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Grassley blasts Obama weed memo (Hussein 'can’t change the law')
The Hill ^ | 2/15/14 | Ian Swanson, Julian Hattem

Posted on 02/16/2014 6:00:08 AM PST by Libloather

Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) says the Treasury Department is overstepping its bounds with a memo outlining how banks can provide services for businesses selling marijuana.

Grassley, the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said it’s illegal for banks to deal with marijuana sale proceeds, and that only Congress can change those laws.

“The administration can’t change the law with a memo,” he said in a statement released late on Friday. “While the Justice Department’s memo tries to guide prosecutorial discretion, that discretion shouldn’t be used to facilitate illegal conduct.”

Grassley said the Justice Department was encouraging an “improper use of prosecutorial discretion,” and tied it to the more general GOP criticism that the administration is seeking to do too much with executive authority.

“This is just one more area in which the Obama administration is undermining our system of checks and balances and the rule of law,” he said.

Marijuana is officially a Schedule 1 substance in the eyes of the federal government, but medical pot is legal in 20 states and the District of Columbia. In Colorado and Washington, it is legal to buy, sell and use marijuana for recreational purposes.

The Obama administration has taken a hands-off approach to those state laws, and pledged not to interfere. Last summer, the Justice Department issued a memo advising prosecutors to prioritize keeping childen safe and other goals, instead of cracking down on low-level drug busts.

Still, banks have been reluctant to get involved with marijuana dispensaries and other businesses. They have expressed concern that serving those companies could open them up to federal prosecution for money laundering.

On Friday, the Treasury Department issued guidelines allowing banks to do business with companies that sell marijuana, so long as they make sure that the businesses have the proper state licenses.

Under the guidelines, banks are also told to watch out for suspicious behavior such as a business owners’ inability to show the correct paperwork or “cash that smells like marijuana” from someone trying to hide their weed business.

President Obama has admitted that he personally smoked pot as a kid and said in a recent interview that the drug was akin to smoking cigarettes.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; US: Iowa
KEYWORDS: grassley; memo; pot; weed
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Charles just started paying attention? Who woke him up?
1 posted on 02/16/2014 6:00:08 AM PST by Libloather
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To: Libloather

Another doddering example of why there should be term limits.


2 posted on 02/16/2014 6:03:20 AM PST by jjotto ("Ya could look it up!")
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To: Libloather

First order of business after the new republican congress is sworn in, impeach the bastard.


3 posted on 02/16/2014 6:03:38 AM PST by Graybeard58 (Welfare is a narcotic, a subtle destroyer of the human spirit. F.D.R.)
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To: Libloather

Ya know—sometimes I read chit like this, and all I can do is sit around shaking my head.

I grieve for my children and grandchildren—not so much about the grass issue—but just for the decline of these once great United States.

We had a good run……..


4 posted on 02/16/2014 6:05:14 AM PST by basil (2ASisters.org)
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To: Libloather

The Tyrant not only changes LAW but destroyed
contracts, the Constitution, AND MADE
the LAW apply where he wants, when he wants, to whom
he wants (e.g. white people and non-Moslems).


5 posted on 02/16/2014 6:06:18 AM PST by Diogenesis
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To: Libloather

He cannot make it legal with a speech. Wherever we can, we need to enforce the laws - perhaps this is a way to go after his illegal edicts on health care. What if the insurance companies were told that a new administration plans to hold them accountable if they do not act in accordance with the written law? Could this make a difference? I would hope so.


6 posted on 02/16/2014 6:10:49 AM PST by impactplayer
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To: Diogenesis

Not only did the “lyin’ king” tell us the truth about energy prices “necessarily skyrocket”ing, he told us he has a pen and a phone and ain’t afraid to use them. Glad someone shook Chuck to wake him up. Uh, about 5 years too late. Of course anyone who opposes what the “lyin’ king” does, has done or will do is simply a racis’ and they hate him and his plans to “help” all Americans just because he’s half-rican American. Uh, no. Because there are still a few living brain cells out here who hate the idea of socialism/communism. Maybe just me thinkin’ like that but probably not.


7 posted on 02/16/2014 6:14:47 AM PST by rktman (Under my plan(scheme),unemployment will necessarily skyrocket! Despite the % dropping. Period.)
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To: Libloather
This is just one more area in which the Obama administration is undermining our system of checks and balances and the rule of law

The question is: So what?

Obama and his administration have been violating the constitution and a many other laws of the land, for 5 years, and republicans just registered their mandatory complaints for press consumption, without any real action to stop the administration.

It's like the the mandatory scoldings that come from the parents of a misbehaving child, who just keeps misbehaving, over and over again, because he knows he can get away with it.

And the president keeps violating our laws because, there is a "So what?" attitude on the part of republicans (and democrats) and even the judicial system.
8 posted on 02/16/2014 6:23:32 AM PST by adorno (Y)
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To: adorno

I agree...”so what?” Until someone in authority takes on these criminals, it doesn’t matter (other than to continue the decline of America).


9 posted on 02/16/2014 6:26:35 AM PST by hal ogen (First Amendment or Reeducation Camp?)
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To: Libloather

Better late than never.

BTW, I read today that the banks have no intention of doing this, since there is no way that his telling them to ignore the law makes it definitively legal, and at some future date, they might be held accountable.

On the other hand, maybe that’s the purpose of his doing this. Lead the banks into some illegal action so that only he and the Dems have the power to protect them, and then watch the campaign contributions come rolling in.


10 posted on 02/16/2014 6:29:59 AM PST by livius
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To: Libloather

they haven’t figured it out yet

0bama and crew look at laws like cards to be played when and how you want.

it’s not that he is creating NEW law... it’s that he’s instructing those who are tasked with enforcing the law WHICH law to enforce.

the cute little law that says you’ll be persecuted if you accept drug money? ignored.

see? no new law created. just existing laws ignored. same effect. as a bonus, they can also keep banks, or people, in line by threatening them by enforcing those laws.

personally, I’m at a loss why those in the executive branch are not in prison, or at least out of their jobs, for not enforcing the law


11 posted on 02/16/2014 6:30:06 AM PST by sten (fighting tyranny never goes out of style)
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To: Graybeard58

No, that would be mean and rayciss... and republicans should focus on the economy and putting people back to work and ....Bush blah blah blah...


12 posted on 02/16/2014 6:31:27 AM PST by Moorings
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To: Libloather

luv a comment coming from a senator name GRASS-ley


13 posted on 02/16/2014 6:40:07 AM PST by brooklyn dave
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To: Libloather

As long as he has a phone a pen and a spineless House of Representatives he can do pretty much anything he wants to do.


14 posted on 02/16/2014 6:44:32 AM PST by Kartographer ("We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.")
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To: Libloather

Just another IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE to add to the list.


15 posted on 02/16/2014 6:46:40 AM PST by Don Corleone ("Oil the gun..eat the cannoli. Take it to the Mattress.")
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To: sten

Add to that, all the federal law enforcement personnel who are enforcing illegal actions. baraq and/or holder issue a decree and it is enforced. There are thousands of people who are complicit with enforcing the presidents wishes with no regard for Congress.
IF we ever get our country back there need to be a wide and deep purge of government types.


16 posted on 02/16/2014 6:48:33 AM PST by Texas resident
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To: Libloather

What I find interesting about this is how quickly dear leader is looking to carve out an exemption for his bankster pals so they can cash in on drug sales. Truly though it’s probably a solution looking for a problem. With the rise of crypto currencies, I doubt the drug dealers are sitting outside their local Chase branch begging them to take piles of cash off their hands.


17 posted on 02/16/2014 7:00:13 AM PST by RKBA Democrat (Having some small say in who gets to hold the whip doesn't make you any less a slave.)
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To: Kartographer

...don’t forget a complicit judiciary.


18 posted on 02/16/2014 7:02:01 AM PST by RKBA Democrat (Having some small say in who gets to hold the whip doesn't make you any less a slave.)
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To: Libloather

Wah wah wah. DO something about it.


19 posted on 02/16/2014 7:02:06 AM PST by Ray76 (How modern liberals think: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaE98w1KZ-c)
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To: impactplayer

Who would have standing? The people hurt by 0bama not executing the law as written, insurance company losses, individuals who lost their insurances, even potentially death from the actions of this rogue President.

High crimes and misdemeanors against the American people?


20 posted on 02/16/2014 7:07:01 AM PST by EBH ( The Day of the Patriot has arrived.)
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