Pubdate: Fri, 02 Dec 2011 Source: San Diego Union Tribune (CA) Copyright: 2011 Union-Tribune Publishing Co. Contact: http://www.signonsandiego.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/386 Note: Seldom prints LTEs from outside it's circulation area. Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal) 'MEDICAL' POT CRACKDOWN: WELCOME PROGRESS The efforts of U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy to crack down on medical marijuana dispensaries in San Diego County appear to be working. Through the end of last week, 139 of the 222 dispensaries in the county have closed their doors in response to letters sent to the outlets and their landlords threatening prosecution and property seizure, federal officials have said. And 20 more are expected to close in the next two weeks. That is to be commended. The dispensaries, which mushroomed after California legalized marijuana use for medical purposes 15 years ago, sell the vast majority of their product to recreational drug users skirting the law rather than to patients who might legitimately receive medicinal benefits. They remain illegal under federal law. And, in San Diego, they all violate zoning laws which is why we also support City Attorney Jan Goldsmith's efforts in civil court to shut them down. We are given pause, however, by the thoughts of Alex Kreit, who headed the city's now-disbanded task force on medical marijuana. Kreit, a professor at the Thomas Jefferson School of Law, told the U-T that the outlets still operating after receiving the warning letters are probably assuming there will be few actual prosecutions and are willing to take their chances flouting the law. If he is correct, the U.S. attorney must not allow her threats to be shown hollow. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom