Los Angeles Marijuana Clinic Blog

The Feds vs. Marijuana

It was May when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled generally to let the feds shut down six California co-ops that distribute medical marijuana in strict agreement with state law. Back in 1996, Golden State voters overwhelmingly passed Proposition 215, allowing Los Angeles medical marijuana doctors to prescribe pot to patients with severe, chronic pain. In effect, the nation’s highest court decided that state laws legalizing cannabis for medical use weren’t worth a dime bag.
After month of the May ruling, clientele and proprietors of California’s 50-odd Los Angeles marijuana clinics waited anxiously to see whether the federal government would aggressively crack down. In October, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration began to answer that question. Agents surveilled or busted several co-ops or Los Angeles marijuana clinics, finishing their tour with the Los Angeles Cannabis Resource Center, a Los Angeles Marijuana clinics that provided pot on site to 960 patients suffering from AIDS, epilepsy, cancer, glaucoma, and other painful illnesses. Thirty armed federal agents seized 400 marijuana plants, computers, financial documents, and medical records.
But by December 10, establishment informed Scott Imler, the co-op’s director and founder, that he would face a grand jury on December 20. That court will make a decision whether to accuse him for defying the Supreme Court ruling, a charge for which he could face hard time.
“I don’t want to whine or duck here,” says 43-year-old Imler, his voice suggesting the bemusement of someone who’s facing up to 10 years in prison for helping sick people. “I knew what I was getting into, and I’m prepared to take whatever responsibility comes my way. But I would imagine…they’re focusing on me because the minute they raise the issue of conspirators, it would be a whole different kettle of fish.”
Scott Imler is referring to the co-op’s wide swath of group. In adding up to employing several employees members, the Cannabis Resource Center was created with the close cooperation of the city council and local law enforcement agencies. If the federal government tries to hone in on “co-conspirators,” it may well have to indict the entire salaried staff of the city of West Hollywood. (West Hollywood is an independent city surrounded by Los Angeles.)
While on the phone, Councilman Jeffrey Prang seems he’s clearly exasperated. “Instead of contributing to the war on terrorism, someone in Washington, D.C., thought it was a good idea to send someone to raid the Cannabis Resource club. It defies any sense of propriety–or priority.”
Prang and the rest of the city council has now passed a resolution stating that West Hollywood is a “sanctuary” for medical marijuana. When Prang was asked whether the move is purely symbolic. “To the degree that local authority has any authority; people can count on West Hollywood as a refuge. However, if the federal government chose to come in, we are in no position to stand in their way.”
“We have expressed our will” through state and local laws, says Prang. “Yet the federal government believes it’s extremely important to spend time and money cracking down on sick people.”