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Obama Issues New Medical Marijuana Policy

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Sledge Advanced Member

Sledge

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Obama Issues New Medical Marijuana Policy

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Obama administration will not seek to arrest medical marijuana users and suppliers as long as they conform to state laws, under new policy guidelines to be sent to federal prosecutors Monday.

 

Two Justice Department officials described the new policy to The Associated Press, saying prosecutors will be told it is not a good use of their time to arrest people who use or provide medical marijuana in strict compliance with state laws.

 

The new policy is a significant departure from the Bush administration, which insisted it would continue to enforce federal anti-pot laws regardless of state codes.

 

Fourteen states allow some use of marijuana for medical purposes: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.

 

California is unique among those for the presence of dispensaries — businesses that sell marijuana and even advertise their services.

 

Attorney General Eric Holder said in March that he wanted federal law enforcement officials to pursue those who violate both federal and state law, but it has not been clear how that goal would be put into practice.

 

A 3-page memo spelling out the policy is expected to be sent Monday to federal prosecutors in the 14 states, and also to top officials at the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

 

The memo, the officials said, emphasizes that prosecutors have wide discretion in choosing which cases to pursue, and says it is not a good use of federal manpower to prosecute those who are without a doubt in compliance with state law.

 

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the legal guidance before it is issued.

 

At the same time, the officials said, the government will still prosecute those who use medical marijuana as a cover for other illegal activity. The memo particularly warns that some suspects may hide old-fashioned drug dealing or other crimes behind a medical marijuana business.

 

In particular, the memo urges prosecutors to pursue marijuana cases which involve violence, the illegal use of firearms, selling pot to minors, money laundering or other crimes.

 

And while the policy memo describes a change in priorities away from prosecuting medical marijuana cases, it does not rule out the possibility that the federal government could still prosecute someone whose activities are allowed under state law.

 

The memo, officials said, is designed to give a sense of prosecutorial priorities to U.S. Attorneys in the states that allow medical marijuana. It notes that pot sales in the United States are the largest source of money for violent Mexican drug cartels, but adds that federal law enforcement agencies have limited resources.

 

Medical marijuana advocates have been anxious to see exactly how the administration would implement candidate Barack Obama's repeated promises to change the policy in situations in which state laws allow the use of medical marijuana.

 

Shortly after Obama took office, DEA agents raided four dispensaries in Los Angeles, prompting confusion about the government's plans.

 

 

http://www.kdvr.com/...bama-policy-txt,0,7302564.story

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On the Net:

 

Drug Enforcement Administration: http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/

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mizerman Advanced Member

mizerman

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It posted the topic twice for some reason

Thank you very much for sharing this article with us. I finally figured out how to find the original article and post on my Facebook page.

 

Might have been the herbal tailgating before the Craig Ferguson show...LOL

 

Great news! Great news! (So, would this mean that the case the DEA was involved with recently up in Saginaw will be dropped/dismissed? I sure hope so!

 

FREE THE TREE!

 

How many more empty storefronts do we have to have before the numbskulls in charge (politicians) simply wake up to the fact that marijuana will provide jobs to people, taxes for individual townships, villages, cities, counties, and the State of Michigan?

 

Remember the slogan Clinton used in the 1992 campaign against Goober's dad? It's about the economy, stupid!

 

Well, it's about the economy...again. Just saw that our own "Governor Avon Lady" - (Granholm) said today that we had hit rock bottom. Well, I beg to differ. This state is about to get much worse before it gets better. We all better hang on tight because it's going to be one hell of a ride!

 

Here's a thought:

 

Go to the original article and e-mail it to everyone in a position of power in the area you live in here in Michigan.

 

Then, send it to your local newspaper and ask them why it wasn't in their paper on Monday!!!??? Then, call your local television stations and ask them the same thing.

 

p.s. Craig Ferguson liked my Iolite B)

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LansingAreaCaregiver Advanced Member

LansingAreaCaregiver

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Not to be the bearer of bad news, but this is old news. This memo was issued to federal prosecutors several months ago, well before the raids in Saginaw. All that this does is directs Federal Prosecutors that prosecuting MM patients and caregivers is not a good use of federal resources. It doesn't tell them they can't. It doesn't tell the DEA and other federal agencies that they can't work with local law enforcement to raid and prosecute MM patients at the local level. It doesn't signal an official policy change, more of a recommendation as to where federal PA offices are to direct their resources.

 

Still, better than what we've had in the past, but certainly not an "all-clear" from DC.

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Silverblue Advanced Member

+Silverblue

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I thought I had read this before, now I know for sure I did, though it is a positive step. I think they're still afraid to do more, afraid of outright legalization. Whatever Obama says, whatever the law says, be careful, we still have a long way to go. The midterm elections will also be a deciding factor on how far we can go but we can't give up.

 

Silverblue

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welj31 Advanced Member

welj31

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Not to be the bearer of bad news, but this is old news. This memo was issued to federal prosecutors several months ago, well before the raids in Saginaw. All that this does is directs Federal Prosecutors that prosecuting MM patients and caregivers is not a good use of federal resources. It doesn't tell them they can't. It doesn't tell the DEA and other federal agencies that they can't work with local law enforcement to raid and prosecute MM patients at the local level. It doesn't signal an official policy change, more of a recommendation as to where federal PA offices are to direct their resources.

 

Still, better than what we've had in the past, but certainly not an "all-clear" from DC.

Yep old news and the Fed in MI has said he dont care he will enforce the law. He did however get a slap on the wrist last time with the Dan B. case.

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greenbuddha Advanced Member

greenbuddha

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Motox... right there with ya, Baby.

 

When it happens in Cal it'll move across the country and then the Federal government will HAVE to deal with it by either changing the anti-cannabis laws or sending out the 'troops'.

 

Which do you think they will do?

 

We have also got to remember to vote here in Michigan for pols that are open to 'cannabis', local, State and Federal.

 

(I knew this was old news but just couldn't bring myself to pop the bubble.)

 

Peace.

 

Thats how you win in tug-o-war, tiny steps till they collapse. I hope Cali legalizes it, that will be a huge step.

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