By Craig Gustafson
U-T San Diego
If you’d like to discuss medical marijuana, contact Ryan Hurley, director of the Rose Law Group Medical Marijuana Dept., rhurley@roselawgroup.com
Mayor Bob Filner ordered a halt Thursday to the prosecution of medical marijuana dispensaries in the city, using his power as strong mayor to direct police and code compliance officers to stop targeting the pot shops.
The decision came two days after Filner spoke before the San Diego chapter of Americans for Safe Access, an advocacy group for medical marijuana. Filner criticized law enforcement’s crackdown on dispensaries and identified City Attorney Jan Goldsmith as an official that “has not been, what shall I say, very helpful.” He promised the group he would talk to the police chief, noting he could hire or fire him, and intimidate Goldsmith into backing off.
Goldsmith responded Wednesday with a letter to Filner that “you could have achieved your goal in less than 30 seconds.” The mayor has sole authority over civil actions against dispensaries because they involved code-enforcement violations, which are under his purview, the city attorney explained.
Also: Be sure and watch RLG’s Ryan Hurley debate Rep. John Kavanagh about medical marijuana, Tues. Jan. 15 on KAET’s “Horizon.”
