A small step in the right direction...

Kaneman · 02-27-2009, 07:57 PM

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29433708/

DEA to halt medical marijuana raids

Supporters of programs to provide legal marijuana to patients with painful medical conditions are celebrating Attorney General Eric Holder?s statement this week that the Drug Enforcement Administration would end its raids on state-approved marijuana dispensaries.

Federal raids on medical marijuana distributors continued at least into the second week of Barack Obama?s presidency, when federal agents shut down at least two dispensaries in California on Feb. 3.

Holder was asked about those raids Wednesday in Santa Ana, Calif., at a news conference that was called to announce the arrests of 755 people in a nationwide crackdown on the U.S. operations of Mexican drug cartels. He said such operations would no longer be conducted.
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?What the president said during the campaign ... will be consistent with what we will be doing here in law enforcement,? he said. ?What (Obama) said during the campaign ... is now American policy.?

Obama indicated during the presidential campaign that he supported the controlled use of marijuana for medical purposes, saying he saw no difference between medical marijuana and other pain-control drugs.

?My attitude is if the science and the doctors suggest that the best palliative care and the way to relieve pain and suffering is medical marijuana, then that?s something I?m open to,? Obama said in November 2007 at a campaign stop in Audubon, Iowa. ?There?s no difference between that and morphine when it comes to just giving people relief from pain.?

White House spokesman Nick Shapiro hinted at the policy shift shortly after the California raids, telling The Washington Times that the dispensaries were legal in California and that the Obama administration?s stance was that ?federal resources should not be used to circumvent state laws.?

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Major shift in federal policy
The new policy represents a significant turnabout for the federal government. During the Bush administration, DEA agents shut down 30 to 40 marijuana dispensaries, the agency said.

The Web site of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy had yet to catch up to the policy shift as of Friday afternoon, and was still prominently featuring a ? Medical Marijuana Reality Check? declaring that ?marijuana is not considered modern medicine? and arguing that ?no animal or human data support the safety or efficacy of smoked marijuana for general medical use.?

Medical marijuana

Thirteen states allow the sale, distribution and use of marijuana for limited medical purposes:

? Alaska
? California
? Colorado
? Hawaii
? Maine
? Michigan
? Montana
? Nevada
? New Mexico
? Oregon
? Rhode Island
? Vermont
? Washington

Holder?s comments received little notice Wednesday, overshadowed by the news of the drug arrests. But supporters of legalized marijuana seized on them as an important sign of progress in their campaign.

?Holder?s statement marks a dramatic shift in U.S. drug policy and is a major victory for the 72 million Americans who reside in states where the use of medical cannabis is legal,? said Paul Armentano, deputy director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, said in a statement.

Thirteen states allow the cultivation, sale and use of medical marijuana.

Armentano said the shift would add momentum to campaigns in states that are considering their own medical marijuana laws. The New Jersey Senate approved such a bill Monday, and Gov. Jon Corzine said he would sign it if it cleared the state Assembly.

Charles Lynch, who operated a state-approved dispensary in Morro Bay, Calif., before it was raided in 2007, also welcomed the new policy.

?It?s a good thing for California. It?s a good thing for the other 12 states that have medical marijuana laws,? said Lynch, who was convicted in August of federal drug charges.

Lynch could face five years in prison when he is sentenced late next month, but in light of the new federal policy, he said he would appeal his conviction and seek a presidential pardon.

Lynch contended that dispensaries like his were vital for patients in the last stages of a painful illness.

?Having one in your community, wherever that may be, is a good thing because it helps these people that need relief,? he said.
________
Uhwh Warehouse

Lamnidae · 02-27-2009, 08:03 PM

Hrmmmmzzzzzzz

OneSickPsycho · 02-27-2009, 08:06 PM

Legalize everything.

Phenix_Rider · 02-27-2009, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneSickPsycho

Legalize everything.

And tax the hell out of it.

Sixxxxer · 02-27-2009, 11:29 PM

Jersey is Trying to pass the law for it...

Dragonpaco · 02-27-2009, 11:36 PM

which means i'm going to have to drive a half hour out of state to see a doctor

nhgunnut · 02-28-2009, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneSickPsycho

Legalize everything.

I agree totally! We could stop endangering honest law enforcement, stop wasting my tax dollar providing room and board who are so dysfunctional they can't avoid arrest and tax the shit out of and pay for drug treatment.

tommymac · 02-28-2009, 09:17 AM

And to think I had a license to practice medicine in NJ for a while

Tom

azoomm · 02-28-2009, 11:01 AM

The numbers of non-violent drug offenders in our prisons today boggles the mind. This is especially bad when you think about why pot is illegal in the first place.... Damn paper!!!

You're right, it is a step in the right direction.

02-27-2009, 07:57 PM	#1
Kaneman AMA Supersport Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Odessa, TX Moto: 2000 Honda CBR1100XX Blackbird Posts: 4,931	A small step in the right direction... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29433708/ DEA to halt medical marijuana raids Supporters of programs to provide legal marijuana to patients with painful medical conditions are celebrating Attorney General Eric Holder?s statement this week that the Drug Enforcement Administration would end its raids on state-approved marijuana dispensaries. Federal raids on medical marijuana distributors continued at least into the second week of Barack Obama?s presidency, when federal agents shut down at least two dispensaries in California on Feb. 3. Holder was asked about those raids Wednesday in Santa Ana, Calif., at a news conference that was called to announce the arrests of 755 people in a nationwide crackdown on the U.S. operations of Mexican drug cartels. He said such operations would no longer be conducted. Story continues below ?advertisement \| your ad here ?What the president said during the campaign ... will be consistent with what we will be doing here in law enforcement,? he said. ?What (Obama) said during the campaign ... is now American policy.? Obama indicated during the presidential campaign that he supported the controlled use of marijuana for medical purposes, saying he saw no difference between medical marijuana and other pain-control drugs. ?My attitude is if the science and the doctors suggest that the best palliative care and the way to relieve pain and suffering is medical marijuana, then that?s something I?m open to,? Obama said in November 2007 at a campaign stop in Audubon, Iowa. ?There?s no difference between that and morphine when it comes to just giving people relief from pain.? White House spokesman Nick Shapiro hinted at the policy shift shortly after the California raids, telling The Washington Times that the dispensaries were legal in California and that the Obama administration?s stance was that ?federal resources should not be used to circumvent state laws.? Don't miss this on msnbc.com Health Your diet may worsen seasonal allergies Germophobe? What's risky vs. what's OK 9 foods that will boost your immune system 4 embarrassing body quirks, solved Major shift in federal policy The new policy represents a significant turnabout for the federal government. During the Bush administration, DEA agents shut down 30 to 40 marijuana dispensaries, the agency said. The Web site of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy had yet to catch up to the policy shift as of Friday afternoon, and was still prominently featuring a ? Medical Marijuana Reality Check? declaring that ?marijuana is not considered modern medicine? and arguing that ?no animal or human data support the safety or efficacy of smoked marijuana for general medical use.? Medical marijuana Thirteen states allow the sale, distribution and use of marijuana for limited medical purposes: ? Alaska ? California ? Colorado ? Hawaii ? Maine ? Michigan ? Montana ? Nevada ? New Mexico ? Oregon ? Rhode Island ? Vermont ? Washington Holder?s comments received little notice Wednesday, overshadowed by the news of the drug arrests. But supporters of legalized marijuana seized on them as an important sign of progress in their campaign. ?Holder?s statement marks a dramatic shift in U.S. drug policy and is a major victory for the 72 million Americans who reside in states where the use of medical cannabis is legal,? said Paul Armentano, deputy director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, said in a statement. Thirteen states allow the cultivation, sale and use of medical marijuana. Armentano said the shift would add momentum to campaigns in states that are considering their own medical marijuana laws. The New Jersey Senate approved such a bill Monday, and Gov. Jon Corzine said he would sign it if it cleared the state Assembly. Charles Lynch, who operated a state-approved dispensary in Morro Bay, Calif., before it was raided in 2007, also welcomed the new policy. ?It?s a good thing for California. It?s a good thing for the other 12 states that have medical marijuana laws,? said Lynch, who was convicted in August of federal drug charges. Lynch could face five years in prison when he is sentenced late next month, but in light of the new federal policy, he said he would appeal his conviction and seek a presidential pardon. Lynch contended that dispensaries like his were vital for patients in the last stages of a painful illness. ?Having one in your community, wherever that may be, is a good thing because it helps these people that need relief,? he said. ________ Uhwh Warehouse Last edited by Kaneman; 05-09-2011 at 08:36 PM..

02-27-2009, 11:29 PM	#5
Sixxxxer Like Gixxxxer But Not Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Dirty Jersey Moto: 2008 ZX6R Posts: 4,891	Jersey is Trying to pass the law for it... __________________ [FRSH] Candy Plasma Blue

02-27-2009, 08:06 PM	#3
OneSickPsycho Ride Like an Asshole Join Date: Feb 2008 Moto: nothing... Posts: 11,254	Legalize everything.

02-28-2009, 09:17 AM	#8
tommymac Moto GP Star Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 11,022	And to think I had a license to practice medicine in NJ for a while Tom

02-28-2009, 11:01 AM	#9
azoomm moderator chick Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Hill Country TX Moto: Pasta Rockets Posts: 8,917	The numbers of non-violent drug offenders in our prisons today boggles the mind. This is especially bad when you think about why pot is illegal in the first place.... Damn paper!!! You're right, it is a step in the right direction.