Members of Congress Beg US Attorney to Stop Calif. Medical Marijuana Raids

Jacob Sullum has noted that despite new
policies by the Department of Justice to pull back on prosecutions
against medical marijuana dispensaries that are operating within
their state’s laws, Melinda Haag, the U.S. attorney for Northern
California, is doing
nothing of the sort.

Haag’s unwillingness to listen to the her own agency, not to
mention the city leaders where she’s trying to shut dispensaries
down, has prompted four members of the House of Representatives,
Barbara Lee, George Miller, Sam Farr, and Eric Swalwell (all
California Democrats) to send Haag a letter begging her to stop.

The letter reads in part:

It is counterproductive and economically prohibitive to continue
a path of hostility toward dispensaries. Moreover, it appears to
directly  counter the spirit of Deputy Attorney General Cole’s
memo, and is in direct opposition to the evolving view toward
medical marijuana, the will of the people and, by now, common
sense.  Additionally, the State of California has also
received legislative direction and guidelines from California
Attorney General Kamala Harris on responsibly delivering medical
marijuana. 

It is our view that the intent of the Justice Department is to
not enforce its anti-marijuana laws in conflict with the laws of
states that have chosen to decriminalize marijuana for medical and
recreational uses.  California understands the urgency toward
putting together a statewide regulatory system, and we can all be
helpful in that regard, but some municipalities, including Oakland,
have already done an extraordinary job regulating medical
marijuana.  California is moving in the correct direction in a
measured manner, and should be given the opportunity to do so.

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