Obama's New Medicinal Marijuana Policy

WASHINGTON - Federal drug agents won't pursue pot-smoking patients or their sanctioned suppliers in states that allow medical marijuana, under new legal guidelines to be issued Monday by the Obama administration.

Two Justice Department officials described the new policy to The Associated Press, saying prosecutors will be told it is not a good use of their time to arrest people who use or provide medical marijuana in strict compliance with state law.

The guidelines to be issued by the department do, however, make it clear that agents will go after people whose marijuana distribution goes beyond what is permitted under state law or use medical marijuana as a cover for other crimes, the officials said.

The new policy is a significant departure from the Bush administration, which insisted it would continue to enforce federal anti-pot laws regardless of state codes.

Fourteen states allow some use of marijuana for medical purposes: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.

California is unique among those for the widespread presence of dispensaries - businesses that sell marijuana and even advertise their services. Colorado also has several dispensaries, and Rhode Island and New Mexico are in the process of licensing providers, according to the Marijuana Policy Project, a group that promotes the decriminalization of marijuana use.

Attorney General Eric Holder said in March that he wanted federal law enforcement officials to pursue those who violate both federal and state law, but it has not been clear how that goal would be put into practice.

A three-page memo spelling out the policy is expected to be sent Monday to federal prosecutors in the 14 states, and also to top officials at the FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration.

The memo, the officials said, emphasizes that prosecutors have wide discretion in choosing which cases to pursue, and says it is not a good use of federal manpower to prosecute those who are without a doubt in compliance with state law.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the legal guidance before it is issued.

"This is a major step forward," said Bruce Mirken, communications director for the Marijuana Policy Project. "This change in policy moves the federal government dramatically toward respecting scientific and practical reality."

At the same time, the officials said, the government will still prosecute those who use medical marijuana as a cover for other illegal activity. The memo particularly warns that some suspects may hide old-fashioned drug dealing or other crimes behind a medical marijuana business.

In particular, the memo urges prosecutors to pursue marijuana cases which involve violence, the illegal use of firearms, selling pot to minors, money laundering or involvement in other crimes.

And while the policy memo describes a change in priorities away from prosecuting medical marijuana cases, it does not rule out the possibility that the federal government could still prosecute someone whose activities are allowed under state law.

The memo, officials said, is designed to give a sense of prosecutorial priorities to U.S. attorneys in the states that allow medical marijuana. It notes that pot sales in the United States are the largest source of money for violent Mexican drug cartels, but adds that federal law enforcement agencies have limited resources.

Medical marijuana advocates have been anxious to see exactly how the administration would implement candidate Barack Obama's repeated promises to change the policy in situations in which state laws allow the use of medical marijuana.

Soon after Obama took office, DEA agents raided four dispensaries in Los Angeles, prompting confusion about the government's plans.

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On the Net:

Drug Enforcement Administration: http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/

Marijuana Policy Project: http://www.mpp.org/

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[HecG]

And why is it the Mexican cartel's number one source of revenue? Because of Prohibition.

Thanks a lot prohibitionist for making the cartels filthy rich.

[geoffxc]

FREE THE WEED!!!!

[cannabisbroker]

Still not legalized....

[aaronlovestruth]

iloveweed

[ByleKognar]

jah rastafari

[TheSpliffSmoker]

Ireland sucks for weed.shit bags,shit smoke...

[TANNYDFISHER]

I GOT MY WEED LICENCE.watch my videos and see

[TheHaightAshbury]

yeah, it sucks, a lot of red tape to move to another country... so sad, we're expecting a kid now, and in the future, unless we move to the states for two years, and my wife becomes a US citizen, every time our family travels the kids and I will have to wait at customs, for mom, since she doesnt have an american passport, but our half breed kids will.

I met a german girl in san diego while attending college. she invited me to visit her and fell in love with europe and have been here ever since.

[oh2love4love]

crazy! I couldn't imagine what it would be like to not be able to leave where you are.. sigh

we live in a fucked up reality.. will be glad when this faze of existence is completed.

I feel that all the governments are shady.. not to say they are all part of the NWO as I think that there are a few that are and the rest are their little puppets.

what took you away from the states?

[TheHaightAshbury]

Actually, Americans are much more oppressed, but they can easily leave the country, where eastern europeans cant.

Every north american I have met here says they feel more free here... less rights, but much more freedom and less control by the courts and police.

but, if you get hit by a car, the person with the most money (to bribe the judge) wins.

The best things about living here are the healthy foods, pretty women, and families REALLY stick together... and food is very cheap, amd NO GMO!

[oh2love4love]

lol! sweet..

so they are pretty well oppressed over there tho right.. that's got to be difficult to see/live.. not to say we are not oppressed here in the states tho. I feel pretty good tho for the most part but that is because I am awake and aware and it changes one perspective in that space. you know?

I'll talk to you later, gotta fill my head with dreams now.. peace~