May 03, 2016

Congresswoman Lee Applauds U.S. Attorney’s Decision to End its Unnecessary Case Against Harborside Health Center

Oakland, CA – Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released this statement following the U.S. Attorney’s decision to drop its case against Harborside Health Center dispensary:

“Today’s decision by the U.S. Attorney is a victory for healthcare access. For decades, Harborside has helped ensure members of our community can access their medicine. It’s past time for the federal government to stop standing between these patients and their medicine.

I am proud to have played a part in today’s victory by actively encouraging the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to end this unnecessary asset forfeiture case that would restrict my constituents’ access to their prescribed medicines.

While today’s action is a victory for Harborside, other dispensaries, including one in my district, face harassment from the federal government for their state-legal businesses.

As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to use my position to rein in this federal government overreach. I will keep working to open banking services to the industry and expand access to medical cannabis for veterans.

Similarly, I will continue to call on the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to end the persecution of California’s medical cannabis dispensaries, especially now that the industry must meet comprehensive, stringent and enforceable regulatory standards.

I am pleased by today’s victory but I will keep fighting until the federal government stops erecting barriers between patients and their medicine.”

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Congresswoman Lee is a member of the Appropriations and Budget Committees, the Steering and Policy Committee, is a Senior Democratic Whip, former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and co-chair of the Progressive Caucus. She serves as chair of the Democrat Whip Task Force on Poverty, Income Inequality and Opportunity.