For years, the debate to allow the legality on the operations of the so called “Medical Marijuana Clinic” for medical purposes and the Federal Government program against controlled substance seems close to seeing a respite. As the DEA continues to conduct raids, arresting “caregivers” and even threatened landlords with arrest and Federal Asset Forfeiture for knowingly leasing properties to medical marijuana clinic operators and owners, but American ingenuity always finds a way to counter such acts.
The Supreme Court has upheld the DEA’s right to go after dispensaries, no matter what state law might say. With this clear ruling, Federal officials have stepped up the crack down on medical marijuana clinics in California in recent years. There are currently more than 100 people facing federal charges in medical marijuana cases and the DEA conducted more than 50 raids in 2007 on various medical marijuana clinics.
However, as the new US Attorney for Northern California hinted when he met with reporters on Jan. 31 to introduce himself and discuss his priorities, there may be fewer raids on medical marijuana clinics Joseph Russoniello is against the use of cannabis for medical purposes, doubts it can help sick or dying patients, and opposed Prop 215, but he said the government resources may be better spent elsewhere. “We could spend a lifetime closing dispensaries and doing other kinds of things and enforcement actions, bringing cases and prosecuting people, shoveling against the tide, it would be terribly unproductive and probably not an efficient use of precious federal resources.”
The new US Attorney for Northern California Joseph Russoniello might be referring to an already ballooning budget deficit of the State of California. In Fact, a state legislator is even proposing to legalize marijuana as a way of raising money for cash-strapped state and local governments. Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, introduced a bill Monday (POSTED at http://www.kcra.com/politics/18778420/detail.html 1:48 pm PST February 23, 2009) that if approved by the California Legislature would put marijuana on the same legal footing as alcohol. Adults over the age of 21 would be allowed to buy it, and driving under the influence of marijuana would be prohibited. Under Ammiano’s proposal, which has been endorsed by some law enforcement officials, Marijuana would be taxed at a rate of $50 per ounce and bring an estimated $1 billion into state coffers.
And the DEA might be forced to do the same “easing” against medical marijuana clinics. As the Federal Government reallocates resources to fund the unprecedented massive bailout of various failing financial institutions and trying to keep the economy from totally bottoming out, there might not be that much funds around for the DEA to continuing its aggressive stand against medical marijuana clinics. With the credit crisis already forcing a lot of Americans out of their jobs and homes, Federal Government spending is now the under the scrutiny of the Senate.
As the Washington Post reported on March 6, 2009 edition “The Senate stalled action on a $410 billion spending bill that would fund much of the federal government for the current fiscal year amid resistance over the legislation’s huge price tag and more than 8,500 pet projects.” With the failure of the Senate to approve the spending bill, a temporary extension of federal government funding would be necessary. Otherwise, the government would be forced to cease operating at midnight Friday.
The DEA maintains 21 domestic field divisions with 227 field offices and 86 foreign offices in 62 countries. With a budget exceeding $2.415 billion dollars, DEA employs over 10,800 people, including over 5,500 Special Agents. Who knows? Maybe the DEA might just reassess to use their federal budget to just go after hard drugs like cocaine than just medical marijuana clinics owners.
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