Medical Marijuana Shops Close To Schools Will Move Rather Than Fight
DENVER (CBS4)- Nearly two dozen medical marijuana dispensaries located near schools are indicating they will move or close, rather than fight an order by the U.S. Attorney for Colorado.
U.S. Attorney John Walsh said 23 dispensaries within 1,000 feet of schools have until Feb. 27 to shut down or face federal penalties, which can include asset seizure or forfeiture of property.
Leaders of the medical marijuana community gathered outside the Obama for President headquarters in Lakewood Thursday. They wanted to express their displeasure with the Justice Department making the move against state-approved dispensaries in Colorado.
"We're going to be contacting 40,000 voters in our state via Facebook and our email list to let them know about Obama's actions in our area," said Sensible Colorado spokesman Brian Vicente.
Damian Lagoy is a medical marijuana patient who has AIDS. He says it's essential to have a medical marijuana dispensary close to his home.
"The closest medical marijuana store to me is about to be closed and if President Obama keeps this up my life is gone," said Lagoy.
Nearly two dozen dispensaries received the initial letter from the U.S. Attorney and more will be mailed soon.
"That was not intended to be the end of it. We intend to send a letter of this kind, warning letters, to every dispensary in the state of Colorado that are within 1,000 feet of schools," said Walsh.
Medical marijuana was approved as a constitutional amendment and is highly regulated under state law. It remains illegal under federal law.
