Feds Crack Down on Medical Marijuana in California

Several people were arrested recently and charged with federal drug crimes in connection to a chain of medical marijuana dispensaries in California.

2012-09-20

September 20, 2012 (Press-News.org) Feds Crack Down on Medical Marijuana in California

As part of the federal government's ongoing crackdown against California's medical marijuana industry, several people associated with a chain of medical marijuana shops in southern California were arrested recently and indicted on federal drug charges.

On June 14, 2012, federal authorities arrested six individuals linked to G3 Holistic Inc., a medical marijuana operation that has three dispensaries in the Inland Empire region of California, east of Los Angeles.

All six of the men arrested in the G3 raid are facing federal charges of conspiracy to manufacture marijuana and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Each charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison, with a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Medical marijuana has been permitted under California law since it was approved by voters in 1996, but federal law still prohibits the possession or sale of the drug, which is classified as a Schedule 1 controlled substance. In October 2011, federal officials announced their plans to crack down on the commercial marijuana industry in California, issuing warnings to hundreds of medical marijuana cooperatives throughout the state. Recipients of the warning notices are given 14 days to close up shop or risk criminal prosecution. According to the LA Weekly, prosecutors say the G3 operation was warned to shut down approximately eight months before the June arrests.

The federal government's crackdown on medical marijuana in California comes as several state governments around the country are relaxing their marijuana laws. A growing number of states have recently enacted or are currently considering legislation that eases or eliminates the criminal penalties for marijuana possession. Many lawmakers who support the decriminalization of marijuana have expressed the belief that existing drug policies are overly harsh, and that they divert law enforcement resources that could otherwise be used to address more serious crimes.

California residents facing the possibility of criminal drug charges should contact an experienced criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible to discuss their legal options and help ensure that their rights are protected.

Article provided by David Lehr Law
Visit us at http://www.drugdealerdefense.com

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