Obama's war on Medical Cannabis continues....

[Bennyboy]

It's the twilight hour for medical marijuana dispensaries in Sacramento County.
Eight marijuana stores – from as many as 99 dispensaries that opened – are left. Dozens have closed in recent weeks amid fears of federal prosecution and aggressive actions by the county that include litigation and fines for building code violations.

The city of Sacramento has frozen permit applications for existing dispensaries, but has allowed most to stay. Sacramento County's crackdown in the unincorporated areas, by contrast, is having a dramatic effect on California's quickly shrinking medical marijuana industry.

The United Food and Commercials Workers Union, which launched a drive to unionize pot workers during the California dispensary boom, estimates 20 percent of marijuana stores statewide have gone out of business in less than a month.

Dan Rush, who directs the union's medical cannabis division, said letters from California's four U.S. attorneys threatening dispensary landlords with loss of their buildings put a chill on the trade.

"There is a high rate of people closing voluntarily," Rush said. "They didn't want to cause trouble for their landlords or they're closing to get a chance to figure out how to come back in compliance."

In San Diego, nearly two-thirds of some 220 dispensaries have shut down amid threatened federal property seizures and city lawsuits.

Three well-known San Francisco dispensaries closed after receiving warning letters from U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag. California's oldest dispensary, the Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana, is fighting to stay in business and preparing to pull its cannabis products after a federal suit to seize the property. The dispensary offers other services, including magnetic massage therapy, physician evaluations and counseling.

"We need to move the marijuana very shortly. I don't want to get the landlord in any more trouble," said operator Lynette Shaw.



Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/04/4098206/crackdowns-force-some-california.html#ixzz1fcVkuLyJ

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. This is one of the issues about Obama that I find so very disheartening.

:(

[SixthSense]

4. you'd think with all the budget problems

that this total waste of money and destroyer of lives of a "war on drugs" would be the first thing on the chopping block


apparently people are content to starve if it means getting to control/punish others for having different personal preferences

[cstanleytech]

12. Its up to congress to change the laws for marijuana and makes it legal not Obama

[Leftist Agitator]

18. Eric Holder answers to the President.

If the nation's attorney general didn't want federal prosecutors to harass marijuana dispensaries, they wouldn't. And Eric Holder gets his marching orders from the President.

Regardless of the law on the books, Barack Obama could order his DOJ not to pursue prosecution for dispensaries that are complying with their respective state laws.

[Fly by night]

19. Not true. Obama and Holder have the power to reclassify cannabis.

The Controlled Substances Act gives them that power, which they have delegated to the DEA. Nothing is required of Congress to apply science, common sense and compassion to make cannabis available once again to patients who would benefit from its use.

Just some backbone and a memory of what was promised to us in 20078 by candidate Obama.

[midnight]

26. Thank you once again for keeping us all informed....

I'm not familiar with the classification of this drug, but what classification is needed so it's not a crime to use?

[cstanleytech]

28. Interesting, but do you (or anyone else for that matter who wants to stick their oar in)

believe for one moment that congress would not take it upon themselves to pass new law to ban it? I am betting that they would in a heartbeat.

[Vincardog]

23. The President can remove it from the Schedule it is on by himself. When it is off the schedule that

states it has NO MEDICAL VALUE, it can be prescribed.

[court jester]

27. But that would fark up their patent, which clearly shows that they do know it has med value

It's famous, just putting the number into goog brings up all the links anyone could ever read.

6,630,507

Cannabinoids as antioxidants and neuroprotectants

It's pretty sad that no reporter with a wide audience can seem to bring this to national attention.



http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=6630507.PN.&OS=PN/6630507&RS=PN/6630507

[indepat]

24. One of the dozen or so issues I find so very disheartening, all core to governance from a

far way to the right of center. :patriot:

[Newest Reality]

2. Ah, good times in America ...

The land of the people who like to pretend not only they are free, but that freedom can be exported by force.

When you total-up the amounts of crackdowns, bills, and restrictions streaming into our reality sphere, it is hard to ignore and feel immune to the nature of the angry, cruel and hungry monster that is stirring more obviously just below the surface of this media-painted Simulation.

I shudder often. Living in and with that monster, at gut level, is not an acceptable future for anyone, even the worst amongst us. Yet, it churns and writes in our midst, clutching the foundations of our necessities and wants. Who would dare challenge it now?

[Angry Dragon]

3. Where does Obama stand on this??

I think he broke a campaign promise............

[Bluenorthwest]

6. He believes hypocrisy is a sacrament to be shared by one man

and one campaign promise.

[Webster Green]

14. He stands in the way of progress.

Yes, he did break a campaign promise. His cruel, regressive policies have set the medicinal cannabis movement back 15 years.

Obama is a corporate tool and a coward. He is far worse than the chimp on this issue. He loves wars, and his bullshit war on drugs is no exception.

[Oldenuff]

25. War on drugs?What war on Drugs?

All we have been experiencing for the last couple of decades is the war on Independents.If the War on "Some" Drugs were called off tomorrow,not only would the US economy collapse,but the CIA would be left without all that "discretionary funding" that they have become so dependent on.For those "independent MMJ contractors" they are getting a favor done them.With the closing of the dispensaries comes increased prices to patients,because once again MMJ is being driven underground...and you know what that means.Higher prices.

Obama is a tool as has been said over and over again.Buy Hey,lets elect him again shall we?




And he was all like, "I will open the doors of Government and ask you to be involved in your own Democracy again", that is..until the topic of Cannabis legalization came up...


Liar.

[The Wizard]

5. Big Pharma

makes big campaign contributions. We have the most corrupt government since Caligula.

[midnight]

7. K&R

[MannyGoldstein]

8. Thank God Obama is finally cracking down on the infirm

Someone has to show them tough love.

Next we gotta find a way to keep those old people from getting their Social Security.

[Blue Owl]

21. The teabaggers feel safe now that one of God's herbs has been sufficiently villianized

n/t

[limpyhobbler]

9. California marijuana use was starting to be a little too much "out in the open"

California marijuana use was starting to be a little too much "out in the open".

It was making the politicians uncomfortable.

Republicans might accuse Obama of being "soft on drugs".

They want you to have to hide.

It should just be legal, period.

We waste billions trying to enforce marijuana laws and thousands of lives have been lost here and in Mexico because of the "War on Pot".

I'm not not suggesting this, but if everyone who wants to see it legal would simply refuse to vote for any candidate who does not support legal marijuana, that might have a powerful effect.

[MindPilot]

10. And if there are no such candidates.

I shall simply refuse to vote.

[limpyhobbler]

15. Raise this issue at local Democratic party meetings, run candidates in Congressional primaries.

We need to get the establishment Dems to change position on this issue. Gotta raise the issue during the primary process when they are trying to get nominated to run for Congress. maybe...

[jaxx]

11. The federal law needs to be changed.

That takes votes.

Only Rick Perry thinks an executive order is like magic and can fix everything.

[cstanleytech]

13. It appears Perry isnt alone as some here seem to think that.

[enough]

16. Morning kick (nt)

[bemildred]

17. The Drug War is an important part of our nascent police state.

It will not be given up without a bitter struggle,

[Blue Owl]

20. All research indicates MARIHUANA is America's single greatest threat

:eyes:

:sarcasm:

[Uncle Joe]

22. It's a crying shame, this administration doesn't have better compassion, vision or priorities.

Just keep pushing the boulder up the hill, who cares how many people are crushed with the inevitable roll back down.

Thanks for the thread, Bennyboy.