cannabisnews.com: Pot Policy: Feds Back Off, Now City Must Move In Pot Policy: Feds Back Off, Now City Must Move In Posted by CN Staff on March 24, 2009 at 09:50:52 PT Editorial Source: Los Angeles Daily News Los Angeles, CA -- Finally, the federal government is going to allow Californians to buy marijuana as a medication - 13 years after state voters approved it. Now, local and state governments must move quickly to come up with sane and practical regulations for medical marijuana dispensaries. Medical marijuana was approved for medicinal use in California after Proposition 215 was passed by voters in 1996. After that, dispensaries opened all over Los Angeles and enjoyed virtually no regulation by state or local government. The unchecked growth naturally led to abuses and to community concerns in places like North Hollywood, which has more than its fair share of dispensaries. As a result, in 2007, federal agents started raiding existing dispensaries and L.A. was forced to put a temporary halt on new ones. Last week, the new U.S. attorney general, Eric H. Holder Jr., announced new policy that would end raids of pot clinics that were acting legally under California law. Instead of harassing valid and legitimate clinics, Holder said, the feds will focus on prosecuting only egregious cases of selling to minors, selling to people without physicians' recommendations, or selling from an unauthorized place. That certainly makes sense as, unfortunately, there is a lot of abuse, which clouds matters for anyone who truly needs marijuana for its proven abilities to ease pain, nausea and other conditions without the side effects of prescription medications. Some marijuana clinics are pretty relaxed about requiring doctors' recommendations, and some are merely fronts for dealers. What this means in a practical sense is that the feds are bowing to the will of California and other states that have passed laws allowing sick people to use pot in violation of federal law. They don't have to; federal law trumps state law. The Bush administration took a hard-line approach to medical marijuana. In 2007, DEA agents swooped into Los Angeles and with the help of the Los Angeles Police Department raided a number of legitimate dispensaries. This seems ludicrous in the great scheme of things, considering the mild nature of marijuana compared with methamphetamine or crack. Experts say it is no more harmful than aspirin and far less dangerous than an addiction to, say, alcohol. The new attitude in the Justice Department is not a surprise, given assurances President Obama has made that medical marijuana clinics would be left alone. But the new attorney general has spelled out the policy nicely. Let's hope the message gets to federal prosecutors in California, who could make life difficult for even the most scrupulously honest clinic operator. Meanwhile, with the feds backing off it puts the onus on local officials to step in and make sure the marijuana dispensaries are operating within the letter and the spirit of the law. It's been almost two years since the Los Angeles City Council enacted a moratorium on new dispensaries in the city while officials craft a set of regulations. It's worrisome that these new rules are still in development, especially considering the moratorium will expire this year. We urge the City Council to put rules on medical marijuana dispensaries at the top of the agenda in coming months so that legitimate pot clinics need never be visited by another DEA raid.Source: Los Angeles Daily News (CA)Published: March 23, 2009Copyright: 2009 Los Angeles Newspaper GroupWebsite: http://www.dailynews.comURL: http://drugsense.org/url/ATIx8POIContact: http://www.dailynews.com/writealetterCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #7 posted by FoM on March 24, 2009 at 15:20:37 PT Just a Comment That did that somewhere in my state. The fine is higher so they can collect more revenue on a local level. They tried in around here but it didn't go through. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Hope on March 24, 2009 at 15:14:43 PT From Cheebs1 article "Two former state troopers and a civil liberties lawyer urged the city council to reject the increased fines, saying they were unnecessary and went against the will of voters."Must be a bunch of maroons on that city council. Can't tell a maroon anything. They can't see for the dollar marks clouding their inner vision. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Cheebs1 on March 24, 2009 at 15:03:11 PT: Time for Real Change http://news.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1160767It just doesn't seem to matter what the "people" want. The voters spoke loudly when they passed Issue 2 at the polls in November. Like always, the police, city councils, prosecutors, etc. were opposed to the will of the people. If you read the post you will find that some cities just don't care about the people in them. Other cities had discussed adding extra fines if people were caught smoking cannabis in public and or on public property but were discouraged by the governor that said changing the new law goes against what the people voted for.These "representatives" must have missed the memo and have been living under a rock since that statement was issued. They went ahead and are rewriting the ballot initiative that the people voted on. Mass. tried to change but apparently that isn't allowed by the current establishment. Maybe it's time for a real change. Don't just change the laws change the people that are supposed to be interpreting and enforcing those laws. The issue was passed unanimously, so I say they should all be recalled unanimously and a new city council put in place. Peace, Love, and Pot [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on March 24, 2009 at 14:52:32 PT Sam I think it's because marijuana is against federal law. Until we change the federal law they will have a say in state policy. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on March 24, 2009 at 14:51:03 PT OT: Ohio: News Article From The Plain Dealer Cleveland Relaxes Policy on Drug Arrests with Trace AmountsTrace amounts now bring misdemeanorsBy Mark Puente, Plain Dealer ReporterTuesday, March 24, 2009People busted with drug residue in pipes and syringes in Cleveland are no longer automatically charged as felons, bringing the city's policies in line with other urban areas throughout the state.Until two weeks ago, drug abusers faced felony possession charges if caught with trace amounts of drugs in a crack pipe or heroin syringe. They now face misdemeanor charges, which allows them to seek treatment through the Greater Cleveland Drug Court.URL: http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1237883634162930.xml&coll=2 [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Sam Adams on March 24, 2009 at 13:28:20 PT feds >>Last week, the new U.S. attorney general, Eric H. Holder Jr., announced new policy that would end raids of pot clinics that were acting legally under California law. Instead of harassing valid and legitimate clinics, Holder said, the feds will focus on prosecuting only egregious cases of selling to minors, selling to people without physicians' recommendations, or selling from an unauthorized place. This really begs the question, why are "the feds" doing anything in LA at all?Doesn't California and Los Angeles have enough taxes and enough police? California is the 8th largest economy in the world. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on March 24, 2009 at 09:59:37 PT OT: Columbus Dispatch Prosecutors Seek Elimination of Mandatory Prison for Some Drug OffendersTuesday, March 24, 2009 Ohio's county prosecutors are recommending major changes to state drug laws, including the elimination of mandatory prison sentences for trafficking and possession of chemicals for the manufacture of drugs, except in the most serious cases.Complete Article: http://drugsense.org/url/to6yu5eX [ Post Comment ] Post Comment