Los Angeles Marijuana Clinic Blog

LET THEM HAVE THEIR POT

The Feds Should Stop Harassing Sick Patients Who Have the Legal Right to Use Marijuana. In the imaginary world of the hit show “24,” federal law enforcement agencies are pouring every last resource into the search for a nuclear terrorist in Los Angeles.

In the genuine world, federal agents it seems that have so much free time that they can dress up in bulletproof vests and masks in order to raid clinics that serve patients battling cancer, AIDS and other diseases. That’s what happened last week as Drug Enforcement Administration agents stormed 11 medical marijuana dispensaries throughout L.A. and West Hollywood. We can all rest easier knowing that lollipops, cookies, candies and candy bars laced with marijuana are in no danger of reaching seriously ill Los Angeles marijuana clinics patients. Recall that 56% of California voters passed the Compassionate Use Act in 1996, making it legal for Los Angeles marijuana clinics patients to obtain and use medical marijuana under the care of a Los Angeles medical marijuana doctor.
A 2004 Field poll showed that support for the law has grown since its passage, with 74% of Californians now in favor of allowing sick patients to use marijuana. In 2004, SB 420 clarified how much medicinal cannabis Los Angeles marijuana clinics patients could grow and possess, and it allowed local governments to set additional guidelines.

In its place, this raid hit one of the best-run dispensaries in some part of California — the Farmacy — where patients must present valid medical information verified by Los Angeles medical marijuana doctors; where purchases are limited to 1 ounce, even though the law allows patients to possess 8 ounces; where Los Angeles marijuana clinics patients aren’t allowed to medicate on the place; and where anyone caught with forged documents is detained until police arrive and charged with a felony.
The Farmacy has been a leader in treatment and education. Caring for patients suffering from everything from cancer to glaucoma to multiple sclerosis, it teaches patients about the effects of different strains of indica and sativa marijuana and offers edibles and concentrated medicine in the form of oil to reduce the potential harm of smoking marijuana in plant form.
The raid in the Farmacy shocked officials, who weren’t notified of it in advance. “We have worked closely with our community to ensure these establishments operate safely and comply with the spirit of Proposition 215,” Jeffrey Prang said.
“The DEA is here to enforce federal drug laws,” Special Agent Sarah Pullen declared, and, strictly speaking, she was right. In a 2001 case, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the “medical necessity” of a patient could not be used as a defense against federal drug enforcement. (The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 classifies marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug with “no medical uses” — making it worse in the eyes of the feds than cocaine, methamphetamine and many other drugs.) In 2005, the court ruled that federal authorities could even stop a seriously ill patient from cultivating marijuana for her personal use.