Medical Marijuana Groups Oppose Michele Leonhart for DEA

Medical marijuana advocacy groups have called on President Barack Obama to withdraw his nomination of Michele Leonhart to be DEA administrator. The coalition feels that Leonhart, who is currently the DEA’s acting-administrator, has not demonstrated that she is capable of leading the agency in a thoughtful manner at a time when 14 states have enacted medical marijuana laws, and science is increasingly confirming the therapeutic benefits of the substance. Under Leonhart’s leadership, the DEA has staged medical marijuana raids in complete disregard of Attorney General Eric Holder’s directive to the Justice Department to respect state medical marijuana laws.