At Least 500 Dispensaries Closed In CA During Federal Medical Marijuana Crackdown
Joe | Jun 30, 2012 | Comments 0
Since the federal medical marijuana crackdown began in California last fall, the U.S. Attorneys in the state have closed over 500 dispensaries. That’s over 500 functioning businesses, and the jobs and tax revenue that went with them.
The majority of the closures have come in southern California, but the north has had some high-profile raids.
Other peg the number of dispensaries affected at a larger number.
Dan Rush, an official at the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, said about 650 out of the 1,400 marijuana dispensaries that existed last October have ceased operating. The union represents between 600 and 800 members working in statewide dispensaries, he said.
Laura E. Duffy, the United States attorney for the Southern District, for one, is happy about how things are progressing. “Most often the individuals who are visiting these places have obtained sham doctor recommendations for really no purpose other than to engage in the recreational use of marijuana,” she said. “To the extent that blatant distribution of marijuana is not available in commercial businesses throughout California, certainly in this district, I think that’s a good thing.”
Notice how she says “most often” about people and their “sham recommendations.” So even under her limited view of medical marijuana in California, there are real, sick people getting hurt, even if she does think most are faking.
The federal government is hurting real, sick people. Under what circumstances is that okay? To keep every last recreational smoker from touching legal weed? Not hardly.
Filed Under: Activism • Exclusive Web Content • Medical Marijuana News • Politics • The War On Drugs
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