DEA, U.S. Attorney in Seattle Send Letters to Shut Down 23 Dispensaries

Citing its concern for children, the Drug Enforcement Agency and the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington sent letters threatening closure and seizure of 23 dispensaries in the Seattle area today.

The dispensaries, the feds claim, are "within 1,000 feet of a school, playground or other prohibited area." The DEA and U.S. Attorney demands the business owners to halt business operations within 30 days.

Possible consequences for dispensaries that continue to operate include seizure and forfeiture of assets, as well as criminal prosecution. Landlords of the properties the dispensaries operate on couple face the seizure of and monies received from the business and criminal prosecition.

Jenny A. Durkan, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington, stated in a media release: "We all work hard to create a safe zone for kids in school. There is a reason that both federal and state laws prohibit sales of marijuana in school zones. We need to enforce one message for our students: drugs have no place in or near our schools."

Of course, there's nothing mentioned about Washington state approving medical marijuana to begin with.