Confusion Reigns on Medical Marijuana Prosecutions

Confusion Reigns on Medical Marijuana Prosecutions
March 9, 2009

News Summary

Recent comments by Attorney General Eric Holder have apparently sent mixed signals to prosecutors in California about the Obama administration's approach to medical-marijuana cases.

The Los Angeles Times reported March 7 that shortly after Holder seemed to indicate that the government would halt raids on medical-marijuana dispensaries, U.S. Attorney Thomas P. O'Brien sent a memo to Los Angeles area prosecutors instructing them to stop filing charges against medical-marijuana providers. However, O'Brien reversed the decision just days later, telling prosecutors to resume working on the cases.

Further, an official from the U.S. Justice Department said that Holder had not directed local AGs to change their policies regarding medical marijuana.

Federal prosecutors and the DEA continued to raid medical-marijuana dispensaries in California after Obama took office, even though he indicated support for medical marijuana during his campaign.

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

Posted by Silverbird on 09 Mar 09 02:39 PM EDT

Hopefully Holder and Obama get it right. Medical marijuana is nothing but a scam for individuals to get high. There are always better alternatives for medical purposes than illicit THC. Good for them.

Posted by Alternative Medicine on 09 Mar 09 05:44 PM EDT

What might be a scam for some is life and death for others. Who are you to say someone should use Oxycontin over Marijuana? Which one has a higher potential for abuse? addiction? death?

Posted by Alysha on 10 Mar 09 08:10 AM EDT

In no way whatsoever is this some sort of a scam to get high. Speak to countless individuals who have experienced the effects of cancer treatments sir and then tell me how they feel.What better alternatives do you feel there are? Would you rather have an addict running around high from Oxycontin, or an individual who is trying to find peace within their lives?

Posted by sallieK on 10 Mar 09 08:45 AM EDT

DONT FOOL YOURSELF "alysha and alternative medicine" PEOPLE...addiction is addiction, abuse is abuse, death is death, why would you want to "compare" which is the higher potential...? Are you smoking? You cant tell me that if you LOOK with your non-glaucoma ridden eye balls and SEE the people picketing for medical marijuana THEY ARE NOT ILL!!!!! It should be limited to TERMINAL illnesses, not any diagnosis that you feel needs to be treated with THC. Do some research you people need education.

Posted by Dwayne Polidori on 10 Mar 09 10:17 AM EDT

You people who are against legalization. Should join my effort to ban Tobacco and Alcohol and Prescription meds because they kill more people and are far more addictive then marijuana!! Did you Know there is so much prostate cancer poping up now than ever?? I wonder why and all those side effects from those grate medications doctors love to proscribe people. What real harm dose Marijuana do?? Just ask your self that question and dose it out weigh the other legal drugs..

Posted by me on 10 Mar 09 11:00 AM EDT

personally i think if someone is dying a horrible death from very painful cancer or some other malady, they should be able to smoke whatever they want, sorry, that's just me.

Posted by Dwayne Polidori on 10 Mar 09 11:12 AM EDT

I also believe this was suppose to be a free country as long as you don't hurt any one you should be able to do what ever you chose.

Posted by silverbird on 10 Mar 09 11:31 AM EDT

The people who want medical marijuana want to get high, that is the bottom line. Harm, sit in a drug court all day and see the number of people with amotivational syndrom and who can get off cocain and heroin but can't stop using THC and how they harm others, then you change your tune!

Posted by John from Oceanside on 10 Mar 09 11:40 AM EDT

Just like we said when this story was first run, MPP and DPA made this story up and the press all picked it up as truth.

Posted by me on 10 Mar 09 01:49 PM EDT

ha ha ha, keep dreamin' Dwayne.

Posted by Luis M. Lozano on 10 Mar 09 01:56 PM EDT

The Administration needs to get their act together on this. It was widely reported that they would stop the raids and now they are backtracking on this. I wonder who they've been hearing from? Could it be they overstepped their bounds and stepped on the feet of the pharmaceutical companies? I wonder.

Posted by Dwayne Polidori on 10 Mar 09 04:30 PM EDT

If you are allowed to drink alcohol and smoke tobacco and have abortions than why cant you smoke marijuana? Oh I'm sorry this is America.You are only allowed to do what hurts other people. population control. Ya gotta love it.

Posted by Dwayne Polidori on 10 Mar 09 04:43 PM EDT

And whats wrong with getting high and taking the edge off after work millions of people do it every day. As long as you do it at home. Its better than going to the bar and getting drunk and possibly killing someone.You can only get so high from weed! With alcohol you get so drunk you forget what you did

Posted by John from Oceanside on 10 Mar 09 05:52 PM EDT

Luis the administration did not make the statement, DPA and MMP made the statement and the media wrote bogus stories. Not to say they won't make the move in the future.

Posted by quartermaster on 11 Mar 09 12:26 AM EDT

its a fight to the end with the republicans. they have nothing that even comes close to cannabis for an abundance health problems. there is nothing better for stopping neuropathy.anyone who says there is is a liar. their poisons are now the 2nd leading cause of injury death behind cars and ahead of guns. get real vote the republicans out!

Posted by quartermaster on 11 Mar 09 12:34 AM EDT

its not just the thc, its the gbc's and the cbc's it has 11 essential oils. uncluding the omegas, it has the most chlorophyll of any plant. the fda still has it listed as a food. wake up

Posted by GodsGraceOnMe on 11 Mar 09 08:30 AM EDT

I am a 100% disabled veteran of the Gulf War. I am prescribed 3 different anti-psychotics for what I had to do, also prescribed morphine for chronic pain due to an IED blast. I use medical marijuana (prescribed) and do not have to take any pills listed above to make it through the day. Legalize the plant.

Posted by justwondering on 11 Mar 09 04:52 PM EDT

Just wondering how many people who are prescribed medical marijuana are trying the drug for the 1st time as a patient? Just wondering?

Posted by Pat on 16 Mar 09 09:44 AM EDT

As a RN speaking, the pain medications available to patients suffering from cancer, etc. appear to work well with the appropriate dosage. Why do we need to put yet another potential addictive drug on the market for medical people to use their own judgment regarding when and who to prescribe to? Just because doctors had medical knowledge to become doctors does not in any way indicate that they all use good judgement.

Posted by John on 16 Mar 09 10:29 AM EDT

I think most people are missing the big picture here. This is just another example of Obama campaigning one way and then doing something different once in office or are his supporters drooling too badly to see this?

Posted by uzziah on 16 Mar 09 12:14 PM EDT

Absolutely John. This is just one of the flip flops that is being done in the White House. Oh yeah,...and I am against this drug being used for 'whatever'. It isn't a beign drug. I work in an Addictions Treatment program and see the negative affects every day.

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