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DEA attacks medical marijuana in California
By Hempology | July 14, 2007
California NORML
12 Jul, 2007
D. Gieringer, Coordinator
DEA Threatens Forfeiture of Los Angeles Compassion Clubs
Threatening landlords with forfeiture will cancel almost all leases to Los Angeles area Compassionate Use clubs. This very aggressive and hurtful tactic could wipe out clubs in California!
In an attack on access to medical marijuana in the nation’s second largest city, the LA DEA office has mailed notices to landlords of Prop 215 co-ops warning them that they are liable to forfeiture and criminal penalties for allowing medical marijuana facilities on their property.
So far, some 20 letters have been reported by dispensaries in the LA area, but the DEA is said to have sent out some 100 letters. Included are numerous well regarded, established facilities with no known complaints. The action is aimed at coercing landlords to evict medical cannabis coops despite state law allowing them.
California NORML regards this as a serious attack on patients’ access to medical marijuana under Prop. 215. “The DEA has no business interfering in California’s medical marijuana law,” says California NORML coordinator Dale Gieringer, “This action will only serve to drive patients to the illegal market and aggravate marijuana crime.”
In addition to serving over 100,000 patients, medical cannabis coops currently generate thousands of legal jobs and millions of dollars in tax revenues in the LA area.
The DEA’s attack on medical marijuana comes just as Congress is about to vote on a measure to deny federal funding for federal medical marijuana raids, namely the Hinchey-Rohrabacher amendment.
NOW is the time to tell Congress members to oppose the federal government’s attack on medical marijuana.
Visit NORML’s action alert HERE.
http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=9998376
So far, all of the DEA’s letters have been targeted to the LA area. No letters have been reported in surrounding counties. The operation appears timed to co-opt a pending LA dispensary ordinance that is expected to regulate and cap the number of dispensaries. At this point, California NORML sees no basis for expecting a larger state-wide sweep.
California NORML attorneys warn that there is no legal defense to federal forfeiture charges. Once landlords have received notice from the DEA, they can no longer claim to be “innocent owners.” Forfeiture attorneys typically advise landlords who have received such notices to promptly insist their tenants desist from illegal activity and/or evict them. The validity of federal forfeiture has been repeatedly upheld by the federal courts, most notably in the case of the LA Cannabis Resource Center, where the government successfully forfeited $300,000 from the city of West Hollywood for leasing a building to the LACRC.
It is unclear to what extent the DEA is prepared to follow through on their threat of arresting landlords. Any forfeiture sweep would have to be conducted in cooperation with the LA US Attorney’s office. It’s unknown whether this has been arranged.The most likely scenario is that there will be widespread evictions and shutdowns, followed by a few selected forfeiture prosecutions to scare remaining landlords. Those landlords most vulnerable are those with the most equity in their property, since the government likes to make as much money as possible on forfeitures.
COPY OF DEA LANDLORD LETTER
(Sent by Certified Mail July 6, 2007) DEA, LA Field Division, 255 E. Temple St, 17th Fl, LA 90012 (213) 621-6700
The DEA has determined you own, or have under your management or control, a building located at [ADDRESS]. The DEA has determined there is a marijuana dispensary, [NAME], operating on the property.
This is a violation of federal law. Federal law 21 U.S.C. Sec. 56 (a)
states:
“It shall be unlawful to knowingly and intentionally rent, lease or make available for use, with or without compensation, a building, room, or enclosure for the purpose of unlawfully manufacturing, storing, distributing, or using a controlled substance.”
Federal law takes precedence over State law. It is not a defense to this crime or to the seizure of the property that the facility
operating on the property is providing “medical marijuana” under California law including the provisions of California Prop. 215. Violation of this law is a felony crime, and carries with it a penalty of up to 20 years in prison.
In addition, federal law allows for the seizure of assets, including real property, which have been used in conjunction with the distribution of controlled substances. Specifically, 21 U.S.C. 881 (a) (7) states:
“The following shall be subject to forfeiture to the United States and no property right shall exist in them: All real property, including any right, title and interest (including any leasehold interest) in the whole of any lot or tract of land which is used in any manner or part, or to facilitate the commission of, a violation of this sub-chapter.”
This letter shall serve as notice that, after a thorough investigation, the DEA has determined there is a marijuana dispensary operating on the above described property. By this notice, you have been made aware of the purposes for which the property is being used.
You are further advised that violations of federal laws relating to marijuana may result in criminal prosecution, imprisonment, fines and forfeiture of assets.
For further information, please contact Acting Group Supervisor
Deanne Reuter at (213) 621-6789.
Sincerely, Timothy J. Landrum, Special Agent in Charge.
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