Harborside Health Center Founder Talks About Recent Events In California And The Ongoing Federal Crackdown Nationwide
Steve DeAngelo, co-founder and executive director of Harborside Health Center, gives us an update on the struggle to defend medical cannabis. At the end of last week, the Los Angeles City Council approved a citywide ban on medical cannabis dispensaries; while in neighboring Riverside County, a California appellate judge denied a similar action. Around the same time, Congresswoman Barbara Lee introduced a bill to the U.S. Congress that would prevent the Department of Justice from using forfeiture notices against the property owners of medical cannabis organizations that are in compliance with state law.
Meanwhile, the San Francisco Chronicle ran an editorial supporting Harborside, followed by an antagonistic op-ed from the director of the California Drug-Free Youth–Steve’s rebuttal editorial runs today. Also, Steve reports that U.S. attorneys have sent out 10 more letters threatening civil forfeiture of medical cannabis properties in Colorado, and four such letters have been issued in Eastern Washington State.
These actions indicate a nationwide campaign to eradicate safe access to medical cannabis and, Steve says, “The federal government is not going to stop unless we do something about it.” As a result, elected officials, the news media and thousands of patients are pulling together to send a clear message to President Obama and Attorney General Holder: to freeze all enforcement actions against medical cannabis organizations nationwide until the highest levels of the Department of Justice can review those actions and make sure that only those organizations and individuals out of compliance with state law be targeted.
You can help by continuing to visit SaveHarborside.org, by leaving your email address to receive regular updates, and by signing the petition to “Stop the War on Cannabis Patients.”
