Letters to Sen. Barbara Boxer (FAX # 415-956-6701 Phone 202-224-3553 http://boxer.senate.gov/contact/offices/) and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (FAX 202-228-3954 Phone 202-224-3553) urging them to ask Michael Mukasey to halt the DOJ's attack on medical marijuana. (Thanks to Eric Sterling for suggesting this).
- D. Gieringer, Cal NORML

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Sen. Barbara Boxer
112 Hart Senate Office Bldg
Washington DC 20510

Dear Sen. Boxer,

Before the U.S. Senate votes on the President's nomination of Michael Mukasey to serve as Attorney General, the people of California have a right to know whether he will stop DOJ's wasteful and vicious prosecution of medical marijuana defendants.

Since Sept 11, 2001, the DOJ has charged over 100 Californians with medical marijuana offenses that were arguably legal under state law (Prop. 215) - more than for terrorism. Many of these cases have been brought over the objections of local officials, law enforcement, and patients. The U.S. Attorney has recently escalated attacks on medical marijuana in the Eastern District of California, federalizing low-level Prop 215 cases that would normally be tried under state law and seeking harsher punishments than would be normal even for non-medical cases in state court, such as forfeiture of family homes. The DEA has also increasingly raided well run, responsible dispensaries that have sought to operate as legitimate, tax-paying businesses. These raids have deprived California of millions of dollars in sales taxes revenues and scores of jobs.

Please ask Judge Mukasey to answer these two questions before you allow his nomination to come to the floor:

"If you are confirmed as Attorney General with the responsibility for setting priorities for federal law enforcement and federal drug enforcement, will you order DEA to stop raiding medical marijuana caregivers and dispensaries that are complying with state and local laws?

"Will you order U.S. attorneys to stop taking medical marijuana cases out of state courts and to devote federal resources to more important crimes that pose a danger to public safety?"

We urge you NOT to vote on Judge Mukasey's nomination until he answers these questions.

Sincerely,

Dale H. Gieringer, Ph.D.
Co-sponsor, Compassionate Use Act (Prop 215)
Coordinator, California NORML

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Dale Gieringer, Director - California NORML, 2215-R Market St. #278, San Francisco CA 94114 -(415) 563- 5858 - www.canorml.org