In the wake of federal prosecutors threatening to seize property leased to medical marijuana dispensaries in California, the owner of at least one Mammoth Lakes dispensary says there is a “very good possibility” he will close.
Steve Klassen, medical marijuana advocate and owner of the dispensary called Green Mammoth, confirmed on Sunday that there is a very good possibility he will close his dispensary on November 19th, the last of the 45 day federal notice to comply with demands, he said. Klassen said he will release more information later. Klassen did add that he feels he has a right to heal himself however he sees fit and “should have access to that medicine.”
Pressed for further details, Klassen said that federal prosecutors have interpreted the law to make his business illegal. “I’ll release a statement in the near future,” he said. Sierra Wave has placed a call to the second dispensary, Mammoth Lakes Wellness. We await the owner’s latest response.
In 1996, California voted to legalize medical marijuana, and Mammoth Lakes voters cast their ballots in favor of Measure M last year to allow dispensaries in town. In spite of local and state positions, the federal government has decided to play hardball since possession and distribution of marijuana is still a federal crime.
California Attorney General Kamala Harris has been quoted as saying that federal prosecutors should not overreach their crackdown on pot dispensaries. She said that this could get in the way of legitimate patients. Harris did say the feds should focus on “significant traffickers of illegal drugs.”
In early October, federal prosecutors did send notices to dispensary landlords that their property would be subject to federal seizure if they continue to provide space to a dispensary in 45 days. Prosecutors have also been quoted as saying they want to stop the sale, distribution and cultivation of marijuana in California. Many others have said that the Obama Administration has now gone back on its word not to raid medical marijuana dispensers and caregivers.
I am not an ignorant inbred Hick, I do have scientific statistics to back up what I say
I did not write the above comment…Whoever is using my name to comment,Benett Kessler has been asked to check the e-mail address as to who is doing it…
What’s a thorack?
Thank you for helping educate the people Jack! Well done.
Ok, whomever thumbed down my above comment. I’d love to hear how and why educating the people is worth thumbing down? This is a thought provoking blog! Back your logic or lack thereof up with something other than a click on the red thumb down. Maybe we can all learn… Read more »
Hello Folks of the Eastern Sierra! Hot issue Huh, everyones got alot to say? Check out what Obama and California Attorney General Harris have to Say, it spells it out in writing. Klassen, Calvert, TOML, Mammoth Police, Mono County Good Work. Stay Open. Keep working together to support and protect… Read more »
Back when I use to smoke pot the dispensary was located throughout the Ghetto, some rarely closed.
Dingo…..rarely closed in the ghetto because if they did,a group of the “gangstas”,with their disableing medical conditions, would break in and burglarize the store with no one there.
The most effective way to stop the supposed “abuse” of people with medical marijuana licenses is to simply Legalize it altogether. The affects of alcoholism is widely known and accepted by even the common person. Those problems do not exist with marijuana users. The prohibition of marijuana started as simply… Read more »
mmj may not be habit-forming and it may not have a high potential for abuse and maybe it should be legalized – but …. There is a certain “personality” that wants/needs to “self-medicate” against daily stresses and pressures. There are also large segments of the population that have had past… Read more »
Kaat
Nice Comment. I agree with your thought. There are many reasons people use medication, alcohol and what not.. But it comes down to one thing. If something grows naturally and been around 5000 years It should be our Choice to utilize or not.
This it the best thread I have read here in a long, long time. Keep it up and we might change something for the better. All I know is that first you’ve got to get mad. You’ve got to say, ‘I’m a HUMAN BEING, Damn it! My life has VALUE!’… Read more »
The Police Chief, The Town Council, They support us and arent here to serve the feds interest. We can take care of ourselves.. If the Feds come to town , we can just send the skiing, and pack em in at Motel 6…..
@MotherNature “When someone says vote to raise your taxes, think twice. When they do it over and over again in Mammoth and the sheepeople walk into the voting booth and push the button to raise taxes I figure they must be putting something in the water to make people stupid.… Read more »
As an MMJ patient, I’ve checked out both of these places and was extremely surprised by the high prices — if you can find it on the street, you’ll pay far less. But here’s the kicker: I know of several people who legally grow their own high quality MMJ. When… Read more »
300-400% you say! Prove it! Once again this is public record! Go see for yourself…Terribone, you simply cannot make up statistics! If the mark up is 300-400% as you say, then that must mean all medicine is free? You must remember these collectives have OVERHEAD! As someone who is familiar… Read more »
I don’t have to prove it. I can do basic math, though. You, on the other hand, as someone who obviously works in the industry, might do well by disproving what I’ve stated. No? That’s what I thought. The fact that you immediately begin rationalizing the high prices says volumes.… Read more »
First off, OVERHEAD! Something you wouldn’t understand not being educated in the industry. According to your “simple” math- collectives’ purchase a gram for $1 and sell it for $400? Why does my mention of reimbursements speak volumes? You brought it to the forum! I was merely explaining, sorry if you… Read more »
@B who are you to say who is educated in the industry and who is not?
You might know something of the industry but you know nothing of what others may know of the industry.
Gimme a break
B said “According to your “simple” math- collectives’ purchase a gram for $1 and sell it for $400?” Um, that would be a markup of 40,000%. You’ve been smoking too much of your own medicine, B. Break out a calculator if you’re having trouble with 3rd grade math. Let’s try… Read more »
…And kudo’s to you for growing your own outdoor, organic medicine legally! Just remember not everyone is capable of that. But if you can by all means do it! Also, the State Vs. Kelly and People Vs. Phomphakdy ruled the limits on prop 215 were unconstitutional…so you can grow more… Read more »
Cannabis college, magnifying glasses, powdered mildew, mites, pathogens?
Somehow we all made it though the 60’s without all that stuff and nobody died.
It’s a weed, give me a break.
A weed is a plant who’s purpose has not been discovered! The cannabis plant has flowers or buds and definately has a purpose! Again folks please educate yourslves! Recently a girl in town was hospitalized for eating an edible that was NOT from a collective. If a grower does not… Read more »
If a girl was hospitalized for edibles, I’m sure it had nothing to do with any contamination. You’re an idiot, B. It was because she “overmedicated” and got too high for her comfort. Stop spewing BS, man. Really it doesn’t help.
@Terribone
We have more of a chance of getting sick from contaminated cantaloupes.
With the collectives closing B should be out looking for a job.
Have got to chuckle at some of the posts,the buyers complaining about the dealers charging too much….and making big profits….Welcome to the world of drug dealing!!!!…Do you think the dealers are in it for fun?…Or wanting to “help” out all these “patients” with their health problems?…or in it to make… Read more »
“Shame on the feds for there scare tactics.
REVOLT> Damn the Man, Save Safe Access, Save the Empire. ”
@ Jack Herer..
Be careful what you wish for.. It just may come TRUE
and yes our government is “OUT OF CONTROL”
The closing of the dispenseries feeds right back into the cartels hands……it basically opens a door AGAIN which has finally found a way of slowing closing. If we are ever to be free of the border violance and underground smuggling, murders, and total corrouption of Mexico,, we have to control… Read more »
“The closing of the dispenseries feeds right back into the cartels hands…” The whole “War On Drugs” is nothing more than a price support package for illegal drugs. I’ve said before that I believe the Drug Cartels (if there really is such a thing) contribute to the election campaigns of… Read more »
What kills me about the turn our government is taking on this stance, is it puts a large part of the industry back in the hands of the cartels. Medical patients will continue to acquire their medication, and cartels look to gain a large part of this market back. Millions… Read more »
I am a medical marijuana patient who is 24 years old. I have also suffered from emotional and physcological disabilities since I was ten. I have tried numurous medications and have suffered from unhealthy side effects. Everything from gaining weight to sleeping disorers and digestive problems. Marijuana is the only… Read more »
Keep smoking JB. Then you can smoke more marijuana for your lung cancer!
Logic….If you can believe this and not think I’m just making it up, check back a few months ago,in the archives on one of the marijuana story blogs and someone said(and I accually think it was Steve Klassen saying it….just before he opened up his pot shop),that marijuana PREVENTS cancer!!
It does Wayne! Again you are out of your element. It is a proven fact endorsed by MANY doctors and scientists! Including Andrew Weil M.D and Julie Holland M.D…These are real doctor”s with real degrees! that are highly respected in their field. What’s on your resume’? Google it. Does it… Read more »
I’ll take a break from game #6 of the World Series to prove you wrong….or at least show most Doctors don’t suggest marijuana abuse prevents or cures cancer.The American Thorack Society states marijuana contains over more than 50% of the chemicals related to lung cancer than cigarettes do.And that does… Read more »
California is making me want to move away more each day. Cracking down on dispensaries has nothing to do with illegitmate patients. This is all because the day we elected Jerry Brown, was the day we signed over all our rights. California voted for the right to get weed if… Read more »
Couldnt agree with Jack more! The key issue here is safe access. It is irrelevent who is recommended cannabis by their doctor or how old they are! People in there twenties can have chronic, terminal, or other ailments not visible to the naked eye. Is that so hard to believe?… Read more »
Well, I don’t see what the fuss is all about. The Chief already said MLPD doesn’t enforce federal law.
Jake Cannabis didnt make you stupid or ” broak”. It’s your work lazy work ethic and education. . FYI the correct spelling is (Broke.) Go back to Adult school. Kaat= I agree with your position on Dispensary Locations and there proximity to educational institutions. I understand MLW is located in… Read more »
Leave the Politics and Police enforcement to the local governments. I rather not go back to the streets, get ripped off and get whatever “the Man” decides to give me. To have a good choice of Cannabis, A nice safe location, open 7 days a week, employees that are friendly… Read more »
I quit smoking medical marijuana because it made me stupid and broak! You should try it. You will fell beter.
If medical marijuana made you stupid and broke you were NOT using medical marijuana! you were getting high! (huge difference) You deserve to be tired and broke!
Jake- hard to take anything you post seriously when you cant spell broke or better. Try spell checker. People will take you more seriously when you use proper grammer and punctuation.
it is spelled grammar, Ollie.
Yup! Guilty. While we’re at it… you cant start a sentence with a lower case letter either. Thanks HH! Sometimes I forget that an eye for an eye makes the world blind!
Yes! you are correct HH. While we’re at it, you can’t start a sentence with a lower case either. Thanks for reminding me that an eye for an eye makes the world blind. Did you care to comment on the issue? Or just point out my obviously funny blunder?
@Steve..
Since when does the government Listen to the PEOPLE..Do you think we live in a Republic??
It is a sad time in the History of the United States of America
Wake up sheeple
This is stupid, the people of California voted on this. This is not a rogue industry, sure there are people who abuse it like any other substance (pain killers), do you see the drug companies stop selling their products or government shutting down Walgreens. How many people reading this have… Read more »
Steve- I need to bring up the fact that the people of California voted on Prop 8 too – but of course that didn’t stop others from saying the will of the people should be overturned. Just saying…..that your statement: “This is stupid, the people of California voted on this.”… Read more »
Kaat, your logic is indisputable! Great comparison.
I’m no expert in all this but maybe the Fed playing hardball will just galvanize the supporters of Med Marijuana to organize and fight harder to get the Fed Law changed in support of Med Marijuana?? Maybe that is the intent of Obama looking at the big picture – before… Read more »
I hope that those who truly need it for medical reasons will be able to get what they need to reduce their suffering. I am not sure why the medical professionals do not find a legal way to connect their patients to a source. If a doctor truly wants to… Read more »
Thanks God! Calvert has been ripping people off with super high prices so I quit smoking pot and stick to snowboarding. Calvert states that his prices are “normal” then I see his brand new motorhome towing a brand new trailer loaded with new bikes. This is all in front of… Read more »
Sounds like you are just mad at the world! Comparing what others have to what you don’t have will get you nowhere. Fast! Maybe he has 2 ply toilet paper in his house as well. let it go. Dont be a victim! be a solution!
With this latest news all I can think is that Obama has contradicted his campaign promise to not prosecute medical marijuana dispensaries in States where medical marijuana was legal.
Maybe has something to do with what a joke this “compassionate”law for the very ill patients has turned into,don’t you think?Wasn’t intended to allow 20 somethings with ingrown toenails a loop=hole to deal drugs.
Once again Wayne, you are not a doctor! Have you any sort of medical education? Have you personally checked the medical condition of these twenty-somethings as you call them? Is it so unbelievable that some of the younger generation are educating themselves on holistic medicine and herbs vs. harmful addictive… Read more »
Please! for all of you who thumbed down the above comment, back it up! with an educated response. I dare you!
Jimmy…..If I lived in a bigger city,and could mention some of the people I personally know that have MMJ cards,and their reasons for it,without throwing them under the bus,and probably them being laughed at I would do so.When this prop was put to a vote,it was not intended for all… Read more »
Loopholes are ment to be taken advantage of until filled.
Rob….real nice…..that logic,that’s how users….and moochers live by…
The deal lies in semantics. The feds are not prosecuting the owners of the dispensaries. They are going after the owners of the properties that are leasing space to the dispensaries, threatening to seize property (i.e., strip malls and/or buildings).
I knew this was coming. I saw the writing on the wall and it was spelled G-R-E-E-D! Proposition 215 was called the “Compassionate Use Act” for a reason. A majority of the people who voted for Prop 215 believed it was for a good cause- getting some weed to some… Read more »
Dear Carbon footprint, I highly encourage you to educate yourself! You are simply out of your element… Yes, some people are profiteering, those are the people the feds are going after. What Green Mammoth makes (or doesn’t make) is public record have any of you people looked at how much… Read more »
I’d rather Benett go check it out and report back.
What makes this information public record?
That is a pathetic response! don’t just ask someone to do it for you! Do it yourself instead of just typing from your safe little computer. Good thing everyone doesn’t wait for someone else to take action. If you are not gonna look into it don’t have an opinion.
@Jimmy Relax; my comment was not directed specifically to the Mammoth operations. It was a statement about the majority of the operations in the state. Which, based on the action of the Feds, you could conclude I’m spot on. The people running those money-making operations (dictionary definition- businesses) ruined it… Read more »
Attorney General Harris……THERE lies the problem…..and the key words….”legitimate patients”….The 4%… the “legitimate patients”that have,and should have these med cards are the ones that will suffer.
Wayne you are not a doctor! Where do you get 4%? You simply cannot make up facts!