{"id":618,"date":"2012-08-27T07:07:50","date_gmt":"2012-08-27T07:07:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.marijuana.net\/?p=19682"},"modified":"2012-08-27T07:07:50","modified_gmt":"2012-08-27T07:07:50","slug":"feds-may-not-be-able-to-flex-muscles-after-new-state-laws","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/feds-may-not-be-able-to-flex-muscles-after-new-state-laws\/","title":{"rendered":"Feds May Not Be Able to Flex Muscles After New State Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"wp_fb_like_button\" style=\"margin:5px 0 5px 5px;float:right;height:100px;\"><script src=\"http:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/all.js#xfbml=1\"><\/script><fb:like href=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/feds-may-not-be-able-to-flex-muscles-after-new-state-laws\/\" send=\"true\" layout=\"standard\" width=\"450\" show_faces=\"false\" font=\"arial\" action=\"like\" colorscheme=\"light\"><\/fb:like><\/div><p><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"188\" height=\"268\" src=\"http:\/\/www.marijuana.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/juice-head.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"juice head\" title=\"juice head\" \/><\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-19683\" href=\"http:\/\/www.marijuana.net\/news-and-articles\/federal-muscle-flexing-may-be-put-in-compromising-position-with-new-state-laws\/attachment\/juice-head\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-19683\" title=\"juice head\" src=\"http:\/\/www.marijuana.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/juice-head-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/a>Similar to an annoying gym rat who screams as he exhales while hogging up any full body mirrors, our federal government acts like a<a href=\"http:\/\/www.urbandictionary.com\/define.php?term=juice%20head\" target=\"_blank\"> \u201cjuicehead\u201d<\/a>, usually eager to show off and flex any chance it gets.\u00a0 We witnessed this during the medical marijuana raids of the Clinton and G.W. Bush presidencies but in 2008 we were then promised newer and smarter ideas.\u00a0 We were promised a fully body approach complete with calisthenics and nutritional eating.\u00a0 However, despite such claims we find ourselves back to square one, paying taxes to a government that is more concerned with feeding its inflating ego and only working out its upper body.\u00a0 Last fall, dispensary raids conducted a rate previously unseen.<\/p>\n<p>Recently, 23 medical marijuana businesses in Washington were sent threatening letters from the DEA, informing them they would have to shut down or face prosecution.\u00a0 The letters were sent out to dispensaries that are in violation of Washington state law as they are operating within school zones.\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.justice.gov\/dea\/pubs\/states\/seattle_leadership.html\" target=\"_blank\"> Matthew G. Barnes, of Seattle\u2019s DEA<\/a> sent the letters which asked dispensaries to \u201cPlease take the necessary steps to discontinue the sale and\/or distribution of marijuana\u2026within 30 days.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While the federal government has made it clear they would like to dismantle the entire medical marijuana program, they have chosen a careful route in doing so.\u00a0 Because they do not want to be accused of interfering with state laws, they so far <strong><em>claim <\/em><\/strong>to only target dispensaries that are in violation of state law.\u00a0 Many feel that <a href=\"http:\/\/blog.norml.org\/2012\/07\/12\/feds-target-harborside-health-center-californias-largest-most-prominent-medical-cannabis-dispensary\/\" target=\"_blank\">threats to Harborside Health<\/a> and other high profile California collectives had nothing to do with state law.\u00a0 In addition to the comments included above, Mr. Barnes made statements that did not seem to be concerned with upholding Washington State law as he said \u201cThe DEA will not turn a blind eye to criminal organizations that attempt to use state or local law as a shield for their illicit drug trafficking activities.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The statement actually seems to insinuate that these collectives were attempting to \u201ctraffic drugs\u201d at a profit and that respecting state laws had little to do with the decision.\u00a0 Of course anytime the White House is challenged on the issue they still maintain that they only get involved once state laws are broken.\u00a0 This is a statement that could soon backfire as three states will allow its residents to vote on totally legalizing marijuana, even for recreational use.\u00a0 How sacred will state law be to the feds if Washington, Oregon, or Colorado or all three legalize marijuana?\u00a0 Will the feds continue to flex their muscle and admit their disregard for state laws after using it as their defense for so long?\u00a0 Will they try to be more subtle, or will they walk away from the mirror and try to use all of their resources and strength to help instead of harm?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"188\" height=\"268\" src=\"http:\/\/www.marijuana.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/juice-head.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"juice head\" title=\"juice head\" \/><\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-19683\" href=\"http:\/\/www.marijuana.net\/news-and-articles\/federal-muscle-flexing-may-be-put-in-compromising-position-with-new-state-laws\/attachment\/juice-head\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-19683\" title=\"juice head\" src=\"http:\/\/www.marijuana.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/juice-head-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/a>Similar to an annoying gym rat who screams as he exhales while hogging up any full body mirrors, our federal government acts like a<a href=\"http:\/\/www.urbandictionary.com\/define.php?term=juice%20head\" target=\"_blank\"> \u201cjuicehead\u201d<\/a>, usually eager to show off and flex any chance it gets.\u00a0 We witnessed this during the medical marijuana raids of the Clinton and G.W. Bush presidencies but in 2008 we were then promised newer and smarter ideas.\u00a0 We were promised a fully body approach complete with calisthenics and nutritional eating.\u00a0 However, despite such claims we find ourselves back to square one, paying taxes to a government that is more concerned with feeding its inflating ego and only working out its upper body.\u00a0 Last fall, dispensary raids conducted a rate previously unseen.<\/p>\n<p>Recently, 23 medical marijuana businesses in Washington were sent threatening letters from the DEA, informing them they would have to shut down or face prosecution.\u00a0 The letters were sent out to dispensaries that are in violation of Washington state law as they are operating within school zones.\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.justice.gov\/dea\/pubs\/states\/seattle_leadership.html\" target=\"_blank\"> Matthew G. Barnes, of Seattle\u2019s DEA<\/a> sent the letters which asked dispensaries to \u201cPlease take the necessary steps to discontinue the sale and\/or distribution of marijuana\u2026within 30 days.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While the federal government has made it clear they would like to dismantle the entire medical marijuana program, they have chosen a careful route in doing so.\u00a0 Because they do not want to be accused of interfering with state laws, they so far <strong><em>claim <\/em><\/strong>to only target dispensaries that are in violation of state law.\u00a0 Many feel that <a href=\"http:\/\/blog.norml.org\/2012\/07\/12\/feds-target-harborside-health-center-californias-largest-most-prominent-medical-cannabis-dispensary\/\" target=\"_blank\">threats to Harborside Health<\/a> and other high profile California collectives had nothing to do with state law.\u00a0 In addition to the comments included above, Mr. Barnes made statements that did not seem to be concerned with upholding Washington State law as he said \u201cThe DEA will not turn a blind eye to criminal organizations that attempt to use state or local law as a shield for their illicit drug trafficking activities.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The statement actually seems to insinuate that these collectives were attempting to \u201ctraffic drugs\u201d at a profit and that respecting state laws had little to do with the decision.\u00a0 Of course anytime the White House is challenged on the issue they still maintain that they only get involved once state laws are broken.\u00a0 This is a statement that could soon backfire as three states will allow its residents to vote on totally legalizing marijuana, even for recreational use.\u00a0 How sacred will state law be to the feds if Washington, Oregon, or Colorado or all three legalize marijuana?\u00a0 Will the feds continue to flex their muscle and admit their disregard for state laws after using it as their defense for so long?\u00a0 Will they try to be more subtle, or will they walk away from the mirror and try to use all of their resources and strength to help instead of harm?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[283,45,52,166,98,396,397,398,56,9,51,170,70,399,1,3,72,321,61],"tags":[2861,2628,2632,2744,2676,2974,2975,2976,2636,2631,2748,5,2977,2650,2899,6],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/618"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=618"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/618\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=618"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=618"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=618"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}