DEA Raids and Threats Against Landlords Used to Thwart Medical Marijuana Vote in Congress

*DEA Raids and Threats Against Landlords Used to Thwart Medical
Marijuana Vote in Congress
*/Next week Congress will vote to deny funds used by U.S. Department of
Justice against medical marijuana

/*Los Angeles, CA *-- In a calculated attempt to thwart a vote next week
in Congress that would strip the Department of Justice (DoJ) of funds
used against medical marijuana (cannabis), the Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) over the past week conducted multiple raids on
medical cannabis providers and threatened landlords in the Los Angeles
area with property seizure. By Tuesday, federal agents had raided at
least five medical cannabis dispensaries in the southern California area
and handed down numerous indictments. The raids followed a new tactic,
exercised by the DEA last week, in which more than a hundred letters
were disseminated to property owners in the Los Angeles area who are
landlords for medical cannabis providers. The letters warned of a risk
of arrest for landlords and the loss of their property if they continue
to rent to cannabis providers. As a result, many facilities will be
forced to close, thereby stifling access to medicine used by thousands
of patients in the area.

One medical cannabis dispensary operator in Hollywood, Lisa Sawoya, who
left a lucrative job selling high-tech hospital equipment, stated
candidly in a Tuesday Los Angeles Times story, "I'm devastated. My
landlord believes in cannabis as medicine. But they're taking the letter
very seriously. So I'll be closing my doors at the end of this month."

This effort to undermine California's medical marijuana law comes after
the DEA attempted to shut down more than ten facilities earlier this
year in the Los Angeles area by executing para-military style raids with
agents wearing ski-masks and guns drawn. "This is an example of using
any means necessary by federal law enforcement in its continued attack
on patients and the science behind cannabis as medicine," said Steph
Sherer, Executive Director of Americans for Safe Access (ASA), a medical
marijuana patient advocacy organization. "We will not stand for this
type of intimidation. We intend to support landlords in their decision
to rent to medical cannabis providers, and we urge Congress to take up
this issue, not only on behalf of patients, but now also on behalf of
landlords that have been brought into the crossfire."

In an effort to facilitate discussion, ASA has been meeting with
landlords to help explain their rights and their options for how to
proceed. Lawyers suspicious of federal abuse of power have also come
forward to help. One such lawyer, Eliot Krieger, is a former Assistant
United States Attorney in Los Angeles experienced in asset forfeiture
law. "Quite simply, the federal government is placing innocent
landlords, leasing space to tenants who are in full compliance with
state law, at risk of losing their property." said Krieger. "Even if the
government can legally seize the landlords' properties, this is a clear
misuse of Department of Justice funds and taxpayer dollars."

Next week, a vote will occur in Congress that would prevent such tactics
used by the Department of Justice (DoJ). The Hinchey-Rohrabacher
amendment would prevent the DoJ from interfering in the implementation
of laws in the twelve states that have allowed for the medical use of
marijuana. The amendment will be heard next week as part of the
Commerce-Justice-State Appropriations bill currently in the U.S. House
of Representatives.

"This action by the DEA is an example of the insane use of scarce law
enforcement resources," said Representative Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) in a
recent statement. "It is especially insulting the way in which these
resources are being used to supersede the votes of local people to
permit the legal use of medical marijuana."

Since June 2005, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Gonzales v. Raich
that the government had the discretion to arrest and prosecute medical
cannabis patients and providers, the DEA has fully exercised that
discretion by conducting scores of raids and, as a result, is currently
prosecuting more than 100 patients and providers. Based on data made
available by the DEA, Americans for Safe Access estimates that since
June 2005, the DoJ has spent more than ten million dollars of taxpayers'
money on federal arrests alone.

For further information, refer to:
The DEA letter to more than 100 landlords in the Los Angeles area:
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/downloads/DEA_Landlord_Letter.pdf
ASA's one-pager on the Hinchey-Rohrabacher amendment:
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/downloads/Hinchey_One_Pager.pdf
ASA's tabulation of cost to taxpayers associated with DEA raids:
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/downloads/DEA_Raid_Cost.pdf

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With over 30,000 active members in more than 40 states, Americans for
Safe Access (ASA) is the largest national member-based organization of
patients, medical professionals, scientists and concerned citizens
promoting safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and
research. ASA works to overcome political and legal barriers by creating
policies that improve access to medical cannabis for patients and
researchers through legislation, education, litigation, grassroots
actions, advocacy and services for patients and the caregivers.

--
Kris Hermes
Media Specialist
Americans for Safe Access
http://www.SafeAccessNow.org
1322 Webster Street, Suite 402
Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: 510-251-1856 x307
Fax: 510-251-2036
Email: kris [at] SafeAccessNow.org

Americans for Safe Access (ASA) is the largest
national member-based organization of patients,
medical professionals, scientists and concerned
citizens promoting safe and legal access to
cannabis for therapeutic use and research.