U.S. Deputy Attorney Common James Cole issued a new memo that has health-related marijuana dispensary owners worried. President Obama’s Justice Division has issued a new memo that is bound to impact the 16 healthcare marijuana states.
Previously, yoursite.com signaled that it would not use the Justice Division sources to prosecute healthcare marijuana patients and caregivers. U.S. Deputy Lawyer Dan Ogden issued a memo that that the Obama administration did not want to use valuable sources to target marijuana dispensaries and patients if they had been obeying state law.
The U.S. Department of Justice has now reversed its position and indicated that it will prosecute health-related marijuana sufferers and dispensaries. This stunning reversal has the health-related marijuana patients and dispensaries in an up roar. The minimum punishment under the federal technique is a mandatory 5 years in prison.
Under the preceding Dan Ogden memo, marijuana dispensaries flourished. In the state of Colorado, dispensaries opened at an astonishing rate. Before the Ogden memo there have been only 12 marijuana dispensaries in the state of Colorado. Immediately after the Ogden memo, the quantity of dispensaries improve to more than 800 via out the state of Colorado.
Medical marijuana patients and dispensary owner are feeling betrayed with president Obama’s new stance toward health-related marijuana. On the campaign trail in 2008, Obama personally stated that he would not use the Justice Division to target health-related marijuana patients and their caregivers as extended as they have been complying with state laws. The marijuana neighborhood is now beneath attack and in a state of panic.
Marijuana dispensary owners are now on code red alert. At any time, the federal government came come and shut them down. They are organizing with their patients to protest and raids that could take place from any federal agencies. These plans include things like possessing individuals show up through any raids with picket sign to enable bring interest to this new policy. Patients are encouraged to speak to their nearby media, tv station, radio station and to video tape any law enforcement encounter.
Will this do any good? Only time will inform but its better than just staying below the radar and hoping factors will change. The healthcare marijuana movement has had to fight just about every step of the way and they are not about to cease now. They only way to try to get traction is to bring this new position to the public.
The dispensary owners are trying to force the government out of the medicine cabinets of their sufferers. They face serious consequences to continue to serve their individuals. Undoubtedly, there will be some dispensary owners that will shut down and close shop. But there will be these that step up to the challenge and open and expand their existing operation.