Leno and Ammiano Call for End to Federal Attack on Medical Marijuana Dispensaries
SAN FRANCISCO – Senator Mark Leno and Assemblymember Tom Ammiano today joined medical marijuana patients, dispensary operators and advocates to call for an immediate end to the federal government’s broad crackdown on dispensaries in California. Earlier this month, federal prosecutors announced plans for sweeping criminal prosecutions against medical marijuana dispensaries across the state, threatening landlords with eviction, property seizures and imprisonment.
“I urge the federal government to stand down in its massive attack on medical marijuana dispensaries, which will have devastating impacts for the state of California,” said Senator Leno (D-San Francisco). “At a time when resources are precious and few, federal officials have chosen to waste time and money in an ambush that will harm countless patients who will no longer be able to safely access doctor-recommended treatments. Our federal dollars, especially during a down economy, would be better spent on activities and programs that save jobs and help people in need. Instead, this ill-timed and ill-conceived offensive would have detrimental impacts on our state’s economy by forcing more Californians into unemployment.”
“With national polls showing support for marijuana at an all-time high, it defies common sense that the Department of Justice would return to the failed policies of the past,” said Assemblymember Ammiano (D-San Francisco). “Instead of supporting state efforts to effectively regulate medical marijuana in accordance with Prop 215, the Obama administration seems committed to re-criminalizing it. This destructive attack on medical marijuana patients is a waste of limited law enforcement resources and will cost the state millions in tax revenue and harm countless lives. I urge President Obama to reconsider this bad policy decision and respect California’s right to provide medicine to its residents.”
Patients, dispensary operators and medical marijuana advocates, including representatives from Americans for Safe Access and California NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws), joined Senator Leno and Assemblymember Ammiano today at a press conference urging the U.S. government to end its crackdown on dispensaries.