cannabisnews.com: MJ Groups Hope Ore. Race Will Have Chilling Effect
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MJ Groups Hope Ore. Race Will Have Chilling Effect
Posted by CN Staff on May 17, 2012 at 04:25:33 PT
By The Associated Press
Source: Associated Press
Portland, Ore. -- Medical marijuana advocates have a message for Democratic leaders and federal prosecutors with an eye on political office: Don’t mess with pot. Pushing back against a federal effort to stem the proliferation of medical marijuana operations, one of the nation’s largest drug policy groups claimed credit Wednesday for the defeat of a former federal prosecutor who was the early favorite to win the Democratic primary for Oregon attorney general.As interim U.S. attorney, Dwight Holton called Oregon’s medical marijuana law a “train wreck” and oversaw efforts to crack down on medical marijuana clubs and grow operations that he said were fronts for illegal marijuana sales. Federal prosecutors have led similar crackdowns in other states that have legalized marijuana for medicinal use.
“Drug war rhetoric and tactics will not be tolerated,” said Jill Harris, managing director for the campaign arm of Drug Policy Alliance.Retired state appeals court judge Ellen Rosenblum said she’d make marijuana enforcement a low priority. She easily defeated Holton with the help of Harris’ group and its allies, which chipped in at least a quarter of Rosenblum’s total campaign cash. “What we’re hoping, and what we assume, is that any U.S. attorney who’s thinking of running for statewide office in a Democratic Primary anywhere in the country is going to think twice now before adopting a highly aggressive posture toward the medical marijuana law,” said Ethan Nadelmann, executive director Drug Policy Alliance and its campaign branch, Drug Policy Action.Rosenblum downplayed the role of the marijuana vote in her victory in a brief interview following her victory Tuesday night. With most votes counted, she defeated Holton 64 percent to 36 percent. “There’s lots of issues that played into my victory, and that may well be one of them,” Rosenblum said of the surprising emergence of medical marijuana as a defining issue.About 55,000 people are registered marijuana users in Oregon.Sixteen states allow people with a doctor’s recommendation to use marijuana, an issue that has long been a source of tension with the federal government. Federal officials have said some state medical marijuana laws are being used as cover to grow and sell pot for the black market. Law enforcement agencies have cracked down on some pot growers, dispensaries and clubs in several states, including California, Colorado and Oregon.Campaign finance records show Rosenblum raised $600,000 through May 9, including $80,000 from Drug Policy Action and $70,000 from John Sperling, Chairman of Apollo Group Inc., who has financed medical marijuana campaigns nationally. Oregon has no caps on campaign contributions.Citizens for Sensible Law Enforcement, a local organization working on a ballot measure to legalize marijuana, spent another $40,000 to boost Rosenblum, much of it on radio ads attacking Holton over marijuana. “We’re glad to have played a role in her victory,” said Bob Wolfe, one of the organization’s directors. “But I do think Dwight’s defeat is directly related to his stance on marijuana.”Holton declined to comment. The Department of Justice did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Source: Associated Press (Wire)Published: May 17, 2012Copyright: 2012 The Associated PressCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on May 18, 2012 at 06:27:57 PT
Off Topic But Interesting
Traces of Marijuana Found in Trayvon Martin’s Body: Does It Matter?May 18, 2012URL: http://healthland.time.com/2012/05/18/traces-of-marijuana-found-in-trayvon-martins-body-does-it-matter-2/
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Comment #6 posted by ekim on May 17, 2012 at 16:23:58 PT
first amendment
http://michiganmedicalmarijuana.org/topic/39765-a-judge-on-wednesday-struck-down/page__pid__386269#entry386269
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Comment #5 posted by runruff on May 17, 2012 at 16:10:52 PT
I just called Mikey420 at work.
I had a question for him and he gave a contact number. He sounds like a real nice guy, very bright.It was nice to talk to you Mikey! Thanks!
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on May 17, 2012 at 15:22:06 PT
mykeyb420
Thank you for sharing the article with us. I hope they leave you alone out there.
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Comment #3 posted by runruff on May 17, 2012 at 13:20:03 PT
Chilling effect?
My pink butt!!!We lit a fire dude!
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Comment #2 posted by mykeyb420 on May 17, 2012 at 10:37:30 PT
my work
this is where I work:
best cannabis club in SF,, its officialhttp://www.sfweekly.com/bestof/2012/award/best-medical-marijuana-provider-3071372/
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Comment #1 posted by greenmed on May 17, 2012 at 05:15:37 PT
related article
"Oregon AG Outcome Has National Implications For Marijuana"By Steve Elliotthttp://www.tokeofthetown.com/2012/05/oregon_ag_outcome_has_national_implications_for_ma.phpexcerpt:"Dwight Holton's defeat in the Oregon Attorney General's race should be taken as a clear and unambiguous message to U.S. Attorneys around the country and to the national Democratic leadership that attacking state-approved medical marijuana programs is not a smart political move," said Jill Harris, managing director of strategic initiatives for Drug Policy Action, and a native of Eugene, Oregon."
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