U.S. Deputy Lawyer Basic James Cole issued a new memo that has healthcare marijuana dispensary owners worried. website has issued a new memo that is bound to effect the 16 medical marijuana states.
Previously, The Obama administration signaled that it would not use the Justice Department resources to prosecute medical marijuana sufferers and caregivers. U.S. Deputy Attorney Dan Ogden issued a memo that that the Obama administration did not want to use valuable sources to target marijuana dispensaries and sufferers if they had been obeying state law.
The U.S. Division of Justice has now reversed its position and indicated that it will prosecute medical marijuana sufferers and dispensaries. This spectacular reversal has the medical marijuana individuals and dispensaries in an up roar. The minimum punishment beneath the federal technique is a mandatory five years in prison.
Below the preceding Dan Ogden memo, marijuana dispensaries flourished. In the state of Colorado, dispensaries opened at an astonishing price. Prior to the Ogden memo there have been only 12 marijuana dispensaries in the state of Colorado. Following the Ogden memo, the number of dispensaries enhance to over 800 through out the state of Colorado.
Healthcare marijuana sufferers and dispensary owner are feeling betrayed with president Obama’s new stance toward medical marijuana. On the campaign trail in 2008, Obama personally stated that he would not use the Justice Division to target health-related marijuana individuals and their caregivers as long as they were complying with state laws. The marijuana neighborhood is now below 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 may possibly occur from any federal agencies. These plans contain getting patients show up in the course of any raids with picket sign to aid bring attention to this new policy. Sufferers are encouraged to speak to their nearby media, television station, radio station and to video tape any law enforcement encounter.
Will this do any good? Only time will inform but its greater than just staying below the radar and hoping issues will alter. The healthcare marijuana movement has had to fight just about every step of the way and they are not about to stop now. They only way to attempt to obtain traction is to bring this new position to the public.
The dispensary owners are attempting to force the government out of the medicine cabinets of their individuals. They face severe 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 current operation.