New medical marijuana policy issued

Associated Press ^ | October 18, 2009 | Devlin Barrett

[pleasenoobama]

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration will not seek to arrest medical marijuana users and suppliers as long as they conform to state laws, under new policy guidelines to be sent to federal prosecutors Monday. 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 laws. 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.

[pleasenoobama]

I searched, but I couldn't find any other posts on this topic.

Basic gist of the article is that Obama has made it official policy not to enforce federal marijuana laws when it is used for medicinal purposes. What does everyone think?

[Magic Fingers]

Can’t say as I disagree.

[trumandogz]

“...as long as they conform to state laws.”

Good move.

[pleasenoobama]

Here's the issue I see: I agree that there shouldn't be a federal ban on medicinal use of marijuana and that state law should reign supreme in this case, but if such a law exists, is it right for a president to be able to unilaterally force the federal government to ignore it? This seems to be granting an enormous amount of power to the president, power that wasn't explicitly granted to the executive branch by the Constitution.

[freedomwarrior998]

The liberaltarians will be bowing before their new messiah now. He found a way to get them on his plantation.

Watch how much weed becomes "medical marijuana" now.

[trumandogz]

Why are you opposed to State’s Rights?

[Rebelbase]

“The liberaltarians will be bowing before their new messiah now. He found a way to get them on his plantation. “

Hardly. This is like a .000 batter getting a piece of it that goes foul. Momentary excitement then back to reality.

[Lawgvr1955]

I can't stand BO or his lackeys. That said, I have no problem with the feds backing off and recognizing State's rights.

Maybe this will free up a little time to investigate the thieves in DC like Rangel.

[KarlInOhio]

Why did the 18th amendment need to be passed to allow the federal government to regulate the use of ethanol as an intoxicant, but no similar change in the Constitution is needed for every other intoxicant? The only reason I can think is the majority of the adult population drank in 1919, but smaller numbers of people other intoxicants so they were easier to brush aside. That's not an argument based on Constitutional limitations of government, but rather raw power.

[Cheerio]

Basic gist of the article is that Obama has made it official policy not to enforce federal marijuana laws when it is used for medicinal purposes. What does everyone think?

I think it sounds exactly like the child and his DHS Crappy Nappy's policy on NON-enforcement of our immigration laws. Sheriff Joe stuck a finger in the Feds eye over the weekend - DHS revoked Joe's 287g program, but went ahead with his crime suppression sweeps anyway.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio: I don’t take orders from anybody.

Listening to a local host tonight and 95% of callers say "Keep it up Joe, We support you, and keep telling the Feds to go to hell."

[DannyTN]

I’m surprised it took him 9 months. We all knew the crackhead was going to stop the war on drugs.

Look for him to do the same with Cocaine, after all he admits to having been a user. And I expect he will turn a lot of pushers out of jail.

[444Flyer]

"Watch how much weed becomes "medical marijuana" now."

But Dude, it's for my 'condition'.

[kingu]

If you want to change the law, change the law. Just like if you want the constitution to read differently, change it. How hard is this to understand?

Then again, my dog in this fight is that the federal government has no regulation over drugs in the first place, as it is missing from the enumerated powers of the constitution, and should be deferred to the states... But it just galls me that rather than change the laws, they just simply choose to ignore them.

Liberals would be up in arms if a conservative did that.

[KC_Conspirator]

Well, he is going to do that same with illegal aliens too.

So this is a bad idea. Enforce the fricking law or change it.

But he will have the full weight of the US government confiscating your property and rights.

[The Comedian]

Why are you opposed to State’s Rights?

Authoritarians, regardless of location on the spectrum, are alergic to autonomy of any scope. It gives them a reaction anywhere from mild irritation to anaphalactic shock.

Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

[darkangel82]

Well, it makes sense. Obama the Dope supports dope.

[a fool in paradise]

The Obama administration will not seek to arrest medical marijuana users and suppliers as long as they conform to state laws, under new policy guidelines to be sent to federal prosecutors Monday

Paying taxes are among the "don't care" items in the Obama White House.

[a fool in paradise]

Funny how he wants to make all flavored cigarettes(that aren’t menthol) and candy cigarettes illegal.

[babygene]

Wonder if I could get a pack of “medical” cigarettes without paying all the tax...

[hsmomx3]

And another new tax....

[Political Junkie Too]

...as long as they conform to state laws...

What other "state laws" can we conform to without federal interference?

Prop 8? Prop 187?

Why just this one?

-PJ

[Magic Fingers]

“I agree that there shouldn’t be a federal ban on medicinal use of marijuana and that state law should reign supreme in this case, but if such a law exists, is it right for a president to be able to unilaterally force the federal government to ignore it?”

If state law reigns supreme, isn’t that what the feds should be doing?

[gleeaikin]

I knew a man who had a serious Cocaine problem. He told me that if marijuana was legal he would mostly use that and stay away from the Cocaine. Crack was easier to get than good weed where he lived. He was severely sexually and physically abused as a child. Used drugs to kill his pain. He is dead now, cocaine destroyed his lungs, and he got AIDS from sharing works. Age 43.

[Left2Right]

I guess even a broken clock is right every now and then.

[pleasenoobama]

If state law reigns supreme, isn’t that what the feds should be doing?

I have a general objection to the executive branch being allowed to override the legislative branch by arbitrarily refusing to enforce laws that are on the books. It would be tragic if a president instructed the federal government to blatantly ignore (for examples) federal immigration laws or some civil rights laws because it wasn't a "productive use of resources". The president should not be afforded this sort of power.

[Magic Fingers]

“Funny how he wants to make all flavored cigarettes(that aren’t menthol) and candy cigarettes illegal.”

Oh, he’s a meddling, Marxist control freak all right...it’s the non-meddling aspect of his med marijuana position that I favor (my only minor point of agreement with him so far...other than his statement that he didn’t deserve the farcical Nobel Peace Prize).

[Mojave]

The liberaltarians will be bowing before their new messiah now.

Nationalized health care plus quack nostrums...

Perfect fit.

[Mojave]

So this is a bad idea. Enforce the fricking law or change it.

Leftists hate the rule of law. They love rule by fiat though.

[mountainbunny]

The liberaltarians will be bowing before their new messiah now. He found a way to get them on his plantation.

OMG! I know, right? What's up with that 10th Amendment? What were those old dudes thinking when they wrote that moldy old thing?

State's rights? Phhhhhhlllbt! Who needs freedom when there are people doing stuff we totally don't approve of?

We should totally do whatever those guys in Washington thinks we should. That's what we pay them for, right?

A top-down government is gonna be awesome! We don't have to do anything - except pay crippling taxes to support it. They're gonna take care of everything for us! National Health Care. National Education. Oooh! And consistent firearms laws!

Hey, by the way: Could you point me to the nearest National Services kiosk? I need to renew my National ID card, sign the kids up for year-round school and turn in my neighbors for harboring an illegal .22. Those things are dangerous, don'tcha'know?

[onedoug]

“Mo’ money, mo’ money, mo’ money!”

[Lmo56]

But Dude, it’s for my ‘condition’.

***

“All I need is some tasty waves, a cool buzz, and I’m fine ...”

[4woodenboats]

Obama just bought the pothead vote. Nothing complicated to figure out there.

Whether it cost him other votes is yet to see, but this might tick off the Mexican cartels if everyone starts growing their own.

If he suddenly sends Mexico a stimulous package like he did Hamas, you'll know he's on top of it.

[chuck_the_tv_out]

"Why are you opposed to State’s Rights?"

lol! what else has 0 done for state's rights?

this isn't about state's rights, it's about doping people up.

they're trying to transfer sensitive secrets to China, attack marriage, and increase drug use.

All part of the plan to destroy America.

[djsherin]

If the federal law defies the Constitution, or goes beyond enumerated powers, it isn’t a law.

[djsherin]

***but if such a law exists***

Then it’s unconstitutional and shouldn’t be enforced.

[freethinker_for_freedom]

How many people do you know that have been arrested by the feds for smoking marijuana? Almost never happens. Enforcement of the marijuana laws is done 99% by the state and local law enforcement. The feds spend their resources going after the big boys, generally, except the Bush administration made it a point to go after those involved with medical marijuana. So the question is, where do you want the feds to spend their limited resources? Do you really want to go after people who are being prescribed marijuana by their doctors?

[djsherin]

And if the legislative branch passed a “law” that ordered the confiscation of all firearms and the president refused to enforce that “law”, would it still bother you?

[trumandogz]

Permitting States to set their own medical marijuana laws is a steep in the right direction and respects the State’s Rights.

However, if you are a Nanny State Sycophant, I could see why you would love to see the Federal Government enforce laws that would further prohibit the types of medications people may use under a prescription from their personal doctor.

[Doogle]

“Sure Mr.Soros, these cargo planes can haul tons of pot. Why we even have some land available, if your interested.
I sure am glad the federal government is showing how compassionate it is now that our leader,the magnificent one, is in power...after all it's what the American people want....it's what they voted for.....”

[Sender]

Maybe the first wise decision from this administration. Whatever you think about marijuana, stop throwing money at it and stop throwing people in jail for it.

[Palin Republic]

>Nationalized health care plus quack nostrums...

[Lazamataz]

I’m okay with this. I don’t favor pot use, but hey, this is a state issue.

[imjimbo]

This will free up a bunch of law enforcement resources to go after criminals other than the “victimless” sort. And jail space too. Long overdue.

[1010RD]

Ditto. Obama just moved state’s rights forward. Likely for all the wrong reasons, but it works for me.

[Mojave]

You want Obama’s nationalized health care plus quack nostrums...

Got it.

[1010RD]

Black market = good. Normal markets = bad

[1010RD]

You are right, we do have an imperial Presidency, but Congress let it happen. They gave up the power and the President took it.

This is the natural result of the federalization of all things - increased bureaucracy and regulation first, then the centralization of power in a single man (the front for oligarchy) and legislation by whim.

[Mojave]

This will free up a bunch of law enforcement resources to go after criminals other than the “victimless” sort.

Really? How many federal arrests, prosecutions or incarcerations have there been of patients who have strictly complied with California's medical marijuana laws since the enactment of Proposition 215?

You just got suckered by Obama.

[traviskicks]

The liberaltarians will be bowing before their new messiah now.

yes, realy looks like that huh /s:

http://www.lvrj.com/news/oath-keepers-pledges-to-prevent-dictatorship-in-united-states-64690232.html

[libertarian27]

He told me that if marijuana was legal he would mostly use that and stay away from the Cocaine. Crack was easier to get than good weed where he lived.

Not only that but Cocaine stays in the system @72 hours, Marijuana @ weeks. If he was drug tested at work he'd have to stay away from the MJ.

Marijuana is a Plant. I get a kick that the government makes vegetation illegal.....