Politics & Government

Message to Feds: Stop Medical Marijuana Crackdown

State Sen. Mark Leno calls for an end to federal attacks on pot collectives.

As federal prosecutors step up efforts to close marijuana facilities across the state, State Sen. Mark Leno is calling for an end to the attacks.

Leno, who represents Novato in the state Legislature, and Assemblyman Tom Ammiano will hold a press conference Wednesday, Oct. 19, at 11 a.m. at the California state building in San Francisco calling for federal agents to stop the crackdown on medical marijuana facilities throughout the state.

According to a story in the Marinscope Newspapers, two collectives in Novato are attempting to work with the city to stay open despite receiving cease-and-desist letters.

Find out what's happening in Novatowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The in Fairfax, one of the first and only legally-permitted facilities in the state, . The dispensary has also been facing a legal battle against the IRS, which argued the business isn't allowed to take any tax write-offs - making them liable for $1 million in back taxes.

According to The Marin Independent Journal, Lynette Shaw, owner of the Marin Alliance, will also be joining an effort to put an initiative on the November 2012 ballot to require marijuana to be regulated similarly to wine.

Find out what's happening in Novatowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

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