Change Has Come to Medical Marijuana
Indeed, times are changing for medical marijuana. As more and more people are leaning towards the safe and legal distribution of marijuana, those who are already in the business of providing marijuana for medical purposes are breathing a little easier.
In Los Angeles last Thursday, Attorney General Eric Holder, Jr. has announced that federal authorities will leave medical marijuana dispensaries in peace, at least for as long as they abide by state and local laws.
This is certainly welcome news for dispensary owners who have had to contend with marijuana raids despite the fact that they are operating in states that legally allow the medical use of marijuana. In the Los Angeles area, the Drug Enforcement Administration is known for cracking down on medical marijuana, some rather indiscriminately, leaving businessmen disappointed and distraught.
One of these owners is Mr. Don Duncan, a founder of the medical marijuana advocacy group Americans for Safe Access. In 2007, he operated three medical marijuana dispensaries in the Los Angeles area. Unfortunately, two of these were raided by Drug Enforcement Administration, with a bit of window-smashing to boot. He has since operated only one dispensary – the Los Angeles Patients and Caregivers Group – fearing another federal crackdown.
It definitely is time to make that change. President Obama is a known supporter of medical marijuana, a complete opposite of his predecessor whose administration had a zero tolerance policy for marijuana, medical or otherwise. We need to make the environment safe for those who legally distribute marijuana so that patients who need them can enjoy its benefits.
The Drug Enforcement Agency clarifies, however, that the Attorney General’s statement has not been taken by the agency as an absolute cessation of action against marijuana distributors. Those who will violate state and local laws will still be persecuted, which will include dispensaries that sell marijuana to minors under the age of 21, sell excessive amounts of marijuana or sell marijuana sourced from unsanctioned growers.
Tags: legalization of Marijuana, los angeles marijuana, medical marijuana
March 22, 2009 at 7:31 pmRonnie
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why call it marijuana when the real name is cannabis? why not tell all the good things cannabis brings, like 50 thousand different things, (God said it was good) why deny his word? its time to tell the truth about cannabis, its time to stop all the killings, and kids getting taken away from familys, homes being taken & torn apart, thats alot more dangerous than what cannabis does, lets end proibition.
March 26, 2009 at 1:18 ammon-starr@hotmail.com
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Hey if anyone knows where to apply for medical marijuana testing, pretty please tell me. thanks
March 31, 2009 at 12:03 pmGeorge Grimes
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Yeah, they’ll leave them alone, until the DEA comes in and does their thing.
February 6, 2010 at 7:30 pmAustin Naillon
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