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Medical Marijuana Raids in Montana Stun Advocates
Posted by CN Staff on March 17, 2011 at 19:25:14 PT
By John S. Adams, USA Today
Source: USA Today
Great Falls, Mont. -- Federal agencies conducted 26 raids on medical marijuana facilities in 13 Montana cities this week, as agents seized thousands of marijuana plants and froze about $4 million in bank funds.The raids stunned medical marijuana advocates, many of whom believed the Obama administration's policy was to leave states with medical marijuana laws alone.
That belief stemmed from Attorney General Eric Holder's announcement in October 2009 that the pursuit of "individuals whose actions are in clear and unambiguous compliance" with existing state medical marijuana laws would be the lowest priority of U.S. law enforcement."I think most everybody believed the directive from the Justice Department was that no priority would be given to utilizing Justice Department resources in going after medical marijuana operations if local authorities believed they were operating legally under state law," said Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the New York-based Drug Policy Alliance.Montana U.S. Attorney Michael Cotter said there was "probable cause that the premises were involved in illegal and large-scale trafficking of marijuana.""When criminal networks violate federal laws, those involved will be prosecuted," he said.While 15 states have legalized some form of medical marijuana use, the federal government still considers the drug an illegal controlled substance with a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use. Snipped Complete Article: http://drugsense.org/url/vphD2aanSource: USA Today (US) Author: John S. Adams, USA TodayPublished: March 18, 2011Copyright: 2011 USA Today, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.Contact: editor usatoday.comWebsite: http://www.usatoday.com/CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #35 posted by Hope on March 20, 2011 at 19:21:26 PT
Comment 33
At least they didn't kill anyone.Yet.
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Comment #34 posted by Storm Crow on March 20, 2011 at 12:49:14 PT
Paul.......
I totally agree- and Montana is supplying the evidence with the raids there!
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Comment #33 posted by Paul Pot on March 20, 2011 at 02:14:04 PT
Wounded beast reaction.
This is the wounded beast reaction. The wounded animal is at it's most dangerous when it is cornered and with prohibition in it's death throws these guys are freaking out trying to prevent the inevitable. So watch out everyone, things could get worse before they get better cause these guys could go rabid before it's all over.
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Comment #32 posted by The GCW on March 19, 2011 at 13:57:31 PT
The Feds vs. The Ecologician
The Feds also must know Colorado is very likely, almost certainly going to put full legalization on the 2012 ballot. They must be aware that if they attack the med cannabis situation in Colo. that their actions will surely help get more support to pass that ballot question. As We've seen the Seattle Times editorialize in favor of cannabis, The Denver Post will speak in favor of the God-given plant even more if the Feds dirty a diaper in Colorado.And either way, I predict Colorado will vote to end the IGNOIDS cannabis prohibition.
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Comment #31 posted by josephlacerenza on March 19, 2011 at 07:10:14 PT
Colorado.... That will be the TEST!!!
If you see the Feds go into Colorado, then we will know they are serious!! Coloradans have the RIGHT to use medical marijuana, as part of their state's constitution. The Feds would be playing right into our hands!! If you review the supreme court cases regarding MMJ, you will discover that the REAL question is interstate commerce. It was stated by the dissenting arguments in one case, that the Government has the right to regulate INTERstate commerce, and not INTRAstate commerce!!The Feds, by going after Coloradans, would be putting a state's right's up against the FEDS!!! This would be a fight I would LOVE to see!!!
Colodado Medical Marijuana Law
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Comment #30 posted by FoM on March 19, 2011 at 05:58:21 PT
The GCW
You said: We'll see. If the Fed Heads don't mess with Colorado then what's going on in Montana makes people wonder.It makes me wonder too.
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Comment #29 posted by The GCW on March 19, 2011 at 05:09:59 PT
Sam Adams, about the WILD West,
We'll see. If the Fed Heads don't mess with Colorado then what's going on in Montana makes people wonder.That tax money stacking up in Colo. is getting to be another "14'er"I think there is a constant struggle with ignoids trying to fight to keep citizens from touching the superplant. But were making progress always.This whole Montana thing can only help Us, it will not do much to increase the effort to exterminate cannabis. -After all, what's really making national news is that the majority in Montana voted to legalize cannabis for sick citizens and government is ignoring that domocratic process. -Of course there is 2 issues here; allowing sick folks to use the God-given plant and stopping dispensaries from selling it.
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Comment #28 posted by FoM on March 18, 2011 at 19:38:44 PT
herbdoc215
I agree that protests help.
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Comment #27 posted by herbdoc215 on March 18, 2011 at 18:35:02 PT
Just in case anybody wanted to know
This is how you stand up for your rights!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heze0JY1HxE&feature=channel_video_title
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Comment #26 posted by FoM on March 18, 2011 at 15:17:47 PT
Illegal Activity Hurting MMJ Argument
Illegal Activity Hurting Medical Marijuana Argument URL: http://www.nbcmontana.com/news/27234987/detail.html
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Comment #25 posted by FoM on March 18, 2011 at 12:26:59 PT
herbdoc215
I don't remember which forum but they have talked about medical marijuana. One person I have talked to is very open about medical marijuana use since he lives in Washington state.
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Comment #24 posted by herbdoc215 on March 18, 2011 at 12:20:35 PT
FoM, thanks and i'll be sure and check
it out as we are always looking for ways to reach out to vets that need help and direct them to it were it is available and there is never enough places to contact them as we are a spread out group that ends to shy away from society for awhile after service it seems??? Thanks and Peace, Steve
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Comment #23 posted by FoM on March 18, 2011 at 12:17:43 PT
herbdoc215
Since it's a very large forum I was trying to make it easier for you to find. They have lots of other forums for other Veterans.
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Comment #22 posted by herbdoc215 on March 18, 2011 at 12:14:38 PT
FoM,
who else but Vietnam Vets would be in an agent orange support group as it wasn't used in any other conflict I know of? peace, Steve
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Comment #21 posted by herbdoc215 on March 18, 2011 at 12:10:51 PT
He never said it my eye, I've seen the video's
saying he would stop the raids against sick folks...why else did Holders press conference that day state "what we said on the campaign trail will be what we use for policy" and then declare states with medical off-limits? Why don' the states themselves prosecute the people who were supposedly doing wrong themselves instead of bringing in feds and forfeiture people if this wasn't a set-up. What the DEA is doing now amounts to terror against sick people and there is now other way to say it in my book? I just pray this will be the step too far I've been waiting for so I can finally get my life back together and quit having to move with the swans? Peace, Steve
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Comment #20 posted by FoM on March 18, 2011 at 12:05:24 PT
herbdoc215
You should check out the Agent Orange Forum on the Veterans Benefit Network. I have only seen a few that are unhappy. The majority are pleased with how this is going.PS: I have been able to sort it out too. Most that complain are diehard Republicans and just hate Obama.
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Comment #19 posted by herbdoc215 on March 18, 2011 at 11:59:45 PT
Bgreen,He has done more for our Vietnam Veterans
than any other has so far and for that we all thank God as it was way overdue but a lot of the Vet groups I belong to would strongly disagree with your prior statement as today's vets and others are getting the shaft now in this depression and budget crap as well as the wars and Gitmo/torture keep grinding on as evidenced so aptly by wiki-leaks recently??? I was also a resident of Walter Reed for way over a year under Repugs and it was spotless and world class and saved my life...now read what a shit-hole it's become??? Peace, Steve
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Comment #18 posted by FoM on March 18, 2011 at 11:51:35 PT
BGreen
I will not apologize for how I feel about Obama. He is doing so much good for Vietnam Veterans and even is allowing Veterans to use medical cannabis in the states that have a medical marijuana law. The care my husband has received under the Obama Administration has been great. Obama isn't a dictator so change must come thru work and activism the way it has been done for years. I agree with you by the way.
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Comment #17 posted by schmeff on March 18, 2011 at 11:45:21 PT
A Prayer
Dear Justice Department, and DEA
I pray for a tsunami to come your way.
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Comment #16 posted by BGreen on March 18, 2011 at 11:32:56 PT
I hadn't even read your post, Steve
I was sort of replying to comment #2.Obama has done so much good in a lot of areas. He has done more for our Veterans than ANY republican that ever held the office. We are NOT in the huge depression we thought was coming. There is so much good, just not concerning cannabis, but he never said he would in the first place. That's what I want people to remember.Peace, brother Steve.The Reverend Bud Green
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Comment #15 posted by Storm Crow on March 18, 2011 at 11:32:41 PT
Logically, cannabis should be de-scheduled..
If we place it with equally "harmful" drugs and herbs! Having an virtually impossible to reach LD-50, the most remarkable safety record in all of recorded medical history (zero overdose fatalities and mild, often pleasant, side effects) and being less addictive than coffee, alcohol or tobacco, placing cannabis in Schedule 2 is still ridiculous! Cannabis should be de-scheduled so it is right along-side of the ginseng and goldenseal at the herb shop- where it belongs! Baby-steps toward full legalization are OK, but this is so medically clear that is is a "no-brainer"!
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Comment #14 posted by BGreen on March 18, 2011 at 11:26:09 PT
LGBT versus Cannabis
I honestly never thought that the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community would begin to see freedom in this country. There is more venom spewed towards the LGBT community than any other group or race but we are beginning to see these citizens finally treated as humans.I guarantee you that the hatred is not over and it's going to get really nasty in the near future. The attacks on the LGBT community will increase exponentially in the coming months due to the elections.Our fight is no different. It's a culture war, with no merit, based on hatred. It's my belief that the war against the LGBT community would be much harder to end if they were arrestable and propped up the entire prison-industrial complex as does the cannabis community.None of these phony "culture" or "moral" issues has merit or a place in a just society. We WILL win!The Reverend Bud Green
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Comment #13 posted by herbdoc215 on March 18, 2011 at 11:21:14 PT
Also the vote in MT that pissed LEO of so bad
Was bipartisan and surprised me as well but medical cannabis is an issue that cuts across all ideologies so I believe we should stop with all this left/right crap and see this for what it is...a class war between rich industrialist and normal people as Wi should be showing all of us this! United we stand, divided we fall! Peace, Steve
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Comment #12 posted by herbdoc215 on March 18, 2011 at 11:16:12 PT
Bgreen, it was a joke bro
But I also ain't feeling Obama or Holder now after giving all these folks what amounted to a green light and now a bunch of people have their entire life savings wrapped up in businesses they thought was legal in these already desperate times...hell they got more cops overseeing clubs in Co than they do the real criminals. Obama has the power to end this now if he would just spend a little political capital on it, this vacillating just like he is doing on so many other issues is destroying normal hard working Americans who were only trying to help and pay their bills...and the lengths some will go to willfully not see Obama's faults at this reminds me of the other side not long ago??? Remember I voted for Obama so I feel that gives me a little room to complain? Peace, Steve
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Comment #11 posted by Sam Adams on March 18, 2011 at 11:11:57 PT
important thought
Perhaps we're going about this all the wrong way - perhaps this weeks news is actually GOOD.Why? I don't believe the feds did anything in Colorado, the state with the most dispensaries at 1,000+ and counting.Methinks the Colorado state govt. is busy counting their tax receipts and said "F-you" when the DEA called and asked to party in their state.It would appear that critical mass has been reached in Colorado. As I've said many times, the more un-regulate medical cannabis is, the better off we are. People were complaining about "chaos" in Colorado but in fact things have gone extremely well. The best way to get cannabis to the patients is the "Wild West" approach in Colorado.
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Comment #10 posted by Sam Adams on March 18, 2011 at 11:07:43 PT
"I feel betrayed by Obama........"
I felt betrayed by George Bush I and Clinton, it didn't last long, strongly advise you to check out the Libertarian Party or Greens....leave the "Big 2" in your rear view mirror forever....
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Comment #9 posted by BGreen on March 18, 2011 at 11:06:21 PT
Obama NEVER said he supported our cause
True, he's a huge hypocrite on the issue who used cannabis and knows we're right, and that's why we THOUGHT he would support our cause. He still might because he knows it's a lie but don't expect anything until after the 2012 elections.If you truly think the McCain/Palin ticket would have been better for America then I would be happy to debate that ludicrous hypothesis. Our Country would be so screwed up at this point that cannabis prohibition would be the least of our worries.I agree with the anger about the asinine state vs. federal law BS. We've all been a bunch of idiots to think we could give the government any control of cannabis whatsoever. They will only use that control to what??? CONTROL US!!!!The government has tried to exterminate not only the cannabis plant but also every single cannabis partaker for almost a century. They hate us! We can't trust them. Look at reality. We finally get the voters to approve that which I've been fighting for for over 35 years, yet the disingenuous bastards turn right around at their first opportunity and overrule the voters.Just watch how bad it's going to get, even with Obama in the White House. If you really want to see evil at work, give us a republican controlled government again and we will have hell on earth!The Reverend Bud Green
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Comment #8 posted by herbdoc215 on March 18, 2011 at 10:59:15 PT
I guess the crazy red-neck in Chehalis,Wa
Was right as he has a trailer business next to I5 and always has the craziest crap on his signs...last election it read as thus...I'll keep my God, Gold, and Guns and you can have your hope and change?
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on March 18, 2011 at 10:58:13 PT
Joseph
Then it should be legalized for adults.
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Comment #6 posted by josephlacerenza on March 18, 2011 at 10:57:16 PT
Or, FoM it needs to be moved to Schedule V
It needs to be moved to the lowest schedule, 5!!!Wiki CSA Scheduling:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controlled_Substances_Act#Schedule_V_controlled_substances
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Comment #5 posted by josephlacerenza on March 18, 2011 at 10:48:58 PT
Schedule 1 and Cannabis
Just because they move cannabis from 1 to 2, and it is able to be prescribed, does not mean it will be. Sativex, the whole plant isolate spray, it is EXPENSIVE!!! YOU CAN NOT MANUFACTURE, DISTRIBUTE, or even USE a schedule 2 narcotic without a prescription!!A patient dying, in pain, CAN do all those things they could not do with cannabis being a schedule 2. There in lies the the REAL beauty of this "medical marijuana" "thing", people treating themselves by their own hands !!! Yes, more research could be done. But, it will not be by me. How can I compete with Merk, Eli, any BIG PHARMA.... "They" will control the research, who gets the "medicine", the price. "They" will hold patents, like our government currently does on THC!!! U.S. THC Patent!!!
http://tinyurl.com/6hwwmtMoving cannabis from 1 to 2 will destroy what we have been fighting for, people treating themselves in a method that fits with them. These arguments about choice in health care providers etc, what B.S.!!! What we are at risk of loosing is OUR CHOICE to HEAL ourselves. Or, who we want to HEAL us. WE ARE LOOSING THAT BATTLE!!! It has been turned into a game of highest profits!! First, do no harm!!!! We have been fighting to have cannabis acknowledged as MEDICINE. We have proven it IS, and not only that, it is SAFER than ASPIRIN!!! But if we move it, we run the risk of taking it out of our hands, and handing it over to BIG PHARMA!!! That's my two cents FoM....
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on March 18, 2011 at 08:40:29 PT
Just a Comment
Ever since dispensaries have been popping up in some states I have wondered how they don't seem to get in trouble. Hopefully now we will see more movement trying to get cannabis out of Schedule I.
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Comment #3 posted by runruff on March 18, 2011 at 07:55:54 PT
Desperate people make desperate decisions.
The DEA and the their handlers are feeling very threatened by the burgeoning cannabis businesses sprouting up every where. The general populace is not at all concerned. With 80% now behind mmj and the % is rising in those believing we have the right to choose cannabis for any reason what-so-ever.I saw a debate on TV between Dennis Peron and one of the DuPonts. DuPont said that America would never accept mmj in it's primitive form and America would never accept medicine in a smoked delivery system. These were just hopeful thinking on his part, as you can see. Cannabis is mainstream now and the DEA and their handlers are completely out of the loop. They have no other recourse except to go back to the heavy handed tactics of the 80's and 90's which did not work then and they had public opinion on their side in those days. Now with public opinion firmly on our side these actions are akin to the DEA Agent who shot himself in the foot. This was a metaphor for the entire organization. Count on them to do the wrong thing. Count on them to SHOOT THEMSELVES IN THE FOOT!
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Comment #2 posted by An Adult on March 18, 2011 at 06:55:13 PT:
What a bunch of BS
I feel totally betrayed by the Obama administration, and I was one of the fools who believed that he'd be different. It would be like having a state cop waive traffic through a red light as people leave a large sporting event or concert--only to have a federal cop throw you in jail for running the red light that the state cop waived you through.The blatant ignorance of our elected officials shouldn't shock me anymore, but it still does.
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Comment #1 posted by MsRagerr on March 17, 2011 at 21:21:44 PT
Feds Threaten State Dispensaries Nationwide
Feds Threaten State Dispensaries NationwideRead the Department of Justice’s “Haag Memo” here:
http://www.cannabistherapyinstitute.com/legal/feds/doj.haag.memo.pdfIn a little-publicized memo, the federal government has indicated that the
gloves are off with regards to medical marijuana dispensaries, “regardless
of state laws.” Previous memos had indicated a loosening of federal
prosecutions of medical marijuana, however the new memo states very clearly
that the feds consider all dispensaries illegal under federal law and that
their prosecution is a “core priority” of the feds.The “Haag Memo” was written on Feb. 1, 2011 from United States Attorney
Melinda Haag (Northern District of California) to John A. Russo, Esq.,
Oakland City Attorney, in response to an Oakland City Council request for
guidance regarding medical marijuana and federal law. The memo was written
with consultation and approval from U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.The “Haag Memo” clarifies the “Ogden Memo”, which was written by former
Deputy Attorney General David W. Ogden on Oct. 19, 2009 for the Department
of Justice. The “Ogden Memo” seemed to indicate that the new Obama
administration would restrict federal prosecution of medical marijuana
providers in states that had medical marijuana laws. This was heralded by
many as giving them the green light to pursue medical marijuana activities,
as long as they were in compliance with state law.The “Haag Memo” clears up that misconception with some very unambiguous
statements. The memo says clearly that the feds will not look the other way
on medical marijuana. The “Haag Memo” states very clearly that the feds
will continue to investigate, arrest and prosecute medical marijuana
dispensaries in every state “regardless of state laws.”In addition, the memo calls prosecuting medical marijuana dispensaries a
“core priority” for the feds.According to the memo, medical marijuana commercial activity is still
considered by the Department of Justice to be “a violation of federal law
regardless of state laws permitting such activities.”The memo may be the cause of the recent increase in federal raids at
medical marijuana dispensaries. Only 4 days after the memo was issued, the
DEA raided 4 dispensaries in California Just this week, the DEA raided
more dispensaries in California and Montana. They arrested dozens of
people, and seized the assets and bank accounts of several dispensaries.Cont.
http://www.jackherer.com/archives/feds-threaten-state-dispensaries-nationwide/
Feds Threaten State Dispensaries Nationwide
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