Jobs, revenue lost in pot dispensary crackdown

[alp227]

Source: SF Chronicle

The federal Department of Justice's crackdown on medical marijuana dispensaries in California has meant the loss of thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in tax revenue, according to cannabis advocates and government statistics.

An estimated 2,500 people statewide have lost their jobs since late September, when California's four U.S. attorneys sent letters that threatened jail sentences for dispensary owners and the possible seizure of buildings that house the pot clubs, said Dan Rush, director of the United Food and Commercial Workers' national medical cannabis division. The union began organizing medical marijuana workers in May 2010.

Of those jobs, which union officials say include people who are directly employed by marijuana dispensaries as well as those with indirect ties to the industry, about 50 have been lost in San Francisco and dozens more around the Bay Area.

Three city dispensaries have closed since receiving warning letters from Melinda Haag, the U.S. attorney for Northern California.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/11/25/BA0C1M32B1.DTL

[mdmc]

1. won't someone please think of the children!

[SammyWinstonJack]

2. Yeah.....that's some great priorities, there Obama. Oh yeah, I forgot..

The Obama Administration SUPPORTS MEDICAL MARIJUANA.....except when it doesn't, that is.

[sarcasmo]

13. +1

[Bluenorthwest]

3. Like most of the actions of the adminstration, it seems they feel

there is plenty of money in CA, and jobs to burn. Such idiots.

[truedelphi]

4. So the federal Agency of Pharmaceutical Protection, (Formerly the

Department of Justice) in order to ensure that Big Pharma will reap the rewards of patenting cannibinoids, is on all out assault against a human being's ability to have cheap effective drugs.

Yeah Obama! The one bright spot in California's revenue stream, and you are fucking it over.

[xchrom]

5. Recommend

[cleanhippie]

6. The Obama administration fully supports medical MJ.

At least that is what a few posters keep repeating ad nauseum here on DU.

[bemildred]

7. Yeah, but think of all the drug cop jobs that are being saved ...

Oh yeah, their excellent government benefits are deserved, unlike teachers or postal workers.
:sarcasm:

[girl gone mad]

8. k & r

[windowpilot]

9. Wake-N-Bake

[sarcasmo]

10. Americas #1 cash crop and the feds want to shut it down.

Stupid is as stupid does.



Tax it and Legalize it.

[Occulus]

11. My #2 reason for not voting for him in 2012.

I will not note for an obvious liar.

[bemildred]

12. Yes, He goes ahead with this folly, he can kiss my ass goodbye. nt