Congressman Conyers Attacks DEA Raids

The government is trying to empose itself on every part of your life. They have been pressuring the medical marijuana advocates and trying to force actions to make it difficult for those that use marijuana to secure housing!!!!

First, the senior Chairmen like Conyers are commonly refered to as “powerful” because they can cause an agency like the DEA a lot of grief, especially at budget time and at hearings.

Second, it is unlikely that he could get enough of the gutless wonders in even his own party to support a change in the law, but he will have a lot of influence on the Democratic candidates and can push them to keep their pledges to “stop the raids.” That will greatly hasten the acceptance of medical marijuana.

Third, Conyers is African American, and his stance may bring more of the African American “leadership” around to opposing the drug war, which has done so much damage to the Black community.

I know the lawyer who brought this suit and he is a very shrewd fellow. He is also counsel for a group called the Union of Medical Marijuana Providers. Here is their press release: Day After Lawsuit Filed Against DEA, U.S. Congress Decides To Question Agency )

Washington, DC: Efforts by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) urging landlords in California to evict tenants who legally dispense medical cannabis to state-authorized patients has drawn public criticism from US Congressman John Conyers (D-MI), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.

In a statement issued Friday by the 21-term Congressman, Conyers said: "I am deeply concerned about recent reports that the Drug Enforcement Administration is threatening private landlords with asset forfeiture and possible imprisonment if they refuse to evict organizations legally dispensing medical marijuana to suffering patients. The Committee has already questioned the DEA about its efforts to undermine California state law on this subject, and we intend to sharply question this specific tactic as part of our oversight efforts."

In July, DEA administrators mailed letters to dozens of landlords in Los Angeles warning owners that they risk arrest, up to 20 years in prison, and the loss of their property if they continue renting to cannabis dispensaries. Since that time, similar letters have been sent to the landlords of other medicinal cannabis providers throughout the state, including several in San Francisco, leading to the closure of various high-profile dispensaries.

Last week the Arts District Healing Center, a Los Angeles-based medical cannabis provider, filed a federal lawsuit in US District Court claiming that the DEA extorted its landlord by sending a letter threatening imprisonment and property seizure.

House oversight hearings regarding the DEA’s actions are anticipated to take place early next year.

For more information, please contact Allen St. Pierre, NORML Executive Director, at (202) 483-5500 or Dale Gieringer, California NORML Coordinator, at (415) 563-5858. A transcript of Representative Conyer’s remarks appear online at: http://judiciary.house.gov/newscenter.aspx?A=889.