New bill would bar feds from seizing properties rented to medical marijuana businesses

[Newsjock]

Source: San Jose Mercury News

A Bay Area congresswoman's new bill would bar federal prosecutors from filing civil lawsuits to seize property from landlords whose tenants comply with states' medical marijuana laws.

"The people of California have made it legal for patients to have safe access to medicinal marijuana and, as a result, thousands of small business owners have invested millions of dollars in building their companies, creating jobs, and paying their taxes," Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, said in a statement issued Friday by Americans for Safe Access.

"We should be protecting and implementing the will of voters, not undermining our democracy by prosecuting small business owners who pay taxes and comply with the laws of their states in providing medicine to patients in need," she said.

... Lee's HR 6335 would prohibit the Justice Department from using civil asset forfeiture to go after properties so long as the medical marijuana tenants comply with state law; those in violation of state law would still be fair game. Among the bill's eight original cosponsors are Rep. Mike Honda, D-Campbell, and Rep. Pete Stark, D-Fremont.

Read more: http://www.mercurynews.com/medical-marijuana/ci_21230054/new-bill-would-bar-feds-from-seizing-properties

[RainDog]

1. k&r n/t

[dballance]

2. I just wonder how all those "State's Rights" GOP folks are going to side on this

They seem to feel like the decisions about abortion and same-sex marriage should be left to the states. Will they be consistent with marijuana laws or hypocritical.

Let me answer that. They will be hypocritical. The drug lobbies and the anti-hemp lobbies will butter the bread of the GOP with campaign money and you can bet they'll forgo "states rights" on it.

[frylock]

3. i hate to break it to ya, but it's a dem that's currently in charge of the feds

[dballance]

4. Who would that be?

President Obama may be President but realistically speaking the President really has very limited powers. The power to wage war and the power to pass a budget are the responsibility of the house and senate.

Grover Norquist isn't that far off in wanting a President who just has enough digits to sign legislation.

Sure the President has a bit of influence over federal organizations like the Federal Reserve but he has no power to direct them to do anything or to contravene anything they do.

Our government is made up of so many self-serving bureaucracies now that it is a useless entanglement of shit that does nothing more than serve to suck at the teat of large corporations and wealthy donors.

The Tea Partiers are right about overthrowing government. They just don't realize the real reasons why they should feel that way.

[frylock]

6. the seperation of powers is a wonderful concept, and looks real good on paper..

but you'd have to be pretty naive to think that the president couldn't SUGGEST to his DOJ that perhaps they should lay off of the dispensaries.

[Nambe]

5. The DEA is a world of Cronies Above The Law similar to Chaney and the War Criminals

Classic example: BC, Oregon Population 10k... City police budget 60k DEA funds 60k if they complete 4 drug convictions per year... 2 drug dealers If they bust the dealers, they don't get 4 busts a year... 3 of 4 busts are normally out of townies there for a rodeo or Native Americans stopping for a beer as they pass through. 1 of 4 are black... there is one black couple in BC and he is a cop... Getting the picture of small town USA This is a liberal state

This year, Bath Salts and Window cleaners have crippled the crone prosecutors and cops sucking in the drug money. Lets go after the Pot... $$$$$$$$
How well do the 60k a year greedy bastards know the 2 drug dealers? Take a guess. The tax payers pay the city 50k for police services...

The President passing through cannot touch these people. $Billions are involved. Good morning America.

Prove me wrong...I'm not

[Uncle Joe]

7. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Newsjock.