At a meeting on Tuesday in Sacramento with California district attorneys, including Mono County, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California talked about federal law enforcement of medical marijuana dispensaries. The report from the meeting sounds like federal attorneys may try to close down what they call “commercial marijuana operations.”
In a press release from Mono DA George Booth and his Assistant Tim Kendall, they state that the U.S. Attorney’s long standing position is in enforcing “federal criminal law, not prosecuting seriously sick people” and their caregivers. The release says the federal attorneys have no intention of interfering with medical marijuana patient rights or their legal access to medical marijuana. But, according to the Mono press release, the federal lawyers do intend to interfere with what they call commercial marijuana operations, including marijuana grows, marijuana stores and mobile delivery services.
The Mono press release says that in the opinion of the U.S. Attorney, these are “all activities that are illegal and generate huge profits and are no more than criminal enterprises.” The release does not say whether the U.S. Attorney will close down all dispensaries. Assistant DA Kendall said he does not have an answer on that question. He did say the DA has no jurisdiction to enforce federal law.
The Mono press release does list three main areas of enforcement action. They are letters of warning to owners and property holders that their marijuana activity is illegal and subjects them to further action if continued. Letters of warning will also go to municipalities that sanction or permit such marijuana activities. The U.S. Attorney will also use civil forfeiture lawsuits against properties involved in such marijuana activity and they will criminally prosecute individuals dealing in such marijuana activities.
The Mono release goes on to say that “The U.S. Attorney’s position is that those within the California medical marijuana industry that are making large profits, selling or trafficking, are operating beyond the medical marijuana laws, and it is no longer about providing medicine to the seriously sick but is a pervasive for-profit industry that violates federal law.”
Booth and Kendall say that each U.S. Attorney will look within their districts to determine whether such activities violate federal law. In Mammoth Lakes, where citizens voted to allow two medical marijuana dispensaries, one of them has already closed in the face of apparent enforcement. That was Green Mammoth owned by Steve Klassen. The other dispensary, Mammoth Lakes Wellness, remained open at last word.
Why don’t we stop all the bull and legalize it. I’m almost 50 and don’t know anyone over 20 who hasn’t tried it. Or should we all be locked up Wayne.
Well, I’ll assume the Tea Party and other conservatives of their ilk are up-in-arms about this latest development. After all, the feds storming in to restrict state law and individual freedoms directly contradicts the fundamental position of these groups. Agreed?
Well, actually, yes – agreed, on behalf of the Tea Party. Don’t overload your carriage with juvenile challenges that are too clever by half.
Look forward to when you and “your ilk” get “up in arms” about government sticking its greedy hand ever deeper into our pockets.
Here to be criticized…..Your case,and condition is exactly what,and who MMJ was intended for.You are not looked on by anyone as “pot smoking scum”.When the MMJ prop was put to a vote way back in 1996,when the people saw it as a compassionate thing to do,to vote yes,maybe some people… Read more »
Poor Wayne Deja, making blanket statements based on his limited view from his window in Independence…..he who knows no one with a MMJ card and probably never leave Inyo County…..oh isn’t ignorance and stereotypes bliss?
Eamon….I think God wants you to go smoke a bowl…
Thats too bad…I have chronic myeloid leukemia. This is such a disgrace for our community! The pills they prescribed me nearly killed me or made me braindead. I couldnt handle the stuff all of the “mainstream” approved of because it was so bad. Then I found Green Mammoth and as… Read more »
You go, I agree with you whole-heartily. So long as the long arm of government gives a “manipulated mineral” a stamp of approval the talking heads here will say it’s great thing! If it’s marijuana, God’s beautiful plant, placed on Earth for our use in its natural form, that the… Read more »
” it is no longer about providing medicine to the seriously sick but is a pervasive for-profit industry” – that sounds like a very good description of Big Pharma. Maybe the medical marijuana folks should hire some lobbyists instead of lawyers. Or support the rescheduling effort to get it moved… Read more »
“For the record.” I am not one to endorse drug use. I am a staunch conservative. However, I do endorse the legal use of medical Marijuana and have voted for and have accepted this reality. With that said, my views on this matter are as follows: The bumbling fools in… Read more »
I thought so.
Biased one sided liberal news organization.
You kinda people only hear what you want to hear.
Take me off your mailing list.
And hurry!
Wayne, are you on a crusade to spread your word? Your oppinions are yours, and you know what they say about oppinions. Dean provided from what I see a News Piece that was a tiny bit biased. You shouldnt FIRE back at him with your narrow minded views on the… Read more »
Wayne’s an opinionated character that’s for sure. He is however posting under his true full name from down there around Lone Pine.
So I think he can say just about anything he wants. He owns it 100 percent. And he’s not hiding look him up.
So, Wayne, you’re suggesting that criminals immediately stop driving when they lose their driving privileges? I linked to a Wall Street Journal blog post that references a study that was just completed. The study in question suggests that overall traffic fatalities fell nearly 9% (that is 90 per 1000). Pretty… Read more »
Dean….Don’t you think its just possible that the drop off of traffic fatalities and accidents just could be attributed something other than allowing MMJ?…like maybe the economy?…less people driving,less people going on vacations,etc.? Less people spending their money going out dining and drinking?….Of course some criminals keep on driving when… Read more »
Wayne – It would be preposterous to assert that the national reduction in fatal accidents was entirely attributable to medical marijuana laws. The study I linked does not suggest that. Did you read it and look at their regression models, the statistical significance of their findings, and the results? Tables… Read more »
Thank god!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IN OTHER NEWS: Medical Marijuana laws result in reduced traffic fatalities.
http://blogs.wsj.com/ideas-market/2011/11/30/do-medical-marijuana-laws-reduce-highway-deaths/
Dean….NEWS FLASH!!!!!! ..Heroin and meth use reduce traffic accidents….because those addicted to meth and heroin usually have either lost their driving privileges because of a DUI,or if they have the money to buy a vehicle,they would spend that money on drugs instead.
Wayne, you seem very anti-cannabis. Is this because you personally had a bad experience with it? I only ask because, given what I have learned about the robust medicinal properties of the plant, added to the extremely vital resources that cannabis can supply in terms of fiber, food and fuel,… Read more »
“they state that the U.S. Attorney’s long standing position is in enforcing “federal criminal law,”
No it’s not. The U.S. Attorney picks which federal criminal laws he’ll choose to enforce.
Unfortunately illegal immigration isn’t one of them.
Steve Klassen is smart not to be made an example out of.
Here comes the long hairy arm of MAN’S law to dictate to us how to utilize God’s plants the way God wanted us to.
Eamon….enough already about marijuana being “God’s plant”……..Cocaine comes from the leaves of the coca plant…….Does that also make cocaine one of “God’s ” plants?….or the way God wanted his people to utilize it?……come on!!.. I doubt when Jesus comes back,he’s gonna hide away in some apartment with a bong getting… Read more »
No, cocaine is a manufactured product from the Coca plant- therefore the coca plant is God’s plant” cocaine is a man made “manipulated mineral.” And if Jesus, does come back he’ll be hanging with people with AIDS, prostitutes, and other “ilk” so many people have disdain for; like he did… Read more »
He sure won’t be hanging with the “money changers” at the Temple.
Try that wonderful herb and gift from God, Hemlock.
Please look up patent #6630507 in the patent office web site. The truth shall set you free so long as your willing to see it my friend.
Ok dope dealers, here come the big federal guns! Lets see how they stand their ground in selling their medication to all those poor needy ill twenty-something year olds.
When’s the last time you talked Joel in Ktown?
Sierragrl…….NOW do you see why Mr.Klassen maybe chose to close down his operation…errrrr…..his medical marijuana dispensary?Like I said before,if you got the threat of the Feds to look into what you’r doing,if it’s within the legal-guidelines or not, it’s probably a VERY wise idea to close up shop,and continue with… Read more »