Pelosi Speaks Up Against Medical Marijuana Crackdown
House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi is speaking up against the current administration’s campaign versus suppliers of medical marijuana in California.
Pelosi said that the crackdown on medical marijuana is endangering patients, as well as undermining its policy of deferring to states on the issue. In a statement given on Wednesday, the congresswoman from San Francisco said: “I have strong concerns about the recent actions by the federal government that threaten the safe access of medical marijuana to alleviate the suffering of patients in California.”
Prosecutors have accused medical marijuana suppliers of using the 1996 medical marijuana law in California as a “cover” in order to make substantial profits. They also said that landlords of dispensaries would be notified that they were in violation of federal drug laws, and could lose their property or face criminal prosecution.
Kris Hermes, spokesman for the advocacy group Americans for Safe Access, shared that since the crackdown about 300 marijuana dispensaries in California have shut down due to fear of prosecution or eviction. At this time, more than 1,000 medical marijuana suppliers are still operating.
Cong. Pelosi said further: “I have long supported efforts in Congress to advocate federal policies that recognize the scientific evidence and clinical research demonstrating the medical benefits of medicinal marijuana (and) that respects the wishes of the states in providing relief to ill individuals.”
The statement represents Pelosi’s first public criticism of the actions announced in October by U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag of San Francisco.
Tags: medical marijuana dispensary, medical marijuana in california, medical marijuana suppliers, Nancy Pelosi on medical marijuana crackdown
