he gets beaten up for it.

[No Elephants]

136. It's both. Read the OP.

[slackmaster]

145. The city attorney does not control what the federal Department of Justice does

That falls under the authority of the President of the United States.

[Le Taz Hot]

208. Since when is the DEA NOT the feds?

Fresno just got notified yesterday that all dispensaries must close within 45 days and they're using FEDERAL LAW to do it. And it's not only dispensaries, it applies to ANYONE growing pot. It's state law v. federal law and something's going to come to a nasty nasty head in California. Obama doesn't understand that there were a lot of "potheads" out pounding the street for his corporate ass who WILL NOT be out there in 2012.

[joeglow3]

73. Here is the problem

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/10/06/1853746/easy-green-cards-have-discredited.html

Unfortunately, the industry has been flooded with tons of crooked people at every level who are interested in a quick buck without a care in the world for those who truly need it. The states need to do more to ensure these d-bags don't fuck it up for those who rely on it for legitimate reasons.

[nineteen50]

100. And that is why

It should flat out be legalized then everyone can grow their
own. It grows like a WEED.

[joeglow3]

105. Different Issue

I agree with you. However, I am not of the mindset that if it can't be legal for everyone, it is okay for these crooked dickheads to fuck over those who NEED (i.e. NOT want) it for legitimate reasons.

[No Elephants]

139. It is not only that. Both the feds and the state are cracking down in general.

Fake cards, distance from schools, federal law--you name it.

[flamingdem]

155. There it is, the usual suspect being greed and corruption nt

[Ter]

129. The Fed isn't the big savior many here thought it was

Told ya. They are out of control and the abuse must stop.

[slackmaster]

166. That's a pretty severe understatement

The Fed is coming out almost with guns blazing to shut down all medical marijuana clinics in California.

They may very well have guns blazing in the near future. I wouldn't put it past them.

[Ter]

183. Well, what happens if the local sheriffs point their guns right back at them?

National Guard too? Bullying is not always forever.

[slackmaster]

185. The feds always prevail, whether you agree with them or not.

[Ter]

205. The Feds prevailed because they were right in the 50's and 60's

One day, they won't. We will break up in the future. The Feds lost in 1776.

[slackmaster]

215. I think cultivation and use by adults of cannabis will eventually be legalized

Because the restrictions on it are not based on sound reasoning.

[closeupready]

2. Here we go - this is gonna get interesting.

Clearly, they mean business on this.

[truebrit71]

7. Yup...let's see just how far States' Rights can go...oh BTW...I thought Obama said this sort of...

...thing was counter-productive...oh wait, silly me, that was candidate Obama, not the guy in the WH....:eyes:

[indepat]

21. Maybe a campaign strategy to win the hearts and minds of those

critically in need of medical marijuana? Makes as much sense as any RW initiative. :shrug: :patriot:

[Name removed]

29. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[RKP5637]

93. Candidate Obama was not in the WH, but now Candidate Obama is back again looking

for the WH.

[xiamiam]

126. not with a move like this..nor with geithner affirming that obama has done everything he can for

wall street and finds their disdain ( non contributions) inexplicable..

[Divernan]

110. Med. M. cuts into Big Pharma's painkiller sales. O's just helping out his bff's.

He's already done so many favors for Big Pharma, he had to find a NEW hook to prompt a new wave of campaign contributions.

[truedelphi]

193. You got it!

At the same time, over the past two decades, that Big Pharma claims that there has never been a single instance where marijuana can actually help a person who is sick (overlooking the 5,000 years that the Chinese have kept records on marijuana as medicine,) the Big Pharma Corporations have the scientists publish articles in legit medical journals as to the capabilities of various cannibinoids to end migraines, stop mentral cramps, ease wasting away syndrom, shrink cancerous tumors et al.

The Pharmaceuticals now have spokespeople who say, "Marijuana does have amazing medicinal properties, but the various cannibinoids responsible for the healing and the pain relief must be isolated and studied and then released as medicine only after patents are obtained, and dosages made clear."

Which is Corporation speak for "We want to make so much profit on this that a patient's head will spin."

And Obama was intitially affable about the marijuana use for medicine. Even Eric Holder said in 2009 that he would respect the various states where voters had put medicinal marijuana propostiions in place.

But now that Obama seeks big bucks for his 2012 campaign, he turns his back on his initial stance on this issue.

Which is pretty much what so many of us have come to expect.

[randome]

194. Bullshit.

Not everything is a far-flung conspiracy. Spokespeople saying something does not equal evidence to change people's minds. And not every politician is a money-grubbing whore like you think Obama is simply because he doesn't see this as his #1 issue.

There are more important battles to wage.

If a vast number of people WANTED to see marijuana legalized, it would happen. But most people, like myself, don't care that much about it so it doesn't matter to me if it stays illegal, either.

[truedelphi]

197. heh. heh.

First time I have encountered you here.

Um, I live in Lake County California, where the local people see to it that every Friday night our local public TV has what amounts to course work on what is going on, conspiracy wise, regarding Big Pharma's hold on the ability of people to have their medicine. It is a conspiracy, and it is documented.

Read a few books on the subject. (Especially read Jack Herer's award winning book: "The Emperor Wears No Clothes") Talk to cancer survivors, who tried the various hemp oils and/or marijuana oils that cured them of cancer after the "legit" medical peopel told them nothing could be done.

Look at the various guldarn commissions that were established by our Presidents and our Senators and others, all of which report back that the most dangerous thing about marijuana is its tendency to deprive a person of their freedom, due to repressive drug laws (These reports started way back in the days of Tricky Dick Nixon.)

Last year ten people in the US died from exposure to peanuts, and not one died to overdose on marijuana. And meanwhile a whopping 123,000 died on account of being mis-prescribed Pharmaceuticals.

Oh and while you are stocking up on books to read, consider this: keeping pot illegal has corrupted our banking industry, our political life, and diverted much needed tax payer monies to the DEA and to the prison industry.

So if you are for all those things, especially

CORRUPTION OF THE BANKS AND OF OUR POLITICAL PROCESS

feel free to coninue on with your philiosophy.

Though it is an out dated and out moded philosophy, and one that you will probably change the minute that tumors no doctor can help you with show up in your body.

[randome]

199. I've seen this 'no overdose' fact before.

And I don't think anyone ever said that a marijuana overdose is even possible so that seems like a canard.

What marijuana does do, however, is alter your perceptions. And while I don't begrudge anyone that kind of freedom, I do know that people driving school buses and babysitting should NOT have their perceptions altered.

If marijuana is made legal, that will happen no matter how much we don't want it to happen.

I am more in favor of government staying out of our personal lives but making marijuana legal -with its attendant risks- just doesn't rank high on my list of priorities.

I'd much rather spend time getting more Dems elected and fewer Repukes.

[truedelphi]

200. No one I know is saying that school bus drivers should

Be high on drugs.

However, in our society, many people are mere paper shufflers, who are living in such crowded cities that they take mass transit to work.

And although the job requirements might be such that being stoned at work is not advisable either, surely on weekends they should be able to choose how they want to get high.

In my Dad's day of the fifties and sixties, his choice was beer. Today most of the white collar folks I know choose pot.

[russspeakeasy]

116. I get the two mixed up on occassion.

I liked the candidate a hell of a lot better than this "typical politician".

[rhett o rick]

125. Yeah, but it's campaign time again. nm

[pinto]

68. Yeah, agree. If nothing else it will at least bring things into focus re -

the Feral stance, the Sate law and local enforcement.

[Ruby the Liberal]

94. Love the freudian slip there.

Feral about sums it up.

:thumbsup:

[Red1]

3. Pharmy Corp Nazi

Needing to nip it in the bud..
Scripts down...people laid off, no insurance....

pharmy corps are hurtin...

[MannyGoldstein]

4. I, for one, am proud that our DOJ can stand up to the sick

and all of the other power brokers such as the elderly, the poor, and worker.

[sulphurdunn]

62. It is truly amazing how something

as simple as putting half an infinitive in a prepositions place can turn the meaning of a clause on its head. :applause:

[RoccoR5955]

66. You forgot the sarcasm tag n/t

[callous taoboy]

134. Doesn't need one. Words are dripping with sarcasm.

You need a tag to recognize sarcasm? Seriously?

[Jackpine Radical]

154. Yes, especially while defending minorities

like the 1%ers from the ravening mob.

[slackmaster]

169. Doubleplus good duckspeak, Comrade Goldstein!

You have always been one of our greatest national heroes.

[msongs]

5. murder civilians with drones = good, pot shop = bad. Obama's values on display nt

[musiclawyer]

6. Clubs "too close to schools"

Not all dispensaries. The first link sucks because it does not give you any context and makes you think its all dispensaries. Not even the Feds are THAT crazy

[musiclawyer]

8. That being said

All CA dispensaries are under hodge podge state regulation. There is no federal law as to local zoning. Which means that local elected officials are prompting the Feds. These are the people who should be targeted.
But it doesn't really matter. The harder the Feds trye, the more votes we will get out her in CA and COL for full legalization Nov 2012. Bring it Feds. Bring it. We can't have any better PR other than paid ads on TV

[Uncle Joe]

13. I agree with that as well but could this

also be a De facto recognition by the feds that the industry has legitimacy but should have societal regulation just as liquor stores do?

[Uncle Joe]

10. That's a critical part of this story and shouldn't have been glossed over by the author.

Thanks for pointing that out, musiclawyer.:thumbsup:

[pscot]

184. Except it's not part of this story

This is a general crackdown on any and all dispensaries. This is a coordinated effort by all 4 U.S Attorneys in California. It's a DOJ action, not some local prosecutor tring to make his bones. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-10-07/california-pot-clinic-crackdown-threatens-1-billion-industry.html

[DisgustipatedinCA]

12. thank you for the clarification

I'm still not happy with Mr. Obama's less-than-truthful flipflops on MMJ, but it is good to know that this is at least a limited and targeted thing.

[Abq_Sarah]

19. But they are crazy enough

To use the IRS to go after dispensaries.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/10/04/BAC51LDGO6.DTL

[DisgustipatedinCA]

40. Do you have a link for this?

I just found an article on MSNBC that seems to say the same thing the OP says. Where did you read that this action is limited to shops that are too close to schools? I'd like to confirm one way or another. Thank you.

[FreeState]

76. Wh cares how close they are to schools? It's a pharmacy! N/t

[SomethingFishy]

80. Yeah right.. for the rest of the dispensaries they are changing

the tax laws to put them out of business.

The feds are that crazy.

[bowens43]

90. So? How is this different then a pharmacy?

rationalize all you like, there is no defense for this

[boppers]

130. Pharmacies sell rigorously tested, controlled substances.

...Which are constantly re-tested for quality and effectiveness, and are highly regulated in efforts to avoid abuse, poor product, and public risks.

If you want medical grade cannabinoids, you can buy that from a pharmacy, with a prescription. Legally. In all 50 states. Next to a school, even from a for-profit distributor.

If you want street grade weed, sold by people more interested in profiting off addictions than concerned about medicine.... well, that's a totally different product, and premise.

[axollot]

133. Actually you're wrong. If you are thinking of the tablet - it's not as effective because

it contains NO cannabinoids only synthetic THC. Folks that have tried it rather than regular weed have found how ineffective it is.

On top of that a doctor has to have a special license to even presribe it. It rarely gets into the hands that would need it.

That is the only MJ related drug all 50 states agree on and that you can get at a regular pharmacy.

If you are talking about folks on government pot - they stopped accepting new patients in the 90's and it doesnt come from the pharmacy either. It's shipped directly.

Sorry Medical grade cannabinoids just arent available at a pharmacy. Don't take my word for it. Do the research on MJ vs. marinol (marinol is only sythetic THC NO cannabinoids.)

Cheers
Sandy

edit for typo

[axollot]

138. PS: Pot isnt addictive. It's not a "gateway" drug and you can't OD on it either.

May I suggest you read about some rigorous tests done - available at www.safeaccessnow.org

All the medical journals from the UK to the New England also talk of it's benefits through one of the largest studies (the safe access site references it. As does other sites.) As I mentioned I do a lot of research as a chronic pain patient living in a state where it is NOT legal. My doctors understand it's benefits and vaporizers mean no more inhalation of toxic tar just the thc and cannabinoids there are about 100 different cannabinoids in one bud.

Cheers
Sandy

[frylock]

172. how many people die annually using those "rigorously tested, controlled substances?"

now how many people die annually using cannabis?

[duhneece]

187. Exactly!

Many pharmaceutical products decrease life spans by decades. Decades.

[duhneece]

186. But the pharmaceuticals are not necessarily safer than street drugs

Atypical psychotropics shorten the average mental health patient/consumer by decades. I'll pit plain old cannabis against many pharmaceutical industry products anytime for safety.

[No Elephants]

140. The feds have gone aftrer all dispensaries.

[keopeli]

9. I take this to mean Obama no longer wants/needs the youth vote? n/t

[totodeinhere]

115. It's not only the youth. The average client at a medical marijuana dispensary

is middle aged or older.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

11. Barack Obama has sorely disappointed me r.e. MMJ

Edited because someone provided information that this did not refer to all dispensaries in CA.

Still, Obama and Holder have been a great disappointment r.e. medical marijuana.

[Name removed]

38. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Honeycombe8]

106. I think it's the DOJ. Obama doesn't control the DOJ. But I don't know...

if they'd stop actions if the President asked. But the Exec Branch isn't supposed to control the legal department, the DOJ. Remember the uproar over the Bush W.H. stacking the DOJ with Republicans and firing Democrats? And even firing Republican DOJ attorneys for not pursuing legal actions against Democrats?

[FLAprogressive]

111. Yes he does. It's part of the executive branch. It's not part of the judicial branch.

[red dog 1]

118. Obama DOES control the Justice Department.

So what if "W" was an evil bastard who fired U.S. Attorneys, mostly Republicans, because they wanted to prosecute friends of the "Bush Crime Family"?
What the hell does that have to do with Obama's Justice Department going after medical marijuana dispensaries now?

"Shortly after President Obama took office in 2009, Attorney General Eric Holder issued his now infamous 'Ogden memo'.. In this memo, Holder ordered U.S. Attorneys General to stop federal prosecutions of patients and caregivers in states where medical marijuana has been legalized".
http://justsaynow.firedoglake.com/2011/06/21/tell-attorney-general-keep-obamas-promises

[nichomachus]

15. So marriage should be a states rights issue, but not this. Thanks for nothing.

[jmowreader]

45. It's a different issue

With the exception of the Defense of Marriage Act (which is in violation of the 10th Amendment's "full faith and credit" clause and is therefore unconstitutional in full, and the only reason it hasn't been thrown out is we've got five Supreme Court justices who swore an oath to protect and defend the Bible) marriage is governed solely at the state level. Moreover, many states have no "residency" requirement for people who want to get married there, a fact the Las Vegas and Hawaii tourism boards are REAL happy about.

Pot, however, is federally banned.

The problem we have with all the state-level MMJ laws is very simple: federal law overrides state law. As long as weed is listed on DEA Schedule I, and not Schedule III or IV where it belongs, pot is not nor can it be a states' rights issue.

I want there to be MMJ clinics in every state, so people who need marijuana can get it. I think if you were to sit President Obama down in a place where he could speak totally off the record he'd tell you the same thing. The problem is, we've got a president whose grip on power is being loosened by people who are willing to go to any length to destroy his presidency. I mean, come on: they've called him a Muslim, foreign-born, a communist sympathizer, a terrorist sympathizer, in league with radical America-hating preachers...all this hate-filled garbage and all of it lies. He even bowed to pressure from these assholes and released his long-form birth certificate--and got exactly the response I thought he'd get: "it's fake!" They still believe...



this is his genuine birth certificate.

So...do you think the president wants "he is going to hook all our kids on drugs" added to the list of atrocities he's accused of?

[provis99]

16. this from a President who bragged about smoking pot.

[Dogtown]

27. No. This from individual

US Attorneys (probably appointed by Bush) defying the president.

I believe the real intent is to convince us that it's Obama's policy in order to turn the Left against him and rob him of votes.

This has nothing to do with a desire to control cannabis usage; it's pure politicking.

[arcane1]

60. US Attorneys (probably appointed by Bush) that Obama didn't replace?

:shrug:

[Dogtown]

143. See post #142

I don't expect the POTUS to micromanage every outpost of his administration on a daily basis.

I do believe these are rogue elements pushing an agenda for political reasons and that their pathetic and impotent tantrums will be quashed in good time.

[rpannier]

87. U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy

Laura E. Duffy was sworn in as the Presidentially-appointed United States Attorney for the Southern District of California on June 2, 2010.

Ms. Duffy joined the United States Department of Justice in 1993. From 1993 to 1997, she was assigned at Justice Department Headquarters in Washington, D.C., first to the Criminal Division Money Laundering Section and later to the Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Section. In 1997, Ms. Duffy became an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of California. Prior to being sworn in as U.S. Attorney, she was a Deputy Chief in the General Crimes Section of the office. From 1997-2008, Ms. Duffy worked in the Narcotics Enforcement Section as an Assistant United States Attorney where she prosecuted Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement

http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/usattorney/index.html

She's not a Bushie

[totodeinhere]

117. Oh those pesky little facts. n/t

[Dogtown]

142. I made an assumption.

I believe I qualified it as such.

In any event, trying to lay the blame for a regional defiance of Obama's stated doctrine on Obama is disingenuous.

This is clearly a case of politicking, despite who appointed the rogue US Attorneys involved.

Thanks for your research and clarification though.

[rpannier]

207. Yes you did. One thing I would point out

Another poster noted it was an attorney in SD (Jan Goldsmith?) that filed the complaint
My father was a federal attorney and federal judge for over 40 years and one of the things I learned is, "When a complaint is filed federal attorneys follow a 'paint by the numbers' pattern until directed otherwise

It is distinctly possible that the complaints was filed, it was investigated and based on policy as written the attorneys are moving as they are and once someone above them in the DOJ directs them to act differently they will.

One thing many people don't take into account (though I don't think you're one of them) is that there are procedures that these attorneys are required to follow. If they didn't follow the procedures you'd have attorneys doing whatever the hell they felt like regardless of what the rules are.

I'm not blaming the Obama Administration, nor am I blaming the attorneys. I'm waiting to see how this goes forward and see whether or not this was just people following directive or not

On the bright side of it. If it is, procedures often get changed faster as a result of something like this because it becomes embarrassing for many people.

[tridim]

181. Ratfucking 101

Think about it, if you were a paid Republican ratfucker who wanted to gain votes in CA what would you do?

Sell the Republican brand? :rofl:

[DreamSmoker]

17. conflict between the government and the medical marijuana industry my ASS

This is the Feds flexing their Muscle again..

Think about it..
This Government has done absolutely nothing to move this issue forward..
NOTHING.. The very same few in Congress introduce bills each and every year..
All the rest do nothing but worry about their seats..
Just like they do with most everything today as Americans get much worse..

This now creates the worst kinds of discrimination of all..
JUSTIFIABLE DISCRIMINATION by law.....

If you know American History???
You know this Government has learned absolutely nothing from Prohibition...
NOTHING.....

[Hell Hath No Fury]

18. Wow...

Putting the hammer down on pot clubs, record numbers of deportations, more whistleblowers charged -- his administration sure can go big on "Justice" when it suits them.

I guest investigating war crimes just doesn't suit them :shrug:

[musiclawyer]

22. The solution is simple

Help the people in charge pass the measures in CA and COL. Then there is no going back. Like the end of prohibition.

I'm not sure the folks in charge are good at marketing. They need money to run ads NOW, explaining why MJ is illegal, who is benfitting from illegality, revenue implications for economy, JOBS, and resources freed up to fight real crime.

I can come up with ten effective 15 second ads in about half an hour.

Here.............My first one would be a) image of POTUS as a young man ( voice over--"this guy dabbled in marijuana" b) image of POTUS now ( voice over-- "and now he is president of the united states" but his money went to criminals and not the tax collector" c) image --"Legalize and tax Cannabis 2012." Boom !


There............It doesn't take rocket science to move the needle, but they need money and ideas. Give it to them

[TacticalPeek]

20. William Panzer ... said the days are numbered for the current ... medical marijuana dispensaries.

Landlords, Property Owners Are New Targets in Anti-Pot Strategy

The federal government is intensifying its efforts to smother California’s pot industry by targeting not only medical marijuana dispensaries and growers, but also those who do business with them.

The latest possible targets: landlords and property owners who rent buildings or land where dispensaries sell or cultivators grow marijuana.

The U.S. attorneys from California’s four federal districts are preparing to unveil in the coming days their latest effort to push a coordinated statewide marijuana enforcement strategy. That approach includes the possible seizure of land or buildings leased to marijuana operations that may be legal under state law but remain illegal under federal statutes.

William Panzer, an Oakland attorney who co-authored Proposition 215, the 1996 ballot initiative that legalized medical marijuana in California, said the days are numbered for the current model for medical marijuana dispensaries.

"It's an effective strategy because they're basically saying to landlords, 'If you don't do this, then you lose your property, and we could also come after you criminally,' " he said.

http://blogs.kqed.org/newsfix/2011/10/06/landlords-property-owners-are-new-targets-in-anti-pot-strategy/


--------

Department of Brownshirt Justice

[Purveyor]

42. Let's not forget this: IRS Ruling Strikes Fear In Medical Marijuana Industry

In a potentially crushing blow to the burgeoning medical marijuana industry, the IRS has ruled that dispensaries cannot deduct standard business expenses such as payroll, security or rent.

Harborside Health Center, one of the nation's largest medical marijuana dispensaries and considered a model for the industry, is on the hook for $2.5 million in taxes from 2007 and 2008. That is $2 million more than the Oakland, Calif.-based company paid for those tax years.

“I see only two outcomes here,” said Steve DeAngelo, director and chief executive of Harborside. “Either this IRS assessment has to change or we go out of business. There really isn’t a middle ground for us.”

DeAngelo says the ruling will likely be appealed. He has 90 days to respond to the ruling.

Read more: http://bottomline.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/10/05/815345...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=5016911

[shanti]

83. why just california?

there are mm statutes in several states.

[Trillo]

24. Waiting for Gov. Brown to weigh in....

[IamK]

25. Obama has pretty vocal against this action, read his statement below...

[MannyGoldstein]

26. Then he can tell the DOJ to stop.

He's their boss.

[dbackjon]

32. Exactly.

[texastoast]

49. Absolutely

There are a lot of vested interests in keeping pot illegal. It would be interesting to see in whose coffers those interests' campaign contributions found a home.

[SomethingFishy]

81. Really? perhaps you missed this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2064014

Whether it's Obama or his administration, anyone trying to give the current administration a walk on this is fooling themselves. They have declared WAR on Medical Marijuana. If the DOJ won't get rid of them than they will have the IRS do it.

[bowens43]

89. as usual the pres is all talk.....

Obama has been a complete and utter disaster.....

[hvn_nbr_2]

91. His statement below what? Below where?

What are you talking about?

[Name removed]

28. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[DeSwiss]

30. rEvolution, because this shit can't be fixed. - K&R n/t

[Beavker]

31. Really working hard! Nice work. Not.

Going for the low hanging fruit. This country is a pathetic joke. Do some REAL work you jerkoff.

[Purveyor]

33. Us Attorneys Threaten Calif. Medical Pot Dispensaries With Widespread Closures

Source: ASSOCIATED PRESS

By Associated Press

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, California’s s four U.S. attorneys sent letters Wednesday and Thursday notifying at least 16 pot shops or their landlords that they are violating federal drug laws, even though medical marijuana is legal in California. The attorneys are scheduled to announce their coordinated 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.”

“Under United States law, a dispensary’s operations involving sales and distribution of marijuana are illegal and subject to criminal prosecution and civil enforcement actions,” letters signed by U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy in San Diego read. “Real and personal property involved in such operations are subject to seizure by and forfeiture to the United States ... regardless of the purported purpose of the dispensary.”

MORE...

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/apnewsbreak-us-attorneys-threaten-calif-medical-pot-dispensaries-with-widespread-closures/2011/10/06/gIQAiprjQL_story.html

[iamthebandfanman]

34. but but but

i thought the administration said they wouldnt do this kinda stuff anymore!?

you mean... oh my god... he didnt mean it !?

[Name removed]

37. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[dogmoma56]

51. probably just want to Coporatize the production, distribution and sales..$$ keep it in the family$$

[Vanje]

35. I guess 'states rights' only applies to Gay marriage.

...

[meow mix]

36. worse than the last guy,

so much fail.

[Taverner]

46. Fuck this country. It's a fascist state.

[Xicano]

39. Ahhh Yes.....The Beauty of TRIAL BY A JURY OF YOUR PEERS

"JURY NULLIFICATION" A big reason behind the concept of a jury of your peers being the last vestige against arbitrary government.

Thank you founding fathers...

[russspeakeasy]

41. ...go arrest a politician....instead.

[musiclawyer]

43. If POTUS wanted to get back love lost

and pretty much wrap up the west coast and colorado, the administration would issue a short press release stating that those US attorneys are fired. They serve at-will no? But POTUS is kind of an idiot on this issue is he not? Smart men can do stupid things, right?

[musiclawyer]

44. POTUS better call back the dogs, and FAST

Because if this keeps up, perception trumps reeality and CA will be in play, not because people will vote for the repugnant, but because they won't come out. And if CA is is play, then.............heaven help us

[russspeakeasy]

47. That is correct... but it will never happen.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

48. Wrong -- they are targeting those within 1,000 feet of schools:

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/san_francisco&id=8379212

[SomethingFishy]

82. Yeah the DOJ is... they are siccing the IRS on the rest of them.

By cutting off their deductions for salaries, rent and security. You can read about it here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2064014



Spin this all you want. The Obama administration has declared war on the Medical Marijuana industry.

[contrarian22]

86. appointees

All appointees in California are Obama's

[dogmoma56]

50. here is the Wiki for Jan Goldsmith ..a wannabe politician

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Goldsmith

[slackmaster]

188. That's a pretty weak and incomplete Wiki article. I have known Goldsmith for many years.

There's a lot more to him than that, but more important IMO he's part of a surprisingly strong and slowly growing movement of moderate Republicans in San Diego County who have had several successes recently, including the election last year of new city council member Lori Zapf.

It may be fair to call him a wannabe politician in the sense that he's probably never going to achieve much power personally, but he is very well connected and wields a lot of influence in the area.

[MedicalAdmin]

52. Dear Mr. Holder.

Are you kidding? You won't go after war criminals. You won't touch wall street? You are pretty silent about voters being disenfranchised?

But a few pot shops and you go apeshit? Get your fucking priorities in order.

[red dog 1]

204. Did Holder lie to Congress about ATF's "Fast & Furious" program

[Blacksheep214]

53. It seems like yet another issue

to put on the citizens list of grievences while we Occupy America!

Are they after all shops or just the 16?

[Uncle Joe]

56. I hope Occupy America takes this issue up, apparently legalization of cannabis was the most

asked question on the White House online petition site.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1992215

I believe the American People are far ahead of the politicians on this issue and I would hate to see Obama become as disconnected from the people as Herbert Hoover did over Prohibition.

[red dog 1]

54. 2009 Memo authorizing the use of medical marijuana (The Ogden Memo)

October 19, 2009
MEMORANDUM FOR SELECTED UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS ON INVESTIGATIONS AND PROSECUTIONS IN STATES AUTHORIZING THE MEDICAL USE OF MARIJUANA

"Today Attorney General Eric Holder announced formal guidelines for Federal prosecutors in states that have enacted laws authorizing the use of marijuana for medical purposes. These guidelines are contained in a memo from Deputy Attorney General David W. Ogden which was sent to United States Attorneys this morning"

HTTP://BLOGS.USDOJ.GOV/BLOG/ARCHIVES/102

[slackmaster]

162. 2011 memo by Deputy Attorney General James Cole...

"...seemed to backtrack from the Ogden memo. It said that 'individuals with cancer or other serious illnesses' who use marijuana, or their caregivers, still would not be prosecuted. But it defined caregivers narrowly and excluded 'commercial operations cultivating, selling or distributing' marijuana."

Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper, print edition, October 7, 2011, page A5

[slackmaster]

164. October 2011: US attorneys in California sent letters to property owners and landlords of medical...

"...marijuana dispensaries saying such sales and distribution are illegal under federal law, and their property could be seized. They were given 45 days to close the operations."

Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper, print edition, October 7, 2011, page A5

[Ccarmona]

55. The Medical Marijuana Industry

has bent over backwards to stay within legal guidelines and to be good taxpaying citizens.

Can anyone say the same thing about the crooks on Wall St?

[NICO9000]

58. That's a great point

:yourock:

[joeglow3]

75. If only that were true

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/10/06/1853746/easy-green-cards-have-discredited.html

[20score]

57. Sociopaths, reactionaries, sadists and morons have far too much power in this country.

What civilized country/people would withhold medicine from the ill? Or have prohibition continue to ruin millions of lives, for that matter?

[liberation]

59. Glad that the feds have their priorities straight

it is not like there are more pressing crimes to investigate that have affected the lives of millions of Americans or anything....


(sarcasm of course).

[smuglysmiling]

61. The voters 16 states have made the decision to allow this.

The Federal representatives for these 16 states should band together and draft legislation to defund enforcement in those 16 states by the DEA, DOJ, IRS, and another other Federal Agency. If not, they all need to be voted out until those elected will.

[LittleGirl]

63. So is Ron Paul going to start an occupation, like OWS?

He should. He wants pot legalized. I do too.
edit: WTF is wrong with them?

[tooeyeten]

64. 1920s all over again

when Prohibition was rockin' and rollin' over Americans.

[RoccoR5955]

65. Why are they bothering these people, and not the banks?

I think that there is a direct correlation.

[marginlized]

67. The CA Initiative to Legalize made strange bedfellows...

Some of the MJ shops were on record as opposed to legalization because it would have hurt their monopoly. So now with Federal threats to their monopoly, I wonder whose side they'd be on if another initiative were floated? Presumably an awful lot of money has already been made in the business.

And the only crime Goldsmith ought to solve is that bad toupee he's got on his head.

[ellisonz]

209. Exactly, if they toned it down...

...they wouldn't bring so much heat.

[benld74]

69. I'll be back in 10,,,,,,,,,,

[sarcasmo]

70. The cartels would be weaker if the Feds just taxed it and legalized it.

[OwnedByFerrets]

71. Dont you just love the priorities of this administration?

[Bennyboy]

72. This could be the last straw for Obama....

he lost CA with this move. SERIOUSLY. NO FUCKING WAY. FUCK HM AND FUCK THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

[musiclawyer]

77. I've been saying this on other threads

This is heart attack serious

Even if they are just targeting the clubs in the vicinity of schools, it's a local zoning/code enforcement matter. Period.

The optics are horrific. Obama needs to issue a statment and stop this immediately. Otherwise CA is in play because the young and old won't come out. This is a GOP wet dream, and it's all self inflicted. Firing the US attorneys would be his best move to make this a very ephemeral thing and not turn into an issue for the 99%............

[shanti]

85. but obama has already stated

metaphorically that he doesn't really care if he wins a second term :shrug:

[Ruby the Liberal]

97. Thats an awesome stance for down ticket races.

But I know how you feel. Its beyond frustrating.

[Ruby the Liberal]

96. Add this to the list of self-inflicted wounds

Whats left - double down on DOMA in the next few months?

[Cherchez la Femme]

114. This is just too much

he says one thing and does the opposite. Constantly.

This will not wash with our fellow citizens. It just won't.
While war criminals and speculators and profiteers prance freely around town knowing they haven't a single thing to worry about in re: our "Justice System".
And those 'too big to fail so the people must bail them out or DOOM!' are STILL too big to fail, and waiting to happen again.

I know I've had enough. Wrong direction indeed.

[and-justice-for-all]

74. Yeah! fucking brillant...ten steps back...nt

[FirstLight]

78. WTF? I thought our president said he wasn;t gonna pursue this?

He promised quite clearly that the AG would not be prosecuting these people


oh yeah, he doesnt keep *those* kinds of promises

[dotymed]

79. Another Distraction and Inequality for the people.

By doing this "they" hope to take the eyes of a nation off the the protests, IMO.

[Utopian Leftist]

84. An ironic aspec of all this

is that I was informed just yesterday via ASA Newsletter that crime rates in neighborhoods surrounding California dispensaries are actually going DOWN! Here is a quote:

Study Shows Medical Cannabis Dispensaries Cut Crime
RAND Report Confirms ASA Findings on Regulated Collectives
A report from the respected RAND Corporation has confirmed that medical cannabis dispensaries do not increase crime in their neighborhoods. On the contrary, they reduce it.

The report compared crime reported in areas around dispensaries in Los Angeles while they were operating and after they were closed by order of the LA City Council, as well as those that remained open. RAND found that crime rates more than doubled in the neighborhoods where the medical cannabis collectives were forced to close.

--snip--

The RAND study examined Los Angeles crime data within a 10-day window before and after June 7, 2010, the date on which the LA City Council ordered the vast majority of the city’s 600-plus dispensaries to close. RAND compared crime reports between neighborhoods where dispensaries closed and those where dispensaries remained open. A total of 600 were included -- 170 dispensaries that remained open and 430 that were ordered closed.

The researchers found that within three blocks of a closed dispensary, crime increased an average of 60 percent.

http://americansforsafeaccess.org/downloads/RAND_Study.pdf

http://americansforsafeaccess.org/downloads/dispensaries.pdf

[Betsy Ross]

88. We can shift to home delivery.

I would just be concerned that it would be much easier and that there would more motivation for delivery services not to pay the local taxes. Harborside and many other local dispensaries have been paying large amounts to the city and state.

[krabigirl]

174. that's what would happen if they shut them all down. it would be impossible to find all of them.

[YOHABLO]

92. Is Obama Just "Square"

You think Obama even tried pot in his younger days? Obama is just not cool, he's a geek. This is nothing more than incentive for those selling pot illegally to rack up the $$$cash. This is not going down without a fight .. for sure. Nah, Obama missed out on the "Summer of Love". I wonder, did he vote for Carter or Reagan? Hmmm makes me wonder.

[Ruby the Liberal]

98. WTF are you rambling about?

[Robb]

95. So there are only 16 dispensaries in all of California?

Quite the crackdown. :shrug:

[Bluenorthwest]

147. The IRS is going after the others. Get informed.

Snark and an emoticon is very last spring, the time for weak sauce like that is past.
I wonder, Robb, how many businesses being harassed while following State law it would take to bother you? Is there a number you are comfortable with, and a limit after which you would not accept this?
What they are doing is the exact opposite of what Barack Obama said up and down the West Coast. One of his reasons given for not harassing these businesses is that our law enforcement has better things to do, so we here will conclude that he is now announcing that all the more important issues have been dealt with, he included terrorism on that list. So terrorism is no longer a priority compared to Grandma's medicine.
He said one thing, to our faces, again and again. Then he did another. That will not be popular here, even those who oppose our Medical Marijuana laws will more strongly oppose Federal interference after a promise of no interference. The indie voters here will be unhappy with the lack of honesty and with the interference.
What's the emoticon for 'losing all the West Coast Indies'?

[Robb]

170. But you see, Bluenorthwest, 16 is not all of them.

Numbers are important, I think. And if these are trafficking under the cover of MMJ, they are being targeted appropriately -- and, I'd add, exactly as this administration described it would.

At least Diverman's "nose in the tent" point makes sense. What's the emoticon for conflating a dozen or so issues?

[Divernan]

148. Camel's nose, meet tent.

[progressiveinaction]

99. Un. Fuckin. Believable.

Leave weed alone!

[idrahaje]

101. didn't know America's economy could afford

to waste money like this. you know the people will have to be forced to get it illegally. wonder if the Feds work for the drug lords..

[existentialist]

102. This makes no sense.

Of course a lot of things don't make any sense.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

103. not good. not good at all.

:(

[wial]

104. another reason for a primary challenge

at the very least.

[hourglass1]

107. STATE'S RIGHTS!!!!!!

Where is the so-called "TEA PARTY" on this? It's a state's rights issue. Where are the plaintiff screams of "State's Rights"?

Mr OBAMA how many promises can you break and expect to get reelected? Get your worthless corporate tool of an AG, Holder, on to the war crimes, war criminals, war profiteers, fraudulent banking practices, and the other federal crimes of the past administration first!

[lib2DaBone]

108. More hope and change from our Conceder-In-Chief

[blackspade]

112. What a disgrace.

[whathappened]

113. 1 brain for all of the po

there messing around in mi. also , assholes

[MindPilot]

119. Obama has turned me into a single-issue non-voter.

Shit, the Republicans don't even need a candiate...

[Rageneau]

121. Me. too. I vote for Ron Paul of for no one.

I'd rather have the pukes in charge than be screwed more by the people who are supposed to care about science.

[krabigirl]

201. Yep, sorry Obama is wrong on this and on the wars, the patriot act, etc.

[RainDog]

214. LOL. that's sort of a way crazy statement you made there

...you'd "rather have the pukes in charge than be screwed more by the people who are supposed to care about science."

where's the logic in this? Republicans are bad or worse on a host of issues, so the party that isn't anti-science - that doesn't have a full special interest sector DEVOTED to anti-science, anti freedom of choice - you'd rather have that?

you'd rather have those in charge who led the charge to create the draconian WoD laws, who led the charge to deregulate the financial sector?

I hope this was just frustration talking because it sounds like ratfucking.

[frylock]

176. my list of single issues grows almost every week with this guy

[colsohlibgal]

120. We Don't Have Bigger Things Going On?

Just ridiculous, pot should be legal period.

You might think POTUS might want to really go after Wall Street's thieves/fraudsters but no, Obama was asked about that today and gave a really wimpy non answer, the man wants my cash but he's got his priorities out of whack.

[russspeakeasy]

122. Does this administration have zero political savy ?

[harun]

123. Eff off Feds

[socialismNanarchy]

124. Obama is statuo quo- he works for the corporations and central bank

You would have known that Obama supported the war on drugs had you actually looked at his voting record as a senator instead of blindly believe his lying words and the corporate media. You also would have known that Obama is status quo and is a war lover, loves the patriot act, a corporatist, and loves giving trillions of dollars in corporate welfare to billion dollar banks and big corps.......you would have known that Obama was nothing but a corporatist central banker puppet just like Bush.

[Jack Sprat]

128. Outrageous. A nation founded on hemp

deprives its' patients and the general public of wondrous effects of this plant. For whatever reason, the powers that be do not want to allow people to enjoy the benefits. It's a conspiracy of sorts.

[Mr Deltoid]

131. Obama the liar

“What I’m not going to be doing is using Justice Department resources to try to circumvent state laws.”

Barack Obama, Oregon Mail Tribune, March 22, 2008

[red dog 1]

203. Obama IS a lier.

"I don't think that should be a top priority of us, raiding people who are using..medical marijuana. With all the things we've got to worry about, and our Justice Department should be doing, that probably shouldn't be a high priority"
(Town Hall meeting in Laconia, New Hampshire, June 2, 2007)

[Beam Me Up]

132. Not just corporations like big pharma, organized crime wants to keep pot illegal too.

Prohibition increases the price to the consumer and insures that only those who can buy protection succeed in the business. What has happened in California is a kind of "democratic" growth industry. There is a lot of competition in the growing place. Growing pot is a sort of "people's" industry. A lot of young, would be pot entrepreneurs, out there doing their thing. The dispensaries are "sitting ducks" legally. The Feds know exactly where they are and there's only the barest pretense covering what they are doing. Yeah, they are selling pot to sick people. They're also selling pot to anyone who gets a club card and, truly, if you want one, you can get one.

So, why all of a sudden this "crack down" (a common phrase I quite dislike)?

If they shut down the clubs, shutting down the growers won't be far behind. So what happens? The whole system -- and we're talking revenue in the billions here, folks -- goes back underground and, once again, totally black market. The police and the narcs are used to monitor the whole scene. Anyone not paying the right people off gets busted. Anyone in the right place to get paid off can make a lot of money so long as they behave and keep up their end of whatever "bargain" they've made with the devil his own self. An added benefit is it helps insure that the State of California doesn't go maverick and legalize it outright, and begin taxing it for its own coffers. No way in hell those who control our Federal government are going to let that happen. They didn't pull and "Enron" on the State for nothing. They know California can sometimes "get too big for its britches," so to speak, and the last thing they want is for that State to have a Cash Cow economy they can't control. Hell, if they don't have prosecutors on the tit, if one had a more legitimate interest or source of income, he might start doing his job without bias. Can't have worms turning, now, can we?

At this point I'd have to say, no, indeed. Not unless they're ready to take it all the way and start digging out those RICO statutes. And not unless they have honest judges willing to back them up. And most importantly, not unless there is a citizenry ready to raise holly hell if they don't. I've yet to be shown there is any of that but I'm open to being convinced otherwise.


IMO.

[_ed_]

135. Wall St is next, right?

????

[occupy_wall_street]

141. INVITATION TO WALL STREET -- for Saturday at 11 AM at Liberty Park @ Red Cube corner

Please assemble peacefully at 140 Broadway.

A company such as Apple or General Motors or the old Ben & Jerrys has a responsibility to act in a responsible manner. Profit is not bad, but adding social justice makes these organizations much better.

The companies of Financial Capitalism are different. The crimes of their employees are what produced the Great Recession of 2008 and massive unemployment. They also took trillions of dollars from retirement funds and from other small investors.

Prosecute Wall Street's criminals. Fraud is still fraud. Banking regulations cannot to cited to usurp the general protections of the Common Law.

No one ever thought of prosecuting Steve Job for anything. He was not a criminal. He was a good man. Steve Jobs would not have been a success on today's Wall Street. "We Are The 1%" was not his motto.

"Think different" sums it up.

-- DU members are all invited to come to the Occupy Wall Street site on Saturday, October 8th at 11 AM

-- Please assemble peacefully at the Red Cube at 140 Broadway, at the corner of Broadway and Liberty Street

-- A speaker from OWS will greet everyone from DU. A statement of purpose and an invitation to support OWS will be presented.

That site can accommodate 250 DU members and their friends easily. As many as 1,000 extra people connected to DU can be accommodated directly with OWS plans for Saturday afternoon.



Freely exercise your freedom of speech and of the press; and the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Please, feel free to do all of this with Occupy Wall Street.

[DaveJ]

144. I don't think this will be a problem

I have several rational points to make, so a list might be easier:

1) The OP left out this is only 14 dispensaries, the ones close to SCHOOLS!
2) There are 7,982 dispensaries in California, 638 dispensaries in LA alone.
3) So far, I've found nothing pro Democrat written by the OP
4) People who NEED marijuana will get it elsewhere at one of the other 7,968 dispensaries
5) People who REALLY care about the medical implications will rationally realize there are 7,968 other places to go.
6) Potheads who are feigning the medical needs argument will forget about the issue due to short term memory loss
7) Someone above made the point that the last thing Obama needs is to be associated with promoting cannabis
8) Sometimes Federal authority needs to be tested, because states can do crazy things (see slavery)
9) This was initiated by the California State's attorneys no Obama

I'm fine as long as there are still other places to obtain marijuana. I think this post is intended to hurt Democrats.

[Jakes Progress]

146. It's not the post. It's the policy.

But then. You seem fine with that. Anything you wouldn't be fine with?

[slackmaster]

150. "Goldsmith said he plans to bring most, if not all, of the remaining dispensaries before the court"

"..., arguing they violate local zoning laws."

From the article cited in the OP.

[Bluenorthwest]

152. wrong so many times. Not CA State's attornies at all

Federal Judges, appointed by Obama, all of them. So even the most basic facts in your post are incorrect, wrong, made up, improvised to fit your agenda.
In addition, Obama keeps saying that civil rights should be left up to the States to decide, yet on this he is coming with judges and the IRS and imposing Federal law for no good reason at all. But basic human rights, he says, should be voted on by Alabama. Disgusting is the word for this duplicity.

[frylock]

177. could be attributed to short-term memory loss as experienced by most dick heads

[randome]

160. +2

[byronius]

180. I appreciate your rational take. Strange how every little thing gets pinned on the O.

It's like someone wants him out of the way or something.

Thanks, DaveJ. This thread is full of Obama-rage. I'm not on board.

PS: I have a license. I'm not worried about this at all, except about the roque CA attorneys and poisonous DEA admins still lurking from the Dark Years.

May they all fade into history.

[panzerfaust]

151. Just a bit more "Change You Can Believe In"

Unfortunately, "Belief" is not Reality

[Deep13]

153. WTF? Do the Feds have nothing better to do? nt

[David Sky]

156. This is what we are paying Federal attorneys to prosecute? When there are

hundreds of bankers and others who rip us off?

Not to mention dozens of Republican voter suppression campaigns that should be looked into.

We waste time and resources going after pot dispensaries?

[flamingdem]

157. from the OP article comments: Merchants in it for a buck, not to help patients w/ real prescriptions

zenmonk
I think they would. Unfortunalty there is no seperation from the people who really want to help sick people and those that are trying to legalize it for everyone. I'll never forget how my brother (a stage 4 cancer patient) got a perscription from his oncoligist for MJ. He went to one of the dispensaries who had just had an article written on them and the owner was stating how he was only in it to help sick people. He was denied even though he had a perscription from his oncoligist who had been following his case since diagnosis. He was told he would need to pay something like a hundred bucks to go to cannacare and get one of thier perscriptions. Total joke. These people are not in it to help sick people they are in it for the money. These mj perscription writers are just a scam motiviated by greed who walk around claiming they are helping sick people. I am all for medical MJ but if they cant get this squared away I think they should close all of these places down. The current enviroment is not what the voters voted for.

Read more: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/10/06/1853746/easy-green-cards-have-discredited.html#ixzz1a4x81euG

[frylock]

178. it costs like $35 to get a rec from a "doctor"

[Hotler]

158. Something stinks.

They are going all out in California. They have done some bust up in Montana yet all is quiet here in Denver. What is up with that. I wonder if there has been a push by big money lobbying in Washington to squeeze out the little guys so big money interest can get their hands on the markets. Yes there is some bad apples in the bunch but, go after the bad ones and leave the honest ones alone. A lot of times our government doesn't do anything unless it's a way to steer money into the hands of a few. Think MIC and the wars.

[mojowork_n]

159. Haven't had time to read through all the posts but...

...I skipped to the end and hear what you're saying.

Asking the 'who benefits' question, is it maybe conceivable -- as wildly improbable as it might sound -- that
liquor sales have been trending down lately, and the manufacturers of slow-poison-in-a-bottle have gone on
the lobbying war path?

Just a thought.




And if there's a "Tony Soprano" United Mob lobby, with close ties to certain federal government agencies,
that's pissed off about *legal* competition, maybe they're putting in a bad word, too?

For that matter, add the collective clout of the banks and financial giants that launder all that drug
money, who may also have close ties to some of the same federal agencies....

It's adds up to a juggernaut of opposition.



This is how I see the root problem. In the absence of healthy manufacturing and so many mega-corporations
swallowing up whole segments of the retail economy -- our financial health depends on dirty money.
...With the financial sector now a 33% slice of the total pie, and manufacturing teetering just above
10% (roughly, don't hold me to those exact numbers, the point being that those numbers were reversed
a decade or two ago), dirty money makes up the difference in a lot of balance sheets.

Maybe Catherine Austin Fitts (and a few others) have been right all along.

[Hotler]

163. Something else to throw into the pot.

The prison industry might be in on this also.

[tridim]

182. It's ratfucking.

Don't let it work.

[goforit]

171. The pathetic Fed. Meanwhile corporate America gets away with bloody murder.

[AllyCat]

173. More fuel for the rebellion. They keep pissin' on us, they will get it back...

...and then some. People need this LEGAL medication.

[krabigirl]

175. disgusting! obama admin says no money for services, but plenty of $$$ for this and wars overseas!!

[DreamSmoker]

179. MSNBC is now onboard with the Feds

This is posted this morning on MSNBC..
Notice the stupid comic Cartoons all bash Cannabis users..

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44806723/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/t/calif-pot-dispensaries-told-feds-shut-down/>1=43001#.To8lUrJdAtU

So the Head of the Federal Monster is going to turn on Americans now..
Even when Our president has made it his point to not use Federal Resources for this action...
His statement made History..
It was a blatant lie apparently and a setup...

[Dr Fate]

189. Cancer patients will just go back to buying from criminal enterprises, tax free.

If these busts and arrests are high profile enough, it will do nothing but make Obama more unpopular in progressive cities.

[Smilo]

190. This country sure has it's priorities - NOT n/t

[Crowman1979]

191. Well there was a liquor store a few blocks from my elementary school, so what!

More federally-induced fear.

[randome]

192. Another thread...

...where the OP never joins in the discussion. This seems to be designed to get us to turn on President Obama. And it worked.

This is part of what I posted on another thread in GD:

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The long and the short of it is this: marijuana will never be legalized and it's not that important an issue (IMHO) compared with everything else that's happening.

* There are many alternatives to marijuana for pain relief.

* Medical dispenseries WILL be abused and marijuana sold 'under the counter'.

* Society, right or wrong, has decided that alcohol and coffee are okay but pot is not. Live with it because, as I said (IMHO), it's not that important an issue.

* Pot is a mind-altering substance. Personally, I wouldn't mind the experience once in a while and I would not begrudge it to anyone else, either. But it's not that important.

* A few years back, there were a couple of high profile train wrecks that were caused by engineers smoking weed. All the rationalizations in the world about how pot does not impede cognition are bullshit because if it did not, why would anyone want to smoke it? I, for one, would not want to drive on a highway where people might be high.

It's never going to happen. All the wishing in the world will not make it so.

Let's work on ousting Republicans instead!!

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[krabigirl]

202. Ugh...sorry, but I completely disagree with you. People making their own choices IS very impotrtant.

If you don't see that, you don't get it.

[randome]

210. We accept limitations on our freedom every day.

Traffic lights. Motorcycle helmets. Financial regulations. Food safety.

I can see the point of view that pot should not be one of those things we accept limitations on but it's not something that keeps me awake at night.

There are more important things to worry about. IMHO.

[Yavapai]

195. Obama, change this or do without my vote!!!

[randome]

196. Yeah and while he's at that...

...how about we hold him to the fire to bring about world peace before the next election, too? Oh, and peace and prosperity and little ponies for all.

Life is more than a single issue and politics should be, also. If you don't want to vote in the next election, that's your perogative. But your comment seems designed to convince others to not vote also, which makes me question your motives.

[Le Taz Hot]

212. Oh for fuck sake.

All it would take is his recommendation that cannabis be removed from a Schedule I to a Schedule III or IV and the problem is solved. But he's too beholden to Big Pharma and doesn't want to be seen as soft on the war on (some) drugs. Iow, he's scared for his POLITICAL career. Meanwhile, thousands more lives will be diminished or even ruined because of this non-scientific, politically-motivated prohibition on a substance that could relieve suffering of millions. But he has his political career to think of dontcha know. :puke:

And just a reminder that it was Richard Nixon himself that ordered the Schedule I classification after a study that HE COMMISSIONED reported that cannabis was not addictive.

[randome]

213. 'Beholden to Big Pharma'

Not everything is a money-laden conspiracy, you know.

'All it would take' is actually a big step that would ruin the elections for Dems nationwide.

And I don't think Obama is 'scared', either. That sounds more like what you want to think than the reality.

I agree that a lot of the bullshit about pot is just that -bullshit. But it will never be made legal. Period. Society has spoken and it's not something that keeps me awake at night any more than I spend much time thinking of the unfairness of food safety laws or traffic lights.

With everything else that's happening in the world, this is a non-issue for me.

Let's work on getting more Dems elected and fewer Repukes!

[Occulus]

217. Hmmm. Given your post above, and another you made on this thread,

it sounds like you're following a script.

You even mention the same things, using slightly different wording, in the same order.

I won't even give your "points" the dignity of being addressed.

[0rganism]

198. at first i thought the headline said "pet shops" -- whoa, rabies outbreak?

but no, it's another stupid page in the stupid War On Some Drugs story.

[buckrogers1965]

206. Obama is in charge of all federal prosecutions.

This prosecutor works for him. The only change I see is things are even worse than under Bush.

[randome]

211. 'Worse'?

You have got to be kidding. Sowing a little dissension in the ranks, eh?

[buckrogers1965]

216. Bush never had his prosecutors violate state laws.

So yes, worse.

Worse on so many fronts that it would become boring to enumerate them all. So I will just give a few highlights.

Obama promised to end the wars in the middle east. He continued and increased them. He opened new fronts in Africa and has destroyed our partnership with Pakistan. Obama owns the wars now.

Obama promised to close Gitmo. Gitmo is still there, still violating the constitution. Obama owns Gitmo now.

Obama the candidate never mentioned how he was going to increase the war on drugs and go after legal pot dispensaries. He has had the IRS revise the tax code and has ramped up prosecutions in violation of the Tenth Amendment. Obama owns the drug war now.

Obama promised to operate the government with more transparency than any previous administration. Instead freedom of information requests have slowed to a trickle and Obama has prosecuted more whistle blowers than all previous presidents combined. He has used more national security claims in court than even Bush did. Obama now owns a secretive state.

Obama ordered the death of an American citizen with no trail, without even asking a court. This is a violation of the 5th Amendment. Not even Bush dared to order the extra legal killings of American Citizens.

I could keep listing hundreds more of things like this. Obama is worse than even Bush.

[RainDog]

218. at the same time, pharmaceutical cos are working to make cannabis pills for anxiety

the problem, in effect, is not the substance itself, but who gets to control its distribution, who gets to profit from production and who gets to decide who has use for any cannabis product.

this entire situation is SUCH an education in the worthlessness of power in this nation. if you're part of the power structure, you can get away with murder, with destroying the American economy, with torture...

if you grow and distribute a plant that has been used for medicinal and religious purposes for more than 5000 years with no ill effect - you're a criminal.

I call bullshit on this society. worthless, worthless, worthless. not worthy of the name "democracy."