FEDS TAKING HANDS-OFF APPROACH ON COMPLIANT POT DISPENSARIES

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder's announcement Tuesday that federal
agents will only target medical marijuana dispensaries that violate
both federal and state law may have little impact on the North Coast,
according to law enforcement officials.

Holder specifically noted that California medical marijuana
dispensaries complying with state law will not be a priority for the
Obama administration.

"Historically, the federal government has not done anything in this
area anyway," Arcata Police Chief Randy Mendosa said. "If the
district attorney feels there is evidence to file a criminal
complaint ... the police department would investigate."

Calls to Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos were not
returned by deadline.

Arcata is the only municipality in Humboldt County that is home to
medical marijuana dispensaries or collaboratives.

The Eureka Police Department's policy has been to abide by the state
Attorney Genera's guidelines, EPD Police Chief Garr Nielsen said. So
far, no dispensaries have opened in Eureka, but the possibility of
such a development was discussed at the City Council meeting on
Tuesday, according to Nielsen.

The discussion arose in the context of how to better manage grow
houses within the city limits.

"The direction to staff was, 'Let's start a discussion about how we
will regulate grow houses.' Part of that would also be to talk about
the questions of dispensaries," he said.

Humboldt County Sheriff Gary Philp echoed his colleagues' opinions
noting no anticipated changes in light of the U.S. Attorney General's
announcement.

"I don't really believe it will change much locally," he said.

Like other law enforcement agencies, the Sheriff's Office follows the
recently released state Attorney General's guidelines.

"If they're within the guidelines, they're within the guidelines," Philp said.

Arcata-based marijuana defense attorney Jeffrey Schwartz, however,
said he thought the Obama Administration announcement amounted to one
step toward the federal government not funding any more of the drug
enforcement as it relates to marijuana.

Instead, he said he thought the emphasis would switch to such
substances as cocaine and heroin.

"That's what I see happening from the federal point of view," he said.

Arcata iCenter owner Stephen Gasparas, who runs a dispensary on K
Street, said many of the raids he researched had to do with operators
not following the specific guidelines or otherwise acting illegally.

But, he added, Tuesday's announcement will put a dent in a regular
criticism aired by opponents.

"People can't say it's not legal federally -- that was always the
thing that trumped," Gasparas said.