Obama May Change Medical Marijuana Policy

[zrinkill]

Experts believe it is already clear the Obama administration will change the strategy, if not the law, on medical marijuana.


The White House won't say it explicitly. Neither will the Drug Enforcement Administration. Yet there is a whiff in the air that U.S. policy is about to change when it comes to medical marijuana.


The message is clear, said UCLA professor Mark Kleiman, a former Justice Department official and an expert on crime and drug policy.


"It is no longer federal policy to beat up on hippies," said Kleiman.
Tell that to the DEA.


In California this past week, agents raided four dispensaries in Los Angeles and seized 500 pounds (225 kilograms) of pot.


"It's a little bit surprising, because I think current DEA management didn't get the message," said Kleiman. "The message is, this is no longer drug warrior time. We are not on a cultural crusade against pot-smoking."


California law permits the sale of marijuana for medical purposes, though it is still against federal law.


Thirteen states have laws permitting medicinal use of marijuana. California is unique among them for the presence of dispensaries, businesses that sell marijuana and even advertise their services. Legal under California law, such dispensaries are still illegal under federal law.


"Anyone possessing, distributing or cultivating marijuana for any reason is in violation of federal law," Sarah Pullen, a DEA spokeswoman in Los Angeles, said Thursday.


That may be the law, but it contradicts the medical marijuana position of the new president.


"The president believes that federal resources should not be used to circumvent state laws, and as he continues to appoint senior leadership to fill out the ranks of the federal government, he expects them to review their policies with that in mind," said White House spokesman Nick Shapiro, repeating past statements.


So on Friday, DEA officials in Washington declined to comment at all on the subject.


As a presidential candidate, Obama repeatedly promised a change in federal drug policy in situations where state laws allow use of medical marijuana.


"I think the basic concept of using medical marijuana for the same purposes and with the same controls as other drugs prescribed by doctors, I think that's entirely appropriate," Obama told the Mail Tribune of Medford, Oregon, in March.


A year earlier at a campaign stop in New Hampshire, Obama said: "I would not have the Justice Department prosecuting and raiding medical marijuana users."


At age 47, Obama is part of a generation that had plenty of exposure to pot.


In his memoir, "Dreams from My Father," he described time spent as a youth struggling with questions about his race and identity, and turning to drugs -- including marijuana and cocaine -- to "push questions of who I was out of my mind."


The new president is unlikely to make any official change in policy before he has a new DEA chief and drug czar in place.


Yet experts believe it is already clear the Obama administration will change the strategy, if not the law, on medical marijuana.


Philip Heymann, a former deputy attorney general in the Clinton administration who is now a Harvard professor, said it's time for the agency to put more effort into fighting drugs more dangerous than marijuana.


"I do expect him to appoint an administrator who takes marijuana less seriously than is traditional for the DEA, as I think most Americans do," said Heymann.


Heymann said he expects the Obama administration will eventually instruct the DEA to emphatically scale back raids on dispensaries, and conduct such raids only in instances where investigators believe a business is abusing the dispensary system as a cover for other criminal behavior.


So last week's raids in California may be the last of their kind.


"The DEA's not likely to want to confront a new president," said Heymann. "It may simply be that they're behaving as they have traditionally, and they haven't anticipated the change Obama and his spokesman are signaling."


http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/02/07/obama-change-medical-marijuanana-policy/


.
.
.
.
.

[WoodysGirl]

Interesting...

Not sure how I feel about that quite yet.

[Heisenberg]

I like the idea. It's a waste of resources.

[bbgun]

Interesting...

Not sure how I feel about that quite yet.

Me neither. Let's discuss it over a nice bottle of Caifornia red.

[iceberg]

Interesting...

Not sure how I feel about that quite yet.

this is one liberal policy i won't argue against. : )

[WoodysGirl]

Me neither. Let's discuss it over a nice bottle of Caifornia red.No thanks. I'm partial to Texas white.

this is one liberal policy i won't argue against. : )You see more vacations in your future? :laugh2:

[TheCount]

I think it's ridiculous that the policy regarding medical marijuana isn't a national one. Outlaw it or make it legal for medal use, but don't tell me it's fine in California and not in another state.

[vta]

Chill out man, let's hash this out over a fatty...

http://www.bizzyblog.com/wp-images/ObamaSmoking.jpg

[iceberg]

No thanks. I'm partial to Texas white.

You see more vacations in your future? :laugh2:

no - i'll just wait for the open thought to expand to texas. : )

[trickblue]

I think it's ridiculous that the policy regarding medical marijuana isn't a national one. Outlaw it or make it legal for medal use, but don't tell me it's fine in California and not in another state.

It should be legalized... personally I don't use it... but it should be legal...

[burmafrd]

It should never be left to the states to regulate any substance. That is so clearly strictly a federal duty.

[iceberg]

It should never be left to the states to regulate any substance. That is so clearly strictly a federal duty.

it's a personal one.

[burmafrd]

Wrong.

[iceberg]

Wrong.

no. i'm conservative and don't want the gov to tell me what to do.

suddenly you want gov control

you socialist.

[silverbear]

I like the idea. It's a waste of resources.

Legalize it, let the states sell it in ABC stores like they do liquor here in Virginia, and tax the living bejesus out of it... it'd probably still be cheaper than what the stoners are paying on the streets these days, and the tax revenue would be considerable...

Boy, I've got vision, and the rest of the world wears bifocals...

[silverbear]

Chill out man, let's hash this out over a fatty...

I get a sneaking hunch you're talkin' about women here...

Nobody loves a fat girl
But oh, how a fat girl can love
Nobody seems to want her
She's just a truck upon the highway of love

She's all alone
Inside of her form
When every ounce of her
Is dyin' to keep somebody warm

Nobody loves a fat girl
But oh, how a fat girl can love...

Are you trying to live out the words of that old Jim Croce song, vta??

[silverbear]

It should be legalized... personally I don't use it... but it should be legal...

Actually, it should be mandatory...

Especially for Republicans... :D

[CowboyMcCoy]

Crack Kills!

Oh, wait, wrong thread.....

[silverbear]

no. i'm conservative and don't want the gov to tell me what to do.

suddenly you want gov control

you socialist.

If this thread goes on much longer, I predict that burm's ignore list will grow by one... LOL...

[trickblue]

Actually, it should be mandatory...

Especially for Republicans... :D

True... they need to catch up with the dems...

[iceberg]

If this thread goes on much longer, I predict that burm's ignore list will grow by one... LOL...

hey - he's the one saying the feds should tell me what to smoke, not me!

[silverbear]

True... they need to catch up with the dems...

I was thinking more of the advantages in the area of attitude adjustment... those boys just need to lighten up, and have a little FUN, stop being such tight*****...

[silverbear]

hey - he's the one saying the feds should tell me what to smoke, not me!

Actually, it's the state that should be telling you that... states' rights, and all that... let the Old Dominion grow it, harvest it, package it and sell it... keep the profits AND the taxes...

We'd have the best roads and bridges and schools in the entire world, by Gawd!! Might even be able to do away with property taxes...

I tell ya, I'm a visionary, ain't no two ways about it...

[vta]

I get a sneaking hunch you're talkin' about women here...

Nobody loves a fat girl
But oh, how a fat girl can love
Nobody seems to want her
She's just a truck upon the highway of love

She's all alone
Inside of her form
When every ounce of her
Is dyin' to keep somebody warm

Nobody loves a fat girl
But oh, how a fat girl can love...

Are you trying to live out the words of that old Jim Croce song, vta??

:eek:
No man. A Fatty. A Blunt. A joint. Spliff. :laugh2:
Have you some heavy G's on your mind, SB? :laugh2:

[Hoofbite]

Legalize it, let the states sell it in ABC stores like they do liquor here in Virginia, and tax the living bejesus out of it... it'd probably still be cheaper than what the stoners are paying on the streets these days, and the tax revenue would be considerable...

Boy, I've got vision, and the rest of the world wears bifocals...

I don't smoke it, never have and I am not against what you just said.

I think you could bring in a lot of tax dollars that way. Of course, just giving the tax dollars to those who screw off with it.

I don't think legalization is a bad idea but it will never happen. Growing weed is too easy for the government to allow it to be illegal. I don't think they would like to legalize something that is too hard to control.

Then again, I guess if it was cheap enough people wouldn't go through the hassle of growing it. It would work out in the long run.

Theres videos on youtube of a famous economist who was pro-legalization and makes some interesting arguments for it.

[iceberg]

I don't smoke it, never have and I am not against what you just said.

I think you could bring in a lot of tax dollars that way. Of course, just giving the tax dollars to those who screw off with it.

I don't think legalization is a bad idea but it will never happen. Growing weed is too easy for the government to allow it to be illegal. I don't think they would like to legalize something that is too hard to control.

Then again, I guess if it was cheap enough people wouldn't go through the hassle of growing it. It would work out in the long run.

Theres videos on youtube of a famous economist who was pro-legalization and makes some interesting arguments for it.

if you legalize it, why control it?

it would be like alcohol at that point. do it at your own home or don't drivc while on it. don't toke/drink and drive.

[burmafrd]

Any way it happens it should NOT be a state decision. One rule for all states not 50.

[iceberg]

Any way it happens it should NOT be a state decision. One rule for all states not 50.

it may get that way in the end, but the only way it would do that is 1 piece at a time.

not all.

state decision.

[burmafrd]

Nope.

[iceberg]

Nope.

you told me.

i could never defeat such craftiness.

[silverbear]

Any way it happens it should NOT be a state decision. One rule for all states not 50.

You're not even a good Republican, LOL...

[CowboyWay]

Does this mean I can sell my very expensive lights that are now in my closet, and just use the natural sun thats in my backyard?

[sacase]

I think it probably should be legal, however with that said, regulation of drug is a duty of the Federal Government. So until congress votes to make it legal, it is illegal and the LAW should be enforced. PERIOD.

[Vintage]

no. i'm conservative and don't want the gov to tell me what to do.

suddenly you want gov control

you socialist.


LOL.

Burm loves him some gov't control.... so long as it promotes his agenda. When it doesn't, its "socialism."

Burm's been a closet Commie for some time.

[burmafrd]

Just common sense which is another huge conservative advantage. As I pointed out, however it goes, it SHOULD be one law for all states.



















oh by the way





















http://www.javno.com/en/lifestyle/clanak.php?id=232267

[arglebargle]

I think it probably should be legal, however with that said, regulation of drug is a duty of the Federal Government. So until congress votes to make it legal, it is illegal and the LAW should be enforced. PERIOD.


Because you should always do exactly what the law says, right?

[arglebargle]

Pot was in the legitimate pharmacopeia as a medicine until the feds forced it out in the '30's. They really needed some new targets since the prohibition failure had put so many policemen out of jobs.

There's a lot of money in the trade, and right now it goes untaxed. I think Pot is like number 3 or 4 agriculteral product in the US. But there are big bucks involved in keeping it illegal.

[DaBoys4Life]

It should be legal.

[TheCount]

Pot was in the legitimate pharmacopeia as a medicine until the feds forced it out in the '30's. They really needed some new targets since the prohibition failure had put so many policemen out of jobs.

There's a lot of money in the trade, and right now it goes untaxed. I think Pot is like number 3 or 4 agriculteral product in the US. But there are big bucks involved in keeping it illegal.

And there wouldn't be big bucks involved if it were legal?

Whether it should be legal or not is a completely different argument. If it's illegal right now (which it is) then how it is pursued should be the same in every state. If the idea is that because it's legal for medical use in Cali, despite Federal law, that it won't be persued but you can go to jail for having it for medical use in New York, that is complete BS.

[JBond]

Alcohol or weed, they will find a way to tax it.

[GOLDENCHILD1688]

good seems were getting closer or making some progress here

cant wait till they finally legalize it

i should be able to smoke in the confines of my own home as i do now but with out fear of being arrested.

[sacase]

Because you should always do exactly what the law says, right?

No of course not, you should only follow the laws that you feel you should. :bang2:

[Rackat]

Legalize it, regulate it as alcohol is regulated, tax it as cigarettes are taxed, and chill out.

Nicotine - drug that is regulated and taxed
Caffeine - drug that is regulated and taxed in multiple forms
Alcohol - drug that is regulated and taxed

I am sure I am missing others, but the idea is the same.

burm, I am surprised at you! This is a great quote and I am shocked that you missed the importance of it.

"The president believes that federal resources should not be used to circumvent state laws, and as he continues to appoint senior leadership to fill out the ranks of the federal government, he expects them to review their policies with that in mind," said White House spokesman Nick Shapiro, repeating past statements.

That quote should be laminated and hung up on the wall of every governor in the Union. It essentially says that we are going back to our roots with State governments leading the way.

Now, I know that is not really what is going to happen, there is too much vested in big Federal Government for him to truly follow this policy. It's just a convenient answer for now. This quote will probably come back to haunt him later.

[JBond]

No of course not, you should only follow the laws that you feel you should. :bang2:

Like our treasury secretary...

[arglebargle]

No of course not, you should only follow the laws that you feel you should. :bang2:


You are quite free to ignore any law, put you have to face the consequences.

Bad law erodes respect for the law in general. The lesson of Prohibition that seems to always be overlooked.

We'd also save a lot of money if we weren't encarceration huge numbers of non violent drug users. Even if we added support for medical and spiritual intervention instead.

[ScipioCowboy]

My opinion on the criminalization of marijuana is identical to my opinion on gun control: Feel good legislation that, ultimately, may do more harm than good.

[arglebargle]

My opinion on the criminalization of marijuana is identical to my opinion on gun control: Feel good legislation that, ultimately, may do more harm than good.

I agree here. While there may be reasonable rules regarding each, alot of what's out there is BS. Ala the Assault Rifle Ban, which solved no problem, was patently unconstitutional, and just acted as a 'See, we did something!' talking point.

[ABQCOWBOY]

[B][SIZE=3]
"The president believes that federal resources should not be used to circumvent state laws, and as he continues to appoint senior leadership to fill out the ranks of the federal government, he expects them to review their policies with that in mind," said White House spokesman Nick Shapiro, repeating past statements.
.

I personally am not in favor of this but it doesn't matter because I am in the minority I suspect.

However, this statment is absurd.

Let me see:

Education
Bailouts for State's requesting funds.
Welfare

The list definatly goes on. This President, definatly believes in circumventing state laws. I don't know if it's the speak righter, Shapiro or the President who is the buffon that wrote this but somebody should get fired for this one.

:laugh2:

[CowboyMcCoy]

They could tax it, thus making more money to fund the stimulus--seems like a pretty good idea right now.

[BrAinPaiNt]

Legalize it and tax it.

While we are at it, legalize prostitution, tax it and put it in specific areas outside of city limits so it can be contained there and don't have to worry about it being in town.

While we are at it, add a big tax for specific cosmetic surgery that does not fall within birth defects or disfigurement areas.

That's right...tax that stuff to help in other areas.

[CowboyMcCoy]

Legalize it and tax it.

While we are at it, legalize prostitution, tax it and put it in specific areas outside of city limits so it can be contained there and don't have to worry about it being in town.

While we are at it, add a big tax for specific cosmetic surgery that does not fall within birth defects or disfigurement areas.

That's right...tax that stuff to help in other areas.

I agree. Not only are these things "sin-taxable", some of them are "snob goods". And thus we can really tax the snot out of those Beverly Hills women with their double-chin tummy tucks and nose jobs.
:laugh2:

It'd help counterbalance the under-funded medical system in some ways.

Hey, you got any other plans?

[CowboyMcCoy]

I think they should tax the crap out of cigarettes. That does two things (1) discourages people for smoking (2) help pay for people being treated for lung cancer.

But the most important reason they don't do that (3) is because it would cause the tobacco businesses to fail and then we'd have to borrow more money to bail them out. More importantly than this even, is that the tobacco lobbyists have control of Washington and the legislature re: tobacco laws.

This country has it's roots in tobacco...and cotton.

[burmafrd]

And don't forget all the money they get out of taxing cigs like they do now. If that dries up they have to find someone else to hold up.

[Garland powerplay]

It could make dealers get part time jobs

[CowboyMcCoy]

It could make dealers get part time jobs

Oh, my friend, you have reached the eighth limb.

[Garland powerplay]

What is eight limb?

[CowboyMcCoy]

THE EIGHT LIMBS OF YOGA: Approximately 200 years B.C. Patanjali wrote down the first systematized treatise on Yoga called Yoga Sutras (aphorisms). In this work he describes the eight limbs of Yoga as: Yamas (Abstinence); Niyamas (Observances); Asanas (Postures); Pranayama (Breath Control); Pratyahara (Sense Withdrawal; Dharana (Concentration); Dhyana (Contemplation); and Samadhi (Self-realization). [1]

The 8th Limb (Samadhi): oneness with the object of meditation. There is no distinction between act of meditation and the object of meditation. Samadhi is of two kinds:
Samprajnata Samadhi conscious samadhi. The mind remains concentrated (ekagra) on the object of meditation, therefore the consciousness of the object of meditation persists. Mental modifications arise only in respect of this object of meditation. [2]








[1] http://yogateacher.com/text/yoga/essays/rajayoga.html
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoga_Sutras_of_Patanjali

[Garland powerplay]

very interesting thank you , Yes that is exactly what i have there.

[Viper]

Why stop here, let's tax beer. With all the beer we drink we could provide health care for everyone. Saturated fats would be another great tax! All the music poisoning our kids, we could really make a few bucks hitting that industry. :eek:

[BrAinPaiNt]

Why stop here, let's tax beer. With all the beer we drink we could provide health care for everyone. Saturated fats would be another great tax! All the music poisoning our kids, we could really make a few bucks hitting that industry. :eek:

Although you are joking...I think alcohol should be taxed more as well.:)