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allorganic said: LA City Councilmember Zine Calls for an End to Federal DEA Interference/Raids --------------------------------------------------------------------------- *Americans for Safe Access For Immediate Release: *July 24, 2007
*Los Angeles Moves Wednesday to Regulate Medical Marijuana Dispensaries* Councilmember Zine Calls for an End to Federal DEA Interference
*Los Angeles* -- City Councilmember Dennis Zine will hold a press conference prior to Wednesday's Los Angeles City Council meeting to call on Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)Administrator Karen Tandy to abandon her agency's tactic of threatening property owners who rent to medical cannabis (marijuana) dispensaries and to allow the City to proceed with regulations without federal interference. Councilmember Zine, a former police officer, voiced his concerns in a letter to be issued Wednesday to DEA Administrator Tandy, the same day a vote in Congress is expected to occur, which would strip the DEA of funds it relies on to carry out these types of tactics.
Although federal law prohibits the use of medical cannabis, Zine requests in his letter that the DEA "abandon this tactic and allow this City Council to continue the important work of regulating these facilities without Federal interference." Despite the apparent conflict between state and federal law, Zine affirms the need to "uphold the will of our voters and adopt sensible guidelines to regulate the provision of medical cannabis in our communities."
Zine's letter is in response to a notice sent by the DEA to as many as 150 property owners in Los Angeles threatening criminal prosecution and asset forfeiture if owners knowingly rent to medical cannabis providers. The City Council is expected to approve Zine's motion for a moratorium on new facilities at Wednesday's meeting.
The move to regulate medical cannabis dispensaries and the countervailing efforts by the DEA coincide with an anticipated vote Wednesday in the US House of Representatives. The Hinchey-Rohrabacher amendment to the Commerce-Justice-State appropriations bill would bar the DEA from enforcing federal law against medical cannabis patients and providers in states where it is legal.
The amendment's co-author, Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) stated last week that the DEA actions were "an example of the insane use of scarce law enforcement resources. It is especially insulting the way in which these resources are being used to supersede the votes of local people to permit the legal use of medical marijuana."
"We need a federal solution to this problem," said Don Duncan, a spokesperson for Americans for Safe Access, the nation's largest medical cannabis advocacy organization. "Added pressure by Councilmember Zine will hopefully make that happen."
Councilmember Zine's press conference will be held at 9:45am Wednesday in the Media Room behind City Council Chambers, Room 350, at Los Angeles City Hall, 200 N. Spring St., in downtown Los Angeles. The Zine letter will be made available at that time.
For further information, refer to: The DEA letter to more than 100 landlords in the Los Angeles area: http://www.safeaccessnow.org/downloa...ord_Letter.pdf ASA's one-pager on the Hinchey-Rohrabacher amendment: http://www.safeaccessnow.org/downloa..._One_Pager.pdf
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With over 30,000 active members in more than 40 states, Americans for Safe Access (ASA) is the largest national member-based organization of patients, medical professionals, scientists and concerned citizens promoting safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research. ASA works to overcome political and legal barriers by creating policies that improve access to medical cannabis for patients and researchers through legislation, education, litigation, grassroots actions, advocacy and services for patients and the caregivers.
-- Kris Hermes Media Specialist Americans for Safe Access www.SafeAccessNow.org 1322 Webster Street, Suite 402 Oakland, CA 94612 Phone: 510-251-1856 x307 Fax: 510-251-2036 Email: kris@SafeAccessNow.org
Americans for Safe Access (ASA) is the largest national member-based organization of patients, medical professionals, scientists and concerned citizens promoting safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research.
For those who don't know, the DEA recently sent out letters to Dispensary landowners, threatening to take away their properties, among other things. This is important because it shows a local politician showing the gall to stand up to the Feds, and support his constituency!
-------------------- Madtowntripper said:Or just give her a cloroform soaked rag and tell her it's ether!
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