In a landmark decision on this week, a federal court found that the federal government has no standing to block the legal operation of medical cannabis dispensaries, provided they comply with state laws.
The decision was a direct result of a congressional act last December, in which Congress cut off federal funding for the prosecution of cannabis clubs, provided they were operating within current state law.
The landmark decision came in the case of Lynette Shaw, who ironically opened the first licensed medical marijuana dispensary in the United States. Her dispensary was ultimately raided and shut down by the DEA in 2011.
Shaw has been in court over 100 times fighting the legality of the closure since her dispensary was shuttered, according to NBC. The decision by U.S. Judge Charles Breyer ended the long-running battle she has been engaged in with the federal government.
Judge Breyer ruled that the congressional decision to cut off funding for the prosecution of medical cannabis clubs took precedence over the Department of Justice, thus meaning that a federal injunction in place against Shaw and her dispensary had no legal standing.
Shaw’s attorney, Greg Anton, believes that this decision is a tipping point for medical marijuana in the U.S.
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The U.S. Attorney’s Office has 30 days to file an appeal to Breyer’s ruling.
With an ever-growing body of research indicating the extreme medicinal benefits of cannabis, efforts to continue lining the pockets of the profiteers of the prison-industrial-complex by criminalizing non-criminal behavior are doomed to fail.
The reality is that people no longer believe the “Reefer Madness” hysteria still being propagated to the masses by corporate media. This decision by Judge Breyer highlights the changes that have been made and represents the future of medical marijuana in America.
Jay Syrmopoulos is an investigative journalist, free thinker, researcher, and ardent opponent of authoritarianism. He is currently a graduate student at University of Denver pursuing a masters in Global Affairs. Jay’s work has been published on TheFreeThoughtProject.com, Ben Swann’s Truth in Media, Truth-Out, AlterNet, InfoWars, MintPressNews and many other sites. You can follow him on Twitter @sirmetropolis, on Facebook at Sir Metropolis and now on tsu
Marijuana, ooh. What if a Mary Jane user owned a gun? I’m well past 60 and have been reading about gateway drugs for half a century. I’ve owned guns for much of this time, done several drugs (I happen not to like pot very much but, yeah, I’ve done my share). The problem with Schedule 1 and hemp is not hemp, it’s Schedule 1. Even when offered heroin when under the influence (of something or other, including grass) I’ve just said no. And never felt the urge to hurt anyone in all this time.
It’s entirely political, which is to say economic. This has nothing to do with cannabis, and everything to do with entrenched politics and economics.
We came close to it with eggs and bacon, gateway substances to high cholesterol and heart attacks, they said, this even showed up on the cover of Time magazine. Turns out not to be in the slightest way true, but doctors are still telling us to eat cornflakes, and now smoke pot.
Personally, I don’t trust either doctors or the government. But if marijuana were legalized, I’d probably quit alcohol. I’d be even less likely to run out and shoot someone. Something I’ve managed to avoid doing for 66 years despite all provocations and often possessing the wherewithal.
Mushrooms can kill you, eat enough of them, or the wrong ones.
I’m waiting for them to outlaw public flatulence. Imagine the campaign. Farting Now Targeted As Federal Crime (Senator Moving Up In the Rankings On Controversial Issue). Sort of thing.
Tulips and Dandelions Now Considered Dangerous To Children, Experts Report. Congress Taking Notice.