Obama Admin. Threatens To Prosecute State Employees...

[2d]

Obama admin. threatens to prosecute state employees who license medical marijuana dispensaries

 

>>A letter from the Department of Justice, sent yesterday to Washington state Gov. Chris Gregoire (D), warned of the potential for criminal prosecutions of state employees who engage in the production of medical marijuana, which is now legally sanctioned in the state.

 

The message would seem to stand in stark contrast to the Obama administration's claim that they would not prosecute medical marijuana dispensaries that were operating within a state that had legalized it.

 

Washington state's legislature did just that last week, approving a bill that would allow state employees to license growers and sellers of the product, as well as retail locations.

 

Reacting to the bill, Gov. Chris Gregoire wrote to Attorney General Eric Holder, requesting more information on how the federal government views the matter.

 

The DoJ's letter in response, written by Attorneys Jenny Durkan and Michael Ormsby, was nothing short of unambiguous.

 

"The prosecution of individuals and organizations involved in the trade of any illegal drugs and the disruption of drug trafficking organizations is a core priority of the Department," they replied. "This core priority includes prosecution of business enterprises that unlawfully market and sell marijuana."

 

The letter continued: "This [bill] would authorize conduct contrary to federal law and thus, would undermine the federal government's efforts to regulate the possession, manufacturing, and trafficking of controlled substances. Accordingly, the Department could consider civil and criminal legal remedies regarding those who set up marijuana growing facilities and dispensaries as they will be doing so in violation of federal law. Others who knowingly facilitate the actions of the licensees, including property owners, landlords, and financiers should also know that their conduct violates federal law. In addition, state employees who conducted activities mandated by the Washington legislative proposals would not be immune from liability under the CSA."

 

Gov. Gregoire said Friday that due to the department's response, she would not sign the medical marijuana bill.

 

The DoJ's policy, as stated to Gov. Gregoire, also applies to all marijuana sellers and government employees in those states as well.

 

So far, 15 states and the District of Columbia have licensed the production and sales of medical marijuana.

 

Read the full letter here (PDF).

http://www.thestranger.com/images/blogimages/2011/04/14/1302831694-usa_letter_4-14-2011.pdf

[h/t: The Stranger]<<

 

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/04/15/obama-admin-threatens-to-prosecute-state-employees-who-license-medical-marijuana-dispensaries/

[jimbojinx]

Obama admin. threatens to prosecute state employees who license medical marijuana dispensaries

 

>>A letter from the Department of Justice, sent yesterday to Washington state Gov. Chris Gregoire (D), warned of the potential for criminal prosecutions of state employees who engage in the production of medical marijuana, which is now legally sanctioned in the state.

 

The message would seem to stand in stark contrast to the Obama administration's claim that they would not prosecute medical marijuana dispensaries that were operating within a state that had legalized it.

 

Washington state's legislature did just that last week, approving a bill that would allow state employees to license growers and sellers of the product, as well as retail locations.

 

Reacting to the bill, Gov. Chris Gregoire wrote to Attorney General Eric Holder, requesting more information on how the federal government views the matter.

 

The DoJ's letter in response, written by Attorneys Jenny Durkan and Michael Ormsby, was nothing short of unambiguous.

 

"The prosecution of individuals and organizations involved in the trade of any illegal drugs and the disruption of drug trafficking organizations is a core priority of the Department," they replied. "This core priority includes prosecution of business enterprises that unlawfully market and sell marijuana."

 

The letter continued: "This [bill] would authorize conduct contrary to federal law and thus, would undermine the federal government's efforts to regulate the possession, manufacturing, and trafficking of controlled substances. Accordingly, the Department could consider civil and criminal legal remedies regarding those who set up marijuana growing facilities and dispensaries as they will be doing so in violation of federal law. Others who knowingly facilitate the actions of the licensees, including property owners, landlords, and financiers should also know that their conduct violates federal law. In addition, state employees who conducted activities mandated by the Washington legislative proposals would not be immune from liability under the CSA."

 

Gov. Gregoire said Friday that due to the department's response, she would not sign the medical marijuana bill.

 

The DoJ's policy, as stated to Gov. Gregoire, also applies to all marijuana sellers and government employees in those states as well.

 

So far, 15 states and the District of Columbia have licensed the production and sales of medical marijuana.

 

Read the full letter here (PDF).

http://www.thestranger.com/images/blogimages/2011/04/14/1302831694-usa_letter_4-14-2011.pdf

[h/t: The Stranger]<<

 

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/04/15/obama-admin-threatens-to-prosecute-state-employees-who-license-medical-marijuana-dispensaries/

 

Once again we see the hypocrisy of the Obama Administration !!

 

Here is another instance of Federal overreach !!

 

Our country is on its knees financially as Geithner and Bernanke destroy the US$ and our economy with the assistance of both Democrats and Republicans.

 

We are being converted into a third world nation and these clowns in the DofJ want to stamp out the ONE way in which a Patient can provide a little financial and medical security for himself and his family.

 

Would I be cynical in proposing that Obama is exploiting the MMJ issue in order to win points from Christian Conservatives and Law and order Moralists ??

 

I think not !

 

Dr. Jinx

[Zombiefied]

The letter continued: "This [bill] would authorize conduct contrary to federal law and thus, would undermine the federal government's efforts to regulate the possession, manufacturing, and trafficking of controlled substances.

 

 

Are you making whoopee serious? Really, Regulate is the word he chose? They dont regulate bunny muffin! If it was regulated, then my kids would not be able to go to the dealer down the road, be exposed to "hard drugs" and not get ID'd.... Regulation at its best....

[peanutbutter]

Clear and unambiguous compliance with state law.

 

According to the directive, State law is supposed to be the yardstick to measure federal action.

 

In this case federal law stopped the state law from even being put in place.

 

Since when does the government outweigh the people?

[Guest Happy Guy]

A letter from the Department of Justice, sent yesterday to Washington state Gov. Chris Gregoire (D), warned of the potential for criminal prosecutions of state employees who engage in the production of medical marijuana, which is now legally sanctioned in the state.

I believe this was taken out of context and was designed to stop large state sanctioned grows that supply illegal dispensaries. Grows like the 10 Kuipers proposed here.

[purklize]

"Change we can believe in"

 

Yeah sure, believe whatever you want, has no bearing on reality, huh?

[MORE COWBELL]

bump

[Kingdiamond]

Welcome to the united police states of america......

 

(What next total takeover by skynet?)

 

 

[phaquetoo]

I thouhgt ya'll voted for him? change, change change! even the jewish people of N.Y voted for him,,he is selling there home land down the river! when you people gonna realize that all politicaians are liars! why would any one beleive a politician? nobile peace prize?? for what?

 

Peace

FTW

Jim

[purklize]

Skynet Launched

[solabeirtan]

A convenient way for the Governor to cave and cover. If she was a decent Gov she would sign the bill, save the patients, who voted for the program.

 

Controlled substance ?, please . How much mileage can you get form a failed concept. Its called Cannabis and it is medicine.

[Guest Happy Guy]

I think they are telling states; "Back off, medical marijuana is not your cash cow."

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand that most patients are poor and the only deep pockets belong to the healthier, recreational crowd. So if states like Arizona, for example, want to set up expensive dispensaries as a monopoly they are really not helping patients, and at the same time, creating a diversion machine that only costs the federal government money paying for investigations. Think about that for a second. If this is true you will see a full frontal assault on Arizona when they get up and running. The same thing happened with alcohol prohibition. The feds kept steady pressure on the states to keep the new legal wine industry small and in the homes, NO PUBLIC SALES.

This was an attack on large scale suppliers of public sales ENCOURAGED BY THE STATE, that is hungry for revenue. This was a shot across their bow. Many that do not like Obama are quick to say it is an attack on MM patients, it could be a protection and in our best interests as patients to not have the state encouraging large commercial grows supplying dispensaries that serve no purpose for the cash strapped patients... other than making patients mules for the recreational market. Homey isn't stupid. He's watching The Big Picture and trying to shape medical marijuana into something sustainable, good for patients, and doesn't cost a ton of money in investigations into diversion. The world is watching and we can't become the source of trouble with being a new huge cannabis supplier to the black market in the world, and at the same time, condemning it south of our border.

[nthlghts]

Once the legislature touches the law it is no longer a voter initiative, I do believe none of the voter approved laws covered dispensaries. Also if they allow the states to set up these dispensaries, the feds cant come in later and make money. We know they have approved medication development, a dispensary would kill the pharmaceutic angle.

[treehugger]

A convenient way for the Governor to cave and cover. If she was a decent Gov she would sign the bill, save the patients, who voted for the program.

 

Controlled substance ?, please . How much mileage can you get form a failed concept. Its called Cannabis and it is medicine.

 

 

Bingo! The Gov just wanted political cover, which they were more than happy to provide. (see John Yoo)