Huffington Post reporter Ryan Grim appeared on MSNBC today to talk about the Obama administration's new policy on marijuana prosecutions.
The White House sent new guidelines to federal prosecutors Monday directing them not to arrest marijuana users or suppliers so long as they are following laws in their state.
Grim, who is also the author of This Is Your Country On Drugs, supported the administration's decision and pointed to circumstances in California.
Grim pointed to statistics surrounding teen use of marijuana. In states that have legalized medical marijuana, those numbers have fallen.
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Charles Karel Bouley: L.A. District Attorney to Snub Obama's Pot Policy?
As Eric Holder loosens the ropes on medical marijuana clinics, the D.A. of Los Angeles is gearing up for an offensive against the very clinics to which he promised looser enforcement during the campaign.
This comparison must be made between marijuana and ADs, as anti-depressants are among the most widely prescribed drugs, and, I believe, expensive drugs, which, of course, insurance companies pay out for and build into their premium rates. Why do we tolerate this? Clearly, the prescribing and use of anti-depressant meds is a mess -- read the multitude of stories of those who've been led into addiction and, in some cases, irreversible physical harm -- even suicide -- by the pharmaceutical companies.
We should demand better and get the lie of the psychopharmaceutical industry out in the open.
'bout time!
Yes, we're nearing the tipping point, as some have called it.
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Would the feds respect state laws IF the state decided to legalize and tax marijuana?
The problem that I have is that this is just a memo, a piece of paper. AG Holder promised similar policy earlier in the year only. The DEA wiped their behinds with it by busting up 4 dispensaries and obviously many more after that. If the DEA ignored him, what's to say they won't ignore Obama as well.
What's going to happen if and when policy changes? Obama decides to change course? The next administration, whether it be 2012 or 2016, issuing a counter memo? If it policy does change, does that mean the local, state, and federal authorities get to act like cowboys again, busting down doors and terrorizing nonviolent people?
I think what Obama is doing with this policy is dangerous. He's saying one thing but not addressing the reality at all. Remember, law is the ultimate policy. If the law isn't changed then policy isn't changed. What are the consequences of a federal agency ignoring the president's policy? This policy memo does nothing more than grow a gray area where anyone can play.
As far as I am concerned, as a user and grower, I will ignore this memo as I would expect the DEA to ignore it as they have ignored previous similar policy. If the law hasn't changed, then nothing has changed. I would advise other users and growers to do the same. Has anything changed?
I was pretty amazed..still in the fog of CANDIDATE Obama..still had 'Hope" for "Change" when they released the "FIRTS"...uhhh...'disclaimer' regarding the Asymetrical Warfare and Terror Program against people who smoke or produce Dried Flowers...
The "Response" from the DEA really was..pretty stunning in its TOTAL disregard for a 'Presidential Direcive'...So..I CAN SEE..the DEA 'Going Rogue'..I mean it IS a BIGGER ECONOMY..than the DRUGS it claims to be 'Eradicating'...and it IS an "INDOCTRINATION" Agency..that requires a "Skill Set" specifically of..RATIONALIZATIONS..how else can you HATE your fellow citizens for Smoking a PLANT?..How else can you LIVE with taking EVERYTHING from someone..confiscating their HOMES..puttig them in JAIL...How does one DO that?
INDOCTRINATION..these are BRAINWASHED individuals...
No! The DEA will CONTINUE to act with SAVAGE AGGRESSION towards "Pot USERS and GROWERS" and ESPECIALLY NOW...for they NEED the MONEY...they NEED the "ASSETS" in 'Asset Frfieture'..to SELL...AND..there is the BACKLASH from the public..who RESENT the "Pot Growers and that EASY Money.."..so..the DEA and Obama will CONTINUE to TERRORIZE us..they NEED to!
........WOULD REQUIRE AN EVEN MORE INTENSE CONGRESSIONAL VOTE PROCESS THAN ANY WE HAVE SEEN THUS FAR...AN ACTUAL 2/3 MAJORITY..BECAUSE THE SCHEDULING OF MARIJUANA..SPECIFICALLY ITS RIDICULOUS AND UTTERLY FALSE 'CLASSIFICATION' AS A "NARCOTIC"...IS ENSHRINED WITHIN AN INTERNATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY....'TREATY'.....AND THEREFORE REQUIRES..A "RATIFICATION OF TREATY" PROCESS...
Yup! RIGGED from the START...just like MOST Old Furniture of that era.....the Original Demonization Of Marijuana was...BUILT TO LAST...
That being said..it aint ...MISSION IMPOSSIBLE....but..can you imagine the Repugs..who do not even BLANCHE at their own STUNNING HYPOCRISY...and can say with a STRAIGHT FACE..that they 'REPRESENT LESS INTRUSIVE GOVERNMENT' ..while SIMULTANEOUSLY...actually FORCING Others...via "Legislation"...to accomodate THEIR.."VALUES"...involving themselves in the actual REPRODUCTIVE CHOICES of ALL WOMEN..and now even the RELATIONSHIPS of thers...well..can yo IMAGINE..those people..as well as the CORPORATE MOLES called "BLUE DOGS"...can you imagine any of these Pigs.."ALLOWING" others to be able to make choices about how they ALTER THEIR PERCEPTIONS? Which is a KNOWN THREAT to "Conservatives"...which..when seen through the RUBY LENSES of certain DRIED FLOWERS...becomes SPECTACULARLY RIDICULOUS...even looks INSANE....can't have THAT!
So..the RATIFICATION of the "TREATY"..aint..bloody likely!
http://www.leap.cc/cms/index.php
Then there is the TAX ISSUE...
So...OKAY..say there is a WAY around the Federal LAWS..fer real..as in "LEGAL" in Cal. What Then?
If Corporate Interests take over..and they ALREADY OWN...MULTIPLE "NAMES"..going all the ay back to "Acupulco Gold" etc...ready for legalization...what then?
See...while simultaneously RESENTING the perceptions of "profit" etc..coming from the Pot Biz..AND...yet..AWARE...just enough..of the HUGE amounts of money being generated that almost to a CENT..STAY in the state or even LOCALITY that the Product was Produced in...well...IF its "LEGALIZED"..and the tobacco Companies come in..as they will...then the MONEy..is gonna ACTUALLY...DRY UP....it really will....believe me..it will...
On that NOTE..Myself and a few others..native to NorCal and the Emerald Triangle..have been putting together a WAY to create an alternative model based on "Legalization"..that deals directly with "Keeping It Local"..and there is a WAY...not gonna go into it...sorry...you'll just have to wait for the IPO...but its doable to KEEP the Money LOCAL..and all that goes with it..from EMPLOYMENT..to TAXEs..to PROFITS...it requires UNDERSTANDING the CULTURE...and there are those of us that Do..and are READY...papers in hand...uhhh.."WHITE PAPERS" that is...you DIG?
FINAL STOP COUNCIL BLUFFS NOVEMBER 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XorlUPNQqq8
The law is bad in this case.
I think its great that progression is being made but I just read that article about LA's district attorney going after pot stores for making any-type of profit and it makes me wonder how far this is going to go. Powerful people might be use to getting paid money under the table and if it stops they aren't going to be happy.