Pubdate: Thu, 19 Mar 2009
Source: Times-Standard (Eureka, CA)
Copyright: 2009 Times-Standard
Contact: http://www.times-standard.com/writeus
Website: http://www.times-standard.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1051
Author: Jessie Faulkner, The Times-Standard
Bookmark: http://mapinc.org/topic/medical+marijuana+dispensaries
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

FEDS TAKING HANDS-OFF APPROACH ON COMPLIANT POT DISPENSARIES

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder's announcement Tuesday that federal 
agents will only target medical marijuana dispensaries that violate 
both federal and state law may have little impact on the North Coast, 
according to law enforcement officials.

Holder specifically noted that California medical marijuana 
dispensaries complying with state law will not be a priority for the 
Obama administration.

"Historically, the federal government has not done anything in this 
area anyway," Arcata Police Chief Randy Mendosa said. "If the 
district attorney feels there is evidence to file a criminal 
complaint ... the police department would investigate."

Calls to Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos were not 
returned by deadline.

Arcata is the only municipality in Humboldt County that is home to 
medical marijuana dispensaries or collaboratives.

The Eureka Police Department's policy has been to abide by the state 
Attorney Genera's guidelines, EPD Police Chief Garr Nielsen said. So 
far, no dispensaries have opened in Eureka, but the possibility of 
such a development was discussed at the City Council meeting on 
Tuesday, according to Nielsen.

The discussion arose in the context of how to better manage grow 
houses within the city limits.

"The direction to staff was, 'Let's start a discussion about how we 
will regulate grow houses.' Part of that would also be to talk about 
the questions of dispensaries," he said.

Humboldt County Sheriff Gary Philp echoed his colleagues' opinions 
noting no anticipated changes in light of the U.S. Attorney General's 
announcement.

"I don't really believe it will change much locally," he said.

Like other law enforcement agencies, the Sheriff's Office follows the 
recently released state Attorney General's guidelines.

"If they're within the guidelines, they're within the guidelines," Philp said.

Arcata-based marijuana defense attorney Jeffrey Schwartz, however, 
said he thought the Obama Administration announcement amounted to one 
step toward the federal government not funding any more of the drug 
enforcement as it relates to marijuana.

Instead, he said he thought the emphasis would switch to such 
substances as cocaine and heroin.

"That's what I see happening from the federal point of view," he said.

Arcata iCenter owner Stephen Gasparas, who runs a dispensary on K 
Street, said many of the raids he researched had to do with operators 
not following the specific guidelines or otherwise acting illegally.

But, he added, Tuesday's announcement will put a dent in a regular 
criticism aired by opponents.

"People can't say it's not legal federally -- that was always the 
thing that trumped," Gasparas said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom