Feds Target Leader of Marijuana Legalization Movement
Pot Advocates: Feds' move against Richard Lee's dispensary "smacks of politics"
As the federal government's crackdown on the state's medical marijuana industry expands, the Department of Justice has targeted Richard Lee, the leader of the movement to legalize pot in California, The Bay Citizen has learned.
U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag sent a letter to the landlord of Lee’s medical marijuana dispensary, Coffeeshop Blue Sky, ordering its eviction, according to people familiar with the situation.
Lee, a soft-spoken libertarian who uses a wheelchair, is the founder of Oaksterdam University, which offers cultivation classes and business training for the cannabis industry. Last year, he poured $1.5 million into Proposition 19, the marijuana legalization measure that voters rejected.
The four U.S. attorneys from California announced a crackdown on the state’s billion-dollar medical marijuana industry Oct. 7, charging that many dispensaries are simply fronts for the sale and distribution of illegal drugs. Since the announcement, federal agents have raided pot clubs and arrested growers.
The actions highlight the conflict between federal and state authorities over medical marijuana, which is legal under state law but illegal under federal law.
Medical marijuana advocates said Friday that targeting Lee seemed politically motivated because of his leading role in legalization efforts and the medical marijuana industry.
“It smacks of politics,” said Dale Gieringer of the marijuana advocacy organization California NORML.
Haag declined to comment on the letter, but at the Oct. 7 press conference, she said, “People are using the cover of medical marijuana to make extraordinary amounts of money — in short, to engage in drug trafficking.”
At the time, Haag said her office had sent out “dozens” of letters to landlords and dispensaries in California’s Northern District, ordering them shut down or face criminal prosecution and seizure of their property and profits. Three dispensaries in San Francisco and one in Marin received letters.
She said that the letters had been sent to “stores that sell marijuana and allow people to smoke marijuana near schools, parks and other places where children learn and play.” Coffeeshop Blue Sky, located near Lee’s Oaksterdam University, is also a block away from Envision Academy of Arts & Technology, a charter high school.
Lee declined to comment directly about the letter; his landlord could not be reached for comment.
But Lee said the federal crackdown in general could change the face of the marijuana industry in Oakland and lead to the proliferation of so-called "Measure Z" clubs, private clubs where pot is sold and consumed. In 2004, Oakland voters passed Measure Z, which makes the sale of marijuana between adults the lowest law enforcement priority.
“If the federal government shuts down the medical marijuana system in Oakland, we will be forced to operate under Measure Z,” said Lee.
The Drug Enforcement Administration also sent Lee a letter in 2007 informing him that his dispensary was illegal under federal law, but never took action.
Coffeeshop Blue Sky is one of four dispensaries permitted to operate in Oakland. Earlier this month, the Internal Revenue Service ruled that Oakland's Harborside Health Center, the largest dispensary in the Bay Area, could not deduct standard business expenses because it was involved in "the trafficking of controlled substances." As a result of the ruling, Harborside owes millions of dollars in back taxes.
To some, the backlash against Oakland’s dispensaries seems like retribution for its lenient attitude towards marijuana dispensaries. Last year, the city backed off on a plan to permit four enormous pot farms only after Haag issued a stern warning. Lee's Oaksterdam was also the headquarters the Prop. 19 campaign.
"I warned everybody from the City Council on down who was pushing for those four huge farms that there would be consequences," said Steve DeAngelo, who runs Harborside. "And I warned people who were pushing Prop. 19 that losing elections would have consequences."
"In large part what we're seeing is the consequences of an overreach by our community," DeAngelo said.
Although DeAngelo and Lee have had their differences, DeAngelo denounced the attack on Lee's dispensary.
"Richard Lee is an absolute pillar of the medical cannabis movement — he paved the way for a lot of us," he said. "It's absolutely critical that the community stand up and support Coffeeshop Blue Sky."
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M L
Pot is so fascinating. It's as American as "Pot Brownie Apple Pie."
Most tea baggers support legal pot.
But what we have currently is not legal pot. Just look at the moniker: "Medicinal Marijuana." And the "medical offices:" "Coffeeshop Blue Sky"
We have made ourselves a pickle here.
We created prohibition as a solution to illegality.
Think about that.
The clock must turn back in order for it to tick forward again.
Most often, than utter denial of the laws of Physics is impossible to achieve.
Its like Dexter trying to make his victim come back to life by giving it a facelift.
CrunchyB Z
This is the same BS the DEA did with Marc Emery, know as the Prince of Pot in Canada. He poured millions from seed sales into the legalization movement, and the DEA went for blood. He was extradited from Canada, to serve 5 years in an American jail. Selling seeds in Canada brings a fine, nothing more, but they sent him stateside. The attack of the culture of cannabis, and medical use has to stop. We need to fight back against this tyranny. Free Marc Emery!
Duncan20903
I find the mention of the Envision Academy of Arts & Technology being close to the dispensary fascinating, in the same way someone on a ledge of a tall building intent on suicide is fascinating. If the school didn't want to be close to a dispensary why did they choose that location? Does it not matter that the high school opened in 2006, years after Mr. Lee opened his dispensary?
Most people know that the motto of the Know Nothing prohibitionist is "never let the facts get in the way of disseminating an effective piece of hysterical rhetoric" so I guess it's not surprising.
Indie UrbanMusic
Obama, you and your GOP puppeteers and corporate overlords deserve an eviction order.
Obama, Stop flip-flopping! This shirt is the truth!
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Robert Paulson
The U.S. Attorney's just took a shot at the heart of Oaksterdam. The marijuana community, not just medical mj, in Oakland is HUGE and probably has gotten a little too relaxed.
This will cause a major public backlash. If their goal was to actually close pot shops they would be holding news conferences and taking so many public actions. ti would be done more behind closed doors. Either these attorneys are looking to motivate a large community into taking action. either that or they are tone deaf to how the public feels about Oaksterdam.
It looks like it's time to write some letters, show up at some public hearings and talk to the guy at blue sky to see how i can best help! Who's with me?!
Brandt Hardin
Marijuana is the safest drug with actual benefits for the user as opposed to alcohol which is dangerous, causes addiction, birth defects, and affects literally every organ in the body. Groups are organizing all over the country to speak their minds on reforming pot laws. I drew up a very cool poster featuring Uncle Willie Nelson and The Teapot Party for the cause which you can check out on my artist’s blog at http://dregstudiosart.blogspot.com/2011/01/vote-teapot-2011.html Drop in and let me know what you think!
malcolm kyle
Due to the tyrannic and mindless actions of prohibitionists, tens of millions of people world-wide (both users and non-users) have been either killed, maimed, incarcerated or had their lives very seriously disrupted. Prohibitionists are solely responsible for an immense increase in violent organized crime, an AIDS Pandemic, the undermining of international development and security and a grave abuse of human rights on a scale barely witnessed in human social history.
Corporate greed and individual bigotry have accelerated us towards a situation where all the usual peaceful and democratic methods needed to reverse the acute damage done by prohibition no longer function as envisaged by the Founding Fathers of our once great and free nation. Such a political impasse coupled with great economic tribulation is precisely that which throughout history has invariably ignited violent revolution.
In order to avert what will surely be a far more violent situation than we are all presently experiencing, there appears to be just one last avenue left to us - Jury Nullification.
Jury Nullification is a constitutional doctrine that allows juries to acquit defendants who are technically guilty, but who don’t deserve punishment. All non-violent drug offenders who are not selling to children, be they users, dealers or importers, fall into this category. If you believe that prohibition is a dangerous and counter-productive policy, then you don’t have to help to apply it. Under the Constitution, when it comes to acquittals, you, the juror, have the last word!
The idea that jurors should judge the law, as well as the facts, is a proud and vital component of American history.
The most shining example of Jury Nullification occurred during the shameful period in US history when slavery was legal. People who helped slaves escape were committing a federal crime - violation of the Fugitive Slave Act. Jurors would often acquit, even when the defendants admitted their guilt. Legal historians credit these cases with advancing the abolition of slavery.
No amount of money, police powers, weaponry, wishful thinking or pseudo-science will make our streets safer; only an end to prohibition can do that. How much longer are you willing to foolishly risk your own survival by continuing to ignore the obvious, historically confirmed solution? - When called for Jury Service concerning any non-violent prohibition-related offense, it is your moral and civic duty to VOTE TO ACQUIT!
“To function as the founders intended, our republic requires that “the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure.”
~ THOMAS JEFFERSON, letter to William Stephens Smith, November 13, 1787.
To avoid such carnage and turmoil on a scale not seen in this land since the 1860s, we may have just one last chance.
If you wish to see this insane prohibition replaced by drug policy based on science, public health and sound principles of human rights that will ensure a safe future for your children and grandchildren, PLEASE VOTE TO ACQUIT!
J Craig Canada
There is nothing lenient about a limit of 4 dispensaries and license fees of $60,000 and $90,000. That is beyond "restrictive" and even beyond "draconian".
And Prop. 19 was not "legalization". It was thinly veiled prohibition.
J Craig Canada
And there is nothing "lenient" about a 15% tax on medicine. In the world I grew up in, any tax on medicine would be considered obscene.
As far as I'm concerned, anyone that advocates sin tax on top of sales tax for medical marijuana is an enemy of medical marijuana and is guilty of betraying the movement.
Vincent Dudler
We've never been this close to ending federal prohibition of marijuana. What we really need to do is fight the disenfranchisement of the marijuana movement. People feel powerless in a time when we need MORE voices in the argument than ever before. It is NOW the time to speak out. We NEED to fight this disenfranchisement with government. When we feel powerless and allow the government to trample our freedoms we give them license to do so. Stand Up! Speak Out! Now!
1) EVERYONE that sees these links sign up at both sites and weigh in on the debate
- pvox.co/CdiFqY
- wh.gov/gDQ
2) Propagate those two links and ensure that everyone that sees them go to both those sites.
J Craig Canada
Bill Panzer - 30 Oct 10
The most amazing factor of this whole debate to me is how Prop. 19 is being almost universally portrayed as “legalization” in the media and by many in our movement who, quite frankly, I suspect have never actually read the text of the initiative!
What makes little sense to me is that this initiative, which doesn’t legalize cannabis, is being sold as legalization. It seems to me, it would make more sense to draft an initiative that does legalize cannabis and sell it as regulation.
The real debate over California's Proposition 19: http://palmspringsbum.org/blog/2010/10/the-real-debate-over-californias-proposition-19/
Usmjp Vermont
WE NEED 118 MORE ONLINE SIGNATURES BY
TOMORROW OCT. 23 FOR a total of 5,000 on the
PETITION TO END
MARIJUANA + hemp + cannabis
PROHIBITION
at the WHITE HOUSE http://wh.gov/gP1
Please! Hurry & click & sign,
DEADLINE TOMORROW OCT. 23
http:/wh.gov/gP1
President Obama allows Adults & kids
age 13 & up to sign this petition.
Case sensitive upper case capitol P.
http://wh.gov/gP1
Please hurry, we need 164 more sigatures
to meet total requirement of 5,000.
Petition to "Demand an Amendment to the
U.S. Constitution to End Marijuana,
Marihuana, Cannabis and Hemp Prohibition"
http://wh.gov/gP1
Christian Conservative
Jesus said to do unto others as we would have them to do unto us. None of us would want our child thrown in jail with the sexual predators over marijuana. None of us would want to see an older family member’s home confiscated and sold by the police for growing a couple of marijuana plants for their aches and pains. It’s time to stop putting our own family members in jail over marijuana.
If ordinary Americans could grow a little marijuana in their own back yards, it would be about as valuable as home-grown tomatoes. Let's put the criminals out of business and get them out of our neighborhoods. Let's let ordinary Americans grow a little marijuana in their own back yards.
You can email your Congressperson and Senators at http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml to discuss HR 2306, the bill that would repeal Federal prohibition.
And a big THANK YOU to the courageous, freedom loving legislators, governors, and countless others who are working so hard to bring this through! You’re doing a great patriotic service for all of America!
Here's one way that IT IS REALLY WORKING: Arresting the criminals and collecting a fee from registered growers (and bringing in thousands of dollars to support the county budget); what a great plan! This is the way to build a better America! http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/2011/07/the-pot-republic-one-sheriffs-quietly-radical-experiment.html
Barbara Lantrip
Maybe it's time for Mr. Lee to run for Mayor...or even Governor. According to latest statistics, 50% of the American population believed in the legalization of cannabis.
Trevor Rohwer
Haag declined to comment on the letter, but at the Oct. 7 press conference, she said, “People are using the cover of medical marijuana to make extraordinary amounts of money — in short, to engage in drug trafficking.”
isnt that what all drug companies are doing?? there is a pill for anything out there but i cant smoke a plant that grows naturally. hypocritical government if ya ask me.
Michele Kubby
Your vote can make a bigger difference than all of the protests, letters, and comments in the world.
Please check out this new initiative to regulate marijuana like wine:
http://regulatemarijuanalikewine.com/
It's time the insanity ends.
Raymond Tokareff
"that we're not focused on individual patients" NOT YET!
David Kessler
How did the federal government ever get into campaigning for state initiatives? I object to the use of my tax monies to try to influence the outcomes of any state elections. Government agencies are supposed to carry out the will of the voters not try to determine the outcomes of elections. The idea that our government can spend taxpayer money to influence the outcomes of ANY elections is ludicrous. YOU DON'T DO THAT IN A DEMOCRACY!!! Why do we bother to have elections if they just ignore the outcomes of any elections that they do not like anyway? How can we trust these SOB's to give us an accurate count of votes when they have invested money in the outcome? We were critical of Hitler's Germany and of Stalin's Russia for having elections where the outcome was predetermined. How is this different? We used to brag that we were more civilized and better than that. I guess when you decide that its okay to torture it's not a far cry to adopt other convenient methods of fascism. Welcome to the united states of AMERIKKKA. Get yourself a bullet proof vest Richard, the Gestapo is bound to show at your door with masks and automatic weapons. They are guaranteed to be gunning for you. Best of luck! Thank you for fighting the good fight.
Paul B
I understand that some people using prescription medicines are selling pain killers and other drugs to make a buck. Therefore, we should shut down Walgreens, CVS, RiteAid, and Wal-Mart who are the backbone of a criminal conspiracy.
Frank DeFelice
Unfortunately marijuana growers don't have a lobbyist in Washington to bribe Congressmen. Therefore the Feds (always pretending to look for ways to cut spending) will employ many people to harass growers.
The liquor industry doesn't have this problem, as drunk drivers continue to kill people.
Linda Taylor
This is the best news I've heard lately. It's about time they shut him down! Richard Lee belongs behind bars.
MHButtahz
Clearly, Mariska Hargitay supports Marijuana LoL!:
"You never hear anybody say, "Oh I smoked a joint then I killed my wife. I smoked a joint then I couldn't drive a car." You know what I mean? [Alcohol] causes fetal alcohol syndrome, it makes people make dumb choices, it makes people violent. People don't smoke a joint and then beat the sh-- out of their wife, right? They get drunk and then batter their wives. It's something people need to think about." -Mariska Hargitay
Well...she may not say she supports Marijuana though, she does touch on a critical point. The critical point being that smoking, and particularly Marijuana is not a bad thing. Marijuana actually tends to calm people down. They should give Marijuana to prisoners in jail 'rather' than take away Marijuana, because then our prisons just may have calmer prisoners!