Posted on 07/12/2012 12:48:51 PM PDT by PJ-Comix
It can't be! It can't be! The feds are now cracking down bigtime on medical marijuana dispensaries despite a promise from the Obama Regime that it would leave them alone if they were in compliance with state laws. That is why the HUffington Post HUffies are so upset over the news that the feds are cracking down on the Harborside Health Center of Oakland, CA, the biggest medical marijuana dispensary in the world. You might remember Harborside and its owner, Steve DeAngelo, from the discovery channel's "Weed Wars" last year. Your humble correspondent, despite never having partaken of the green weed himself, watched the show with interest. And now it turns out that Harborside's greatest enemy is NOT vicious rightwingers with blood on their fingers but the Obamatons whose fingers are lined with green bucks from Big Pharma. Yes, medical marijuana has grown into a very lucrative business which is why Big Pharma wants hippie types like DeAngelo in which is by the DOJ is cracking down on them. This is all just starting to dawn on the HUffies as you can see in this THREAD, "Harborside Health Center Targeted: Feds Go After 'Largest Pot Shop On The Planet'." So far the Obama betrayal is just starting to dawn on the DUmmies with only a small thread and the KOmmies, who tend to shun any news that could affect The One poorly at the polls, are thus far shunning this news entirely. So let us now watch the first of the lefty reactions to their marijuana policy betrayal in Bolshevik Red, while your humble correspondent, wondering how many of these Reds might go Gary Johnson Green on Election Day, is in the [barackets]:
Harborside Health Center Targeted: Feds Go After 'Largest Pot Shop On The Planet'
[I wonder how many of Obama's Choom Gang were "patients" there.]
SAN FRANCISCO -- An Oakland medical marijuana dispensary that has been billed as the largest pot shop on the planet has been targeted for closure by federal prosecutors in Northern California, suggesting that a crackdown on the state's medical marijuana industry remains well under way.
[The most famous Choom Gang member cracks down on his formerly favorite form of vegetation.]
U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag has threatened to seize the Oakland property where Harborside Health Center has operated since 2006, as well as its sister shop in San Jose, executive director and co-founder Steve DeAngelo said Wednesday. His employees found court papers announcing asset forfeiture proceedings against Harborside's landlords taped to the doors at the two locations on Tuesday.
["This is to inform you that your business is too successful and generating too much local tax revenue. Cease operation immediately."]
Although medical marijuana is legal in California, a federal court complaint that Haag's office filed Sunday says the dispensaries are violating federal law by selling marijuana. It cites a federal law that "makes it unlawful to rent, lease, profit from or make available for use, with or without compensation, a place for the purpose of unlawfully manufacturing, storing, distributing or using a controlled substance, to wit, marijuana," as justification for going after the landlords.
[So much for the promise from the Choom Gang Guy not to crack down on such dispensaries if they were following state laws.]
The court action represents an escalation in a months-long, statewide crackdown on medical marijuana by Haag, who said last year that she would try to shut dispensaries that were within 1,000 feet of schools, parks and playgrounds, which Harborside isn't.
[Doesn't matter. Choom Gang Guy gets his bucks from Big Pharm so it MUST close.]
Haag issued a statement Wednesday, saying that while taking action against pot shops operating near children had been her first priority, "marijuana superstores such as Harborside" are now on her radar, as well.
[Choom Gang Guy put it on her radar via Eric Holder.]
"The larger the operation, the greater the likelihood that there will be abuse of the state's medical marijuana laws, and marijuana in the hands of individuals who do not have a demonstrated medical need," she said.
[It's like that movie, "Minority Report." A crime hasn't taken place but the feds imagine it could in the future. Do they have a fish tank full of clairvoyants imagining these things?]
DeAngelo, who was the subject of a Discovery Channel reality TV show called "Weed Wars" last year, vowed to fight the Department of Justice's attempt to put him out of business and called Haag's claim that his shops must be running afoul of the law because of their size "completely absurd." Harborside serves about 100,000 medical marijuana users a year, sells about $20 million worth of pot and marijuana products, and pays $3 million in federal, state and local taxes annually.
[No problem. The Choom Gang Guy can put them all on food stamps.]
"Because of our size, we are able to have the resources that enable us to do things like have an inventory control system that is extremely sophisticated and having five security personnel on duty all the time and 37 security cameras," DeAngelo said. "Just because in the abstract, something larger might tend not to adhere to the law, that is no reason to target Harborside."
[The clairvoyants floating in the pool says you COULD be violating the law sometime in the future.]
City officials in Oakland, which has reaped about $1 million a year in tax revenue from Harborside, are planning to join DeAngelo on Wednesday at a news conference decrying Haag's action. Earlier this year, federal prosecutors and the Internal Revenue Service raided Oaksterdam University, a medical marijuana trade school in Oakland, and forced its founder to step aside.
[And now on to the angry reactions from the HUffies. The ironic thing is that at least 90% of the dopers voted for the Choom Gang Guy in 2008.]
Whether we like it or not, Obama believes federal law trumps all state laws, except if he wants to bend federal law for political/campaign purposes. Obama knows weed smokers have no other option but to vote for him. So he is free to strip state rights and consolidating power in the hands of the few in DC.
[Psst! Your stash of weed is hidden inside the Kewpie Doll I'm awarding you for having a brief moment of mental clarity.]
Let's get real about Harborside: -Their employees have an outstanding insurance plan; -I believe their minimum wage is $20 / hr; -They provide free medicine (actual Rx medication bills are covered) and medical services to the local community (which is poor); -They pay millions in taxes to a city that's horridly run. If I were the mayor of Oakland, I'd literally park a SWAT team and an APC in front of Harborside with instructions to arrest any US Marshall that comes around to disrupt the business.
[How does it feel to be closed down by the Choom Gangster?]
Funny that Bush let them thrive...
[Before the Choom Gangster arrived on the scene, the medical marijuana dispensaries were allowed to thrive. BUSH'S FAULT!]
Does Obama want to give his supporters reasons to stay home or vote 3rd party?
[Gary Johnson?]
They can vote for Gary Johnson, who is popular in Colorado.
[And maybe now California.]
Many of these people are so ideologically died-in-the-wool that they can't understand that this is Obama's doing. It's his priority and his policy.
[But...but I NEED to blame Bush!]
after this California could become a toss up state.
[From your lips to goddess Gaia's ears.]
What did Holder say? He wasn't targeting medical marijuana?
[LOL! And you actually believed him?]
When we wake up to President-elect Romney some morning in November you can thank totally ridiculous policies like this for convincing the youth and the left to stay home.
[Thank you, totally ridiculous policy.]
It makes me wonder if all of the crackdowns has anything to do with him being allies with pharm companies. They did help him out a lot with his new healthcare legislation. Obviously, they would rather people get addicted to their pain killers rather than a herb people don't get addicted to and can grow.
[Just follow the money to find out what really motivates the Choom Gangster.]
US attorneys are under direct control of the A.G., who answers to the President. A single phonecall from Obama to Holder ends this. BUT... Obama took money from the pharmaceutical industry to oppose the public option, and to wage all-out war on medical marijuana. This is what you are voting for in November.
[May I now send you an Obama 2012 bumper sticker?]
These US Attorneys really want Obama to lose in the fall. If they keep it up, California might end up for Romney.
[Are you listening, goddess Gaia?]
Holder is Obama's Yes-man and follows his orders to the letter.
[Including allowing guns to walk to Mexico.]
Obama IS the problem. These pot dispensaries existed under Bush, and Bush left them alone.
[STOP with the ugly truth!!!]
They are discriminating against my church.
[LCMS? Love Cannabis Marijuana Smoke. (Sorry, Charles. I couldn't resist.)]
Why not? Cally is already a slad tossing State.
:: pre-assembled precious metals. ::
Brass and lead, I presume.
[LCMS? Love Cannabis Marijuana Smoke.
No, LDS.
Love Dope Smokin'.
Meh. No worries.
Been doing well. I hope you’re doing the same.
Working. Target shooting every week.
Life is good.
Died in the wool? Hmmmm, that opens interesting possibilities....
Things are good here too, just working hard....I better keep it up as I have so many moochers to carry.
Take Care and KYPD.
This is also why teens report that they can get marijuana more easily than cigarettes or beer - sellers of the latter but not the former have a legal profit that would be put at risk by selling to teens.
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