WATCH: Ryan Grim Discusses Obama's New Marijuana Policy On MSNBC
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.
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Marijuana is clearly one of the most widely used anti-depressants going. Big Pharma's massive push in the lucrative field of anti-depressant drugs is intolerable as it stands: filled with lies, profit and greed, addicted patients and unsubstantiated safety claims.
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.
What a wonderfully well done interview!
'bout time!
Yes, we're nearing the tipping point, as some have called it.
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This is all interesting.
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 agree with you 104%..absolutely correct!
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!
Perhaps this is a way of supporting the rising tide of open usage that may lead to future relaxing of anti-pot laws -- the trend has clearly grown among citizens, whose actions may indeed shape the laws. This way may avoid inevitable political consequences and perhaps lessen any backlash.
The administration could also recommend that cannabis be rescheduled...maybe it could even be done by executive order. That would automatically change the legal landscape. The Fed's insistence that cannabis has no known medical use has been trumped by so many states finding that it has. It's great to see the groundswell of support for total legalization, and it could very well come to pass sooner than any of us ever expected. We are at or near the tipping point. I look forward to soon being able to legally grow my own in my outdoor garden for virtually nothing and avoid the outrageous black market and proposed legal retail prices.
Unfortunately..and almost "unknown" as I literally..never see this in print....is the fact that to CHANGE the Scheduling of Marijuana..to change its "Legality"....
........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!
Speaking as a former police officer, IT'S ABOUT TIME!
http://www.leap.cc/cms/index.php
L@@k south.. 420 will be legal i cal. by 2010
They should just stop half stepping and go all the way. I recently saw a documentary on how the war against drugs has been lost. Might as well let them grow it, tax it, enjoy it, and may peace be with you. I just think the tax would just put a lot of things back on track.
Can't happen..sorry..just can't..again..the TREATY...the United States..entered into a TREATY..in which rests the CLASSIFICATION of Marijuana...
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?
Crumbowski, I never thought about the tobacco companies stepping up to get a piece of the pie. I am just thinking of all the taxes and how good that would be for the schools for example... well, either way, I know it will happen soon. There are probably more people smoking than ever in this country, and many of them are so mainstream. What is wrong with communities having "coffee shops"? However, I would not want the corporations take this over.....
Canada's last government was about to decriminalize, but the Burning bush threatened to invade. It's a shame we have all that dirty oil.
They did the same thing with Mexico a few years ago.
Iowa Board of Pharmacy Medical Marijuana Public Hearings promo-video
FINAL STOP COUNCIL BLUFFS NOVEMBER 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XorlUPNQqq8
The fact that Pot is illegal in the USA and alcohol and tobacco isn't still amazes me!! I do not smoke pot but i know a lot of people that do and I would rather be around someone high on pot any day than to have to smell another one of those nasty cigarettes or be around a drunk.
I agree, a mean drunk is much worse then a mellow high person.
The law is bad in this case.
Way past time to make it legal! Last week my 82 year old mother baked a pan of special brownies for herself and her gentleman friend. The idea that they are criminals is beyond absurd!
good job Ryan........
I live in LA.. its been legal here for a long time. Friends of mine just go to the marijuana corner store to buy pot like you would a snickers candy bar.. You smell it around town all the time. I don't like smoking pot.. But I have no problem with it..
Arresting people for pot is and always will be a waste of resources and money.
Gotta keep law enforcement paid and occupied dontcha know?
Someone at MSNBC must be stoned. The poll is not whether marijuana should be legalized, its "Would you support or oppose Judge Sotomayor being confirmed?" @ 52s
why did HP wait until dark to post this article. Did the kids have to go to bed first?
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.
If he is going after them for making a profit, he should go after hospitals and pharmacies for making a profit also. He shouldn't be alllowed to just go after one type of business that makes profit. He must be bitter about it being legalized.
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