It’s particularly bad for California, but news that the federal government is moving in to shut down medical marijuana dispensaries in the Golden State could well have an impact in the District of Columbia.

The Los Angeles Times reported yesterday that four U.S. attorneys in California sent letters to at least 16 landlords throughout the state, warning them that if they didn’t shut down marijuana dispensaries within 45 days, their property could be seized and they could face criminal charges. The move is part of the Obama administration’s new, aggressive stance against medical marijuana programs in 16 states and the District; earlier this year, a Department of Justice memo ominously warned that despite what local legislatures say, growing and dispensing marijuana is a still a federal offense.

The timing couldn’t really be worse — last week, the District closed the application process for the 10 cultivation centers that will grow medical marijuana, and applications for the five dispensaries that will distribute it to qualifying patients will follow. All applicants for licenses were forced to sign legal waivers in which they absolve the District of any potential losses and admit that they know they’re breaking federal law by growing or dispensing marijuana; the California threats are the worst fears of just about anyone thinking of sinking money into opening a cultivation center or dispensary locally. Moreover, local landlords with space to rent may think twice now before considering leasing to a medical marijuana entrepreneur — their property could be on the hook should the feds come down on D.C. like they have in California.

On the other hand, California’s medical marijuana program is much larger than what the District has planned for, and U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Ron Machen has yet to indicate that he’s unhappy with how the city’s program has proceeded along.

In related news:

>> The Internal Revenue Service ruled this week that medical marijuana dispensaries and cultivation centers can’t deduct standard business expenses since, well, marijuana remains illegal to the feds.

>> NBC4 reports that Maryland’s health secretary has proposed allowing state universities to study the impact of marijuana on patients. In August, an 18-person state-appointed board started looking into the possibility of legalizing medical marijuana, while in April a law allowing an “affirmative defense” of medical necessity for people caught with marijuana was passed.

>> Finally, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms said this week that people who use marijuana for medicinal reasons are not legally allowed to purchase firearms.