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U.S. Relaxes Opposition To Medical Marijuana
Posted by CN Staff on October 19, 2009 at 14:22:20 PT
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay Reporter
Source: U.S. News & World Report
Washington, D.C. -- -- The Obama administration has decided it will no longer prosecute medical marijuana users or suppliers, provided they obey the laws of states that allow use of the drug for medicinal purposes. The new guidelines, which were to be sent in a Justice Department memo to federal prosecutors on Monday, are designed to give priorities to U.S. Attorneys who are pursuing drug offenders.
"As a general matter, pursuit of these priorities should not focus federal resources in your states on individuals whose actions are in clear and unambiguous compliance with existing state laws providing for the medical use of marijuana," the memo states.During his campaign, President Barack Obama promised to change the government's policy on the use of medical marijuana in those states that allow it. The administration of President George W. Bush had opposed the use of marijuana as medicine."This is a huge victory for medical marijuana patients," Steph Sherer, executive director of Americans for Safe Access, a nationwide medical marijuana advocacy organization, said in a prepared statement. "This indicates that President Obama intends to keep his promise not to undermine state medical marijuana laws and represents a significant departure from the policies of the Bush Administration," Sherer added. "We will continue to work with President Obama, the Justice Department and the U.S. Congress to establish a comprehensive national policy, but it's good to know that in the meantime, states can implement medical marijuana laws without interference from the federal government."Allen St. Pierre, executive director of NORML, a group that seeks the legalization of marijuana, said: "The federal government, to some degree, has said 'uncle' in acknowledging both the medical utility of cannabis and acknowledging that there is some clear place in the law for states to have the autonomy to allow for marijuana to be used and, quite logically, that there be a source for it."Currently, 14 states allow use of marijuana for medical purposes: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington, according to the Associated Press.Proponents of medical marijuana contend the drug effectively treats chronic pain and nausea from a variety of diseases and disorders, including cancer and glaucoma.According to the Justice Department memo, "prosecution of individuals with cancer or other serious illnesses who use marijuana as part of a recommended treatment regimen consistent with applicable state law, or those caregivers in clear and unambiguous compliance with existing state law who provide such individuals with marijuana, is unlikely to be an efficient use of limited federal resources." But, the memo adds, the federal government will prosecute people who use medical marijuana as a cover for other illegal activities. The memo warns that "some suspects may hide old-fashioned drug dealing or other crimes behind a medical marijuana business."The memo, written by Deputy Attorney General David Ogden, urges federal prosecutors to pursue marijuana cases that involve violence, the illegal use of guns, selling marijuana to minors, money laundering and other crimes.And, the memo does not rule out the federal government prosecuting someone whose activities are allowed under state law.The memo notes that efforts should focus on prosecution of significant marijuana traffickers. "Marijuana distribution in the United States remains the single largest source of revenue for the Mexican cartels," the memo states.The new policy is not without its critics, including some federal lawmakers who see it as a weakening in the war against Mexican drug cartels, the AP said."We cannot hope to eradicate the drug trade if we do not first address the cash cow for most drug trafficking organizations -- marijuana," said Rep. Lamar Smith of Texas, the ranking Republican on the House Judiciary Committee. One health expert said the policy change was good, noting concerns about marijuana should be based on science and not the fear that any drug will be abused."I was never sure why there was an issue," said Kenneth W. Goodman, a professor of medicine at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, and co-director of the university's ethics programs. "We have a long track record about making judgments about drugs based on research.""My view has always been whether you should use opiates or aspirin or antibiotics or marijuana or anything depends on the research," he said. "If there is evidence that shows that something works and it's controlled by physicians, then what's the problem?"Note: Prosecutors will no longer go after users or suppliers in states that permit use of the drug.Source: U.S. News & World Report (US)Author: Steven Reinberg, HealthDay ReporterPublished: Monday, October 19, 2009Copyright: 2009 U.S. News & World ReportWebsite: http://www.usnews.com/Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/gfkqitBTURL: http://drugsense.org/url/7AThvhX4CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #20 posted by Had Enough on February 22, 2010 at 20:34:30 PT
Error correction...
Error correction...That last post I made was supposed to have been on another thread...please forgive my error..Check the datesShould have been here...which it is...http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/25/thread25440.shtmlFoM...you can zap this post and comment 19 if you care to. It will help clean up the thread...
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Comment #19 posted by Had Enough on February 22, 2010 at 20:24:08 PT
Hope
Check this out...runruff told the judge things we posted about...cool...very cool...Go to comment 16...http://cannabisnews.com/news/25/thread25075.shtmlIt seems the things we post here can go right up to the federal arena, and make a difference in the outcome of some things...cool...That other hateful & evil spirited judge, who sentenced runruff to prison, could learn a lot from the judge he saw today. But she probably couldn’t recognize the compassion if it was staring her in the face.
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Comment #18 posted by Had Enough on October 20, 2009 at 09:20:12 PT
Hope
It sure does fit runnruff...At the same time...that tune is about all the runruffs of the world...There were...and are...too many brothers and sisters that fell to that fate...with more to come...For the simple fact of enjoying what the creator provided for us...Very unjust...
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Comment #17 posted by Hope on October 20, 2009 at 08:15:29 PT
Had Enough Comment 15
Thank you.That song is about Runruff!
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Comment #16 posted by Hope on October 20, 2009 at 07:59:37 PT
Runruff
This is just has to apply to your case!This is an excerpt from an article that Had Enough posted on another thread.It's about you, seems to me like!"In a memo sent to US Attorneys, the DEA and FBI, the Justice Department laid out its intentions on prosecuting medical marijuana patients as though they “should not focus federal resources in [states with Medical Marijuana laws] on individuals whose actions are in clear and unambiguous compliance with existing state laws providing for the medical use of marijuana.”
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Comment #15 posted by Had Enough on October 20, 2009 at 07:54:43 PT
Runruff
While you were in the feds crossbar hotel, I used to have the bands at the local watering hole play “Inside Looking Out” by Grand Funk Railroad, dedicated to Runruff...One band knew me by sight...and remembered...They dedicated the song to a brother and gardener in federal prison. The last time I saw them I told them you were out...their response was “were glad he is home”...and they played the tune again.Grand Funk Railroad - Inside Looking Out 1969http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x6chChxzV0Lyrics:http://www.lyricsfreak.com/g/grand+funk+railroad/inside+looking+out_20062122.html
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Comment #14 posted by Hope on October 20, 2009 at 07:53:17 PT
Comment 2
That guy from Texas. (Ugh) Lamar Smith is the ranking member on the House Judiciary Committee. He's a practicing Christian Scientist, as well. (Ugh)Here's a blurb from Wickipedia of the committees and such he's on. (Ugh)"Committee on Homeland Security Committee on the Judiciary (Ranking Member) As Ranking Member of the full committee, Rep. Smith may serve as an ex officio member of all subcommittees. Committee on Science and Technology"---------------------------------------------------------He makes me think of that bit of Biblical verse that says something to the effect of "Their throats are like open graves".At the very least he's set himself up to be a seriously nasty pothole in our road to freedom.
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Comment #13 posted by Hope on October 20, 2009 at 07:37:55 PT
And...
If that hateful judge is still around... please send her a lovely photograph of you and Linda together for your next wedding anniversary.Title it something like "Because of your profound interest in our marriage", "Another Anniversary", and "Absence really did make the heart grow even fonder".
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Comment #12 posted by FoM on October 20, 2009 at 07:27:45 PT
runruff
It's true. What happened to you and Linda was terrible and deeply moved Stick and me.
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Comment #11 posted by runruff on October 20, 2009 at 06:46:45 PT
FoM
You sent a wave of emotion through me when I read that. My, to be special to someone and someone as special as you to boot, is a blessing I will take to heart and my Dear Wife says so too!
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Comment #10 posted by Had Enough on October 20, 2009 at 06:44:06 PT
??????
How is Marinol illegal under federal law???I think this PO needs to get a better source of information.
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Comment #9 posted by Hope on October 19, 2009 at 21:12:44 PT
Runruff
Of course we're interested!Your post last week was terrible and I've been wondering if you'd heard anything from them.Seems like this memo today ought to have some effect on the way they are staying on your back. Haven't they spent enough money on persecuting you for medicinal cannabis yet?I'm also alarmed at what your parole officer doesn't know about what's legal and what's illegal.He needs to pay attention to the justice department's memo for today. He's a federal employee and he's drawing a wage for persecuting a medicinal marijuana patient on a federal level.
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on October 19, 2009 at 20:01:12 PT
runruff
Of course we are interested. You and Linda are very special to me.
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Comment #7 posted by runruff on October 19, 2009 at 19:42:55 PT
My PO.
Last week my PO said I could not use cannabis for my glaucoma condition and that Marinol is also illegal under federal law.If You all are interested I will keep you posted on this ongoing saga?
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on October 19, 2009 at 18:00:28 PT
The GCW
It is a Republican nightmare but that's ok with me. We've waited a long time for this to happen and I am totally enjoying what Obama did today. No one will rain on my parade! LOL!
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Comment #5 posted by The GCW on October 19, 2009 at 17:49:42 PT
Progress: Republican's nightmare.
(Although not all republican's oppose this progress)US CO: Feds issue new medical marijuana policy
Webpage: http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20091019/NEWS/910199997/1078&ParentProfile=1055Pubdate: 19 Oct 2009Source: Summit Daily News (CO)WASHINGTON — Pot-smoking patients or their sanctioned suppliers should not be targeted for federal prosecution in states that allow medical marijuana, prosecutors were told Monday in a new policy memo issued by the Justice Department.Under the policy spelled out in a three-page legal memo, federal prosecutors are being told it is not a good use of their time to arrest people who use or provide medical marijuana in strict compliance with state law.The guidelines issued by the department do, however, make it clear that federal agents will go after people whose marijuana distribution goes beyond what is permitted under state law or use medical marijuana as a cover for other crimes.Cont.
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on October 19, 2009 at 17:23:44 PT
Katie Couric's Notebook: Medical Marijuana
Video: http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/10/19/couricandco/entry5399168.shtml
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on October 19, 2009 at 16:00:20 PT
More News From Reuters
Arizona Medical Marijuana Policy Project, Sponsors of 2010 Medical Marijuana Ballot Initiative in Arizona, Cheer Obama Administration ActionOctober 19, 2009URL: http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS187749+19-Oct-2009+PRN20091019
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on October 19, 2009 at 15:56:51 PT
NBC and ABC Nightly News
I was able to catch both of these news channels and the reports were good. Some Texas Congressman or Senator was angry about it but other then him the reports were fine. We're on a roll.
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Comment #1 posted by HempWorld on October 19, 2009 at 14:56:51 PT
Yeah, right, here we go again ...
Fighting marijuana will bring the cartels down. (not)Fighting medical marijuana will also fight the cartels, after all aren't they the ones supplying the dispensaries? (not)And then there is Lamar Smith: "We cannot hope to eradicate the drug trade if we do not first address the cash cow for most drug trafficking organizations -- marijuana,"And how exactly do you plan to 'eradicate' the 'drug trade' after failing for over 70 years? Just like alcohol was 'eradicated'?Why can't some people let go of their irrational utopias that can NEVER be attained. And why do we let these people with these ideas continue to influence and rule our reality and our lives?Mr. Lamar has it not occurred to you that marijuana is valuable because it is illegal?
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