Federal government still targeting California medical marijuana

During the 2008 presidential campaign, then-candidate Barack Obama vowed to deal with the issue of medical marijuana, which is legal in 18 states and the District of Columbia, with a 'hands-off' approach. Obama promised that he would not "be using Justice Department resources to circumvent state laws" governing medical marijuana.

But as with so many of his other promises, President Obama has broken his word, with California medical marijuana dispensaries being targeted in an aggressive federal crackdown that has seen many medicine providers shut down despite their state-legal status.

Medical Marijuana Reviewreports that Berkeley Patients Group (BPG) is currently ground zero in the federal war on medical marijuana. Earlier this month, US Attorney Melinda Haag slapped BPG with a forfeiture lawsuit, the opening salvo in an attempt to seize its property and force it to shut its doors. BPG has already shuttered one location and moved in order to comply with a state law requiring dispensaries to be located more than 1,000 feet (305 m) from schools or playgrounds. Apparently that wasn't good enough for Haag.

The federal government's actions have sparked widespread community outrage throughout California, and not just among marijuana users. Earlier this month, numerous local leaders turned out at a Berkeley press conference to express their anger and disappointment at Haag and the Obama administration, which they say is wasting valuable law enforcement resources targeting businesses that are operating legally under Proposition 215, the state's voter-approved Compassionate Use Act.

Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates told the press conference he believed that Attorney General Eric Holder "really messed up" by going after BPG, a business he said has "virtually no problems with law enforcement."

"He (Holder) needs to say, 'stop this,'" Bates said.

"Berkeley Patients Group is a model business in our community," Berkeley city councilman Jesse Arregu