FEDs order 23 Colorado MMCs to close

Feds threaten to shut down 23 Colorado marijuana shops near schools - Boulder Daily Camera

Federal authorities today issued letters to 23 medical marijuana businesses across Colorado warning them that "action will be taken to seize and forfeit their property" if they continue operating within 1,000 feet of a school.
The letters, sent by U.S. Attorney John Walsh, says that the dispensaries and grow operations have 45 days from today to shut down.
"Those who do not comply will be subject to potential criminal prosecution and civil enforcement actions by the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado and the Drug Enforcement Administration," according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The release does not identify the locations or names of the affected

businesses, however Boulder likely has several that fit the description. Some dispensaries in Boulder are much closer to schools, having been grandfathered into the city's rules that prohibit dispensaries from operating within 500 feet of a school.The news release says that because the businesses are operating within 1,000 feet of a school, "enhanced penalties apply under federal law."
"When the voters of Colorado passed the limited medical marijuana amendment in 2000, they could not have anticipated that their vote would be used to justify large marijuana stores located within blocks of our schools," Walsh said in the release.
The office said the letters are "merely a first step to address this issue, and the office will continue to insist marijuana stores near schools shut down."
The Boulder City Council earlier this month approved an emergency moratorium on accepting or processing any new business licenses for medical marijuana facilities. City Attorney Tom Carr asked for the timeout, saying the city may have reached a saturation point for medical marijuana businesses.

Kathy Haddock, Boulder's senior assistant city attorney, said today that the city was not made aware of the federal letters ahead of time. But she said there's nothing the city can do to stop the enforcement.
"We don't have any standing to come in and stop the feds," she said. "They can do what they want."

Laura Kriho, director of the Boulder-based Cannabis Therapy Institute, said she was not surprised to hear about the feds taking action.
"I expected it all along and I feel sorry for the dispensaries, because they have walked into this trap," she said. "The state has lulled them into a false sense of security."
Kriho warned employees at Boulder dispensaries to consider switching careers, as the state likely will not back them if the feds raid the businesses.
"The feds don't care and the state doesn't care," she said. "The state is not going to testify in their favor.
"The feds don't screw around."

you can read the letter they sent the MMCs here:
http://tinyurl.com/7qncts7

Another sad day for the medical cannabis community....

I wonder what state is going to be targeted next???

CGI::::::

First the schools, next the landlords. Just like Cali...

What is state law on the matter of distance from schools?

i think 1k feet was in 1284, but may be mistaken

It is 1000 feet but The state measures the distance from property line to property line, where as the Feds measure as the crow flies. This is per Warren Edson

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by copobo

i think 1k feet was in 1284, but may be mistaken

---

how are those different? does the crow fly door to door? (sorry, not meaning to be a smart ass really)

No problem, the easiest way to put it is the State measures it as you would walk from one property line to the next. where the feds measure as you would fly. I.e. the feds measurement could be shorter if it isn't a straight distance. Think 500' up the block & then 500' feet over. Vs flying would only be a straight line maybe 750'

Anyone have a list??

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by davo420

Anyone have a list??

---

We are putting one together on the colorado medical marijuana patient forums. They have the letters sent out and the US Attorney press release over there. You will have to google it as c.com will not let you link anything.

Many centers were grandfathered in if they were in place prior to November 2009. Thankfully we are not near any schools.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DenverRelief

Many centers were grandfathered in if they were in place prior to November 2009. Thankfully we are not near any schools.

---

It would be naive to think that they will not come after your center. They will start with the schools, then they will send a letter to your landlords just like Cali. They will divide and conquer. You are in this together with them whether you think so or not. You guys must band together and recruit patients to the cause. YOU ARE THE 23!

The sky doesn't seem to be falling just yet, IMHO. There are a lot of MMCs aren't there? Like well into the triple digits? So 23 may be a small percentage. And they are violating state laws technically.

I am the freak around here that thinks more regulation and enforcement just legitimizes the industry that much more. I'll pay triple taxes and higher prices to keep the system alive.

The real battle will start when the Dept. of Justice and the DEA show up at The Colo. Dept. of Health with a subpoena issued by a Federal Court demanding ALL of their records re: MMJ. It is coming.

You know this because..

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 5280and420

You know this because..

---

...they can't help themselves.