bluecheese

All these stories are basically the same, so threads were merged.

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HarveyKushna

I am no scholar on the constitution (we all should be), but the last time I checked/remember the state laws trump that of the FED. Unless this was a part of joining the "union".

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I did a bong.
I did, I did.
A bong, bong!
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4CD2XX0

New Medical Marijuana Policy Issued

There is a poll on this page if people think cannabis should be completely legalized, 68% out of almost 20,000 people said it should be legalized, only about 25% said no!

bertman33

Lies! I say.. all lies.

Isn't this what the administration some time ago? Yet raids continue to happen on dispensaries and medical growers. The DEA is still on the case.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

bert

analog

Memorandum for Selected United State Attorneys on Investigations and Prosecutions in States Authorizing the Medical Use of Marijuana

October 19th, 2009

Today Attorney General Eric Holder announced formal guidelines for federal prosecutors in states that have enacted laws authorizing the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Those guidelines are contained in a memo from Deputy Attorney General David W. Ogden which was sent to United States Attorneys this morning.

The text of this memo is provided below for reference. You may also download a PDF version of the memo by clicking, here.

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October 19,2009

MEMORANDUM FOR SELECTED UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS

FROM: David W. Ogden, Deputy Attorney General

SUBJECT: Investigations and Prosecutions in States Authorizing the Medical Use of Marijuana

This memorandum provides clarification and guidance to federal prosecutors in States that have enacted laws authorizing the medical use of marijuana. These laws vary in their substantive provisions and in the extent of state regulatory oversight, both among the enacting States and among local jurisdictions within those States. Rather than developing different guidelines for every possible variant of state and local law, this memorandum provides uniform guidance to focus federal investigations and prosecutions in these States on core federal enforcement priorities.

The Department of Justice is committed to the enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act in all States. Congress has determined that marijuana is a dangerous drug, and the illegal distribution and sale of marijuana is a serious crime and provides a significant source of revenue to large-scale criminal enterprises, gangs, and cartels. One timely example underscores the importance of our efforts to prosecute significant marijuana traffickers: marijuana distribution in the United States remains the single largest source of revenue for the Mexican cartels.

The Department is also committed to making efficient and rational use of its limited investigative and prosecutorial resources. In general, United States Attorneys are vested with “plenary authority with regard to federal criminal matters” within their districts. USAM 9-2.001. In exercising this authority, United States Attorneys are “invested by statute and delegation from the Attorney General with the broadest discretion in the exercise of such authority.” Id. This authority should, of course, be exercised consistent with Department priorities and guidance.

The prosecution of significant traffickers of illegal drugs, including marijuana, and the disruption of illegal drug manufacturing and trafficking networks continues to be a core priority in the Department’s efforts against narcotics and dangerous drugs, and the Department’s investigative and prosecutorial resources should be directed towards these objectives. As a general matter, pursuit of these priorities should not focus federal resources in your States on individuals whose actions are in clear and unambiguous compliance with existing state laws providing for the medical use of marijuana. For example, prosecution of individuals with cancer or other serious illnesses who use marijuana as part of a recommended treatment regimen consistent with applicable state law, or those caregivers in clear and unambiguous compliance with existing state law who provide such individuals with marijuana, is unlikely to be an efficient use of limited federal resources. On the other hand, prosecution of commercial enterprises that unlawfully market and sell marijuana for profit continues to be an enforcement priority of the Department. To be sure, claims of compliance with state or local law may mask operations inconsistent with the terms, conditions, or purposes of those laws, and federal law enforcement should not be deterred by such assertions when otherwise pursuing the Department’s core enforcement priorities.

Typically, when any of the following characteristics is present, the conduct will not be in clear and unambiguous compliance with applicable state law and may indicate illegal drug trafficking activity of potential federal interest:

*
unlawful possession or unlawful use of firearms;
*
violence;
*
sales to minors;
*
financial and marketing activities inconsistent with the terms, conditions, or purposes of state law, including evidence of money laundering activity and/or financial gains or excessive amounts of cash inconsistent with purported compliance with state or local law;
*
amounts of marijuana inconsistent with purported compliance with state or local law;
*
illegal possession or sale of other controlled substances; or
*
ties to other criminal enterprises.

Of course, no State can authorize violations of federal law, and the list of factors above is not intended to describe exhaustively when a federal prosecution may be warranted. Accordingly, in prosecutions under the Controlled Substances Act, federal prosecutors are not expected to charge, prove, or otherwise establish any state law violations. Indeed, this memorandum does not alter in any way the Department’s authority to enforce federal law, including laws prohibiting the manufacture, production, distribution, possession, or use of marijuana on federal property. This guidance regarding resource allocation does not “legalize” marijuana or provide a legal defense to a violation of federal law, nor is it intended to create any privileges, benefits, or rights, substantive or procedural, enforceable by any individual, party or witness in any administrative, civil, or criminal matter. Nor does clear and unambiguous compliance with state law or the absence of one or all of the above factors create a legal defense to a violation of the Controlled Substances Act. Rather, this memorandum is intended solely as a guide to the exercise of investigative and prosecutorial discretion.

Finally, nothing herein precludes investigation or prosecution where there is a reasonable basis to believe that compliance with state law is being invoked as a pretext for the production or distribution of marijuana for purposes not authorized by state law. Nor does this guidance preclude investigation or prosecution, even when there is clear and unambiguous compliance with existing state law, in particular circumstances where investigation or prosecution otherwise serves important federal interests.

Your offices should continue to review marijuana cases for prosecution on a case-by-case basis, consistent with the guidance on resource allocation and federal priorities set forth herein, the consideration of requests for federal assistance from state and local law enforcement authorities, and the Principles of Federal Prosecution.

cc: All United States Attorneys

Lanny A. Breuer
Assistant Attorney General Criminal Division

B. Todd Jones
United States Attorney
District of Minnesota
Chair, Attorney General’s Advisory Committee

Michele M. Leonhart
Acting Administrator
Drug Enforcement Administration

H. Marshall Jarrett
Director
Executive Office for United States Attorneys

Kevin L. Perkins
Assistant Director
Criminal Investigative Division
Federal Bureau of Investigation

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Japhy_Ryder

But.. but.. Obama's supposed to be satan!





Definitely a big step in the right direction.

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“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life,
and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.”
-- Henry David Thoreau



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xtensity

I voted mixed feelings on there. I believe it should be legal for medical patients, but not completely legal like cigarettes. Maybe if like beer you wouldn't be able to smoke in public etc just like you can't drink in public.

It's one thing people going out drunk all the time.

There are a lot of beer drinkers, who also smoke weed. Then there are also a lot of people who smoke only weed like me. I think it would be really dumb to be around a bunch of high people all day other then my friends. It would get irritating.

Plus you can tell when someone is drunk by looking at them, not really when they are high, it seems that alcohol is harder to hide sense of...

Its really easy to tell someone who is super drunk by looking at them, but not someone who is super high unless you look them in their face really.

Dunno maybe its just me, but more people smoke weed then drink from what I have seen and that number would go up when it is legalized. It would just get kind of annoying being around super high people all day lol, specially when I dont know them.

CRAZYTRAIN

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Sso

i think only a minority listen to laws they consider stupid.

i think if it were legalized, perhaps fewer would smoke and certainly less children would start to smoke.

smokers would be sure more noticable though.

so yes, you would run into a few more boring people, like me and i suspect quite a few others here.

though i tend to keep to myself, i do find most people rather boring. so hey

burndt

I don't like to be out in public when I'm high anyway...so you won't see me out there all red eyed.

I use it more for relaxation at home. Me guess is I'm just anti social I guess that just comes from chronic use, speaking personally.

But with such a high tolerance I have, you wouldn't even suspect me being high acting all giggly and stupid in public

I really can't tolerate ppl who over dramatize being high....HEY! You're not tripping, dumbass!

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