California Lawmaker Criticizes The Fed Over Pot Crackdown - Central Coast News KION/KCBA

SACRAMENTO, Calif- A state lawmaker says he won't back down from his continued criticism of the Obama Administration over its efforts to crack down on California's medical marijuana industry.

State Senator Mark Leno, while admitting Proposition 215 has some holes and problems, says the feds have bigger worries than prescription pot and called the statewide crackdown heavy handed.

Leno says he thought it was important that some lawmaker stand up to the Justice Department and tell them they've gone too far and should have consulted with state law enforcement officials on problems associated with medicinal marijuana. "Cease the senseless assault on our communities, on medical cannabis patients who are using medicine with doctor recommendation per the will of the voters," said Leno.

Leno says he's troubled that the feds aren't just going after dispensaries and growers; it's property owners where dispensaries operate, financial institutions holding mortgages on those properties and even the media carrying medical marijuana ads. "We're in a deep recession, how many more jobs do they want to see lost? How many more tax dollars do they want to see lost? This is bad public policy, it makes no sense and I don't understand what's motivated it."

Leno says those operating criminal enterprises under the guise of prop 215 should be prosecuted, just like criminal enterprises conducting other illegal businesses.

In hopes of shielding dispensaries from the feds, medical marijuana advocates announced Tuesday they are drafting a ballot initiative to impose statewide oversight of the medical pot industry with licensing and regulatory measures. They hope to get the initiative on next November's ballot.