FEDS URGED TO EASE UP ON MEDICAL POT

In light of a recent federal crackdown on medical marijuana, seven San
Francisco supervisors urged the feds to reverse course.

"I believe it's important for us ... to be very clear that we support
the right of patients to have access to medicine," said Supervisor
David Campos, chief sponsor of the nonbinding resolution.

His co-sponsors are Supervisors Eric Mar, John Avalos, David Chiu,
Ross Mirkarimi, Jane Kim and Scott Wiener.

It's not the first time the supervisors have weighed in. In 2001, the
Board of Supervisors declared San Francisco "a sanctuary" for medical
marijuana. Four years later, the city adopted regulations for
dispensaries.

The latest legislative effort comes after the U.S. Department of
Justice said this month that it would target what the U.S. attorneys
in the state described as a for-profit marijuana industry that cares
more about making money than about compassion for the sick.

"People are using the cover of medical marijuana to make extraordinary
amounts of money," said San Francisco's U.S. attorney, Melinda Haag,
at a recent news conference.

Federal prosecutors have sent letters to dozens of marijuana retailers
informing them that they were violating federal law and subject to
property forfeiture and possible prosecution. Medical marijuana
backers cried foul, saying that the tactic is an about-face for the
Obama administration.

The use of marijuana for medical purposes in California was approved
by state voters 15 years ago.

- - Rachel Gordon

Hit piece: Mayoral candidate Bevan Dufty is taking issue with the
Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club's newest mailer, which slams District
Attorney George Gascon.

The mailer asks, "Does George Gascon Support the Death Penalty?"
Speech bubbles surrounding a picture of Gascon read: "Yes!" "No!" "Maybe?"

The back reads: "Where does George Gascon stand on the death penalty?"
It lists statements made to three groups - The Chronicle ("I will seek
(it)"), the Potrero Hill Democratic Club ("I can tell you as DA I will
not seek the death penalty") and the Police Officers Association
Journal ("Gascon ... would keep the door open for a 'death penalty'
option in cases involving a murder of a police officer"). It then
asks: "If George Gascon constantly changes his mind on a life or death
decision, how can we trust him as DA?"

The Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club is endorsing for district
attorney David Onek, a University of California law professor, and
Sharmin Bock, an Alameda County prosecutor, in that order. The club
endorses Supervisor John Avalos for mayor.

In a letter to supporters Tuesday, Dufty, a former supervisor and the
only gay candidate running for mayor, and who is endorsing Gascon,
urges supporters to focus on Gascon's overall record and stresses that
the district attorney "personally opposes the death penalty."

"I've watched a lot of this campaign focus on trying to polarize
against George as it relates to the death penalty," said Dufty, who
said he received the mailer at home Saturday. "In terms of how I
campaign and I approach the voters, I don't think this is helpful. I
think this is somebody who deserves support.

"People can put out what they want to put out," Dufty added. "I
definitely want to take my stance as someone of the LGBT community."

- - Stephanie Lee