DENVER – On August 3, 2012, the U.S. Attorney’s Office sent warning letters to 10 marijuana stores operating within 1,000 feet of schools warning them that if they did not close within 45 days they would be the subject of federal enforcement action. This was the third set of warning letters sent to marijuana stores within 1,000 feet of schools. The deadline for the 10 marijuana stores to close was Monday, September 17, 2012. The U.S. Attorney Office’s partner in this initiative, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), has now checked each facility and has confirmed that all 10 locations have closed.

Federal criminal law specifically provides enhanced criminal penalties for those selling drugs within 1,000 feet of schools (see 21 U.S.C. Section 860(a)).

The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the DEA will continue this initiative until all marijuana stores within 1,000 feet of a school are closed. A fourth wave of warning letters will be forthcoming as marijuana stores are identified within this 1,000 foot “drug-free school zone.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office believes that a vast majority of marijuana stores operating within 1,000 feet of schools have now closed, even those that did not specifically receive a warning letter. If members of the public have information regarding a marijuana store they believe is within 1,000 feet of a school in their neighborhood or elsewhere they are encouraged to contact the U.S. Attorney's Office. The U.S. Attorney has previously stated that he will continue to target marijuana stores within 1,000 feet of schools.

November 7, 2012

UPDATE OF 1,000 FOOT SCHOOL INITIATIVE

The first wave of letters closed 22 marijuana stores within 1,000 feet of schools. The second wave of letters closed 25 marijuana stores within 1,000 feet of schools. The third wave of letters closed 10 marijuana stores within 1,000 feet of schools. The total number of stores closed by this initiative (not counting those that did not receive target letters but chose to close because they believed they would receive one some point in the future) is 57.

####

Click here for the letter that went to property owners

Click here for the letter that went to marijuana store operators