Federal prosecutors are threatening to shut down California medical marijuana dispensaries by sending letters that warn landlords to stop sales of the drug within 45 days or face the possibility that their property will be seized and they will be charged with a crime.
The increased enforcement escalates the Obama administration's efforts to rein in the spread of marijuana stores, which accelerated after the attorney general announced in 2009 that federal prosecutors would not target people using medical marijuana in states that allow it. The initiative is lead by the four U.S. attorneys in the state and will focus on marijuana dispensaries selected by the prosecutors.
Landlords for some marijuana dispensaries have already received letters, including the owner of the Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana in Fairfax, Calififornia, which is the oldest dispensary in the country. The letter notes that the dispensary is within a prohibited distance of a park, raising the possibility that enforcement will zero in on stores within 1,000 feet of schools and playgrounds, a distance that can bring enhanced penalties for illegal drug sales. The source of this information said the prosecutor would not initially focus on marijuana dispensaries in Los Angeles.
The administration has also increased pressure on marijuana dispensaries by demanding back taxes and penalties after audits disqualified deductions for business expenses. The Federal Government is also pressuring banks to close accounts belonging to owners of marijuana dispensaries and telling firearms dealers they cannot sell to medical marijuana patients.
Although California was the first state to decriminalize marijuana for medical use in 1996, it remains a federal crime to possess or sell it, and the tension between state and federal laws continues to play out.
The Bush administration sent similar letters to landlords who rented to dispensaries in 2007. In Los Angeles, many marijuana dispensaries were forced from their locations, but most simply found new ones. Marijuana activists believes the government does not have the money or staff to force the dispensaries to close.
If you have been arrested for possession or cultivation of marijuana, even if it was for medicinal purposes, you will need to consult with an experienced Los Angeles marijuana criminal attorney. If found guilty, you will be facing the same consequences you would face for growing, cultivating, or possessing marijuana illegally.
At the Goldstein Law Group, we will provide you with the aggressive defense you need to fight your
medical marijuana charges. With have decades of experience and a solid understanding medical marijuana laws in Los Angeles and throughout California. We have developed effective negotiation tactics for fighting medical marijuana charges.
If you have been charged with a criminal offense related to medical marijuana, you could be facing a conviction for a drug crime that will adversly affect your life for many years. Our Los Angeles medical marijuana lawyers can help you fight these charges.
Call our office for a free case evaluation.