In recent months, the federal Justice Department has engaged in concerted efforts to crack down on the proliferation of medical cannabis related activities in states that allow for its therapeutic use under state law, including California, Montana, and Washington.
Now, according to a CBS News report, the next state on the federal government’s ‘hit list’ is Colorado — arguably the state with the most comprehensive and stringent statewide regulations governing medical cannabis activities. These regulations explicitly license state-authorized cannabis dispensaries, of which there are now some 700 operating statewide.
Nonetheless, the imprimatur of the state apparently carries little if any weight with the Obama administration at this time — despite promises (reiterated before Congress just last week by US Attorney General Eric Holder) that such prosecutions are “not a (federal) priority” and that the Justice Department only intends to target those entities who “use marijuana in a way that’s not consistent with the state statute.”
Predictably, today’s CBS special report tells a different story.
Crackdown On Colorado’s Medical Pot Business On The Horizon
via CBS News Denver
Federal authorities are planning to crack down on the medical marijuana business in Colorado on a large scale for the first time.
Warning letters will be going out to dispensaries and grow facilities near schools, CBS4 investigator Rick Sallinger has learned. So far it’s not clear how soon that will happen.
Dispensaries that receive the letters will be given 45 days to shut down or move operations. If they don’t comply, they will be shut down by the U.S. attorney in Colorado.
The dispensaries who are set to be targeted are the ones that are located within 1,000 feet of schools. That measurement is being used because that distance already appears in federal law as a factor in drug crime sentencing.
The move comes after the Justice Department sent out a memo clarifying that marijuana has been and remains illegal under federal law despite what has taken place with state regulations. Colorado is one of 16 states where medical marijuana laws have been approved.
Many of the state’s dispensaries that are closer than 1,000 feet to a school have already been approved to be there under local laws. They usually have been grandfathered in.
… Robert Corry, an attorney who represents dispensaries, said medical marijuana operations are now strictly regulated under Colorado state laws.
“The federal apparatus here has better things to do,” said Corry. “My reaction would be the federal government is essentially declaring war on the voters of our state (who) passed a Constitutional amendment.”
U.S. attorneys in California recently announced in a separate medical marijuana crackdown that they would be targeting landlords who rent retail space to dispensaries, as well as dispensary owners themselves.
Does anyone really believe that this is an appropriate use of scarce federal resources? Or that these actions are in any way consistent with Obama’s public pledge to cease utilizing “Justice Department resources to try and circumvent state laws on this issue?” I didn’t think so.
If the federal government is truly concerned about the diversion of
medical marijuana or its potential abuse in states that have authorized it then it would be better served to encourage — rather than to discourage — statewide and local efforts to regulate these actions accordingly. The Obama administration’s enforcement actions in California, Colorado, and elsewhere will only result in limiting adults’ regulated, safe access to cannabis therapy. It will also cost local jobs and needed tax revenue, and likely result in hundreds — if not thousands — of unnecessary criminal prosecutions.
Legislating medical marijuana operations and prosecuting those who act in a manner that is inconsistent with state law and voters’ sentiment should be a responsibility left to the state and local officials, not the federal government. It is time for this administration to fulfill the assurances it gave to the medical cannabis community and to respect the decisions of voters and lawmakers in states that recognize its therapeutic efficacy.
How about a petition so we can voice our objections to the Justice Dept. position?
[Paul Armentano responds: NORML has previously set up an action alert on this issue here: http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=54512501.%5D
I have to wonder if the Feds can offer up any proof that the way Colorado is currently handling their marijuana laws has caused any problems that we should all be concerned about. If not, then they should leave them alone!
Obama said it’s time for a discussion about the war on drugs. So when is that going to happen? The American people, according to all the latest polls, are really disgusted with our Govt: Dems and Reps!
I really really wish Ron Paul would have ran as an independent… Still, given the chance, he will get my vote. God Forbid that Newt Gingrich becomes our next president!
I don’t get it. That memo from the U.S. Department of Justice in October of 2009 (commonly referred to as the “Ogden Memo”) said the feds could go after anyone in compliance with state law any time they wanted to. What promise did they break? I don’t think distortion of the truth is going to get us anywhere and it certainly diverts attention from where it ought to be on states demanding their right to have marijuana removed from its current federal classification as having no accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. In the last big U.S. Supreme Court decision, the U.S. Supreme Court even said it was likely that marijuana is misclassified under federal law.
Someone needs to tell Obama and Holder and al of Obama’s appointed leaders of FBI and DEA that if they dont stop, Obama will NOT be re-elected. It would be the only way if the Rebuplicans have any say. Hell, most Dems aren’t voting for Obama…..OR tell Obama that if he doesnt legalize medical or decrim, then he does NOT need to run for re-election and to step out of the race.
FREE AMERICA
The marijuana prohibition of the US represents of of the greatest crimes against humanity in history.
Any politician that supports prohibition of marijuana and the draconian laws that it uses to kill and imprison people should be brought up on Crimes Against Humanity charges by Mexico, Columbia, the US, and any other country whose citizens are killed, imprisoned and otherwise terrorized by these outdated and barbaric laws that continue to defy the will of the people.
All the feds are doing is continuing too support drug cartels and terrorism. They will only drive prices up and send good citizens back in the shadows. They are trying to weaken the Legalization movement, but it won’t work they will not stop US! I can’t wait until 2012 election when one or more states LEGALIZE IT! What will the feds do then? There will be sooo many pot smoking tourist the’ll be no way to stop it.
OBAMA SMELLS LIKE SHIT!?!?
I fucking hate this country. Land of the free my fucking ass
Its time for “We the People” to put our collective feet down and demand term limits for all federal offices. Our founding fathers did not envision professional politicians who enrich themselves and further their own agendas. Professional paid lobbyists need to be banned also.
Obama has largely dodged questions on medical marijuana throughout his first term. If he wants a second term, he will need to be more clear about his stance on medical marijuana and whether he’s willing to stand in the way of the DEA interfering with state laws and chronically and terminally ill patients. With the vast majority of Americans supporting medical marijuana, it is likely that the Republican candidate will challenge him on what has transpired. We are living in an anti-government age, especially an anti-federal government age. Obama will need to recognize that.
Come on isn’t it obvious what the feds are doing here? They know there’s going to be marijuana legalization referendums on the ballot in 2012. So they’re hitting the industry as hard as possible to decrease support through both fear and by taking away money that could be donated to the cause, that instead goes to relocation costs and court costs…On the bright side that means that they’re scared that it may pass this year, and they may have misjudged the results of their actions……
These 16 states need to come together and file a lawsuit against the federal government. Completely ridiculous that in the recession that we are in, that the federal government would attack the tax revenue of these states. More states need to pass laws in support of medicinal marijuana, then petition to have an amendment to the U.S. Constitution, protecting the citizens individual rights to their own lives.
I could agree on the 1000 ft. But they had better make sure there are no pharmacies 1000ft from a school, that would be too hypocritical. I’m personally firm on regulation of MMJ. What the federal government is looking over is they can’t even control the drugs they do approve. For example: Vicodin; more people than ever are selling their prescriptions to minors and adults. Not just that its highly addictive mentally and physically. And it can constipate you as well as ruin vital organs if abused without medical provision. Another prime example for them to look at is alcohol. Far too easy for a minor to get a hold of. It actually is proven to kill brain cells, slow down metabolism, and more. The use of MMJ hasn’t been proven to do so. Don’t forget that all these different ways to “Crack Down” on the marijuana war are there to protect the federal governments money. They have so much invested in this war they’re not just gonna let it pass, because we the people can profit from legalization more than they will. Honestly if I was getting thousands or millions to look the other way so the federal government could do what they want and launder our taxes through this so called war, then, ya I wouldn’t want the war to stop either. The federal government has spun it self in its own web. The only reason I clearly see for them getting away with any of this war is we the people gave them too much power. The people need to stand up and say enough is enough and take America back. There are so many people in high positions of authority who will not stand with us because of payoff’s or the fear that someone above them will chop off their head, so to speak. Have you ever noticed that the highly respected people of our nation who speak out with those of us for legalization are retired or used to be’s? Just some food for thought. Keep pushing, we will get our breakthrough. Just not anytime soon. Be smart and safe. Study to show yourself approved to make the right choices.
Hey Obama! Why don’t you waste your time trying to get re-elected-You’ve already wasted your time trying to act as president! You are a threat to all Americans and the ideas behind a FREE country. We The People don’t want you around any more. The states have spoken-leave them alone!
De fund the war on drugs (ops, cannabis), and put it into something people care about, I don’t know, maybe jobs.
This just makes me hang my head in shame. How are we supposed to trust anything our leaders say anymore. They say what they want us to hear to vote for them, then turn around and do the exact opposite. Its just another example of why are government is failing.
Its kinda funny. It looks like the feds are running out of ways to demonize cannabis. These crack downs are a last ditch effort to dislodged the movement.
The fact that a government would denie the cannibis plant to its citizens i feel just proves that its agenda is not at all about whats best for our country and its ppl and the economy. But only prove what an out of control gov they have become.and they absolutly know the benifeits of this plant it is a miracle plant that can benifeit humanity so much health-mental-industry it solves so many problems we have today.But gov is not really in the business of solving problems are they? More like creating problems or certainly dont want to support anything that they cant CONTROL.. FREEDOM-LIBERTY what a joke!!! Thats not the gov we have today
Why is Obama working so hard to lose the election?
Where I live, in Iceland it is illegal to be high!! The PoPo is stopping drivers left and right to demand they come for urine tests immetiatly, even blood-tests whithout having to justify it better than We thougt perhaps it was a change that someone was high in the car, so we get the driver!! Would love to get the passengers, and sometimes try to make that happen. Sad situation, cause here we have some bad ass weed. Yebb. way up in Iceland we still manage to pull it off, but with high alert security from the “farmers”. Wish you all well in your fight for your rights! Peace Out. Erna
I have a fear that the American public will be coerced into a modified War on Drugs after we, as a whole, start asking serious questions.
Is this the promise Attorney General Eric Holder had made to the nine former members of Drug Czars and Head Administrators of the DEA when they paid Holder a visit after the Ogden and Cole memos?
OUR Gov is being lobbied “bribed” to do so.Big Pharma is the Puppet master
They did it in Cal they will do it here in Col. This is just the start.They want to declare marshal law in the border towns of Texas. They are going to be entering your home with out a search warrant. And yes under marshal law they can do that. I know 2 tx boarder agents and they been talking about it.
So did this story result from a leak of some memos like the California memorandum on the site not too long ago?
Wow, WikiLeaks is totally excellent!
DEA is still up to its dirty old deeds. Dirty Old Bastard(s)! Proves there’s no good faith effort to be read into their California memoranda.
Delaware and Rhode Island can saddle up and set up their state medical cannabis plot-to-purchase systems as they see fit since there are no federal policy guidelines until the pols in D.C. get their shit together. That’ll show them ain’t nothin’ like nobody gives a shit when 3 more states dis you.
Stop wasting money! Let’s move to a more open society. The zeitgeist is for ever increasing personal freedom, not restricting it.
Please get Polis et al. on it.
Just cut the DEA and ONDCP budgets so they can’t enforce cannabis prohibition if Holder and Obama are too wussy to issue a formal memorandum to call of the anti-cannabis enforcement.
We need to take the DEA out of the picture altogether through legalization.
Nothing will help patients and medical research more than legal cannabis and hemp.
There are two presidential candidates that would end the federal government’s war on medical marijuana: Gary Johnson and Ron Paul.
Ok here is the official line from Vermont Senator Leahy.
Dear Mr. Fran:
Thank you for contacting me about decriminalizing marijuana. I appreciate hearing from you.
In the past two decades, states across the country have repeatedly passed legislation making it possible to prescribe or recommend the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Despite existing state laws, marijuana is still a Schedule I drug under the Federal Controlled Substances Act of 1970 and federal agencies, such as the Drug Enforcement Agency, continued to enforce federal laws, even where state laws allow for the use and possession of medical marijuana.
On March 18, 2009, Attorney General Holder announced that the Department of Justice would shift its policy to end medical marijuana raids. This is a big step toward ensuring that decisions made at the state level are not preempted by federal officials. It will also free up important federal resources to focus on the drug traffickers and dealers who maliciously poison our streets.
However, in general, I do not believe that illicit drugs should be decriminalized. I believe the public health and public safety implications of decriminalizing addictive and mind altering substances outweigh any potential benefits gained by increased tax revenue.
Should any legislation on this issue come before the Senate, I will be sure to keep your thoughts in mind. Thank you again for contacting me.
Sincerely,
PATRICK LEAHY
United States Senator
Here is my response:
Dear Senator Leahy,
Thank you for responding to my concerns regarding the misclassification of Cannabis under Federal law. I understand your concerns with the perception of profiting from the decriminalization of cannabis. Later in this e-mail i will address this issue.
As a registered patient in Vermont, I can relate my personal experience to you at this time. I am 55 years of age and have had a total hip replacement on my left side since the age of 19. I have chronic severe back pain and damage to the sciatic nerve and could barely walk for a month this year. I have run the gamut of A.M.A. approved treatments for my various conditions. The State of Vermont considers me to be disabled. I find cannabis works for relief of pain caused by several of my medical issues. I no longer am forced to rely on the prescribed narcotic pain medications for day to day relief.
You write:
“However, in general, I do not believe that illicit drugs should be decriminalized. I believe the public health and public safety implications of decriminalizing addictive and mind altering substances outweigh any potential benefits gained by increased tax revenue.”
I respond:
I have been prescribed strong narcotics for the relief of chronic pain. These medications are addictive, and can be mind altering. We currently take tax dollars from the pharmaceutical companies profits. Should we outlaw these medicines for the reasons you have stated? I consider alcohol and tobacco to be dangerous. Using your logic these drugs should be classified as illicit. Please explain why the prescription drugs which do have negative effects on the health of the patient are legal when cannabis which currently is considered to be illicit.
You write:
“On March 18, 2009, Attorney General Holder announced that the Department of Justice would shift its policy to end medical marijuana raids. This is a big step toward ensuring that decisions made at the state level are not preempted by federal officials. It will also free up important federal resources to focus on the drug traffickers and dealers who maliciously poison our streets.”
I respond:
I agree that we need to free up our important federal resources. The recent raids on Medicinal centers seems to contradict Attorney General Holders statement. Additionally recent DOJ letters indicate a reversal of the policy decisions that you have noted. This matter is of some concern.
You write:
“In the past two decades, states across the country have repeatedly passed legislation making it possible to prescribe or recommend the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Despite existing state laws, marijuana is still a Schedule I drug under the Federal Controlled Substances Act of 1970 and federal agencies, such as the Drug Enforcement Agency, continued to enforce federal laws, even where state laws allow for the use and possession of medical marijuana.”
I respond:
In my initial correspondence with your office I asked specifically for you to sponsor legislation to re-classify Cannabis to Schedule II.
Please take action to correct this misclassification.
Thank you for your time and energy and service to our country,
Sincerely,
Mr. Fran
The huge number of medical marijuana patients with medical conditions that will need to be treated in prison is enough to prevent the Feds from going after the patients.
The patients will simply have to go back to acquiring their pot from the criminal, underground market and out on the streets.
The demand will still be there because the medical conditions will still be there.
So instead of putting the death knell into the criminal organizations (Mexican or other mafia or criminal network) that use violence to settle their disputes while state compliant cannabis outfits are making American jobs, the Feds are, after they polish off the easy pickings of the lowhanging fruit going to have to fight, boots on the ground, the gangs and cartels. Somebody please tell me where the fuck the money and the salaries for the civilian law enforcement platoons is coming from!
Some courage. You can’t beat them, but you can beat the nonviolent upstanding people in the medical cannabis industry. Call that takin’ your vitories where you can get them. Is that really somethin’ you want to stroke your ego with?
I just don’t see putting sick people in prison going over well with the public. You gotta pay for their health care in prison because if you just put them in prison to die it becomes more like a Vernichtugnslager.
Vernichtungslager!
Lower their bond ratings if the Feds shut them down! It’ll cost more for them to borrow. The public affected by it won’t be happy to hear their taxes pay back less. Get that loudmouth Christie to whip the Feds into cannabis legalization submission. He’s not running for president, and he ain’t takin’ no shit from nobody.
the Colorado State Government needs to kick the FEDS out.
Tell Terrorist Holder and his little Terrorist Attorney Thugs to get the hell out,, or go to jail, make it an executive order of the State.
If that don’t work, then load the weapons and lets take em down at their homes. Merry Xmass Terrorist, take this >>>>>>>>
I am currently looking at a lifetime of being hooked legally on opiates due to a back problem. I have served this country. I have been in the enforcement of it’s laws. WTH has Obama done? I will tell you what he and his cabinet is doing, draining my American Pride! Canada looks better by each day that passes. I will wait to see if Dr. Paul gives Obama the boot though before I make a decision to leave and become free to use or stay and become a criminal by using a natural plant. I don’t even want the so called strong stuff. Just basic MJ to help ease my verifiable pains. Montel Williams, I really feel for you too.
harm being put upon the Law-Bidding people of America by the Muscle-brained-Terrorist-US-Attorney .
–same as–
The ‘bully’ issue in the public schools and the social networks for young people.
solution,, stop the bully. period. end of issue.
It pains me deeply to say this: John Doe, of John Doe Radio, I told you this was coming. Feds don’t care how you regulate. Your position assumed Feds were reasonable.
If this hoop la is about the 1000foot provision, every owner or operator should have know that. A student of mine, had his car searched while illegally parked at a nearby church during the school day. The police paced off the distance to the car through two other businesses to the car to determine if the few roaches, that were discovered, were located within 1000ft of a “drug free school zone”. (caffine and high frutose corn-syrup allowed”
If you can’t even defend your policies, you have no right to enforce them on me. BACK OFF!
Aug 16, 2011
This world is shit.
“We need to take the DEA out of the picture altogether”
Yep.
if you guys are angry with obama then take a look at the other two leading runners… newt gingrich appraises countries who execute drug offenders and mitt romney who laughs at a medmarijuana patient in a wheelchair and tells him he wont support medmarijuana. check videos on youtube
On the news lately is a point that our Federal government is working to privatize drug enforcement around the world. They are not working toward decriminalization or legalization. They are working for their buddies and an increased world drug war. The war in Iraq is over. The war in Afghanistan is slowly winding down. It’s time to ramp up other worthless boondoggles that never end and make comapnies fabulously wealthy.
Cannabis : MADE IN USA . Nice ring to it, yes?
What it comes down to, the pharmaceutical companies are seeing a decrease is sales, which means the politicians are seeing more outright bribes from the pharma lobbyists. We’re all screwed. Who has the money to compete with them? As long as lobbyists have immediate access to our politicians, while WE have to write them, the desires of the companies will ALWAYS outweigh the NEEDS of the people. F this country, F these crooked politicians, and F ANYONE that votes dem or republican. There MAY be one exception, and that is Dr. Paul, but i think we all know what would happen even if he WAS elected. POP POP POP….and the NEW president is…
GESTAPO
In Ohio,we are preparing to circulate a petition to bring about medical cannabis. I have to say though,observing what is going on in California,and now in Colorado it does make me feel discouraged.
Why aren’t we protesting and petitioning?? We are the 50%!! let’s take it to the streets!! who’s with me?? twitter-crymsonkyd;facebook-crymsonkyd;email:crymsonkyd@yahoo.com
C’mon, Colorado! You kicked out the Soviets in “Red Dawn”, you can stand up to the DEA!
On another note, the “rise in marijuana use for children” is not a good thing for our movement. LA Times just put a piece out and right at the start of the article clearly put, “because of medical marijuana”. Clearly those who have the slightest bit of intelligence and hindsight know that with lowered risk perception comes higher use. It always has been, and always will be that way. Simply blaming medical pot for the sudden, but almost subtle, uprise in teen marijuana use has a lot of falsehood.
The Feds stirring up the pot (pun intended), is not good for public approval. I do think it was rather considerate that they put school zones as a basis for busting dispensaries, and its hard to argue with that. However, the bust on a dispensary from the federal government is much more extreme than necessary. Hopefully these efforts will encourage citizens to vote.
This is a coordinated attack by the DEA, with somewhat limited resources, to suppress the medical cannabis industry across every MMJ state. Considering the recent revelations from court documents, we know that the DOJ / DEA / BATFE were illegally facilitating the shipment south to Mexico of firearms, the shipment north from Mexico of illicit drugs, and the laundering of Mexican drug cartel money in USA banking institutions.
Forcing medical cannabis patients back into the narcotics black-market for their medicine would seem to favor increased volume & profit to the drug cartels.
Isn’t the USA supposedly in an expanded war on drugs in Mexico?
Wouldn’t forcing patients into the black-market provide the exact opposite effect on the fiscal health of the drug cartels?
Is it possible that the USA government is deeply involved in illicit drug trafficking, and that the Mexican war on drugs designed to eliminate some drug cartels (competition) in order to consolidate the cartels into those which are favored?
Isn’t this possibility the real basis for the infamous quote from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that ” … there’s too much (illicit) money involved for it (marijuana) to ever be made legal”?
Obama and The Dea all you have done is LIE to our People whom chose to have Medical Marijuana.. You lied to make it Illegal and the lie continues.. you said you wouldnt’ go after People whom have a LEGAL Reason to use it… I will NOT VOTE for you.. Ron Paul 2012.
This just means we need to fight for this harder.
@29 Fran – Please let us know if you get a follow up response. You did a great job with your questions. I hope the Senator shows your concerns the respect they deserve!
Where else in society does the federal government enforce non-existing zoning laws in local municipalities? Colorado needs to sue the Department of Justice immediately!
So , what’s it going to be – a govt.shutdown or abolish prohibition? can’t support both. Made in USA , cannabis legalization now. Revenue. Human rights etc.
In my town, there is a bar literally right next door to a grade school. No worries though, no pot can be found there. There are also 2 pharmacies next to the high school. I don’t get it. Seriously people, the feds are trying to take the few rights that we do have away and turn us into an enslaved country to them! Freedom? Where? With what? If you want to really drive them crazy though, Johny Appleseed the shit out of marijuana. Throw handfulls of seeds everywhere and make it even more difficult for them to control. Every time they push us, push back harder! Make them realize we are not as dumb and blind as they treat us. Join hands and help take our country back! I voted for Obama last time and can’t believe how disappointing he has been as a “leader”. Everyone seems to keep hope that all of the sudden he will wake up and say, “oh yeah, we need to get something done with marijuana patient protection”. What a joke! It is not an interest to him unless it’s election time! Fool me once, shame on you. It won’t happen again!
Fuck the Feds! Legalize in 2012! California medical growers, don’t get greedy and small, do the right thing and vote for legalization…not protectionism!
You know, I hate to be one of these people– but of all the candidates right now, Ron Paul is the ONLY one who you can guarantee will call the drug war a FAILURE face to face with Obama. (okay, Gary Johnson too but he has even less chance)
can you say big insurance or drug companys
I still believe this goes right back to the election 2010 when those damn greedy California growers voted against prop.19. Now look where they are at. Being forced to close down. Well Colorado, what are you going to do in 2012?
Three very basic problems with this:
1) 45 days isn’t nearly enough time to move a business. It takes longer than that just to scope out a new location with the right zoning, size, layout, facilities, accessibility, rent, and lease terms.
2) I don’t see the government offering to compensate the dispensaries they’re uprooting for their trouble. At the very least, they should pay off the rest of each affected dispensary’s lease on their current location. Doesn’t the government have to pay you fair value if they want to boot you off part of your land? How is a building you rent any different in this respect?
3) I see a few people saying that only going after dispensaries within 1000 feet of a school is reasonable. Why exactly is it a problem for one to be close to a school? There are two different pharmacies just down the street from my old high school. It’s not like the dispensaries are providing cannabis to the schoolkids. I assume if someone who looks way too young to be in there accidentally wanders in they’ll be shooed out immediately, much as is the case with tobacco shops.
Oh boy. Just saw a presidential commerial. I think we will all go into this presidential election knowing they are all lying with a smile
I think it’s time to occupy the DOJ. Justice my ass more like Department of Jackasses.
If the states decide it’s legal then it’s legal in those states. From a federal standpoint, SOMEONE had to authorize a pharmacuetical company to study and develop a synthetic version of THC-(Marinol) they had to have possesion of real MJ to test-where did they get it? The fact that Marinol exists proves that MJ DOES HAVE MEDICINAL USES!! Feds- give it up, we know you are lying!!
A ham sandwich could beat Obama now in the election just like a ham sandwich couldve beaten Bush so we shouldve picked Kucinich…he would be President today. Flood the Republican primaries (if that state allows crossover voting) and vote for RON PAUL!!!!!!
Send in the Zetas.
I;m 62 in 1212 was at Woodstock Heck how about some good old civil disobedience A Smoke in our Nation’s Capitol NO FORGET THAT!!!! BAD IDEA RENBER WHAT HAPPEND YEA THAT’S THE TICKET ….. CHICHAGO SEVN
The CIA has been using the drug trade as a cover and connection to criminal underworld in order to further UD interest both real and imagined since Lucky Luciano. WW2 Back then it was the OSS .. DEA comes in and busts the smaller operators
See The Politics of Heroin & Cocaine Politics
What I can’t figure just who the heck is smoking all that Mexican brick ?
To our un-elected dispenary raider http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qN9u3DlbnV4
Instead of occupiy lets just smoke out d.c. and every state capital
It is NOT about cannabis.
It IS about HEMP and GASOLINE.
GET IT!
Ron Paul is our only hope. We have seen what Obama and his thug Holder have done to the state sanctioned cannibus dispensaries, Forget Gingrich and Romney they are worse. Hope Paul wins the nomination or hope he runs as an Independent candidate. I am a live long Democrat.
The DEA starts a war in Mexico against the drug cartels, who started out as poor marijuana farmers. You can thank U.S. laws and policy turning them into cocaine, heroin and meth dealers. We sprayed their crops with paraquat poison so they joined up with the Columbian’s to smuggle coke and the grew out of that.
The D.E.A. wants marijuana illegal because it is easy to spot when it is growing, bulky and hard to transport and has a unique smell when burned. It helps them justify their phony drug war and obscene budget, which is the first war we should end.
Not to be, like, a Drag, Ma-a-a-a-a-a-an…..but we could da’ old Obamaficator a break, here; we could give Him (since you insist on blaming him personally) a bone, here – let Him act like, “Well, I do support these patients – but, Look, Look, Over Here, Michele Bachman Den Moms! – I CARE ABOUT OUR KIDS TOO! See?!? See?!? I got then dirty hippies away from YOUR KIDS SCHOOL.”
But the, if he did do what we want, without the Law yet having been more Formally Changed, how would He be any better than Bush?
Obama reneged on his “promise” to veto the bill (part of the defense authorization bill) that will allow the military to arrest and detain Americans indefinitely without charge.is it any wonder that he’d also have lied about his administration’s policy towards state’s medical cannabis as well? He’s dangerous; I’m ashamed that I was gulled into voting for him in 2008-it won’t happen again.
I use medical marijuana, when I can get or afford it; for relieving my pain from Chrone’s desease until my pain medication kicks in. It lessons the pain; and enables me to wait for my medicine to kick in. Please, dont let them take my medication from me; I do not want to buy it on the street, black market. It is a true medicating plant: marijuana. It is not meth, cocaine or heroin. Millions of people like it just for its recreational use. We are the majority; lets stand up for our rights
#53 Don, I will let you know when and if I get a response. Quite frankly Senator Leahy took over a month to respond and Bernie Sanders has not responded to multiple attempts by phone and e-mail to contact him on this issue. My congressman Peter Welch did respond and he is supporting every bill concerning medicinal use but has not mentioned support for re-classification to Schedule II. If you live in Vermont perhaps you should let him know how you feel!
If you are going to vote for a president based solely on they feel about mariuana, please stay home.
Already! Didn’t Attorney General Holder just assure congressman Pollis this wouldn’t happen?
I think Buddy is right ,but i see it from a broader spectrum as most of these folks in the white house have been at the trough for so long they could’nt smell a hog. And they keep throwing more in! Remember the prodical son as he fought hogs for food and then came to his senses? Some reception tho, huh? As long as they’re in there the more they turn our White House into a trough!
its time for a goverment reform,there to old and stuck on old ideas,we need new young blood running this country or to see change of all the old laws,there not working anymore,theres alot more things to worry about out there than this,how about lest hold the goverment responsible for all the bank fraud and political wrong doing,what about all the people he pardoned most were marijuana convictions,the time for change is now
This is very important to note for a couple of reasons:
1) Everyone was saying Cali was being targeted because the system was so open, and yet here is Colorado, with the tightest regulations of any state program, about to get hit with the ugly stick.
2) Obama has no balls: he either knows what he needs to do and can’t do anything about it, or says he’s going to do something and does something else completely. Either way, he can’t be trusted.
…a possible explanation for the pissing backwards of obama…the end time biblical story is that a ruler would make a pledge to allow the sacrafice[which is ritual cannabis use]to be acessable and in the middle of his term-agreement he changes his mind?? according to Chis Benets book,[sex,drugs and religion]christ and anoint mean the same “to be turned on”so if you are against this christening you would be by word definition anti christ??
I have been smoking since the 50’s when you went to the basement, turned out the lights and told no one, ever.
To some of you above: guys, lighten up, things are infinitely better now. Every year it gets better and better; we are winning, just slower than some of you would like. However slow, the outcome will be 100% victory and soon too, I can see it coming.
So, lets hear some more good news, after all we ARE the good guys in this struggle, so it’s okay to be happy about our situation, I know I am pleased with the progress, so far.
The old beatnik.
#90 Lee I agree with you, The Feds cannot put the Gene back in the bottle
on this one. They are afraid to admit they are wrong but they do not have the facts on their side. I would suggest to all who blog here to work on keeping the discourse above the belt. No matter how disgruntled we feel, if we remain civil in our discourse then they cannot dismiss our petitions.
LAST CHANCE TO COMMENT TODAY!!!!.
Betty B. Tong PH.D.
Senior licensing and Patent Manager
Office of Techonoligy Transfer
National Institutes of Health
6011 Executive Bvld. Suite 325
Rockville, MD 20852-3804
Dear Dr. Tong, December 19, 2011
I am a registered patient in Vermont. I can legally grow and use medicinal cannabis.
I write to object to the Federal government selling the patient for sole rights to grow and distribute Cannabis.
This is simply not fair to the patients who can only afford to grow. The us government has not the right to sell my
rights to grow. I have paid “Big Pharma” all my life and do not intended to do so now.
This patient is owned by the people for the people lets keep it that way.
Sincerely
Francis Janik
Reg patient, Vermont
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 222 (Thursday, November 17, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 71351]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-29726]
———————————————————————–
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health
Prospective Grant of Exclusive License: Development of
Cannabinoid(s) and Cannabidiol(s) Based Therapeutics To Treat Hepatic
Encephalopathy in Humans.
AGENCY: National Institutes of Health, Public Health Service, HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
———————————————————————–
SUMMARY: This is notice, in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 209(c)(1) and 37
CFR part 404.7(a)(1)(i), that the National Institutes of Health,
Department of Health and Human Services, is contemplating the grant of
an exclusive patent license to practice the invention embodied in U.S.
Patent 6,630,507, entitled “Cannabinoids as antioxidants and
neuroprotectants” and PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US99/08769 and
foreign equivalents thereof, entitled “Cannabinoids as antioxidants
and neuroprotectants” [HHS Ref. No. E-287-1997/2] to KannaLife
Sciences Inc., which has offices in New York, U.S. This patent and its
foreign counterparts have been assigned to the Government of the United
States of America.
The prospective exclusive license territory may be worldwide, and
the field of use may be limited to:
The development and sale of cannabinoid(s) and cannabidiol(s)
based therapeutics as antioxidants and neuroprotectants for use and
delivery in humans, for the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy, as
claimed in the Licensed Patent Rights.
DATES: Only written comments and/or applications for a license which
are received by the NIH Office of Technology Transfer on or before
December 19, 2011 will be considered.
ADDRESSES: Requests for copy of the patent, inquiries, comments, and
other materials relating to the contemplated exclusive license should
be directed to: Betty B. Tong, Ph.D., Senior Licensing and Patenting
Manager, Office of Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health,
6011 Executive Boulevard, Suite 325, Rockville, MD 20852-3804;
Telephone: (301) 594-6565; Facsimile: (301) 402-0220; Email:
tongb@mail.nih.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The technology describes pharmaceutical
compositions of cannabinoids that are useful as tissue protectants,
such as neuroprotectants and cardioprotectants. The cannabinoids
compounds may be used, for example, in the treatment of acute ischemic
neurological insults or chronic neurodegenerative diseases.
Nonpsychoactive cannabinoids, such as Cannabidiol (CBD), are
particularly advantageous since they avoid toxicity that is encountered
with psychoactive cannabinoids at high doses.
The prospective exclusive license will be royalty bearing and will
comply with the terms and conditions of 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR part
404.7. The prospective exclusive license may be granted unless within
thirty (30) days from the date of this published notice, the NIH
receives written evidence and argument that establishes that the grant
of the license would not be consistent with the requirements of 35
U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR part 404.7.
Applications for a license in the field of use filed in response to
this notice will be treated as objections to the grant of the
contemplated exclusive license. Comments and objections submitted to
this notice will not be made available for public inspection and, to
the extent permitted by law, will not be released under the Freedom of
Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552.
Dated: November 10, 2011.
Richard U. Rodriguez,
Director, Division of Technology Development and Transfer, Office of
Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 2011-29726 Filed 11-16-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P
All I see is Eric Holder causing a flurry over state legalized canabis to take our attention away from Fast and Furious. The Justice Departments illegal sale of firearms to Mexican Drug Cartels. This is the most telling open action the Justice Department ( and Federal Government) has accomplished to this day supporting international trafficking of deadly drugs.
Not safe drugs such as cannabis but deadly drugs like cocaine and heroin. Not to mention protecting citizens of other countries over the citizens of America, us. Think about this. There is an 800% increase in the exporting of Heroin from Afghanistan from before the war to today. Afghanistan supplies up to 75% of the heroin on the illegal global market. Albeit cannabis is legal to grow for Afghanies so they can make money to feed their families but not legal for unemployed starving Americans to grow to make money to feed ourselves and our families. Our tax dollars support both these wars . The Drug War since 1970 started by Tricky Dick Nixon when he created the DEA. The only President to be Impeached while in office.
Time to repeal Tricky Dick’s war on American citizens. Also to stop this War on Terror which is just a way for our military to play with it’s toys. bin Laden is dead. Stop all this confusion and war on the American people and their money. Allow us to finally get some of our Freedoms back. Freedom is not a word but an actual state of being other countries give their citizenry. FREEDOM!!!!!
The government and law enforcement continues to perpetuate an outdated prohibition that kills and incarcerates hundreds of thousands people every year. This war on the American citizens is one of the biggest crimes against humanity in history. If you add up all the deaths caused by the US drug laws in all countries and the number of people incarcerated by these outdated draconian drug laws you get something akin to a holocaust, were large numbers of people are killed and imprisoned for what? smoking a plant?
Obama, the House and Senate supporters of prohibition, the DOJ and Drug Czar should all be held accountable for the murders and suffering caused by the US drug laws.
A trial in a world court would be appropriate for these mass murderers.
They keep trying to put the blame on the cartels, the citizens who smoke marijuana when the real culprit is the laws and the people who support them.
End prohibition now, save lives around the world.
Write your representative and tell them you want them to stop this insanity or you will vote them out. Inaction by any of us means we will continue to allow people to be killed and incarcerated by the ignorance of our elected leaders and the outdated laws they support
Just watched the Holder clip. He is either blatantly lying or he is genuinely ignorant of what is going on in his own department. I’m having a hard time deciding which one it is, but I’m leaning towards ignorance. I don’t know enough about him to know whether he is stupid or just really slick.
Folks, if Uncle Sam is in on the “war” from all angles, what makes you think things will ever change?
Dope keeps politicians in all fifty states filthy rich. Why would they go and lower the street value by allowing free drug trade?
To quote sgt stedenko on why it’s so important to bust mary jane, “The buying and selling of narcotics might be the last vestage of free trade in this country.”
Hi . Merry Christmas . OK so if you smoked one
Ron Paul bud you want Obama sternly tattled on
and if you smoked 2+ Ron Paul buds you want Mr
Roooun Paaauuul for President , care of a dark
skin tone leader who keeps saying , He wants a
Supreme Court ruling to stop evading state’s *
rights to the Green Cross laws on medicinal um
cannabis , cannabim or my least favorite . . ,
cannabe with grant.ed Durban , Shiva Caps and:
Kalim can.ne.bim haute mezcain toscin um bud .
OK* duh . They want not any “dispensaries” at
the 1,000 feet school limit . It’s The Law .,.
Yes , it’s in the {former} State by State Law.
Obama doesn’t want ill cannabe medimana buds .
When ‘they’ stopped his Christmas morning ahem
announce for Happy Holidays in two seconds .,.
he looked yellowish and ill .,. is this the uh
medmana best choice at D.C. .|. It’s med#grant
I suppose , though who I wonder modern wants :
Medical “M word” to make you look sick . . . .
it’s not naturopathic cannabis as Green Cross
began the standard as “naturopathic cannabis”
it’s nat.ur{al}o.path.ic like it’s pathos . .
You want pathos bud , OK Ron Paul controlled ,
complain though have happy holidays . . . . .,
Obama Admin gives a Peace Order . Shadow Govn.
ruin it and want Skull n Bones money control .
Ron Paauuuulll ARGH . OK yer controlled by the
reasoning each of you presumed to smoke Paul.y
bud says within two words the same Down With a
Obama Admin.er and Enuff.a this Heck .etcetera
Well , give thought to it’s bud . It’s uhm bad
bud .|. It’s Ron Paul coded bud .|. It’s medi:
cannabem.e with Durban and Shiva “Caps” .|. 🙁
Why would you , kids at Colorado {sigh} or the
standard cannabis connesiouer want bad bud uhm
as I know Durban make me want to hurk from my
chest and won’t stop spitting vanadiem element
so . . it’s not good for kids . OK[+] Barack ,
uhm Mr. President dark tone aum0n .,. Thanks!!
So Much for putting up with Republic Shadow en
Governme{n}t Control Wusses.!!. This happened
each administration during choice days on the
calendar of Skull n Bones {impos Bushians etc}
so if amenable and I will guess you are with a
case of “quieting communicate with good ideas”
Thank You Mr. B0b President Admin !! Rite On *
putting up with Shadow Guber CR@P and bein the
first President in awhile to get high and be a
relaxing promonent power of Steppin Up to the:
Magnitude of LipServicen Hearsay nd Ignornce *
Peace Obama Admin . Win Again while the OcoPi
Masses Thow a Brik at Yo Fro CHristams foReal
and I won’t at all offer you try thowin u brk
at “White House” as aside from Federal ShutUp
and Down and Sarkozy and all IMF’rn liuck out
vernaculo aside!d! Rite On and Merry Chrstms.
OK Back to Cartel quip ruen and Paaauuul ARGH.
Said my peace . so .,. .,. Peace Christmas !!*
HAPPY HOLIDAYS and accept this if $ possible .
Happy Holidays to you {too} NORML Pax 0n Earth
Thanks . Differing with ignorance . _\|/_ / Bb
bryan learn english. most of that it jibberish. makes little sence, if any. Yet you speak of ignorance. you might want to look up it’s definition….
Should I look up the definition for ignorance
in the Houghton Mifflin or the Merriam Webster
as one gives the definition of pres i dent as
Office of Republic and one : Democratic Office
of National Leader . So the term of GOP means
Government of President and we are not a Govt
of Republic so what sense does the dictionary
make . . . if it’s biased to nonsense about a
General Republic , and George Washington the
founder of our nation formed our Democracy .
And . , . if you say I speak nonsense because
you smoked another Ron Paul bud and can’t see
each person who smokes a tagged bud says the
very same [within two words] of what requite
it is to rag on Obama and boldly stick their
head where not many have before [in their uh
butt as it’s apparently equivalent intellect]
you tell me like most ignorant biased negative
that you can’t understand a word I’m saying .,
well . . smoke some cannabis instead of the.n
Ron Paul tag {loser} control comment bud . . .
which is a fake cannabem anyway . {Sigh} Owell
you yourself could use a Merriam Webster Newer
Insight of John McCain glossary dictionary ,.
Not to tell you off , though if you can’t see
it as your way to accept ignorance and tell me
I’m the one who’s uptight . . . smoke somethen
other thn tagged swag . Ad ignoramus . G Bye .
Today I confirmed that the State of Vermont has not allowed applications to be filed for the 4 compassionate centers. We are not moving forward to implement the law that was passed last year. The state may be in violation of it’s own law. To quote a state official, “This program is all screwed up”. Nuf said!
People need to sue their states for failure to get marijuana removed from the federal classification that says it has no accepted medical use in the United States. The decision to accept the medical use of marijuana is made by the state, not a federal administrative agency. See Gonzales v. Oregon, 546 U.S. 243 (2006).
How did the program in vermont become “screwed up”. We in Ohio are trying to get a medical cannabis provision on the ballot. We have tried to learn from the mistakes made in the other states. Our effort in Ohio is called omca2012.org
If the states don’t sue the federal government for classifying marijuana as having no accepted medical use in the United States, it will always be “screwed up.” You need to sue in state court. Every state that has accepted the medical use of marijuana is in violation of it’s own law for failure to defend the state law at the federal level.
Gayle, The problems with the program in Vermont have to do with the restrictions on growing and the lack of availability of Medicinal cannabis.
When i became a registered patient last year I was told by the state that I did not have to grow and That I could legally buy on the black market. Fortunately I did not by on the black market because I could not afford to pay $600.00 per ounce. I am now being told that had i done so I would be subject to arrest. The state of Vermont is notorious for giving out bad information on many issues especially the tax department. When you follow the instructions given the citizen becomes responsible for the error and is penalized. The legislation passed requires the state to create the 4 compassionate centers within a specific period of time. Unfortunately the process is stalled and we will probably not see the compassionate centers any time in the near future. The cost of setting up the centers and the $32000.00 per year that each center has to give the state will make the cost of the Cannabis to high. I could go on but I have to go now .
More later.
A female conservative Judge in Kalkaska, MI has decided to make rulings agains the MI Medical Marjuanna ACT. She can read the law but states she does not believe in so she will not honor it.