U.S. Deputy Attorney Common James Cole issued a new memo that has healthcare 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, The Obama administration signaled that it would not use the Justice Department resources to prosecute health-related marijuana sufferers and caregivers. U.S. Deputy Lawyer Dan Ogden issued a memo that that the Obama administration did not want to use beneficial resources to target marijuana dispensaries and individuals if they had been obeying state law.
The U.S. Department of Justice has now reversed its position and indicated that it will prosecute medical marijuana individuals and dispensaries. This stunning reversal has the medical marijuana sufferers and dispensaries in an up roar. The minimum punishment under the federal technique is a mandatory five years in prison.
Beneath the previous Dan Ogden memo, marijuana dispensaries flourished. In the state of Colorado, dispensaries opened at an astonishing price. Before the Ogden memo there have been only 12 marijuana dispensaries in the state of Colorado. Following the Ogden memo, the quantity of dispensaries boost to more than 800 through out the state of Colorado.
Healthcare marijuana individuals 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 Department to target health-related marijuana patients and their caregivers as extended as they have been complying with state laws. The marijuana neighborhood is now under 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 might occur from any federal agencies. These plans incorporate having sufferers show up through any raids with picket sign to aid bring focus to this new policy. Patients are encouraged to make contact with their regional media, television station, radio station and to video tape any law enforcement encounter.
Will this do any great? Only time will tell but its far better than just staying beneath the radar and hoping points will adjust. 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 try to gain 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 severe consequences to continue to serve their individuals. Undoubtedly, there will be medical marijuana dispensaries that will shut down and close shop. But there will be those that step up to the challenge and open and expand their existing operation.