The U.S. att orney's office has warned Oa kland officials that the city's marijuana farm ordinance breaks federal law and would put cannabis cultivators in criminal and civil jeopardy.

The ordinance was passed in July by the City Co uncil but has since been put aside after local law enforcement leaders warned that it could result in criminal prosecution of city officials.

In a Feb. 1 letter to Oakland, Melinda Haag, the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of California, wrote: "Individuals who elect to operate 'industrial cannabis cultivation and manufacturing facilities' will be doing so in violation of federal law."

Haag's letter marks the first time federal authorities have sent a written warning on Oakland's ordinance and comes as the council is in the midst of considering a new proposal to license pot farms. Haag, however, did not weigh in on the latest proposal, and Department of Justice officials refused to comment on it.

Thus, some council members said they intend to continue moving forward with the plan by Councilwoman Desley Brooks that would license five new dispensaries, which would each have farms of up to 50,000 square feet.

Haag's letter calls marijuana a controlled substance and says that federal authorities do not pursue "seriously ill" people who use medicinal marijuana approved by state law. Landlords, property owners, financiers and others, however, could face prosecution and the loss of property for growing marijuana under Oakland's law, Haag wrote.

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