Medical pot clinic operator says government forced landlord to evict him
PRINEVILLE, Ore. (AP) — The operator of a Prineville medical marijuana clinic is suggesting the federal government and local police intimidated his landlord into evicting him.
Ryan Cole opened the Crook County Compassion Clinic/Club last fall in a downtown building owned by the Veteran's Club, a collaborative effort of the local chapters of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. In late February, Cole was issued an eviction notice and given until the end of March to move out.
Dave Schwab, chairman of the Veteran's Club building committee, said the group was swayed by a letter sent by the U.S. Attorney for Oregon, S. Amanda Marshall.
In the letter, which was also sent to Prineville Police Chief Eric Bush, Marshall's office cautions that the sale of marijuana is illegal under Oregon and federal law. The letter also states that financiers or landlords of medical marijuana dispensaries can be subject to civil or criminal penalties, including forfeiture of their assets.
Schwab said he regarded the letter as "a bluff" or a "form letter," and indeed, much of the language in the letter is identical to a letter sent to Oregon medical marijuana dispensary operators in June 2011 when Dwight Holton occupied the position currently held by Marshall.
Schwab said he was unable to learn of any instance when federal authorities went after a landlord because of a tenant's involvement in the medical marijuana trade. But other club members were wary, particularly after Bush visited the club looking to talk to Schwab about the letter.
"It was just enough of a fear that, 'What if we were the first one?' and we decided we didn't want to take the chance of losing all our property," Schwab said. "He, himself, was a great tenant; we hated to do it."
Repeated calls to the U.S. Attorney's Office seeking clarification on the letter were not returned.
Cole said that in accordance with the state medical marijuana law, his business serves as a place for licensed growers and medical marijuana cardholders to connect and makes no money from marijuana transactions. Growers provide the dispensary with receipts showing the expenses they've incurred growing the marijuana, Cole said, and the price paid by cardholders is set to reflect the cost of equipment, materials or electricity needed to produce the crop rather than reimburse growers for their labor.
A small shop selling glass pipes and other smoking paraphernalia provides the dispensary with its only income, Cole said.
By Cole's estimates, his dispensary has served approximately 700 clients since it opened. According to statistics compiled by the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program, as of Jan. 1, there were 296 medical marijuana cardholders living in Crook County, with another 2,981 in Deschutes and Jefferson counties.
Cole said that a day before he received his eviction notice, club members called him in for a meeting and told him they felt they were being harassed by Bush. During the meeting, club members did not bring up the letter, Cole said.
"They told me they were feeling intimidated and afraid they would be targeted, and that's why I'd be arrested," he said.
A number of club members did feel intimidated by seeing the chief of police walk into the club's bar, Schwab said, but he doesn't think Bush's visit rises to the level of harassment.
"I don't think one visit to the vet's club would be harassment," Schwab said. "There was a bit of intimidation going on there, but I wouldn't characterize it as harassment."
Bush said he contacted Schwab by phone after he was unable to locate him during his initial visit to the Veteran's Club, and then only to be sure the club had received its copy of the letter and understood what the U.S. Attorney's Office had to say. Bush said he's heard of nothing that would lead to his office taking action against Cole or his dispensary.
"So long as they're operating within the confines of the state law, I don't have any authority to enforce federal law," he said.
Cole said he has located another location in downtown Prineville to rent, and that his dispensary will remain open.
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Information from: The Bulletin
It's possible that many of the early Prohibitionists did not actually intend to kill hundreds of thousands worldwide and put 1 in every 30 American adults under supervision of the correctional system while bringing shame upon what was once a shining beacon of liberty and prosperity. But predictively similar to our "Great Experiment" of the 1920s, this foolish and counter-productive 're-run' has once again spawned rampant off-the-scale criminality, corruption, a bust economy, mass unemployment, the world's highest incarceration rate, a civil war in Mexico, an un-winnable war in Afghanistan, and an even higher rate of drug-use (both legal & illegal) than in all other countries that have courageously refused to blindly follow us down this sadomoralistic, dystopian rat hole.
Prohibition has helped fill our Prisons and Jails to capacity. Violent criminals, murderers, rapists and child molesters are released early to create space for so called 'drug offenders'. Half of court trial time and also a huge chunk of police officers time is pointlessly wasted. Enormous untaxed profits from illegal drugs fund multi-national criminal empires which bribe law enforcement authorities and spread corruption faster than a raging bush fire. Prohibition takes violent criminals and turns them into multi-billionaires whilst corrupting even entire countries, including our own. Our drug laws are also funding the Taliban and al-Qaeda whose illegal opium profits allow them to buy weapons and pay it's fighters more than $300 a month, compared with the $14 paid to an Afghan policemen.
Alcohol prohibition in the US ran from 1919 to 1933 - Now google 'The Great Wall Street Crash' and see when that happened!
To support prohibition is such a strange mind-set. In fact, It's outrageous insanity!--Literally not one prohibitionist argument survives scrutiny. Not one!
The only people that believe prohibition is working are the ones making a living by enforcing laws in it's name, and those amassing huge fortunes on the black market profits. This situation is wholly unsustainable, and as history has shown us, conditions will continue to deteriorate until we finally, just like our forefathers, see sense and revert back to tried and tested methods of regulation. None of these substances, legal or illegal, are ever going to go away, but we CAN decide to implement policies that do far more good than harm.
Thanks to Prohibition, we now have a far higher percentage of our own citizens locked in cages than any other nation on the whole planet. Apart from the fact that these extra prisoners are not contributing economically to society, it also costs 50,000 dollars per annum to incarcerate them. Additionally, their families often go on government assistance, leaving the average tax payer to pick up the bill. Their kids may also be taken into care or raised by foster parentsâagain with our money. Now add to all this: the court costs, jail costs, and the salaries of all those people that have to deal with the enforcement of prohibition, like police officers, judges and public defendersâand you'll start to get a fair idea of why "Black Thursday" (October 24, 1929) happened during the period of another of our great experiments: Alcohol Prohibition (1919-1933)
During alcohol prohibition, all profits went to enrich criminals and corrupt politicians. Young men died every day on inner-city streets while battling over turf. A fortune was wasted on enforcement that could have gone on education, etc. On top of the budget-busting prosecution and incarceration costs, billions in taxes were lost. Finally, the economy collapsed. Sound familiar?
Prohibition causes massive crime and suffering, causes government/police corruption, causes America to have the highest prison population of any country in the history of the planet, causes Americans to lose all their rights and all their true core-values, causes the waste of trillions in taxpayer dollars, causes wars, violence and death (at home and abroad), perpetuates racism, causes America to be hated by other countries, and funds both criminals and terrorists.
For God's sake wake up! The prisons are bursting, the police are corrupt, most of us are not even safe in our own homes anymore, while the whole country/planet is on the verge of total collapse.Â
RT â@The420RadioShow: Medical pot clinic operator says government forced landlord to evict him feedly.com\/k\/ZgL3IU2yX Good readâ
I can't believe that a veterans group would be swayed by such a letter. For the feds to move against a va.organization would be absolutely the worst public relations possible. Many vets legally use pot for their illnesses, shame on you members in Prineville.
I guess no relation to Les
So can I play out the future.. the landlord won't be able to rent the space for about 3 to 4 years, he will wonder what happened and suddenly he will realize he was had by losers in Salem.. Meanwhile back at the ranch they are selling, smokin and tokin the weed and growin and all is good.. See, the feds won't come after this, if they do they know the real drug monsters will be exposed... Like Phizer, Rite Aide, Watson, the list goes on and on... and one and on... Do they really want to open that box ???????
Wheres Glenn beck where's Rush Limbaugh fighting for this man's rights against the evil socialist obama regime?
@Trickledown I'll have to read it again. I didn't see Obama or his cabinet mentioned. Hum......wouldn't this be more of a Conservitive tactic? I am not a Democrat, but registered Indepent. But you Dir, are an idiot.
@Trickledown Get over yourself.  Stop smoking pot, get a job, and if you are not doing the former and ARE doing the latter then good. Winky dinky tinky winky dinkle dankle donk.
@Muttley @Trickledown Tell me you're not saying if someone vehemently disagrees with the likes of Glenn or Rush that makes them an unemployed pot-smoker -- you'd be dead wrong.  The wisest people I know feel the same way about the buffoons who are making a financial killing stirring the pot and fostering divisiveness.  When you realize that between Glenn and Rush, they're pulling in almost $200 million a year, it seems obvious that their "political" blather is really "show me the money" blather.  HMWs, both of them.  (Hypocritical Media Whores, just so you know.)
@Sundowner @Muttley @Trickledown Gore turned down Glenn Beck's offer for Current TV because gore thought beck would take the station in the wrong direction. So instead he sold it to aljeerz.
why don't they close down the oxy clinics...I mean hospitals...for hooking people on the drug
@Phuzz One of my jobs is in the healthcare industry.  Of around 80 physicians I'm familiar with, there's exactly one who over-prescribes medication, and for some reason it's always antibiotics that her patients insist on having.  As for Oxycontin, morphine, oxycodone, etc., they're certainly addictive but 99% of all physicians will work with a patient to help them transition into less potent meds once their pain is under control.  In Oregon, every single prescription for a Schedule II or Schedule IV medication is reported to the State and close monitoring is now taking place.   Â
@Sundowner @Phuzz Like I am going to trust Anyone who works in the Industry to tell me that Doctors do not over prescribe. Even on so called acceptable levels Opioids are still physically addictive and their patients will always need them. Also over time as you gain tolerance to the drugs effects they lower your pain tolerance to zero so you nee more and more to get the same effect you would get from Tylenol. Most Doctors want to keep Treating you so they have a steady income and Big Pharma is the same way. They do Not want people using Medical Marijuana because it works and they lose money plain and simple. If A Doctor prescribes Opioid pain killers for more than just very short term they are over prescribing period and they do it for profit. Luckily my Doctor helped me switch before the Rx meds killed me, they were shutting my body down after nine years. Also by my switching, Medicaid is saving over $1000/month in Rx meds that I was taking. I have to pay for my own medicine now but it works and I have most of my life back. I belong to a Club where I get my medicine and I get to hang out with the people who grow what I have to use to stay mobile and sane. I am friends with these hard working people who provide medicine to people who need it. Which do you think is healthier, better for the economy and just plain smart? Getting your groceries from the Farmer or the Store that bought them from Mexico and Florida? Well I would rather get my medicine from the Man who grows it for me than from some Chemist in a Lab making Pills that Kill.
@Sundowner @swede760 @Silver Surfer If it talks like a troll, your twisting the time I was on Rx meds into many more years of addiction makes you look that way. I was on Morphine for nine years. It took a couple to become physically addicted, big difference from a physical addiction to being a Junkie which you tried to make me WRONG! I hated having to take that crap every day but when pain reaches a point of wanting to end your life because it is just not worth it every day you take what seems to help if the Doctors give it to you, and yes they are getting more regulated but do not think for a minute that they are not over prescribing. ANYTHING more than very short term use of Opiates is OVER PRESCRIBING PERIOD! Doctors still prescribe Opioid drugs long term and that is absolutely wrong with what we know about that class of drug. You are defending an indefensible position get over it. Oh and as far as getting people addicted to Opioids for profit, yes I believe that is as bad as being a Pedophile and if you defend those that do that and I know not all do, you are no better. Your System has been Broken for a very long time and a few too late regulations do not really impress me one bit. The Medical industry has been run by Corrupt Corporations bent on greed for much too long and there is nothing you can say that will change that now.
@Silver Surfer @swede760 @Sundowner So I could have just tried to endure extreme pain, yeah right, tell you what, next time you have to go 45 days with L5-S1 bone to bone while working, you tell me how much choice you have about what you can or can not take. You take what the Doctor gives you. Unfortunately most Surgeons could care less about you after you leave the Hospital and the one I had refused Physical Therapy. Try an Hour in my shoes and then spout you B S. The system failed big time in my case and I have seen it repeatedly with others. I made it out of the Opiate addiction trap but I see very few others even attempt it even though it is Killing them so yes it is a matter of survival for those who choose the natural alternative to man made drugs.
@swede760 @Silver Surfer I'm a troll because I mistakenly said you were addicted to opiates for 10 years instead of 9??  Yeah, OK.  I'm sorry for what you went through, I'm sorry you have chronic pain, but I'm not sure I've ever run across a person who takes less responsibility for their own actions than you.  You're also blowing smoke about Oregon doctors and overprescribing.  Sure, a drug seeker can always find someone, but with the reporting system that went into effect last year, those doctors are few and far between.  I don't have to "protect my job" by saying doctors don't overprescribe -- that plays no roll in my job (so that's Wrong #1 about your assessment of me).  If I'm "addicted to Rx drugs", it would be thyroid medication, one tab a day (that would be Wrong #2).  And comparing me to anyone who'd protect a pedophile would be Wrong #3.  Looks like you struck out.
@swede760 @Sundowner Let's be very clear here.  YOU always have the last say in what you put into YOUR OWN BODY.  Â
The doc didn't force feed you the pills, you gave your consent. Â YOUR inability to ward off addiction or make a better choice led to your continued use.
Blaming the person YOU sought out for help doesn't excuse 10 YEARS of pill-popping from YOUR own choices. Â Suck it up, quit whining and take responsibility for your OWN actions. Â
Nothing wrong with pot in my eyes. Â But do not use a false scapegoat to support your argument. Makes the rest of us look petty, stupid, and helpless. Â They all DON'T need it to survive, Â they CHOOSE to use it. Â Makes life a little bit more worth living.
Sometimes, people just need to be allowed to live in peace. Â Without someone else's damn opinion or agenda trying to tell them how to. Â That's true freedom.
@Sundowner @swede760 Health Care workers saying Doctors do not Over Prescribe are one of two things, Protecting their jobs or Addicted to Rx Drugs or both. Kind of like the last Pope protecting Pedophile Priests.
@Sundowner @swede760 I did not have much choice in the addiction end of it as the Doctors are the ones who prescribed it. I agree I am fortunate that I found ONE Doctor who decided to take a chance and listen. I am his first Medical patient and his biggest success by his account. I would personally rather not use the Medical Marijuana or anything for that fact, I would be much happier without my physical disability or Chronic pain. Also that was 9 years not the exaggerated Ten + you are Trolling with. Medical Professional, Troll,I see the connection.
@swede760Â Like I'm going to trust anyone who was an addict for 10+ years but made the big switch to marijuana. Â I have no problem with marijuana and am aware that many, many people find relief using it. Â But face it -- if you're addicted to alcohol and get sober but use marijuana every day to get a similar effect, you've just switched from one physical depressant to another. Â Interesting how you don't trust doctors but your doctor helped you get off opioids. Â Kinda preaching out both sides of your mouth, I'd say.Â
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@feral That will be the day I take up arms. Seriously.
Maybe if this guy hadn't been smoking his product he would have had enough brain power to realize that pot is illegal in Oregon, even for potheads. Â When your head if full of mush, it doesn't work normally.
@Shadow Huh... we have medical marijuana that is legal.. did you just land here from mars or what ???
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@feral Actually everyone I have ever known who became an Alcoholic/Addict actually started with Alcohol not Marijuana so in Reality Alcohol is the Gateway Drug.
@feral  Yeah, a gateway to things like . . . . . oh, caffeine to wake up. Munchies to fill up. Water to hydrate up. Yeah, I can see how dangerous this "drug" really is!
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@feral If aspirin had just been invented yesterday it would never make it past the FDA!
Oh, heck -- That would make a great bumper sticker!
When is the moving sale?
pot addicts need help
@sortbait Help me load this bong bro.
@sortbait  So do those who, like you, perpetually demonstrate that they choose to be uninformed, uneducated and totally unintelligent.
@Gravity Works! But pot heads still need help and they are still just pot heads.Â
Oh, this is just not good. Â The Feds come in and bully a local businessman, who happens to grow pot? Â Gee, why don't they go after the real criminals? Â It's not like there not out there. Â We have several killings a week, in our state, yet TPTB opt to go after a small time pot grower? Â Gee guys...proud of yourselves? #lame!!Â
tntpwjcoawtesmisn
(the neighbor trailer park whoree just came over and wanted to earn some money i said no)
The federal government along with local authorities have once again proven their dominion over "we the people" and our wishes pertaining medical marijuana.... There's only one way to end the dispute over medical marijuana and that's through SCOTUS...
gjwntddotwodatocb
(good job we need to double down on the war on drugs and take our country back)
it makes no sense to keep pot illegal when you have legal (heroin) being pushed by pharmaceutical companies. All the opiate trade is doing is supplying more money where it doesnt belong- to afgahnistan, the talli wackers, and our corpupt gov't. but people like you think that is ok, because opiates are "legal". So backasswards people are
@LostSoul lol
Government is so screwed up.
Federal law says that marijuana is illegal. State law says you can grow it for medical purposes. The feds ignore that and in other states go after growers with the same tenacity of a pit bull.
So what is the law? No one knows since nothing is enforced.
@RalphCramden  All the while the Federal government is an ACTIVE supplier of marijuana to patients. Fracking hypocrites.
@RalphCramden I hope the persons involved in forcing him out.... face karma ten fold!
@Funky-Munky
The question is who forced him out. The federal attorney was just enforcing the federal law as written. Isn't that what they are supposed to do?
@swede760Â @Funky-Munky
Federal law folks cannot enforce state laws and state law folks cannot enforce federal laws. The only exception are folks who have been trained to do both and they are rare.
Amanda Marshall is the US Attorney for the Oregon district appointed by 0bama in 2010 so she is a federal officer enforcing federal laws.
@RalphCramden @Funky-Munky That was the State, not Federal Prosecutor. The State Prosecutor should enforce State Law not Federal. This sounds like a State official pushing their own agenda and not State Law.Â
@Funky-Munky @RalphCramden Obama specifically promised to close gitmo and he had both houses to do it. Maybe in his third term.
@LostSoul itfhmmylafp?
(isnt this fun having me manipulate you like a fat puppet?
@LostSoul lol
@Funky-Munky gncgabb? hbpacaod!
got nascar cigarettes ganja and busch beer? high blood pressure ad cholestoral and obese? die!
more like 15, fat, fugly and on disability and looks likes a rats ass
@Funky-Munky lol
@RalphCramden ifshafaoafpsidgar
(im fifty seven hot and fit and on a fat pers so i dont give a rats)
@RalphCramden @Funky-Munky Do you have a flyswatter handy? There's a pest circling about....
@Funky-Munky
Selective enforcement weakens other cases and can be used as a defense in court.
@Funky-Munky lapnoulieftb
(lets all pretend none of us lie, its everyoe for themselves bigot!
@RalphCramden @Funky-Munky  If you remember correctly Obama specifically asked the Federal Government to back off medical marijuana dispensaries operating legally under state law.... Lol though Obama is a proven liar!
@Funky-Munky yckir!
(yeah cuz karma is real!)
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@the rover
You give me reason to live. The fact that how I operate pisses you off delights me no end.
Thanks for the positive reinforcement.
@RalphCramden yftwt
(you forgot the word to)
@RalphCramden lol