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Federal Legislation Introduced to End Asset Forfeiture Against Medical Cannabis Providers
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Legislation has been introduced in the
House of Representatives that aims to end the federal government's use
of asset forfeiture to sanction those who produce or dispense marijuana
in states that have legalized its therapeutic use.
The measure, HR 6335, prohibits the federal government from employing
21 U.S.C. 881(7), the civil asset forfeiture statute, to sanction
property owners whose tenants are in compliance with state medical
marijuana laws. In recent months, federal officials have frequently used
this statute to close hundreds of locally regulated dispensaries in
various states, including California, Colorado, and Washington.
Speaking in support of the proposal, sponsor Rep. Barbara Lee
explained, "As a long-time supporter of the rights of patients to have
safe and legal access to medicine that has been recommended to them by
their doctors, this bill will provide clarification to California
businesses and security for California patients. The people of
California have made it legal for patients to have safe access to
medicinal marijuana and, as a result, thousands of small business owners
have invested millions of dollars in building their companies, creating
jobs, and paying their taxes. We should be protecting and implementing
the will of voters, not undermining our democracy by prosecuting small
business owners who pay taxes and comply with the laws of their states
in providing medicine to patients in need."
You can contact your Congressional representative in support of this important legislation by entering your zip code below.
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