Obama Defends War on Medical Marijuana With Lame Excuses
Finally, finally, finally, someone in the press has managed to corner the President on the question of why the war on medical marijuana is getting worse under his watch. Here you go folks, the answer we've been waiting for…
Let me ask you about the War on Drugs. You vowed in 2008, when you were running for election, that you would not "use Justice Department resources to try and circumvent state laws about medical marijuana." Yet we just ran a story that shows your administration is launching more raids on medical pot than the Bush administration did. What's up with that?
Here's what's up: What I specifically said was that we were not going to prioritize prosecutions of persons who are using medical marijuana. I never made a commitment that somehow we were going to give carte blanche to large-scale producers and operators of marijuana – and the reason is, because it's against federal law. I can't nullify congressional law. I can't ask the Justice Department to say, "Ignore completely a federal law that's on the books." What I can say is, "Use your prosecutorial discretion and properly prioritize your resources to go after things that are really doing folks damage." As a consequence, there haven't been prosecutions of users of marijuana for medical purposes. [Rolling Stone]
I don't know how one could fairly characterize this as anything other than complete nonsense. Obama wants credit for stopping the arrests of medical marijuana users, which is just ridiculous on its face. It's not like the federal government was bringing misdemeanor possession cases against sick grandmas until Obama came along. That was never the issue and he knows it.
This is a debate about whether the federal government should be stomping on state-regulated medical marijuana programs, thwarting the will of voters, prosecuting responsible providers, and depriving patients of access to their medicine. The President said, "I will not be using justice department resources to try to circumvent state laws on this issue," and that statement was made in response to repeated questions about whether the Obama Administration would continue the deeply unpopular dispensary raids that began under Bush. Nobody thought he talking about something else.
Obama deliberately led everyone to believe that his DOJ would stop targeting facilities that operated legally under state law. That's why everyone is pissed off that the raids haven't stopped. If I misinterpreted his words, then so did most of the marijuana reform movement, the entire American press, and several state legislatures. When the Obama Administration's pledge to respect state laws was making front-page headlines, they sure as hell didn't speak up to clarify that they'd meant no such thing.
Adding insult to injury, Obama then digs in deeper by randomly suggesting that the businesses they're raiding might actually be violating state laws after all:
The only tension that's come up – and this gets hyped up a lot – is a murky area where you have large-scale, commercial operations that may supply medical marijuana users, but in some cases may also be supplying recreational users. In that situation, we put the Justice Department in a very difficult place if we're telling them, "This is supposed to be against the law, but we want you to turn the other way." That's not something we're going to do.
For the millionth time, if they're breaking state laws, then they can be prosecuted by the state. None of this amounts to any remote justification for federal intervention, but moreover, we know this is garbage anyway because they've targeted numerous businesses that were considered models of effective local regulation. The President is implying that these people deserved what they got, which is outrageous.
Think about this: federal prosecutors have even threatened to charge state employees simply for working to ensure legal compliance by licensed medical marijuana businesses. Obama claims to be concerned about illegal recreational sales, while his agents have been actively threatening to arrest the very people whose job it is to prevent that sort of thing. It's nuts. Everything he's saying is horribly disingenuous at best, and anyone who's followed the issue at all ought to see right through it.
Obama's comments today are a fresh story and I don’t know yet how others will react, but as far as I'm concerned, this matter is very far from resolved. The President's answers should give rise to more questions, not less. As long as the war on medical marijuana in America continues, those responsible should be able and willing to defend their actions. If Obama can't give us a straight answer, or even acknowledge the promises he broke before our eyes, then it's our job to keep making noise until he does.
Follow Scott Morgan on Twitter: www.twitter.com/drugblogger
Cannabis Follies
"As a consequence, there haven't been prosecutions of users of marijuana for medical purposes."
Tell that to Multiple sclerosis patient John Ray Wilson, sentenced to 5 years for growing plants.
scott...the bush admin WAS going after medical users
a lot of simple medical users caught cases during the Bush admin.
are you just saying they caught those cases from someone BESIDES the feds?
Re:
There are exceptions, but the Feds (mostly) concern themselves with bigger cases involving distribution, etc. The big controversy under Bush and now Obama has been the dispensary raids. That's what's been in the press and that's what everyone's been talking about, which is why it's totally crazy for Obama to claim he was only referring the individual patients when he said he'd respect state laws.
"Drug war" drags on...
According to our drug czar, he can't even allow hemp, there's THC in there he claims! Gil, you douche, no one wants to smoke it you moron! With the election year in full swing, it's the same old sad thing, "drug war", "drug war", kill all the more! People are being gunned down dead through the walls of the one place you should be safe, your own home! We need to take all of these pathetic politicians, put them in a stadium wearing straight jackets while they watch St. Valentines Day Massacre till they get it!
The drug war is a farce.
US Gov Narcotics Trafficking
The .gov agencies are also currently involved with Afghan heroin traffickers in an attempt to destabilize Iran. The Iranians have a huge addiction problem, Under the Taliban, opium production was stopped. Control of opium & heroin was one of the goals of the US invasion. How much of these drugs are being brought into the US?
Calm down, Do not overreact
Election is coming up, we are being triangulated.
If Obama wins, you are much more likely to get what you want than if Romney wins.
Relax.
Ever hear of Air America
The Iran Contra affair.Relax my ass.The guy is bang on.
No, I think our two-party
No, I think our two-party system will not be friends to pot advocates this term; Obama, Romney...neither will do anything here to help us.
Obama more-likely? Sure.
Going to? I haven't seen anything that would indicate yes...only resounding No's.
Time to throw my 2012 vote away with a third party.
I have a Conscience
I don't want to throw away my vote either, and that's what I feel I would be doing if I voted for either Obama or Romney. That is not a choice.
There is only one other choice.
Door number 3.
Ron Paul, is behind Door#3
I have always regarded my
I have always regarded my vote with great respect, and at times smile when people don't vote because they say their vote is worth nothing. That makes my vote that much more valuable. This is the first year, I too will be "throwing my vote away" to a third party, any third party. I want to make a statement this year.
Re: No, I think our two-party
I'll second that brother/sister. Where's Ralph when you need him?
"Calm down"? Take your
"Calm down"? Take your condescending BS and your unwarranted Pollyanna-ish attitude elsewhere. Betrayal doesn't deserve love taps but backhands. And what Obama did was a betrayal. Are you that foolishly naive that believe that he won't try that again? Then there's a bridge I'd like to sell you, cash, please, no checks, and all sales are final.
Oh, yes, we're being 'triangulated' alright. Not the way you mean, though. 'Triangulation' as in being targeted for removal in order that a Big Pharma-sired, (corrupt) government approved cannabis based medicine can be marketed without competition.
Interesting, isn't it, that Sativex, a whole cannabis reblended sub-lingual spray is about to be marketed in the US? And isn't it interesting that one of the people who stands to gain a lot of money is the former Number Two at the ONDCP, Dr. Andrea Barthwell?
See, while she made hundreds of thousands of dollars for years as a salaried 'civil servant' lying to us and saying that MMJ was a 'cruel hoax' and that it had no medicinal properties, towards the end of her so-called 'public service' she began to change her tune and say that it was only smoked cannabis that has no such qualities. That's because she was packing her 'golden parachute' so she could jump into the waiting corporate arms of GW Pharmaceuticals, the company making Sativex. You do know what 'conflict of interest' means, don't you?
The only thing standing in the way of this illegal monopolization of the cannabis meds industry by Big Pharma were the MMJ States and their dispensaries. The dispensaries had to go. So Big Pharma's friends in the government, through 'contacts' such as Barthwell, are using government resources for a private industry's gains by having Fed agents act as covert corporate muscle. All on our dime and our time, in order to strip us of the economic choice that the dispensaries represent.
This coffee's been brewing for years; smell it yet?
Well said and very true! The
Well said and very true! The FDA is also pushing to reclassify Sativex to schedule 2.
HYPOCRITE
When this guy found out that he actually had a shot at being the nominee he did a 180.He didn't tell anyone right away.He led the movement on till he was elected,making ever so slight retractions form his original position.His appointment of Joe Biden,a rabid anti drug VP was the big FU.His positions have deteriorated ever since and he often says one thing and then,Holder,magically does the exact opposite.He is a total liar and a hypocrite.He has realised that there is no other position,no choice for us out there.The alternative,while it would be sending the prohibitionist movement a message would give us Romney as president.The GOP is insane.I suggest that you vote for whatever members of congress or the senate have favorable positions on cannabis.Then write in a vote for Ron Paul as a protest vote.Who knows we might surprise everyone.
Don't Blame Congress
"I can't nullify congressional law. "
Not only is he passing the buck, he's lying. Congress created the Controlled Substances Act, but gave authority over scheduling substances to the Attorney General. Who has since given that power to the DEA. In other words, the CSA comes under the purview of the Executive branch, not Congress. Regardless, there's still no need to nullify any law, just reschedule cannabis so it can be prescribed by doctors, a process in which Congress is not involved.
Obama Fails Leadership Test – No He Can’t
Besides directing AG Eric Holder to reschedule marijuana, Obama could also send a letter to the United Nations withdrawing from the Single Treaty with respect to marijuana criminalization.
Providing a U.S. exception to the treaty would mean other nations would no longer need to answer to the United States regarding international cannabis policies. Other countries could submit their own letters withdrawing from the treaty. Dozens of governments would have probably have already abandoned the Single Treaty were it not for the prohibitionist zeal of whacked-out American crusaders.
Obama is trying to govern as a centrist Republican, a trick he probably learned from the Clintons. It’s not making anyone happy; not Obama’s opponents, who would never vote for him anyway, and certainly not the people who voted him into office. At this pace, he’s going to be viewed by historians as being much like Eisenhower, whose feeble domestic policies did nothing to confront the McCarthy witch hunts.
Giordano
You guys realize that.......
Obama is actually behind marijuana, he just cant say that publicly or else it would cause a massive uproar, not only at a crucial time (before an upcoming election) but also with businesses. Ill tell you what though, if Mitt Romney gets elected, its going to be even WORSE! Mitt Romney is a lot more anti cannibus then Obama is. So make the right decision at the poll...
OBAMA 2012!
Ron Paul !
No man, if obama is out next president we are going to lose the country to socialism through a national healthcare system and extremely high taxes, this is not good for anybody because while the intent is to redistribute the wealth, it actually helps poverty to creep up because this takes away any incentive someone has to work, if they have to work only to give 45% of it to the government, they will not only do less work, but they will do lower quality work, if you want real change at the polls vote for Ron Paul,
No matter what the news says he has the best chance now that santorums gone and gingrich is leaving, hes gotten the majority of the delegates in numerous states, so dont just write him off,
And also if you didnt know, Ron Paul wants to end the drug war, this doesnt mean that all of a sudden that all drugs will be legal, but that the issue will be left up to the states. Please look into him before you vote this year
No man, if obama is out next
No man, if obama is out next president we are going to lose the country to socialism through a national healthcare system and extremely high taxes, this is not good for anybody because while the intent is to redistribute the wealth, it actually helps poverty to creep up because this takes away any incentive someone has to work
--WRONG
1. We pay more for healthcar per capita thatn CANADIANS who have about the highest socialized medicine tax rate. In that country, 60 percent of old people aren't simply left to die. Canadians feel sorry for us to live in the primitve country Amerika. Those lies about canadians coming here for care, are amazingly audacious. Probably happened 2-3 times.
2. The Bush tax cuts are responsible for nearly 80 percent of the current deficit, a deficit removed by Clinton. This forced the CIA backed takeover of the government from the insane GOP to prevent WW3 and the total collapse of the US.
3. I have an Engineering degree, and get paid $9.00 per hour. Australia, has higher employment rates, LOWER taxes and a 15.75 min. wage. Did i mention free healthcare...
What are you talking about?
Look how many states have passed medical marijuana laws. Obama is losing votes by opposing something everyone supports. If he's actually in favor of medical marijuana, the smart political move would be to say so as loudly as possible.
The 'right decision' would be
The 'right decision' would be a fully viable 'third party'; D's and R's are but the wings of the Money Power in this country, Punch-and-Judy puppets to distract the rubes while their pockets are being picked.
We're supposed to lick the hand that has already ear-ringingly slapped us? We're supposed to bend over and take it where the sun doesn't shine...again? It's well known that political parties hire paid propagandists to act as 'bloggers' and disseminate party-derived rubbish as if they were only private citizens expressing their own opinions. They shouldn't believe their own propaganda and stereotypes about cannabists being mentally impaired, or they're liable to come in here and make such facile and insulting attempts...such as you have.
It's not the election...
If Ron Paul, Chris Christie, and even Pat Robertson can come out against marijuana prohibition... and public support for medical marijuana is sitting at 80% it isn't about the election.
Even Obama himself got elected by stating he would not raid dispensaries.
It's a convenient excuse that deflects the blame for broken promises back to the republican party, but lets be honest here he is a liar who does not deserve a second term.
cant get any worse
what are u smoking? Obama is a lying sociopath.
disregarding federal laws
– and the reason is, because it's against federal law. I can't nullify congressional law. I can't ask the Justice Department to say, "Ignore completely a federal law that's on the books."
Why not? This is what he's done with immigration law.
Disregard
Voting for Obama a waste
Every four years it's the same old song and dance. When are the folks that want to end the drug war going to wake up and smell the cat food? The Democrats aren't going to end the war on drugs. There is no difference between the two parties. They're both fascists. Is a President who signed the NDAA bill into law that eliminates due process guarantees of the US Constitution going to end any part of the War on US. Dream on! If drug law reformers had any sense, they'd be promoting the hell out of Ron Paul in the Primaries. But alas, he's not the D brand, he's the R brand, so we can expect all of the idiot D's to claim that Obama secretly wants to end the War on Drugs, but has to get re-elected first. We can look forward to four more years of worsening repression at home and war abroad.
holy smoke
If an american can not make a building safe for a smoker and nonsmoker to peacefully coexist regardless of how hard he works or how much money he spends then it must be religion.
Their is a religion for walking (shamballa religion) their is a religion for sitting and even breathing now their is a religion for being an American. What this country was founded on; Hemp- tobacco and that Holy Smoke. That holy smoke, that American spirit along with the blood of Christ, wine whisky, the water of life ;and of course beer the witches brew, that was made holy by the monks of belgium. not a new religion but rather a reinterpretation of the holy scriptures based not only on science and logic and the christian scriptures but of all world religions based on God and his nature that even the smoker, the beer drinker has a right to exist without being taxed or fined or criminalized. For it is genetically inherent in the human and also Religious! whether it is the amazon tribes or the american indians the spirits, their smoke their drugs that are natural creations of God can not, should not be condemned( if you don't like what go created root in hell)remember it took drugs and courage to settle the old west anyone would be a fool to think the future would be any different. The smoker, the drinker whether coffee and even donuts and sugar these are nature. these are the things man is meant to experience (Anabaptist) these come from the goodness of God and that power over the plants and animals God has granted to all men. "God saw what he made and it was good"- this requires the STATE to grow up and quit playing victim all the time. This requires the people to accept each other and quit passing judgments for what is between God and man is not someone else concern for a good christian leads by example, though education, recommendation, forgiveness and tolerance, and who are you to stop me from reaching heaven first, read Ezekiel- read more in the books ABOUT CHRISTIANS AND FREEDOM @Amazon.com AN OPENING FOR THE [email protected] Aamazon.com
holy smoke
http://smoke-stantamorta.blogspot.com/
If an american can not make a building safe for a smoker and nonsmoker to peacefully coexist regardless of how hard he works or how much money he spends then it must be religion.
Their is a religion for walking (shamballa religion) their is a religion for sitting and even breathing now their is a religion for being an American. What this country was founded on; Hemp- tobacco and that Holy Smoke. That holy smoke, that American spirit along with the blood of Christ, wine whisky, the water of life ;and of course beer the witches brew, that was made holy by the monks of belgium. not a new religion but rather a reinterpretation of the holy scriptures based not only on science and logic and the christian scriptures but of all world religions based on God and his nature that even the smoker, the beer drinker has a right to exist without being taxed or fined or criminalized. For it is genetically inherent in the human and also Religious! whether it is the amazon tribes or the american indians the spirits, their smoke their drugs that are natural creations of God can not, should not be condemned( if you don't like what go created root in hell)remember it took drugs and courage to settle the old west anyone would be a fool to think the future would be any different. The smoker, the drinker whether coffee and even donuts and sugar these are nature. these are the things man is meant to experience (Anabaptist) these come from the goodness of God and that power over the plants and animals God has granted to all men. "God saw what he made and it was good"- this requires the STATE to grow up and quit playing victim all the time. This requires the people to accept each other and quit passing judgments for what is between God and man is not someone else concern for a good christian leads by example, though education, recommendation, forgiveness and tolerance, and who are you to stop me from reaching heaven first, read Ezekiel- read more in the books ABOUT CHRISTIANS AND FREEDOM @Amazon.com AN OPENING FOR THE [email protected] Aamazon.com holy smoke
Bush left overs working independently of Obama
I remember hearing repeatedly from some drug policy reformers that it may be US Attorney leftovers from the previous Bush administration operating beyond the control of Obama. At least this interview puts that idiotic theory to bed and we now know that Obama is very much in control of what is going down in California and Colorado.
Legalize Marijuana
The main issue here is not the use of Marijuana but the crimes associated with the substance. If Marijuana is legalized, the government can regulate the use of it. It is that simple. It's just that person in authorities are making it more complicated.
AnnaW.McClung
ties to who?
Kind of makes you wonder who might be sleeping with the Cartel.
How do you know he's lying?
His lips are moving.
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