U.S. Attorney John Walsh has sent letters to ten more dispensary owners in Colorado, telling them they are in violation of federal law by being too close to schools. Of course, selling marijuana itself puts them in violation of federal law, but John Walsh thinks this gives him political cover for an unwelcome intrusion into state affairs.

Most of the dispensaries told to close are in and around Denver, and they all have 45 days to shut down. This brings to 47 the number of dispensaries forced to close under the federal medical marijuana crackdown.

“I can see no legitimate basis in this judicial district to focus the resources of the United States government on the medical marijuana dispensaries that are otherwise compliant with Colorado law or local regulation,” Boulder District Attorney Stan Garnett told Walsh in a recent letter. “The people of Boulder County do not need Washington, D.C., or the federal government dictating how far dispensaries should be from schools, or other fine points of local land use law.”

But the feds are undeterred, and no dispensary in the state is safe.

It will be very interesting to see how political developments, like a Presidential election and a statewide marijuana legalization ballot measure, will affect the federal government’s posture on this issue. If Obama wins Colorado and wins reelection and legalization passes, will the President back off and let the state decide its on fate?

- Joe Klare