State Lawmakers Tell Obama to Stop Raiding Medical Marijuana Dispensaries. - Polidicks

State Lawmakers are beginning to criticize the Obama administration for its continued raids on medical marijuana dispensaries, which is soon to surpass the number of raids conducted by the Bush Administration. [IMG]http://i.huffpost.com/gen/554662/thumbs/r-OAKSTERDAM-large570.jpg[/IMG] [quote]Elected lawmakers in five states have a message for the federal government: Don't interfere with state medical marijuana laws. In an open letter to the federal government, lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle called on the government to stop using scarce law enforcement resources on taking pot away from medical marijuana patients." States with medical marijuana laws have chosen to embrace an approach that is based on science, reason, and compassion. We are lawmakers from these states," the lawmakers explained in their letter." Our state medical marijuana laws differ from one another in their details, such as which patients qualify for medical use; how much marijuana patients may possess; whether patients and caregivers may grow marijuana; and whether regulated entities may grow and sell marijuana to patients. Each of our laws, however, is motivated by a desire to protect seriously ill patients from criminal penalties under state law." The letter -- signed by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-Calif.), Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D-Wash.), Rep. Antonio Maestas (D-N.M.), Sen. Cisco McSorley (D-N.M.), Assemblyman Chris Norby (R-Calif.), Rep. Deborah Sanderson (R-Maine) and Sen. Pat Steadman (D-Colo.) -- comes directly on the heels of [URL="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/02/oaksterdam-university-raid_n_1397255.html"]a federal raid[/URL] in the heart of California's pot legalization movement: medical marijuana training school Oaksterdam University in downtown Oakland, where U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration officials on Monday blocked off doors with yellow tape and carried off trash bags full of unknown substances to a nearby van. An IRS spokeswoman could not comment on the raid except to say the agents had a federal search warrant. The lawmakers called on President Obama to live up to his campaign promise to leave the regulation of medical marijuana to the states, adding raids would only "force patients underground" into the illegal drug market. The president as a candidate promised to maintain a hands-off approach toward pot clinics that adhere to state law. At a 2007 town hall meeting in Manchester, N.H., Obama said raiding patients who use marijuana for medicinal purposes "makes no sense." At another town hall in Nashua, N.H., he said the Justice Department's prosecution of medical marijuana users was "not a good use of our resources." Yet the number of Justice Department raids on marijuana dispensaries has continued to rise.[/quote] The letter which was sent... [quote]Over the last two decades, 16 states and the District of Columbia have chosen to depart from federal policy and chart their own course on the issue of medical marijuana, as states are entitled to do under our federalist system of government. These states have rejected the fallacy long promoted by the federal government -- that marijuana has absolutely no accepted medical use and that seriously ill people must choose between ignoring their doctors' medical advice or risking arrest and prosecution. They have stopped using their scarce law enforcement resources to punish patients and those who care for them and have instead spent considerable resources and time crafting programs that will provide patients with safe and regulated access to medical marijuana. States with medical marijuana laws have chosen to embrace an approach that is based on science, reason, and compassion. We are lawmakers from these states. Our state medical marijuana laws differ from one another in their details, such as which patients qualify for medical use; how much marijuana patients may possess; whether patients and caregivers may grow marijuana; and whether regulated entities may grow and sell marijuana to patients. Each of our laws, however, is motivated by a desire to protect seriously ill patients from criminal penalties under state law; to provide a safe and reliable source of medical marijuana; and to balance and protect the needs of local communities and other residents in the state. The laws were drafted with considered thoughtfulness and care, and are thoroughly consistent with the American tradition of using the states as laboratories for public policy innovation and experimentation. Unfortunately, these laws face a mounting level of federal hostility and confusing mixed messages from the Obama Administration, the Department of Justice, and the various United States Attorneys. In 2008, then candidate Obama stated that as President, he would not use the federal government to circumvent state laws on the issue of medical marijuana. This promise was followed up in 2009 by President Obama with a Department of Justice memo from former Deputy Attorney General David W. Ogden stating that federal resources should not generally be focused "on individuals whose actions are in clear and unambiguous compliance with existing state laws providing for the medical use of marijuana." This provided welcome guidance for state legislators and administrators and encouraged us to move forward with drafting and passing responsible regulatory legislation. Nonetheless, the United States Attorneys in several states with medical marijuana laws have chosen a different course. They have explicitly threatened that federal investigative and prosecutorial resources "will continue to be directed" towards the manufacture and distribution of medical marijuana, even if such activities are permitted under state law. These threats have generally been timed to influence pending legislation or encourage the abandonment of state and local regulatory programs. They contradict President Obama's campaign promise and policy his first year in office and serve to push medical marijuana activity back into the illicit market. Most disturbing is that a few United States Attorneys warn that state employees who implement the laws and regulations of our states are not immune from criminal prosecution under the federal Controlled Substances Act. They do so notwithstanding the fact that no provision exists within the Controlled Substances Act that makes it a crime for a state employee to enforce regulations that help a state define conduct that is legal under its own state laws.Hundreds of state and municipal employees are currently involved in the licensing and regulation of medical marijuana producers and providers in New Mexico, Colorado, Maine, and California, and have been for years. The federal government has never threatened, much less prosecuted, any of these employees. Indeed, the federal government has not, to our knowledge, prosecuted state employees for performing their ministerial duties under state law in modern history. It defies logic and precedent that the federal government would start prosecuting state employees now. Recognizing the lack of any real harm to state employees, a number of states have moved forward. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie drew on his own experience as a former United States Attorney in deciding that New Jersey state workers were not realistically at risk of federal prosecution in his decision to move forward implementing New Jersey’s medical marijuana program. Rhode Island, Vermont, Arizona, and the District of Columbia are also in the process of implementing their state laws. Nonetheless, the suggestion that state employees are at risk is have a destructive and chilling impact. Washington Governor Christine Gregoire vetoed legislation to regulate medical marijuana in her state and Delaware Governor Jack Markell suspended implementation of his state's regulatory program after receiving warnings from the United States Attorneys in their states about state employees. Additionally, a number of localities in California ended or suspended regulatory programs after receiving similar threats to their workers. We, the undersigned state legislators, call on state and local officials to not be intimidated by these empty federal threats. Our state medical marijuana programs should be implemented and move forward. Our work, and the will of our voters, should see the light of day. We call on the federal government not to interfere with our ability to control and regulate how medical marijuana is grown and distributed. Let us seek clarity rather than chaos. Don’t force patients underground, to fuel the illegal drug market. And finally, we call on President Obama to recommit to the principles and policy on which he campaigned and asserted his first year in office. Please respect our state laws. And don't use our employees as pawns in your zealous and misguided war on medical marijuana. Assemblymember Tom Ammiano (D-CA) Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D-WA) Representative Antonio Maestas (D-NM) Senator Cisco McSorley (D-NM) Assemblymember Chris Norby (R-CA) Representative Deborah Sanderson (R-ME) Senator Pat Steadman (D-CO) [/quote] [URL="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/02/lawmakers-in-5-states-tell-feds-medical-marijuana_n_1397811.html"]Source[/URL] An interesting development in medical marijuana. I didn't know the amount of raids on dispensaries were about to pass the number of raids conducted by Bush. I'm hoping there were good reasons for all the raids. A good video explaining what went down to cause all of this. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFNKNzevGUU&list=UU1yBKRuGpC1tSM73A0ZjYjQ&index=34&feature=plcp[/media]

dispensaries are overpriced anyway

god damn socialist nazi muslim

I was hoping they were going to accuse him of personally raiding them for pot.

but how are the DEA going to fund themselves if they can't seize money and assets from these nonviolent taxpayers and put all of their property up for auction? also wasn't one of the things obama promised during his election campaign that he would stop enforcing federal law against state legalised dispensaries and patients?

Ridiculous practice, in violation of state law. The Obama administration at this point should order the DEA to stop, that is, cease ordering them to do this and make clear that it is not to be carried out in the future.

[QUOTE=Blanketspace;35479826]I was hoping they were going to accuse him of personally raiding them for pot.[/QUOTE] [IMG]http://www.boingboing.net/filesroot/200812171355.jpg[/IMG]

I thought they'd at least be safe until the next Republican takes office...guess not.

It's a shame how, since it's Obama, many of the replies in this thread are just sarcastic anti-Obama stuff to be funny and avoid the fact that they disagree with the raids. You're allowed to disagree with something the Obama administration is doing [B]and[/B] still like him overall, you know. Stop threadshitting.

[QUOTE=Andokool12;35482512]It's a shame how, since it's Obama, many of the replies in this thread are just sarcastic anti-Obama stuff to be funny and avoid the fact that they disagree with the raids..[/QUOTE] um no they're not?

Wait, I thought Obama said a few days ago it wasn't feasible to go after medical marijuana, anyways.

[QUOTE=Andokool12;35482512]It's a shame how, since it's Obama, many of the replies in this thread are just sarcastic anti-Obama stuff to be funny and avoid the fact that they disagree with the raids. You're allowed to disagree with something the Obama administration is doing [B]and[/B] still like him overall, you know. Stop threadshitting.[/QUOTE] What. Obama is a fucking puppet who promised too much, and I hope people have realized this before they open up to his empty promises again. And don't get me started on the other side of the spectrum, just because I'm hating on Obama doesn't mean the Republican's are the righteous party of god, they're just as fucking bad.

[QUOTE=purvisdavid1;35483317]What. Obama is a fucking puppet who promised too much, and I hope people have realized this before they open up to his empty promises again. And don't get me started on the other side of the spectrum, just because I'm hating on Obama doesn't mean the Republican's are the righteous party of god, they're just as fucking bad.[/QUOTE] just as bad? yeah fucking right if the democrat party is a train wreck then the republican party is the fucking holocaust

[QUOTE=AJisAwesome15;35483369]just as bad? yeah fucking right if the democrat party is a train wreck then the republican party is the fucking holocaust[/QUOTE] Did you not get the part where I said both parties suck. Stop fighting with people that agree with you and focus that fucking energy on the people who deserve scrutiny like the parties that control this mother fucking country. Fuck.

I'm just saying that republicans suck more

[QUOTE=AJisAwesome15;35483474]I'm just saying that republicans suck more[/QUOTE] Quit with this lesser of two evil's bullshit. They're both horrible parties.

[QUOTE=AJisAwesome15;35483474]I'm just saying that republicans suck more[/QUOTE] Both parties suck hard for different reasons. There is no point in dividing the country when we should be working together to get rid of these entitled Congressmen that think they know what is best for us, against our will.

NWO Top Official 1: Oh jeez, theyre all riled up and asking questions, we need to buy more time. What should we do? NWO Top Official 2: Give em a black president, it ought to throw them off for a while. NWO Top Official 1: Ha, Alright

A good video on what is going on. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFNKNzevGUU&list=UU1yBKRuGpC1tSM73A0ZjYjQ&index=34&feature=plcp[/media]

[QUOTE=Captain Lawlrus;35479749]dispensaries are overpriced anyway[/QUOTE] Depends on the dispensary and other dealers, I know one dispensary that has great bud a gram for 10$

There was a great dispensary in a nearby town, my buddy use to go there all the time. They were raided because they were caught selling other drugs under the table. Raiding a legitimate dispensary is ridiculous and a complete waste of money.

people need to stop blaming the president for everything the Feds do I don't think it's possible for Obama to do anything related to the DEA without going through the Supreme Court or something. Of course all I know for sure about the DEA is that we need to cut it's funding down to about 1/6th so I could be wrong.

[QUOTE=lavacano;35485613]people need to stop blaming the president for everything the Feds do I don't think it's possible for Obama to do anything related to the DEA without going through the Supreme Court or something. Of course all I know for sure about the DEA is that we need to cut it's funding down to about 1/6th so I could be wrong.[/QUOTE] He hasn't tried to stop the war on marijuana in any way unless I missed something.

[QUOTE=Van The Pimp;35485478]There was a great dispensary in a nearby town, my buddy use to go there all the time. They were raided because they were caught selling other drugs under the table. Raiding a legitimate dispensary is ridiculous and a complete waste of money.[/QUOTE] I don't think it's ridiculous when they're selling other drugs under the table.

Obama isnt doing this; the DEA is. They are just doing their job.

[QUOTE=Chicken_Chaser;35485778]He hasn't tried to stop the war on marijuana in any way unless I missed something.[/QUOTE]He'd likely be eaten alive by the Republicans if he did. (Rush Limbaugh at the very least, though [url=http://e-sheep.sansara.net.ua/www.e-sheep.com/rusheats/000.html]he'll eat anything[/url])

[QUOTE=Sgt Doom;35485951]He'd likely be eaten alive by the Republicans if he did. (Rush Limbaugh at the very least, though [url=http://e-sheep.sansara.net.ua/www.e-sheep.com/rusheats/000.html]he'll eat anything[/url])[/QUOTE] The Roosevelts didn't give a fuck about what their opposition thought. Give me a President with balls.

[QUOTE=areolop;35485843]Obama isnt doing this; the DEA is. They are just doing their job.[/QUOTE] He reappointed a Bush official to the DEA who he knew was extremely strict on dispensaries. I agree if the dispensary is doing something illegal, but they have raided over 100 dispensaries. What are the chances of all of these dispensaries doing something like dealing drugs under the table. That was the case for a very small handful of dispensaries. Their job also requires them to respect states rights. Obama isn't living up to his campaign promise to stop raiding dispensaries.

I worked for a dispensary and lost my job because of this shit. We were extremely busy and business was booming, and it was a completely legitimate operation. I voted for Obama and he specifically said he would keep the DEA from raiding dispensaries (especially here in California where it has been legal since 1992). So I'm a little upset that we were basically led on by a smooth talking politician. In '08 I drank the Obama koolaid like every other misinformed 18 year old, but I'm seeing politics for what they really are, and everything is bullshit. Obama is a liar and a puppet, and being forced to vote between the lesser of two evils every 4 years is going to get very depressing. It literally doesn't matter.

[QUOTE=deathstarboot;35486498]and being forced to vote between the lesser of two evils every 4 years is going to get very depressing. It literally doesn't matter.[/QUOTE] PRECISELY What we need is a "None of the above" option on ballots.