DEA WARNS MEDICAL POT DISPENSARIES

Letter: Federal Laws Rule

Medical marijuana dispensaries are at risk of being shut down by a
federal agency, which has sent letters warning against the
distribution of pot.

The letter from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency says federal drug
laws "take precedence" over state laws allowing the use of marijuana
as a medical treatment. Violators risk losing their property or being
sentenced to 20 years in prison, the letter says.

"Federal law allows for the seizure of assets, including real
property, which have been used in conjunction with the distribution of
controlled substances," says the letter sent last week to dispensaries
in Los Angeles County.

Managers of two collectives said they might have to
close.

"Our landlord has asked us to shut down, so this Sunday will be our
last day," said a Los Angeles-based collective manager, who asked that
his name not be used.

A manager at a San Fernando Valley-based collective said he was still
trying to work things out with his landlord, who asked him to stop
operating as a dispensary.

"I just remodeled, and I have my life savings tied up in this place,"
said the manager, who also did not want his name used.

But others said they planned to continue operating despite the warning
letter.

"At this point I am less concerned about my collective than about the
effect on the entire community of medical marijuana patients," said
Josie, a manager at the Karma Collective in Van Nuys, who says her
landlord has been "supportive" of the dispensary.

DEA spokeswoman Sarah Pullen said the agency letters should not be
viewed as a threat.

"We are literally just serving notice that these property owners are
violating the law," said Pullen, adding that charges have not yet been
filed against any dispensary.

Chris Fusco of Americans for Safe Access, a medical marijuana advocacy
group, said he does not expect further action from the DEA.

"It is a little frightening," he said. "But if they intended to follow
through on this, they already would have."