Medical Pot Community Urges State Leaders To Oppose Fed Raids
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) -- Local medical marijuana dispensary owners and supporters are reaching out to California Attorney General Kamala Harris to help fight back against new federal crackdowns.
Leaders of the American Alliance for Medical Cannabis (AAMC) accuse federal authorities of trying to create a system of fear to intimidate marijuana dispensaries from operating. Although California allows marijuana to be cultivated and sold to ill people, federal officials maintain that clinics are highly profitable ventures that deal drugs and announced two weeks ago they plan to begin vigorously enforcing federal law.
"It's going to be very hard for some of those landlords to stay with the medical dispensary or cultivation within their property," said AAMC California director Ryan Landers.
Attorney General Harris has already asked federal prosecutors to avoid overreaching in the crackdown, but advocates are asking her to take a stronger position and "stand up for California voter rights and our state rights," Landers said.
Since federal authorities announced the crackdown, Sacramento officials suspended permits for local dispensaries. Numerous groups and dispensary owners are organizing petition drives and rallies on the federal courthouse steps in the coming weeks.
"Our question is where will our patients get their medicine," said Courtney Sheats from Americans for Safe Access.
The California Attorney General's office said they could not comment on the letter until they received it. The U.S. Attorney's office declined to comment Friday.
