Thomas v. Holder ( 2012 )

FILED
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT MAR 2 6 2012
FOR THE DISTRICT 0F COLUMBIA cl(?,|l\|%rr{<é :l.SihDi;t|ri:rt' & Bankruptcy
or e s ct of Co|umbla
KEITH THOMAS, )
)
Petitioner, )
)
v. § civil A¢ti@n NO. ( )459
U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC )
HOLDER, et al. , \
)
Respondents. )
MEMORANDUM OPINION
This matter comes before the Court on review of petitioner’s application to proceed in
forma pauperis and his pro se petition for a writ of mandamus. The Court will grant the
application and deny the petition.
Petitioner is a prisoner currently incarcerated at the Salinas Valley State Prison in
Monterey, California. Pet. at 2. He alleges that he suffers from osteoarthritis and experiences
seeks constant pain. Notwithstanding enactment of the Califomia Compassionate Use Act of
1996, he states that prison officials refuse to allow him to obtain marijuana for medical use. Id.
Petitioner explains that the federal government classifies marijuana as a Schedule I controlled
substance. Ia’. at 3. If marijuana were reclassified, he claims that he could obtain marijuana from
a marijuana dispensary without placing the dispensary at risk of seizure or confiscation of its
products by federal authorities. Ia’. at 4.
Petitioner alleges that respondent has the authority to remove marijuana from Schedule I
and has abused his discretion by failing to reclassify marijuana. Ia'. at 5. Further, petitioner
argues that respondent refuses to comply with Califomia law which authorizes the medical use of
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marijuana. Ia'. at 6. In these ways, respondent allegedly interferes with petitioner’s medical
treatment, id., and displays a deliberate indifference to petitioner’s serious medical needs, ia’. at
6. Petitioner seeks a writ of mandamus directing the Attorney General of the United States to
remove marijuana from Schedule l. Id.
Mandamus relief is proper only if "(l) the plaintiff has a clear right to relief; (2) the
defendant has a clear duty to act; and (3) there is no other adequate remedy available to plaintiff."
Council ofandfor the Blind ofDelaware County Valley v. Regan, 709 F.2d 1521, 1533 (D.C.
Cir. 1983) (en banc). The party seeking mandamus has the "burden of showing that [his] right to
537
issuance of the writ is ‘clear and indisputable. Gu%tream Aerospace Corp. v. Mayacamas
Corp., 485 U.S. 271, 289 (1988) (citing Bankers Lzfe & Cas. C0. v. Holland, 346 U.S. 379, 384
(l953)). Petitioner does not establish any of these elements.
Petitioner himself states that respondent has the discretion to reclassify a controlled
substance, and where the action petitioner seeks to compel is discretionary, he has no clear right
to relief and mandamus therefore is not an appropriate remedy. See, e.g., Heckler v. Ringer, 466
U.S. 602, 616 (1984). Moreover, petitioner neither establish that respondent has a clear duty to
act nor that he has no adequate remedy at law. Accordingly, the Court will deny the mandamus
petition.
An Order consistent with this l\/Iemor '/
same date. ‘
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/
United States District Judge
ill be issued separately on this