Two Poltical Strikes Against Medical Marijuana

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Two Poltical Strikes Against Medical Marijuana - 10/8/2011 10:04:06 PM

MasterG2kTR

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Two major strikes by the fed to shutdown medical marijuana. Apparently they still don't see the good that it can do for many. The second story gets a little weird in all it entails so don't go by just the headline for it.

Story #1

Obama Administration's War on Medical Marijuana Continues to Escalate

The last bank in Colorado to openly do business with the medical marijuana industry has announced that it will no longer do so. The banks have caved in to federal demands they do extra monitoring and reporting on their customers in the marijuana business, fearing the feds could have worse in mind for them than they've stated. Dispensaries throughout the state are preparing to go cash-only.

Story #2

Have a license for medical pot? You can't have a gun, U.S. says

Michigan's medical-marijuana users can be evicted from their apartments at any time under a recent opinion by the state attorney general.A host of other state restrictions are in place or looming for Michiganders who carry state-issued cards to use cannabis for health reasons.And this week, a federal firearms memo surfaced that says medical-marijuana users fall under nationwide rules against gun ownership by drug abusers.

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RE: Two Poltical Strikes Against Medical Marijuana - 10/8/2011 11:06:24 PM

tazzygirl

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Ok, something I have read over and over.... what is up with the accusations of money laundering?

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RE: Two Poltical Strikes Against Medical Marijuana - 10/9/2011 6:39:12 AM

DarkSteven

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tazzy, I'm not sure what you're referring to. I couldn't find a reference to laundering in the two articles posted. I'll take two stabs at what you might mean:

1. The fact that mmj businesses are being forced to go all-cash means that there is a sizable number of businesses that will be a natural for criminals to own as a means of laundering money. Amazing how that works - the government makes it illegal for them to use banks, and then is able to claim that they're infested by the mob.

2. The banks themselves are terrified that their assets could be frozen/seized due to federal agents investigating, and that's why they've decided to not do business with mmj businesses. They could be leery of doing business due to possible laundering accusations.

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RE: Two Poltical Strikes Against Medical Marijuana - 10/9/2011 6:40:35 AM

farglebargle

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Anyone find it surprising that this starts once #OccupyWallStreet doesn't go away for a month. Political pushback. Keep bashing the Bankers who continue to fuck up, and we'll crack down hard....

Remove income from the counter-culture economy, and they can't afford to have a political agenda...

< Message edited by farglebargle -- 10/9/2011 6:41:28 AM >

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RE: Two Poltical Strikes Against Medical Marijuana - 10/9/2011 2:27:00 PM

KenDckey

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I am in favor of all the enforcement that they can give.

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RE: Two Poltical Strikes Against Medical Marijuana - 10/9/2011 3:21:22 PM

TheHeretic

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quote:

ORIGINAL: KenDckey

I am in favor of all the enforcement that they can give.

So do you think we are on the right track, in our drug policies, KenD?

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RE: Two Poltical Strikes Against Medical Marijuana - 10/9/2011 9:11:39 PM

tazzygirl

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This is among the many I have seen...

U.S. Attorney Andre Birotte Jr. in Los Angeles lodged criminal drug-trafficking charges against a North Hollywood marijuana store that allegedly made $15 million in profits in eight months.

In an indictment unsealed this week, prosecutors say six people who operated the store distributed 600 to 700 pounds of marijuana a month and shipped it illegally to two other states.

Federal prosecutors in Los Angeles also filed three civil lawsuits involving two buildings and a strip mall. The lawsuit against an Orange County strip mall alleges that eight of the 11 suites on the second floor sold marijuana. Prosecutors warned owners and landlords of 38 other stores that they had two weeks to stop marijuana sales or face prosecution.

"For-profit, commercial marijuana operations are illegal not only under federal law, but also under California law," Birotte said.

In San Diego, U.S. Attorney Duffy said her office sent hundreds of letters to marijuana stores warning them to stop selling marijuana within 45 days or face prosecution. She said the four U.S. attorneys in California coordinated a federal enforcement action in response to requests for help from local police.

Prosecutors also charged six people with selling marijuana to minors, money laundering and other charges related to their operation of two stores near colleges that sold high-grade marijuana and marijuana-laden candy, cookies, bubble gum, ice cream and barbecue sauce. Prosecutors say the stores catered to college and high school students.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2011-10-07/marijuana-medical-california/50691598/1

It also brought up another question... they arent supposd to be making a profit?

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RE: Two Poltical Strikes Against Medical Marijuana - 10/9/2011 10:54:09 PM

TheHeretic

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quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl
they arent supposd to be making a profit?

Nope. The theory is that they are non-profit collectives, which provide a service to the members. Rather than personally growing the marijuana, members have plants grown on their behalf, and simply pick up what they need, and pay a fee to cover the costs. (Strangely, the fee is pretty much exactly what an illegal vendor would charge.) Some collectives are simply retail outlets, with a restricted access entry. Others offer lounges and some nice amenities, even a shuttle van.

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RE: Two Poltical Strikes Against Medical Marijuana - 10/9/2011 11:14:14 PM

tazzygirl

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So if they are making a profit, they are breaking the law?

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RE: Two Poltical Strikes Against Medical Marijuana - 10/10/2011 12:19:55 AM

TheHeretic

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That's part of the problem, Tazzy. They exist in a very grey area. There just isn't a proper framework of laws for them to work in. The state legislature has been derelict in their duties, when it comes to carrying out the will of the people on this. Now I'm a limited government kind of guy, but I doubt even an anarchist could love the mess we have here presently.

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RE: Two Poltical Strikes Against Medical Marijuana - 10/10/2011 12:23:20 AM

tazzygirl

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Im all honesty Rich, Im having trouble gathering up any sympathy except for those who are in medical need. Seems they get screwed once again while business makes money any ole way they desire, and the law steps in only when the government realizes they arent getting "theirs".

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RE: Two Poltical Strikes Against Medical Marijuana - 10/10/2011 1:02:59 AM

TheHeretic

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Well, the collectives aren't all that inspiring of sympathy. I would much rather see a coherent system created. As it is, outside of maybe some payroll taxes for the staff, the financial benefit remains squarely in the underground economy.

Best solution, as far as I'm concerned is complete legalization, complete with regulation and taxation on the commercial product. Let the patients with a medical need send the receipt to their insurance companies.

What we've been doing, for 80 odd years, is a complete failure, and a damn expensive one.

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RE: Two Poltical Strikes Against Medical Marijuana - 10/10/2011 6:33:30 AM

tazzygirl

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It is expensive. Why doesnt it just fall to the hospitals and pharmacies to dispense?

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RE: Two Poltical Strikes Against Medical Marijuana - 10/10/2011 9:13:34 AM

thompsonx

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quote:

ORIGINAL: TheHeretic

quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl
they arent supposd to be making a profit?

Nope. The theory is that they are non-profit collectives, which provide a service to the members. Rather than personally growing the marijuana, members have plants grown on their behalf, and simply pick up what they need, and pay a fee to cover the costs. (Strangely, the fee is pretty much exactly what an illegal vendor would charge.) Some collectives are simply retail outlets, with a restricted access entry. Others offer lounges and some nice amenities, even a shuttle van.

Not all are collectives. Some are for profit enterprises. In a collective the patient assigns their right to grow to the collective and as you point out are required to pay a handling fee....but as you point out the handling fee is full ticket retail. It also legally ties you to that collective since you can only assign your grow rights to one other entity.

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