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ARCATA ā With new local and state guidelines in the works and looming over Arcataās out-of-control cannabis scene, the federal government is here to help as well.
On Tuesday, July 15, Arcata hosted Scott Burns, deputy director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, who is the Bush Administrationās second-in-command for drug regulation. After participating in marijuana raids in Eureka and points south and meeting with county officials, Burns traveled to what has apparently come to be known as Americaās grow house capitol, the City of Arcata.
Here, Burns met with City and Humboldt State University officials and granted the Arcata Eye an interview before traveling to Sacramento to meet with state officials.
In an interview (see pages A8-9) Burns shared the federal governmentās views on medical cannabis, grow houses and possible enforcement action by the authorities.
Burns later said his mission to Humboldt and Arcata was twofold: 1. āSeeing firsthand whatās going on with respect to indoor grows, which is an exceptional problem,ā and 2. āTo thank the hard-working men and women doing this hard [enforcement] work on the front lines.ā
In the interview, Burns adamantly dismissed any notion of medical usefulness of marijuana, saying that dosages are unregulated, smoking is an irresponsible delivery system and that suitable substitutes for medical cannabis exist in the form of FDA-approved medications. Legalization, Burns said, would immediately lead to even more widespread use. He said todayās marijuana fundamentally alters human brain structure and leads to addiction and ruined lives.
Burns said grow houses, including home gardens maintained by purported Prop 215 patients, are used to supply dispensaries, which the federal government views as criminal enterprises. In fact, two of the four existing Arcata dispensaries have admitted buying from residential Prop 215 grows.
He said owners of dispensaries risk ālosing their propertyā via asset forfeiture, which, he said, āI predict will happen soon.ā
Burns urged a re-thinking of the acceptance of marijuana in contemporary culture, and even seemed to suggest that recreational use could be legislated and enforced away.
But regarding enforcement, Burns seemed to offer a mixed message. While unyielding in asserting that federal law holds marijuana illegal under all circumstances and trumps all state and local medical cannabis laws, Burns nonetheless advised Arcatans to ādefer 100 percent good judgment of the people who have been elected and appointedā while motioning to those present in the APD conference room. But most of them are working on guidelines under which medical marijuana may be safely cultivated and dispensed.
Following his Arcata visit, Burns journeyed to Sacramento for further discussions. During a brief phone discussion Friday, he said heād met with the U.S. Attorney, officials with the Drug Enforcement Administration and other drug enforcement personnel including the FBI, county sheriffs and police chiefs.
The results of Burnsā foray into cannabinized California will, he said, soon be discussed in the halls of high-level government in Washington, D.C. āIāll report back to Mr. Walters [John P. Walters, ONDCP director] on what I saw and feedback I received,ā Burns said.
Arcata will be a hot topic. āMy meeting in Arcata was pretty eye-opening,ā Burns said. āThe mayor, councilmembers and HSU truly want to partner and come up with a solution.ā He said the cannabis industry in Arcata āhas far outgrown the level of acceptability.ā
City Manager Michael Hackett said that the City hadnāt called the meeting with Burns, but that City officials and others were happy to share their views. āEveryone that spoke made the statement loud and clear that this community supports compassionate use, but that in some cases it has gotten out of hand,ā Hackett said. HSUās concerns, he said, centered around displacement of housing by grow houses and the effect that has on student welfare and admissions.
Meanwhile, new guidelines for distribution of medical marijuana expected last week from the state Attorney Generalās Office were not issued for reasons unknown.
The Burns interview airs on KHSU 90.5 FM this Friday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. after the Home Page, and will stream online at khsu.org.
link: http://www.arcataeye.com/index.php?module=Pagesetter&tid=2&topic=3&func=viewpub&pid=1006&format=full
On Tuesday, July 15, Arcata hosted Scott Burns, deputy director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, who is the Bush Administrationās second-in-command for drug regulation. After participating in marijuana raids in Eureka and points south and meeting with county officials, Burns traveled to what has apparently come to be known as Americaās grow house capitol, the City of Arcata.
Here, Burns met with City and Humboldt State University officials and granted the Arcata Eye an interview before traveling to Sacramento to meet with state officials.
The view from the White House
In an interview (see pages A8-9) Burns shared the federal governmentās views on medical cannabis, grow houses and possible enforcement action by the authorities.
Burns later said his mission to Humboldt and Arcata was twofold: 1. āSeeing firsthand whatās going on with respect to indoor grows, which is an exceptional problem,ā and 2. āTo thank the hard-working men and women doing this hard [enforcement] work on the front lines.ā
In the interview, Burns adamantly dismissed any notion of medical usefulness of marijuana, saying that dosages are unregulated, smoking is an irresponsible delivery system and that suitable substitutes for medical cannabis exist in the form of FDA-approved medications. Legalization, Burns said, would immediately lead to even more widespread use. He said todayās marijuana fundamentally alters human brain structure and leads to addiction and ruined lives.
Burns said grow houses, including home gardens maintained by purported Prop 215 patients, are used to supply dispensaries, which the federal government views as criminal enterprises. In fact, two of the four existing Arcata dispensaries have admitted buying from residential Prop 215 grows.
He said owners of dispensaries risk ālosing their propertyā via asset forfeiture, which, he said, āI predict will happen soon.ā
Burns urged a re-thinking of the acceptance of marijuana in contemporary culture, and even seemed to suggest that recreational use could be legislated and enforced away.
But regarding enforcement, Burns seemed to offer a mixed message. While unyielding in asserting that federal law holds marijuana illegal under all circumstances and trumps all state and local medical cannabis laws, Burns nonetheless advised Arcatans to ādefer 100 percent good judgment of the people who have been elected and appointedā while motioning to those present in the APD conference room. But most of them are working on guidelines under which medical marijuana may be safely cultivated and dispensed.
Following his Arcata visit, Burns journeyed to Sacramento for further discussions. During a brief phone discussion Friday, he said heād met with the U.S. Attorney, officials with the Drug Enforcement Administration and other drug enforcement personnel including the FBI, county sheriffs and police chiefs.
The results of Burnsā foray into cannabinized California will, he said, soon be discussed in the halls of high-level government in Washington, D.C. āIāll report back to Mr. Walters [John P. Walters, ONDCP director] on what I saw and feedback I received,ā Burns said.
Arcata will be a hot topic. āMy meeting in Arcata was pretty eye-opening,ā Burns said. āThe mayor, councilmembers and HSU truly want to partner and come up with a solution.ā He said the cannabis industry in Arcata āhas far outgrown the level of acceptability.ā
Arcataās message to Washington
City Manager Michael Hackett said that the City hadnāt called the meeting with Burns, but that City officials and others were happy to share their views. āEveryone that spoke made the statement loud and clear that this community supports compassionate use, but that in some cases it has gotten out of hand,ā Hackett said. HSUās concerns, he said, centered around displacement of housing by grow houses and the effect that has on student welfare and admissions.
Meanwhile, new guidelines for distribution of medical marijuana expected last week from the state Attorney Generalās Office were not issued for reasons unknown.
The Burns interview airs on KHSU 90.5 FM this Friday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. after the Home Page, and will stream online at khsu.org.
The Tuesday bust
The Humboldt County Drug Task Force, assisted by HCSO, Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement and the FBI, concluded a one-year investigation into the alleged illegal cultivation and sales of marijuana by Ryan Robletto and co-conspirators. Agents served search warrants at 15 locations in Humboldt County and seized 3,026 marijuana plants, approximately 10 pounds of processed marijuana, two ounces of heroin and 22 firearms (including one assault rifle) were seized and 15 arrests were made at various locations.
link: http://www.arcataeye.com/index.php?module=Pagesetter&tid=2&topic=3&func=viewpub&pid=1006&format=full