daheadies
poppin' outta control
My question is will they for sure give everyone 45 days, and if you stop within 45 days are you out w/o any penalty what so ever? Is that what happened in Cali???????????? / what was the outcome for Cali on the 45 day thing?
http://www.denver-duiattorneys.com/...ntion-to-colorados-medical-pot-industry.shtml
A few months ago, our blog reported on how the federal government launched a comprehensive initiative designed to crack down on the medical marijuana industry in California.
Here, U.S. attorneys sent letters to landlords renting/leasing property where medical marijuana is being grown and/or sold, informing them that unless they evict their tenants, they may face criminal charges and/or the forfeiture of their land.
Now, it appears as if a similar initiative/crackdown may take place here in Colorado over the next few months.
According to media reports, an anonymous law enforcement official has indicated that federal officials are currently reviewing whether to take action against medical marijuana in Colorado. Specifically, the official revealed that federal officials would likely target medical marijuana dispensaries/cultivation sites located near schools, issuing a letter instructing them that they have 45 days to cease operations or face potential prosecution.
Understandably, a potential federal crackdown has left medical marijuana-related businesses -- including Colorado's 667 dispensaries, 926 cultivations sites and 246 marijuana-infused product makers -- concerned and medical marijuana advocates upset.
"Colorado has been a model for how a state should regulate medical marijuana," said Brain Vicente, executive director of Sensible Colorado. "Our system has worked and Colorado should be allowed to continue to do so."
Federal officials have hardened their stance against medical marijuana following the release of a June memo by Deputy Attorney General James Cole, calling for the prosecution of those seeking to profit from the sale of medical marijuana.
While Cole's memo indicated that compliance with state law would not provide any type of immunity from federal prosecution, he has since clarified that both caregivers and patients should not be targeted.
Currently, 16 states and the District of Columbia have medical marijuana laws in place.
While it remains to be seen whether federal officials will actually target Colorado's medical marijuana industry in early 2012, many legal experts are clearly not surprised by the possibility.
"This has been the reality that people in the industry have been living with from day one," said Professor Sam Kamin of the Sturm College of Law at the University of Denver. "The feds have generally stayed away from people in good compliance with state law. ... Will that be the approach here?"
http://www.coloradonewsagency.com/2...n-banks-put-squeeze-on-dispensaries-pol-says/
The state may be facing a dead-end in its efforts to pave the way for legal medical marijuana, according to a leading state lawmaker on the issue. Democratic Sen. Pat Steadman, of Denver, said there are limits to what can be done at the state level because of federal laws that rigidly adhere to the illegality of marijuana. Steadman made the remarks Saturday at the Medical Marijuana Assistance Program of America’s first town hall meeting at their new headquarters in Denver.
“I tried to take a few of the rough edges off of our regulatory scheme,” said Steadman. “I’m becoming increasingly frustrated because I’m becoming more and more acutely aware of the fact that I don’t think the solution to this problem lies here in the state of Colorado, and I don’t know if there’s anything we can do at the Capitol in Denver to actually fix this.”
Of primary concern, said Steadman, is the refusal of banks in Colorado to do business with medical marijuana dispensaries stemming from fears of federal investigations. The lack of banking opportunities is creating a recipe for crime, says Steadman.
“It’s become a cash business, and when you have that kind of cash lying around, we know what kinds of problems that creates,” said Steadman. “It’s just a ticking time bomb, and it’s just going to get worse the more we force this industry to work on a cash basis. I’ve hit a brick wall, I think, in what we can do, and whatever we try and do at the state level I don’t think is actually going to work because of federal laws around banking.”
The federal government has made it clear, says Steadman, that banks servicing medical marijuana dispensaries are involved in illegal activity.
Even if state legislation could turn the corner, Colorado Attorney General John Suthers may not be supportive, given his overall reluctance to support broader interpretations of Amendment 20, the voter-approved constitutional provision legalizing medical marijuana in 2000. Spokesman Mike Saccone said the Republican attorney general’s preference is for the approach outlined in the constitutional amendment, allowing for marijuana to be grown and used for medical purposes rather than sold through dispensaries.
“In an ideal world, he’d like to go back to the patient-caregiver system established in Amendment 20,” said Saccone. “Whether or not the toothpaste is already out of the tube is another matter.”
Steadman said he had been working on possible legislation over the summer to address the banking issue, but he now has serious reservations and is considering giving up the idea. The solution may hinge on efforts by U.S. Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colorado, who is working on the issue at the federal level, says Steadman.
“I haven’t given up yet, but I may have to, ” said Steadman. “We may have to bank on what Polis can do in Washington.”
http://www.denver-duiattorneys.com/...ntion-to-colorados-medical-pot-industry.shtml
A few months ago, our blog reported on how the federal government launched a comprehensive initiative designed to crack down on the medical marijuana industry in California.
Here, U.S. attorneys sent letters to landlords renting/leasing property where medical marijuana is being grown and/or sold, informing them that unless they evict their tenants, they may face criminal charges and/or the forfeiture of their land.
Now, it appears as if a similar initiative/crackdown may take place here in Colorado over the next few months.
According to media reports, an anonymous law enforcement official has indicated that federal officials are currently reviewing whether to take action against medical marijuana in Colorado. Specifically, the official revealed that federal officials would likely target medical marijuana dispensaries/cultivation sites located near schools, issuing a letter instructing them that they have 45 days to cease operations or face potential prosecution.
Understandably, a potential federal crackdown has left medical marijuana-related businesses -- including Colorado's 667 dispensaries, 926 cultivations sites and 246 marijuana-infused product makers -- concerned and medical marijuana advocates upset.
"Colorado has been a model for how a state should regulate medical marijuana," said Brain Vicente, executive director of Sensible Colorado. "Our system has worked and Colorado should be allowed to continue to do so."
Federal officials have hardened their stance against medical marijuana following the release of a June memo by Deputy Attorney General James Cole, calling for the prosecution of those seeking to profit from the sale of medical marijuana.
While Cole's memo indicated that compliance with state law would not provide any type of immunity from federal prosecution, he has since clarified that both caregivers and patients should not be targeted.
Currently, 16 states and the District of Columbia have medical marijuana laws in place.
While it remains to be seen whether federal officials will actually target Colorado's medical marijuana industry in early 2012, many legal experts are clearly not surprised by the possibility.
"This has been the reality that people in the industry have been living with from day one," said Professor Sam Kamin of the Sturm College of Law at the University of Denver. "The feds have generally stayed away from people in good compliance with state law. ... Will that be the approach here?"
http://www.coloradonewsagency.com/2...n-banks-put-squeeze-on-dispensaries-pol-says/
The state may be facing a dead-end in its efforts to pave the way for legal medical marijuana, according to a leading state lawmaker on the issue. Democratic Sen. Pat Steadman, of Denver, said there are limits to what can be done at the state level because of federal laws that rigidly adhere to the illegality of marijuana. Steadman made the remarks Saturday at the Medical Marijuana Assistance Program of America’s first town hall meeting at their new headquarters in Denver.
“I tried to take a few of the rough edges off of our regulatory scheme,” said Steadman. “I’m becoming increasingly frustrated because I’m becoming more and more acutely aware of the fact that I don’t think the solution to this problem lies here in the state of Colorado, and I don’t know if there’s anything we can do at the Capitol in Denver to actually fix this.”
Of primary concern, said Steadman, is the refusal of banks in Colorado to do business with medical marijuana dispensaries stemming from fears of federal investigations. The lack of banking opportunities is creating a recipe for crime, says Steadman.
“It’s become a cash business, and when you have that kind of cash lying around, we know what kinds of problems that creates,” said Steadman. “It’s just a ticking time bomb, and it’s just going to get worse the more we force this industry to work on a cash basis. I’ve hit a brick wall, I think, in what we can do, and whatever we try and do at the state level I don’t think is actually going to work because of federal laws around banking.”
The federal government has made it clear, says Steadman, that banks servicing medical marijuana dispensaries are involved in illegal activity.
Even if state legislation could turn the corner, Colorado Attorney General John Suthers may not be supportive, given his overall reluctance to support broader interpretations of Amendment 20, the voter-approved constitutional provision legalizing medical marijuana in 2000. Spokesman Mike Saccone said the Republican attorney general’s preference is for the approach outlined in the constitutional amendment, allowing for marijuana to be grown and used for medical purposes rather than sold through dispensaries.
“In an ideal world, he’d like to go back to the patient-caregiver system established in Amendment 20,” said Saccone. “Whether or not the toothpaste is already out of the tube is another matter.”
Steadman said he had been working on possible legislation over the summer to address the banking issue, but he now has serious reservations and is considering giving up the idea. The solution may hinge on efforts by U.S. Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colorado, who is working on the issue at the federal level, says Steadman.
“I haven’t given up yet, but I may have to, ” said Steadman. “We may have to bank on what Polis can do in Washington.”
