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Report: New DOJ guidelines to back medical marijuana laws

By Bridget Johnson - 10/18/09 10:40 PM ET

The Obama administration is set to make a sharp turn from the Bush administration when it comes to state laws regarding medical marijuana usage, the Associated Press reported late Sunday.

The guidelines to be issued to federal prosecutors Monday will suggest that it's not a good use of time to go after users and distributors of medical marijuana in the 14 states that allow such usage, while encouraging that illegal pot operations involving violence, firearms and sale to minors still be pursued.

Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington currently have state laws allowing at least limited use of marijuana for medical purposes. The AP reported that federal prosecutors in these states, as well as top officials at the FBI and DEA, would being receiving the three-page Justice Department memo outlining the new policy.

Under the George W. Bush administration, medical marijuana dispensaries were still targeted for violating federal law despite state laws allowing pot for medical use. Attorney General Eric Holder signaled a shift in this policy in March, stating that federal enforcement would concentrate on illegal marijuana operations that use medical pot allowances as a cover.

The move doesn't come as a surprise, as Obama the candidate had expressed support for states that allowed medical marijuana.

"I would not have the Justice Department prosecuting and raiding medical marijuana users," then-Sen. Barack Obama said on the campaign trail in New Hampshire.



Source:
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/63617-report-new-doj-guidelines-to-back-medical-marijuana-laws
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Comments (18)

"The AP reported that federal prosecutors in these states, as well as top officials at the FBI and DEA, would being receiving the three-page Justice Department memo outlining the new policy."Wow! i am stunned to say the least. This is a great moment for medical marijuana users and marijuana activism in general. I hope this three-page Justice Department memo outlining the new policy will stop raids of medical marijuana dispensaries. This is a good start President Obama, all you have to do now is end the drug war and earn that nobel peace prize.BY dr. slade  on 10/19/2009 at 01:19
I believe our president is on the right track, and that all he has left to do is to get the rest of the states on the same page. Those of us who are in constant pain whether it is from cancer, spinal injuries etc.. need to be able to purchase this drug legally, without fear of consequenses. I live in Arizona and I am patiently waiting for the relief of medical marijuana for a spinal injury, thank you president Obama for your support.BY janice n on 10/19/2009 at 05:47
it's about time, keep the feds out of state law…just that simple! When the legalize this million dollar crop, ( which is less harmfull than ANY alcohol or smokes) and place a SIN tax on all of these items, perhaps some of these states can get our of the red… Allow ADULTS to be adults, pleaseBY b hayden  on 10/19/2009 at 06:18
Great! Can we free Marc Emery now?BY Jason on 10/19/2009 at 09:00
As freedom-loving Americans, we would be wise to adopt an approach allowing individuals to grow a little marijuana for personal use. It will put the illegal drug dealers out of business in a year. Limit the size of the growing area or the number of plants, and put a small user-fee on it to cover administrative costs, something like a fishing license.One possibility:$100 per year for a permit to cultivate a dozen plants.It's a win-win.BY Concerned Parent on 10/19/2009 at 09:14
Obama's approach regarding marijuana is certainly better than that of George W Bush.That's a step in the right direction and for this reason Thumbs up !BY Bernard B on 10/19/2009 at 10:46
I too belive that medical marijuana, or any marijuana use should be leagalized. Marijuana is not a drug that will ruin lives, (unless your caught by the cops smoking it). Its also not the gateway drug we were taught to think it was. Alcohol is the #1 gateway drug, ive done things while drunk, that i never would have done stoned on marijuana. About 15-20% of the poeple i know smoke pot on a regular basis, none of them are criminals, most are very caring friends and neighbors just trying to unwind or cope with life in their own way. Every syate should legalize medical marijuana use, and decriminalize marijuana period. Legalize, regulate, and educate, its coming, mark my words, ist coming.BY patrick on 10/19/2009 at 11:32
Good post Patrick. I'm a rare breed, a pot smoking Conservative! I see a lot of my friends drink too much and the devastating effect it has had on their lives. It is "high time" to LEGALIZE IT, tax it and quit jailing folks for just getting high. It is ridiculous just like prohibition was back in the 1930's I haven't agreed with too much from this administration (I love Mic[***]e's garden) this one's a winner, and a good start.BY danceswithtrees on 10/19/2009 at 13:03
This is great news, and goes to show that people are actually starting to listen to facts instead of propaganda. The fact that kids are experimenting with pot because of current government propaganda is astonishing, and should obviously be viewed as not a good use of public funds.Patrick, very true on the alcohol gateway…BY Sean on 10/19/2009 at 13:05
Hopefully this administration stays true to its word. If they do, they will have taken a step in the right direction. Ironically, legal pills that contain 100% THC (Marinol) have been legal for sometime, and I'm certain that no physicians or pharmacies have been raided for their stocks of Marinol. It is possible to overdose on Marinol, but it is impossible to overdose on marijuana. Perhaps if marijuana was legal for everyone, Marinol would be taken off the market…BY Greg on 10/19/2009 at 15:10

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