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DEA Raids Medical Marijuana Dispensaries in Spokane

The DEA raided four medical marijuana dispensaries in Spokane, WA today. A map of those raided is here, courtesy of Radical Russ of NORML.

Here is the position of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, contained in an April 14 letter to the Washington legislature concerning on a proposed bill to establish a licensing scheme for marijuana growers and dispensaries: [More...]

The Washington legislative proposals will create a licensing scheme that permits large-scale marijuana cultivation and distribution. This would authorize conduct contrary to federal law and thus, would undermine the federal government's efforts to regulate the possession, manufacturing, and trafficking of controlled substances.

Accordingly, the Department could consider civil and criminal legal remedies regarding those who set up marijuana growing facilities and dispensaries as they will be doing so in violation of federal law. Others who knowingly facilitate the actions of the licensees, including property owners, landlords, and financiers should also know that their conduct violates federal law. In addition, state employees who conducted activities mandated by the Washington iegislative proposals would not be immune from liability under the CSA.

Potential actions the Department could consider include injunctive actions to prevent cultivation and distribution of marijuana and other associated violations of the CSA; civil fines; criminal prosecution; and the forfeiture of any property used to facilitate a violation of the CSA. As the Attorney General has repeatedly stated, the Department of Justice remains firmly committed to enforcing the CSA in all states.

The Spokane letter is practically identical to the letters written by U.S. Attorneys in Colorado, Hawaii, Montana and the N.D. of California. Meaning it's now official DOJ policy. The Ogden memo did nothing.

As I've opined many times, AG Holder's statements and the Ogden Memo are not enough protection. Congress needs to pass a law disallowing prosecution of medical marijuana patients and providers who are in compliance with state law -- or at a minimum, a law that expressly allows patients, caregivers and providers to raise compliance with state law as an affirmative defense to a federal prosecution.

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  • Display: Sort:
    Until it is legalized for all... (none / 0) (#1)
    by Dadler on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 08:02:05 PM EST
    ...this inexcusably ridiculous nonsense will continue.  The DEA might as well be beating up kittens, they're accomplishing about as much here.

    Fools and followers and freedom haters, how proud they must be.  

    agree (none / 0) (#4)
    by nycstray on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 11:01:02 PM EST
    except for the "beating up kittens" part. That just hurts my heart too much . . .

    Parent
    related info from CDC (none / 0) (#2)
    by Cannabis Defense Coalition on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 08:46:44 PM EST
    See also: media roundup: http://cdc.coop/spokane_raid

    Live updates: http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23spokaneraid

    Raid preparation training (interrupted in Spokane today, on to Ellensburg tomorrow): http://cdc.coop/training

    please put your links in html format (none / 0) (#5)
    by Jeralyn on Fri Apr 29, 2011 at 02:00:23 AM EST
    or they skew the site and have to be deleted. Use the link button in the comment box.

    Parent
    i know i'll sleep sounder tonite, (none / 0) (#3)
    by cpinva on Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 09:58:40 PM EST
    knowing some raving, cancer-ridden, barely conscious, pot crazed lunatic won't be breaking into my house, and trying to steal my big can 'o peanuts! thank god the DEA is on the job!

    or not.....................

    so, i assume the deficit, anemic economy, horrendous unemployment rate and three wars issues have all been resolved?

    no?

    We are seeing... (none / 0) (#6)
    by kdog on Fri Apr 29, 2011 at 10:35:58 AM EST
    a spike in armed robberies since the economy tanked.

    Add a biggie in Spokane to the blotter:)

    Just because they claim it is legit by stroking a few pens and making a few nonsensical laws doesn't mean it's not straight-up armed f*ckin' robbery, and kidnapping.  Any objective mind can see that.