Written by Jen Lebron Kuhney
Demonstrators gather at Civic Center Plaza Tuesday to protest a federal crackdown on medical marijuana stores.
SAN DIEGO — Protesters took to the streets Tuesday to oppose a federal crackdown on medical marijuana dispensaries.
Later in the day the city announced a Superior Court judge issued a ruling on Monday that the stores are prohibited by the municipal code in San Diego — a ruling similar to one he made last week.
Approximately 250 protesters marched from City Hall to the federal courthouse to voice their opposition to recent actions by U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy.
The federal prosecutor mailed out hundreds of letters on Oct. 7 to operators of marijuana collectives and their landlords telling them they must shut down within 45 days or risk criminal prosecution and property seizures.
Other U.S. attorneys have sent similar letters to dispensaries across California. They have reminded the public that even though Californians voted in 1996 to allow marijuana for medicinal use, the drug is still illegal under federal law.
Protesters said the forced closure of the dispensaries is going to scare off some of the people who need medical marijuana the most.
Read complete article here:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/oct/18/protestors-focus-on-federal-medical-marijuana/