Bay Area Representatives Ask U.S. Attorney Back Off On Medical-Marijuana Crackdown
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS)—Four California members of Congress are calling on US Attorney Melinda Haag to halt work on closing medical-marijuana dispensaries.
Eric Swalwell (D-Pleasanton), Barbara Lee (D-Oakland), Sam Farr (D-Carmel) and George Miller (D-Martinez) sent a letter on Nov. 18 asking Melinda Hagg, the U.S. Attorney for Northern California, to respect Department of Justice directives and to curb federal enforcement efforts against regulated dispensaries that are operating in compliance with state laws.
California Congress Members Call On U.S. Attorney To Curb Medical-Marijuana Dispensary Closures
"We spend $400 million a year, approximately, enforcing marijuana laws and many times in states where the voters have already voted for medicinal marijuana," Swalwell said.
The money, he said, would be better spent in other areas.
"In the Bay Area and in the East Bay, where we have high crime, we want our resources going toward tackling violent crime, not medicinal marijuana dispensaries," Swalwell said.
A representative for Melinda Haag told KCBS that the US Attorney's office has no comment on the letter at this time.
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