Obama administration orders California medical marijuana dispensaries to shut down in 45 days!

[Better Believe It]

Calif. pot dispensaries told by feds to shut down
U.S. prosecutors send letters even though state law allows
By LISA LEFF
October 6, 2011

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."

The move comes a little more than two months after the Obama administration toughened its stand on medical marijuana following a two-year period during which federal officials had indicated they would not move aggressively against dispensaries in compliance with laws in the 16 states where pot is legal for people with doctors' recommendations.

Read the full article at:

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

[villager]

1. "Lies you can believe in?"

:shrug:

[Bandit]

2. Now that really makes me want to vote for him again

:sarcasm:

[Better Believe It]

3. Obama Administration Delivers Potentially Crushing Blow to Entire Medical Marijuana Industry!

A double whammy.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=2064014&mesg_id=2064014

[TheWraith]

4. Curiosity: would you support a Republican administration deciding not to prosecute, say, Enron?

Or how about choosing not to prosecute somebody who raids the pension fund? Or not arresting someone trafficking arms overseas?

If not, then why do you believe that it's suddenly okay to selectively enforce only the laws some people approve of when it's a Democrat in the White House? "Rule of law" goes both ways.

[Ignis]

24. What if that same theoretical Prez only touted "States' Rights" in some cases?

Let's say, for example, he said Abortion is a states' rights issue, but Marriage Equality should be federally controlled--say by DOMA?

I don't care if the speaker is wearing a (D) or an (R) in such a case. The unequal application of guiding principles stinks to high heaven.

[Warren Stupidity]

27. I'd support any administration that put an end to the madness of persecution of victimless crimes.

[pokerfan]

5. It's ironic ..

that this comes two days after Ken Burns' Prohibition finished airing.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/norm-stamper/ken-burns-prohibition-pro_b_993015.html">Ken Burns' Prohibition Provides Lesson for Today's Marijuana Laws

[Better Believe It]

6. It appears that Obama is determined to lose the 2012 election no matter who the Republicans run.

So be it.

Obama will enrich himself working in "the private sector".

They owe him big time.

[in_cog_ni_to]

20. He doesn't want to win. n/t

[Blue Owl]

7. Meanwhile, "legal" big pharma drugs are killing more people than car accidents now.

Where's the logic, folks?

Drop the refer madness and get real for once.

[hifiguy]

8. One more Big Lie

from the Current Occupant... :grr::nuke:

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

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

[Tarheel_Dem]

12. Kiss CA goodbye? Yeah, right. Smoke much?

:smoke:

And good luck with that challenge. :rofl:

[xiamiam]

16. its already gone..you are fooling yourself if you think he will carry california

and definitely not if he does this

[theaocp]

23. I don't believe this will put the nail in the coffin for CA, but

that's a nice dig at tokers. Must be nice to be so sanctimonious.

[abelenkpe]

10. The financial industry broke no laws when it forged and fabricated documents

but in CA where medical marijuana is legal the feds are gonna crack down?

Someone seems determined to completely alienate voters.

[tridim]

11. "Four U.S. attorneys" is not the "Obama Administration"

Did Obama appoint them?

[Melinda]

14. Ummm, yes, it is the Obama Administration.

Under Article II of the Constitution, the President is responsible for the execution and enforcement of the laws created by Congress. The DOJ (where these 4 attorneys work) is an agency within the executive branch, ie; directly under Obama's control.

[RaleighNCDUer]

21. Did he replace them? nt

[xchrom]

13. Well, we will see how this works out in the end. Nt

[red dog 1]

15. 2009 DOJ Memorandum Authorizing Medical Use of Marijuana

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

October 19, 2009

"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. Those 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/192

[mitchtv]

17. oops just when I decided to vote for him

this issue could change my mind

[Better Believe It]

18. The illegal drug cartel must be dancing in the streets! Rack one up for the pot prohibitionists!

So Obama's decision means he'll lose the votes of several hundred thousand Californians who are medical pot users and who voted for him in 2008.

California will probably wind up as a "red state" in the presidential election.

[in_cog_ni_to]

19. Holy Crap.

This is seriously messed up.

[Warren Stupidity]

22. Fucking useless.

[nadinbrzezinski]

25. NUTS... I guess he owes the pharma folks

this war has failed... wake up...

[and-justice-for-all]

26. Does not help, only hinders...

The only way such matters are ever going to be stop being an issue, is to decriminalize ALL drugs.

[Better Believe It]

28. Or have a liberal President who is not a pot abolitionist who regularly capitulates to right-wingers