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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Comments

[Hugh Akston]

Huh. Odd that Nancy Pelosi's name isn't on that letter. They probably wanted to get it out before she had a chance to read and thoroughly vet it as she does with everything she endorses.

[kevin_hunt]

Pelosi is anti-cannabis

[Fist of Etiquette]

And now, in addition to all the tough on crime raids, she gets to add to her resume standing up to soft on crime legislators. Governor's mansion, HERE SHE COMES! (Or judgeship or whatever.)

[Suthenboy]

There is only one language that people like Haag understand, and until these congresscritters learn to speak it, nothing will change.

[The Rt. Hon. Serious Man, Visc]

Are you suggesting these representatives force Haag into a car and take her for a 'drive'?

[Suthenboy]

No, her boss. There are a million ways they can twist his nuts until he fires her or gets her under control.

[Eduard van Haalen]

Haag's at the trough.

[AlmightyJB]

That bitch looks evil

[RightofCenter]

If you like your dispensary, you can keep it. Period.

[robc]

Couldnt Obama fire her?

Yeah, I laughed too.

[The Rt. Hon. Serious Man, Visc]

I'm sure he will be outraged if he happens to discover a newspaper that's covering this story.

[Hugh Akston]

No, but Eric Holder will deliver a speech next week deploring the continued raids against law-abiding businesses as an injustice that must be rectified.

[Suthenboy]

If you are trying to be sarcastic, you fail. If you are serious, then you are correct.

This is the bizarro world the proggie freak show has brought us.

[Suthenboy]

...brought us to.

[CatoTheElder]

Just last week Holder was criticizing about the US' draconian incarceration rate. This week we learn that he's still down with prosecuting the victimless criminals who account for most of the incarcerated.

Some wonk at ACLU or Reason or somewhere praised Holder's speech. I call bullshit on anything this Administration says unless it is immediately backed by deeds. These guys just talk with any reference to the reality that they're supposedly are talking about.

[juris imprudent]

That would be unprecendented!

[RightofCenter]

Also, SF'ed the first link, unless the link to 24/7 will always answer the question: "Does a US attorney listen to anybody else at all?"

[pan fried wylie]

...and, by now, common sense.

Just now, huh? Only recently.

Blatant admission that congress members lack common sense, nah.

[JidaKida]

Same old stuff, different day man.

http://www.Total-VPN.tk

[Almanian!]

How's that "federalizing of EVERY fucking thing" working out for you now, prog fucks? Fuck you.

[CE]

Couldn't California just give federal agents 24 hours to get out of the state, and to petition California county sheriffs on a case-by-case basis if they need to re-enter the state to pursue fleeing suspects?

[Wintermute]

Voters in California ought to raise bloody Hell with those two fascist females allegedly representing their state in the U.S. Senate. Obama cannot do without their support. This holdover U.S. Attorney needs to be fired. But then, Obama only used his half-blackness to advance more rapidly in politics; he doesn't give a damn about his brothers, whether black or white.

[JD]

Wait, are we for or against selective enforcement of federal laws?

[Contrarian P]

That's my issue with this whole thing. I actually side with the U.S. attorney on this one. Despite the fact that I feel that marijuana being illegal is wrong on both moral and utilitarian levels, the law is that it is a banned substance. I don't support the idea that the White House can just decide what laws they do and don't want to enforce arbitrarily. We give them all kinds of crap because they have decided to delay mandates arbitrarily. Let's be consistent. Rather than yell at the attorney for doing her job, which is law enforcement, they need to get the offensive law off the books.

[Neal Martinelli]

We need more raids. Marijuana is a poison, and it's users are mindless criminals who belong in prison for a long time.