Pubdate: Tue, 19 Aug 2008
Source: El Dorado Hills Telegraph (CA)
Copyright: 2008 Gold Country Media
Contact: http://forms.placeropolis.com/?form=letter
Website: http://www.edhtelegraph.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4781
Author: Roger Phelps
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/dispensaries
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Compassionate+Use+Act
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Drug+Enforcement+Administration
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/af.htm (Asset Forfeiture)

DEA LETTER TARGETS MEDICAL MARIJUANA

A threat from federal drug officials is forcing El Dorado County's 
medical-marijuana clinic to lease a new headquarters.

The Medical Marijuana Caregivers Association of El Dorado County 
previously leased from a landlord who received written notice 
recently from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The notice 
said the agency had discovered the lease agreement between the 
caregivers association and the landlord, and warned the arrangement 
violated federal drug law.

Matt Vaughn, director of the local caregiver association, said budget 
matters are forcing a move at the same time the DEA letter is, so it 
could be worse.

"The consequences are minimal for us, but in general, if they did get 
a DEA letter, it's going to cost a landlord a good renter," Vaughn said.

In 2007, the agency began warning landlords, all of them in southern 
California.

"The goal is advice," said Special Agent Sarah Pullen. "The Los 
Angeles field office sent out nearly 200 letters."

In bold-face type, the letters warned landlords that California's 
10-year-old Compassionate Use Act legalizing use of medical pot did 
not protect them from federal law criminalizing the providing of 
space for distributing any drug named on the federal Controlled 
Substances List.

"Violation of this law is a felony crime, and carries with it a 
penalty of up to 20 years in prison," the letters said. "In addition, 
federal law allows for the seizure of assets, including real 
property, which have been used in conjunction with the distribution 
of controlled substances."

Soon, the notice program expanded to northern California.

"The DEA San Francisco Office sent out approximately 50 letters to 
property owners," said Special Agent Casey McEnry.

The DEA does not recognize California's voter-approved legalization 
of medical marijuana. Pullen said the DEA is out to shut down all 
California med-pot dispensaries by any legal means necessary.

"There are hundreds of them in L.A.," she said. "Our resources are 
limited. We use them as we can."

She declined to provide a cost estimate for the letter-writing program. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake