cannabisnews.com: Overgrown Pot Industry Must Be Wary of The Feds
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Overgrown Pot Industry Must Be Wary of The Feds
Posted by CN Staff on May 01, 2011 at 06:11:40 PT
Denver Post Editorial
Source: Denver Post
Denver -- The recent warning shots federal law enforcement authorities have fired over the explosion of medical marijuana in Colorado and several other states shouldn't really come as a surprise.Medical marijuana interests, including sympathizers at the statehouse, have taken too much liberty with the 2009 Department of Justice memo describing a relaxation of enforcement of federal drug laws when it comes to sick people smoking pot for relief.
The directive never was intended as a blank check. Unfortunately, that is how it was interpreted. In Colorado, the legislature essentially legitimatized an entire industry last year when it passed a broad regulatory bill on commercialized medical marijuana operations. But it couldn't change the fact that growing and using marijuana remains illegal under federal law.We have said repeatedly that we do not believe voters who approved a 2000 constitutional amendment allowing the medical use of marijuana had a dispensary model in mind. Voters approved narrowly drawn access for sick people, not the back-door attempt to legalize marijuana that Colorado has now with some 123,000 people holding medical marijuana cards.Now it appears that federal authorities are finally weighing in, seemingly saying they are not going to tolerate large-scale marijuana operations that are emerging as a result of state legislation. U.S. attorneys for several states, using similar language, have written letters to state officials saying the federal government very well could go after large-scale cultivation and manufacturing facilities.Note: Neither Colorado's Amendment 20 nor a 2009 memo from the Justice Department were meant to authorize "Big Pot." Snipped   Complete Article: http://www.denverpost.com/news/marijuana/ci_17953227Source: Denver Post (CO)Published: May 1, 2011Copyright: 2011 The Denver Post Website: http://www.denverpost.com/Contact: openforum denverpost.comCannabisNews  Medical Marijuana  Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml 
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Comment #3 posted by Paul Pot on May 02, 2011 at 01:44:55 PT:
Open your eyes.
Isn't it typical. Another criticism of the system being abused but no acknowledgment of the obvious. With all the extra people openly smoking there is no is associated collapse in social order or public health. There are no plagues of schizophrenia or cancer. People are just getting on with their lives in the normal way. Smokers are smoking and the non-smokers finally can see that it's just an ordinary thing that some people do. There never was anything to be afraid of. The end of prohibition can not be stopped.
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Comment #2 posted by John Tyler on May 01, 2011 at 21:26:21 PT
too huge to stop now
The Feds can say what they want and threaten this and that. Their best bet is to back off and let the states move ahead, the states are the incubators of democracy after all, and powers not granted to the Fed are reserved for the states or the people.  Anyway, too much has been invested and earned and the full potential of the industry is going to be absolutely too huge for this not to continue. It’s time has come and a few threats is not going to stop it. 
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Comment #1 posted by runruff on May 01, 2011 at 06:28:36 PT
There is just too darn much relief going around!
"...when it comes to sick people smoking pot for relief.
 
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