APNewsBreak: Feds target pot dispensaries

Yahoo (AP) ^ | today | LISA LEFF

[Michael Barnes]

In an escalation of the ongoing conflict between the U.S. government and the nation's burgeoning medical marijuana industry, California'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."

[Michael Barnes]

"This really shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. The Administration is simply making good on multiple threats issued since President Obama took office," Kevin Sabet, a former adviser to the president's drug czar who is a fellow at the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Substance Abuse Solutions.

I'm not for or against marijuana use really. It's "your" body, do with it as you please; just don't mess with anyone else's liberties in the process.

[svcw]

What a fraking waste of tax payer’s money.

[DBrow]

One of the problems with our drug laws is that often, the people who want legal reform vote for the drug warriors in Congress over and over.

The politicians running on a reform platform get few votes.

The politicians advocating extension and intensification of the WOsD get elected.

[rightwingextremist1776]

Not to mention pissing off potential Zero voters.......this guy is a moron.

[bigheadfred]

They state that federal law "takes precedence over state law and applies regardless of the particular excuses by which illegal aliens are brought by the busload into this country, and allowed to stay."

[WayneS]

Feds target pot dispensaries...

Will they be using unmanned drones?

[The KG9 Kid]

At least some of this is due to 'Fast and Furious' fallout.

[Michael Barnes]

How so?

[Michael Barnes]

I can understand the need to “control” marijuana via some of the same laws we have for alcohol today. It still boggles me how marijuana “became” a Scheduled 1 controlled substance.

[tumblindice]

“OK, we can go after people in wheelchairs suffering from MS, and cancer patients on chemo,
or Los Zetas with fully automatic weapons that we (heh heh) gave them ...
“This is a no-brainer guys. “Lock and load!”

We’re Your Federal Goverment, And We’re Here To Help You

[hope]

LOL! That’ s the majority of OWS protesters who are still waiting for zero to “legalize it”. Have to admire their patience.

[rightwingextremist1776]

No...no we don’t....that is stupidity mistaken for patience....

[Skepolitic]

Will they be using unmanned drones?

It's a War on Drugs. Now that the President has demonstrated his authority to kill Americans without due process of law, so why not?

[Rusty0604]

If something is taxed too heavily, people will just turn to the black market. This makes the Mexican drug cartels happy.

[TigersEye]

But but but, 0bama promised the feds would leave them alone!

[The KG9 Kid]

Of course, making it legal to produce under liberal circumstances like California has only welcomed the Mexican drug cartels and black marketeers into the game.

Illicit marijuana production managed by cartels has increased severalfold in California to meet the demands of the "MMJ" industry.

[The KG9 Kid]

I can't be anything else but suspicious about the timing of this crackdown on medical marijuana dispensaries by the Obama Administration right when the furor over 'Fast And Furious' aims to arm the Mexican narcotraficantes is reaching a crescendo.

This showboat operation came about all of a sudden because 'Fast And Furious' guts has spilled into the streets: Eric Holder's perjury in front of Congress is a documented proven fact.

They're in a panic to look like they're "doing something" heading into an election cycle with "Fast And Furious" splattered all over them like excrement.

Moreover, if more documents are requested to be released, maybe they can use this crackdown as cover in saying that further document releases would jeopardize their ongoing operation against the cartels presence in 'medical marijuana' dispensaries.

Can you disagree?

Look, after all, this isn't the first time that the government's misdoings have been scrutinized and faced with calls for special prosecutors, immediately after which they reject calls for more insight in order to preserve an "ongoing operation":

"Oh really? We can't see the documents?" say the congressional investigators. "When did that operation start?"

"Er, just yesterday" replied the Department of Justice, muttering "... the same moment your party called for an outside special prosecutor" under their breath.

So they go after this low-hanging fruit of 'medical marijuana clinics' who've been operating in the open for years. Why all of a sudden? And today the ATF tells 'medical marijuana card' holders that they cannot own firearms? So the ATF is involved in this operation too?

I can't ignore the timing. What about you?

[justa-hairyape]

....making it legal to produce under liberal circumstances like California has only welcomed the Mexican drug cartels and black marketeers into the game.

How so ? And why were they not in the game before ?