Medical Marijuana Raids on State-Sanctioned Programs to End

Medical Marijuana Raids on State-Sanctioned Programs to End
March 20, 2009

News Summary

Raids on legitimate medical-marijuana dispensaries -- common during the Bush administration -- will end in states like California and Oregon where use of the drug is legal for medical purposes, according to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.

The New York Times reported March 19 that Holder said that enforcement efforts would focus instead on drug dealers who fraudulently set up medical-use programs as a shield for illicit sales.

Under the Bush administration, federal agents often raided programs that were in compliance with state medical-marijuana statutes but violated federal drug laws, which prohibit all marijuana sales. Holder said that programs that operated in accordance with state laws would not be an enforcement priority for the U.S. Justice Department.

Holder's remarks "seem to finally end the policy war over medical marijuana," said Graham Boyd, director of the American Civil Liberties Union's drug-law project. A dozen U.S. States currently allow marijuana to be used for medical purposes.

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

Posted by Jim "Himself" on 20 Mar 09 04:35 PM EDT

Has there ever been a violent crime committed while under the influence of pot?. As far as I know the only violence has been perpetrated by law enforcement.

Posted by Anthony on 23 Mar 09 08:12 AM EDT

If you call killing someone while being under the influence of marijuana and driving nonviolent, then no.

Posted by Bernie Ellis on 23 Mar 09 09:04 AM EDT

Thank you, Join Together staff, for continuing to give this issue coverage here. It is now abundantly clear that a sea-change in how we view and treat medical cannabis is occurring. This decision by the Obama administration to keep their hands off legitimate and compliant state-regulated medical cannabis programs removes one of the major impediments to states that are considering the re-establishment of their own programs (like Tennessee). The other impediment -- how to produce and distribute this useful medicine in a controlled and coordinated fashion -- is now being debated in NM, RI, OR, CA and other states. Perhaps when the dust settles, we can finally focus our energies (and stretched resources) on incarcerating people who really need to be locked up and on treating people whose lives have become unmanageable because of one or more chemicals and not just because of the corrections/industrial complex.

Posted by Paula D. Gordon on 23 Mar 09 09:32 AM EDT

I understand that there is an Israeli MD who is involved in researching the medical use of marijuana who is extremely critical of the use of non-titrated doses the active principle of cannabis for medical use. He feels the approach being taken by those medical doctors is extremely irresponsible. If anyone knows more about views such as this or has references to writing or interviews on such matters, please feel free to email me at pgordon@erols.com or post the information here. It may have been a doctor by the name of Mechoulam. I did not see the TV interview and heard about it secondhand.

Posted by Paula D. Gordon on 23 Mar 09 09:45 AM EDT

To the first poster: Actually, a few years after the OJ Simpson trial, Christopher Darden was interviewed on TV and was asked if OJ had been under the influence of drugs at the time that Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman were murdered. He said something to the effect "only marijuana." This is not an altogether surprising report in that the work of Harris Isbell demonstrated that the administration of delta 9 THC in human subjects can result in idiosyncratic psychotomimetic effects.

Posted by stopthehate on 23 Mar 09 10:19 AM EDT

Paula - I think OJ had eaten toast that morning, maybe that caused his violence, since no cause and effect has been established with marijuana and violence, either.

Posted by Bill Godshall on 23 Mar 09 12:32 PM EDT

This is a huge step forward. But unless counterproductive federal marijuana prohibition statutes are repealed (allowing states to set their own policies, including regulation and taxation), the next president could once again declare war on pot users and prosecute violators.

Posted by a business owner on 23 Mar 09 01:07 PM EDT

I think the JTO is spinning this story, the AG is very clear that no one can hide behind compassion when they are infact just selling marijuana for profit. That has been the experience for the DEA here in San Diego when they investigated dispensaries because of community members and business owners complaints about marijuana dispensary in our neighborhoods..there was nothing legit about any of them. They found weapons, other drugs, attracted crime to the nieghborhood, I am glad they are gone, and I applaud the feds.

Posted by BfromB1P on 23 Mar 09 03:22 PM EDT

All that I have to say is... "ABOUT TIME"! Thank you PRESENDENT OBAMA for (somewhat) hearing the VOICE of AMERICA. I knew there was a reason I voted for you! Other than KNOWING DAMN WELL we woulda had 4-8 more years of HELLISH WAR had the OLD guy won!

Posted by John from Oceanside on 24 Mar 09 10:42 AM EDT

Again Holder said that "programs that operated in accordance with state laws would not be an enforcement priority for the U.S. Justice Department." All the dispensaries that have been shut down have violated California law. They were high profile high profit businesses, they had nothing to do with sick people. These busineses will still be taken out folks. This statement changes nothing from the last administration. And by the way to my knowledge Oregon does not have any dispensaries.

Posted by KD from Michigan on 24 Mar 09 11:55 AM EDT

"Medical Marijuana" is used far too often for an excuse and I have rarely seen it be effective for a real patient. I have seen the effects on my sisters lungs -- she is now in end stage lung disease due to the excessive use of marijuana and other substances. She wishes a re-do on her life, too bad they don't grant those. Legal or not it is harmful to your health and the raids have been well founded.

Posted by Bernie Ellis on 25 Mar 09 08:21 AM EDT

Re: Oregon, John, a bill was introduced last week in the Oregon legislature to make the state itself the producer, provider and seller of medical cannabis, replacing their current system of allowing patients and care-givers to grow. It will be interesting to see how far that bill goes -- it parallels recent efforts in other states (and similar dialog here in Tennessee.) It also sounds like Oregon has had some informal distribution methods involving local health departments there for some time. The medical marijuana effort is not defined, nor even very well described, by your limited experience in California. But once again, it is clear to the rest of us that change in this arena is coming (fast). Unfortunately, there are 150,000+ cancer, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, hepatitis C and serious spinal-injured patients in Tennessee who could use access now.

Posted by SR on 29 Mar 09 05:21 PM EDT

Remember folks that Marijuana is a natural substance put on this earth by God for us to use like the other plants, etc. that are here. We must learn to respect it and use it wisely for the good of all mankind. Mankind has become greedy, selfish and gluttonous as evidenced by the world's state of affairs that are so eloquently sensationalized by the media everyday. I am waiting for the day when we can decide for ourselves if we want to partake of the sweet greenleaf without the fear of facing illegal drug charges. Hemp and Marijuana have been proven to provide so many positive rewards that it is inconceiveable to waste this gift from God. At the very least why can't Marijuana be decriminalized so small time users could get out of prison and reduce the DOC cost to society?

Posted by Paula D. Gordon on 24 May 09 04:25 AM EDT

No policy should be enacted that would increase the harm caused by the use of marijuana. For articles on this subject see http://groups.google.com/group/GordonDrugAbusePrevention. The most recent article of mine on the harmfulness of marijuana can be found there. It includes recommendations concerning drug court type approaches for discouraging use. The article is entitled "The Harm Caused to Individuals and Society by the Use of Marijuana" I hope you find it of interest.

Posted by George on 10 Jun 09 08:42 AM EDT

Have you looked at what our system in the U.S. uses to make any drug a medicine? There happens to be 8 criteria needing to be met. The reason for these criteria is simply: to make certain that the drug is as safe as possible, and to make certain that the drug says it will do what it says it will do and not a rash of other things which are unknown. I think making a drug a medicine should be left up to the scientists and not the general, layman voting public.

Posted by me on 10 Jun 09 01:16 PM EDT

quick, somebody tell willie nelson that pot is bad for you

Posted by Dwayne on 28 Aug 09 10:45 AM EDT

Why tell willie he is a grown man Like I am we will do what we want to.So we would appreciate people to keep their opinions to themselves and live and let live.You don't see me telling you the many things that alcohol and prescription drugs do to you and believe me there are many that are proven.All I am saying is show me proof that marijuana kills 1/2 million people a year like Alcohol,Tobacco,and Prescripton Drugs and maybe I will think about it!! Until than zip the lip.Now I can enjoy this fatty See Ya

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