BREAKING! - DOJ SURRENDERS ON LEGAL WEED

[Segami]

Eric Holder Says DOJ Will Let Washington, Colorado Marijuana Laws Go Into Effect




WASHINGTON -- The United States government took a historic step back from its long-running drug war on Thursday, when Attorney General Eric Holder informed the governors of Washington and Colorado that the Department of Justice would allow the states to create a regime that would regulate and implement the ballot initiatives that legalized the use of marijuana for adults. A Justice Department official said that Holder told the governors in a joint phone call early Thursday afternoon that the department would take a "trust but verify approach" to the state laws. DOJ is reserving its right to file a preemption lawsuit at a later date, since the states' regulation of marijuana is illegal under the Controlled Substances Act.


Deputy Attorney General James Cole also issued a three-and-a-half page memo to U.S. attorneys across the country. "The Department's guidance in this memorandum rests on its expectation that states and local governments that have enacted laws authorizing marijuana-related conduct will implement strong and effective regulatory and enforcement systems that will address the threat those state laws could pose to public safety, public health and other law enforcement interests," it reads. "A system adequate to that task must not only contain robust controls and procedures on paper; it must also be effective in practice." The memo also outlines eight priorities for federal prosecutors enforcing marijuana laws. According to the guidance, DOJ will still prosecute individuals or entities to prevent:

the distribution of marijuana to minors;
revenue from the sale of marijuana from going to criminal enterprises, gangs and cartels;
the diversion of marijuana from states where it is legal under state law in some form to other states;
state-authorized marijuana activity from being used as a cover or pretext for the trafficking of other illegal drugs or other illegal activity;
violence and the use of firearms in the cultivation and distribution of marijuana
drugged driving and the exacerbation of other adverse public health consequences associated with marijuana use;
growing of marijuana on public lands and the attendant public safety and environmental dangers posed by marijuana production on public lands;
preventing marijuana possession or use on federal property.

The eight high-priority areas leave prosecutors bent on targeting marijuana businesses with a fair amount of leeway, especially the exception for "adverse public health consequences." And prosecutors have shown a willingness to aggressively interpret DOJ guidance in the past, as the many medical marijuana dispensary owners now behind bars can attest. U.S. Attorneys will individually be responsible for interpreting the guidelines and how they apply to a case they intend to prosecute. A Justice Department official said, for example, that a U.S Attorney could go after marijuana distributors who used cartoon characters in their marketing because that could be interpreted as attempting to distribute marijuana to minors.



cont'


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/29/eric-holder-marijuana-washington-colorado-doj_n_3837034.html

[dionysus]

1. neat

[Warpy]

2. The DOJ didn't have a legal leg to stand on

since the whole drug war is a catch 22 based on tax law and states with various legal weed laws are collecting the taxes on it.

It's high time they realized this and backed down.

(see what I did there?)

[Iggo]

24. I saw that!

[Segami]

25. Same here!

[Warren DeMontague]

85. Damn straight.

[Ms. Toad]

130. Actually they did (have a legal leg)

All use of marijuana (medical included) is prohibited by federal law, so any use (or sale) in states where it is legal under state law is still against federal law. What this memo does is announce an exercise of prosecutorial discretion. No government entity prosecutes every crime it is aware of - resources are too small to do that. This is just an announcement it will exercise its discretion where there is a state law contrary to federal law.

And here's the key thing - once a different administration takes over (or a different attorney general), the discretion may change because it is still against federal law, and the next administration may not choose to turn a blind eye to it.

[Warpy]

150. All antidrug law is still based on tax law

That is its foundation. Kick the tax law out from under it and it all collapses.

[Ms. Toad]

156. No.

The federal anti drug law is based on the Commerce Clause of the Constitution. The Congress has the authority to regulate interstate commerce as one of the few areas of law not reserved by the states.

Motivation may be a different matter, but the foundation is the commerce clause.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. This is a small, but very pivotal and important step. FINALLY, some sanity is prevailing.

The DOJ has to be dragged, kicking and screaming, into the 21st Century.

About fucking time.

[Baitball Blogger]

7. Do you get the impression they're throwing bones to cut the edge off the criticism about the war?

(Though, admittedly, it is a meaty bone.)

The timing reeks of politics.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. I really think this is unrelated.

This has been developing for some time.

Of course, I could be wrong...

[Lizzie Poppet]

46. Agreed, but I'd still bet the order came from on high.

Continued support of marijuana prohibition (and particularly aggressive enforcement thereof) is a no-win situation for Democrats. The only people who support that crap would never vote Democratic in the first place.

[Art_from_Ark]

100. Did the order come "from on high"

or "while high"?

[Lizzie Poppet]

101. Ba-dum...tish!

Good'n!

[awoke_in_2003]

115. Maybe both. nt

[vaberella]

19. Tin hat moment here.

People will always speak out against the war and some of those people who are anti-war are also anti-marijuana. They are not one in the same. This is only good because that means California will have it legal and so the west coast is cleared on MJ legalized. But this may not spread across the US.

[magical thyme]

21. I think they got a new dog to distract from NSA. When that didn't work, it became war.

Now that we're not marching up behind them like a bunch of lemmings, they're pulling this out of the hat.

All stuff they maybe would have done anyway, but were waiting for the right moment. Just like somebody "evolved" on gay marriage jit for the last election.

Just color me cynical.

[Baitball Blogger]

23. "Waiting for the right moment."

Like a burglar that throws a steak down to calm the guard dogs.

[magical thyme]

26. exactly. they have a bag of bones they can throw us as needed when the heat is on.

and they can always change their minds and take the bones back later.

[CakeGrrl]

28. Oh, FFS

Political machination if they do, weak and evil if they don't.

[JoePhilly]

44. YUP ... after all the screaming about this topic ... this will be a non-event.

Didn't happen soon enough.

Doesn't go far enough.

The government should have made pot free in every state.

So on.

[Warren DeMontague]

86. Oh, heavens, that sounds terrible

Perhaps he's mad about the crows pooping on his shoulders.

[bhikkhu]

118. I think it is fine to let states decide

as so many people have strong feelings on the matter. A judgement from on high has far less meaning than if the people themselves making the decision.

In my state (Oregon) there was much debate over it in 2012 and it was narrowly defeated, but many people became more educated about the issue, and many people changed their minds. I expect some form of legalization to pass in 2014, and then it will be by the consensus of voters - a very good thing to have in a democracy.

[NYC Liberal]

48. That's exactly it right there.

[Cha]

65. Save your breath, Cake Grrl.. they have

no fucking clue what they're talking about but it makes them feel all superior on the internet. Rah Rah, BFD.

[Isoldeblue]

74. +1000%

[questionseverything]

50. between the nsa fall out and the new war thingy

yes we get a bone...but this is why we must keep the pressure on about both

[Baitball Blogger]

54. Good observation.

We're all part of this terrible political game, whether we like it or not.

[bhikkhu]

117. I get the impression they are throwing in the towel, backing away from the floodgates

and resigning themselves to the dominoes falling, state by state, toward legalization.

Importantly, the position they are taking is one they could maintain long-term even if every single state came up with its own legalization regimen. I don't care about the timing, its a good policy!

[Segami]

18. VERY pivotal & important first step!

Resistance did become 'futile'.

[chimpymustgo]

39. High time the DOJ let some sanity prevail!

[Plucketeer]

69. Yeah - imagine that!

COMMON SENSE inching to the fore! Will wonders never cease???

[mainer]

4. So... we can now grow a plant for our personal use on our own land?

if we avoid the above circumstances?

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

10. More important...

Are people in jail for marijuana arrests (that avoid the above circumstances) going to see early paroles?

[LearningCurve]

41. My question as well

I would like to think the answer is yes, since prisons are overcrowded. However, sense does not always factor into the equation.

[Comrade Grumpy]

63. No, not with this. Obama could use his commutation/pardon powers...

...but he hasn't seemed very interested in doing that so far.

And the vast majority of people doing time for pot offenses are doing state or local time, not federal, so even if Obama were to commute the sentence of every federal pot prisoners, most pot prisoners would not be affected.

[Left Coast2020]

120. Perhaps we should all encourage him to take that step to pardon.

[rhett o rick]

129. If he pardons anyone he will pardon Bush and the Iraq War gang. Just sayin. nm

[Blue Owl]

37. Wow, that sounds kinda like... FREEDOM!

[WCLinolVir]

59. Not unless it's legal in your state.

I live in Virginia and I don't think I'm going to plant. Still plenty legal for them to prosecute you at the state level.

[Comrade Grumpy]

60. No, not unless it is legal to do so under state law in your state.

Holder is saying they're not going to enforce the federal pot laws in states where it is legal (with some limited exceptions). If you want to grow pot plants, you need to change the law in your state.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

5. Unrelated, I'm sure...

But on Wall Street, futures in Doritos and Little Debby Cakes are soaring...

[Segami]

6. BWHAAAAAAA.

....here,...have one...

[KittyWampus]

8. so many positive ripples will spread out from this one thing

[mick063]

11. A great big kudos to the AG and President.

They have effectively removed an argument against them.

I give them much credit for a courageous and correct approach.

This Washington resident is grateful and confident that we will hold up our end of the bargain.

[leftstreet]

12. ..to be celebrated this weekend during Seattle antiwar protest

[TeamPooka]

13. Prohibition is a failed public policy...again. nt

[Mr.Bill]

14. DOJ policy may only last until the next presidential election.

We need federal law changed.

[Segami]

15. Definitely an election issue.

watching patiently...

[Comrade Grumpy]

64. That is correct. This is a shift in policy, not a change in law.

[tridim]

89. 2014, after the mid-terms.

I was right about the fed response to WA and CO, and practically a lone-voice on the subject on DU.

Legalization is HAPPENING, and Obama will get the deserved credit.

[Mr.Bill]

90. I hope so.

It sure hasn't happened in California, and it's been over a decade since we legalized medical marijuana.

[tridim]

91. It's not happening in CA because of the corrupt MMJ industry.

They have ZERO interest in Cannabis being legal recreationally.

I bet their heads are exploding at this news.

[Mr.Bill]

92. You really think there will be no corruption

in the MJ business in Washington and Colorado? Some of the greedy assholes who screwed things up in California are already up and running there.

[tridim]

95. Of course there will be corruption.

Which is why Holder's statement specifically addressed it.

Of course it will all be moot after the mid-terms when Cannabis is removed from Schedule I.

[Comrade Grumpy]

146. I wish you would quit slandering the good people involved in medical marijuana in CA.

Your buddies in the DEA have raided some of the most upstanding, by-the-book medical marijuana operations in the state:

Northstone Organics in Mendocino. They paid the sheriff's office to get tags for their plants. Totally controlled and regulated, all the medicine going to patient collectives, and the DEA raided them.

Berkeley Patients Group One of the oldest and most respected in the state. Run out of one location by federal threats, hassled by the IRS, now threatened again.

Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana. The oldest dispensary in the state. Gone now, shut down by federal government threats.

Harborside Health Center. The iconic flagship dispensary. The only reason they're still open is that they have the bucks to defend themselves. Oh, and the city of Oakland is on their side, too.

Oaksterdam University. Not even a dispensary!

I could go on. Sometimes the DEA goes after crooks, sometimes it doesn't. There is no rhyme nor reason.

The problem in California is not the character of medical marijuana providers. The problem is that there is no statewide regulation. Part of the fault for that lies with the people who wrote Prop 215; part of the fault lies with the legislature for failing to fix the problem.

[tridim]

147. There are MANY good people in the MMJ industry.

And MANY corrupt assholes in the MMJ industry.

From my experience in CO it's about 50/50. Which is a shame.

[Comrade Grumpy]

149. For some people, it's about making money. But that is the American way.

I confess, I find it bizarre for people to attack medical marijuana providers on the grounds that "they're making money!" As if everything in this whole country wasn't about making money.

Or is it that some of the "patients" aren't really sick? To some degree, medical marijuana here in CA is a charade. It's written so loosely that anyone can be a "patient." We ought to get past the hypocrisy and just legalize it here. We already have a working model in place. Just take down the green crosses and turn the dispensaries into pot shops.

[tridim]

152. The corruption is not just about making money, it's about making money illegally.

Legal dispensaries remain open and profitable, and NOT raided.

[RainDog]

154. Sorry, but this is a lie

that you have repeated many times.

the reality is that the feds have targeted legally-operating dispensaries in CA. Grumpy gave you a list of legally-operating businesses that have been targeted by the feds using their prosecutorial discretion to go after these businesses because they violate federal, not state, law.

[Comrade Grumpy]

155. You keep saying that shit. Explain BPG. Explain Northstone Organics. Explain MAMM.

And all the other by-the-book dispensaries that have been raided or threatened.

[lark]

16. Whoohoo for a moment of sanity,.

Can I have some more please?

[99th_Monkey]

17. Does that pronouncement extend to the DEA as well as DOJ? nt

[jberryhill]

29. The DEA is an agency of the DOJ

[Jackpine Radical]

32. Somrtimes it seems that the reverse is true--

that the DOJ is an agency of the DEA.

[99th_Monkey]

33. Thank you.

I did not know that.

[Buns_of_Fire]

20. "Okay, if you don't screw it up we'll let you handle it."

I think it's a small step, but a very important one.

People are going to be watching Colorado and Washington closely. I hope they've got their act together and crossed all their "T"s and dotted all their "I"s...

[libodem]

22. Good

Now go concentrate on real crimes that actually hurt people.

Victimless crime
is a waste of time
So go drop that dime
Where some sun can shine.

[villager]

27. Wow! An actual progressive policy from this administration!

I'm both surprised, and impressed!

[Blue_In_AK]

30. He said "joint phone call."

Heh, heh-heh-heh.

[Jackpine Radical]

35. Ba da

BONG!

[Uncle Joe]

31. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Segami.

[MindMover]

34. Way tooo little, way toooo late for so many that have been incarcerated

and are still behind bars....

[Enthusiast]

36. It's a trick.

It's a SMOKE screen. They hope you'll be too stoned to protest an attack on Syria.

[madokie]

38. Good news

although it won't do me any good here in OK. I just wish they'd call off the dogs on pot period. The safest way to cop a buzz there is

[nashville_brook]

40. hell to the yeah.

[ZombieHorde]

42. Will companies in those states still be able to drug test for marijuana?

This is a great step, but employment is still a big issue.

[leftstreet]

47. Yes

There's nothing in the law to protect employees, and state courts have previously ruled for employers

[ZombieHorde]

70. That is pretty lame. Still, this decision by the DOJ is step in the right direction. nt

[Comrade Grumpy]

81. You need your union to fight the companies on this.

Oh, no union? Too bad.

[Spike89]

93. Yup, and insurance (multiple types) will still be affected

Pot may become truly legal everywhere in the US soon, but that doesn't mean you'll be able to smoke and hold a job, or that your insurance company won't void your accident claim because you had THC in your system. Pretty big issues to deal with, and I don't see a clean answer short of the development of a reliable field test for "pot intoxication".

I would like to see less drug testing done and perhaps more competence/capability testing done onsite. If the goal is to improve safety, then stopping an airline pilot who hasn't slept in 2 days from flying makes more sense than firing a baggage handler that smoked a joint two weeks ago (or even an hour ago, if he/she can still do the job within performance specs).

[Robbins]

43. Intresting

We are on first step towards eventual legalizing weed after voters In washington and Colorado voted for it.

[DemocraticWing]

105. I hope so!

I've come to believe in the last couple years that we're within 10-15 years of ending prohibition nationwide.

[yesphan]

45. I pray that

Harry J. Anslinger is spinning like a fucking top in his grave. Wretched bastid !

[Segami]

52. Print his mug on rolling papers...

[colsohlibgal]

49. US Legality Is Just A Matter Of Time

Legalize it and then tax it. Meanwhile I always wanted to visit the NW, may have to book a trip soon.

[Just Saying]

56. My thinking exactly!

I look forward to our country allowing adults to make their own choices about marijuana use. The waste of time, energy and money (not to mention ruined lives) to arrest and prosecute users of what most adults would say is a mild drug that's less addictive than caffeine and nicotine and has fewer side effects, is beyond ridiculous.

[RKP5637]

51. K&R! n/t

[George II]

53. They didn't "surrender"!

[Volaris]

55. This line, I think, is REALLY important:

"A system adequate to that task must not only contain robust controls and procedures on paper; it must also be effective in practice."

DOJ basically just said "All right, here's why the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT is worried about legal Weed. You keep this list of things from happening AT A STATE LEVEL, and whatever else you want to do with this is fine with us. But if you DON'T keep these things from happening, we promise you're going to find out what the Business End of a Hammer is used for." It's a warning as much as it is an acquiescence.

Welcome to the Modern, and I think quite appropriate and useful, interpretation of States' Rights. As the above poster stated, it's also the only position DOJ could have taken, and not been left a laughing stock.

[jberryhill]

58. What would be more productive

Would be a "uniform code" type of approach to state regulation of marijuana.

Either the DoJ or an appropriate commission could draw up a set of laws and regulations which, if adopted and enforced by a state, would essentially boil down to "do this and the feds will leave you alone".

More desirable would simply be a piece of federal legislation that accomplished the same result - "here's a set of rules which, if followed, will keep your citizens out of trouble with us".

[Volaris]

68. agreed. Or, just get Congress to de-criminalize the stuff for Personal Use,

and be done with it.

[uponit7771]

151. +1, sounds fair to me...

[wildbilln864]

57. k & r that too! n/t

[B Calm]

61. K&R

[Comrade Grumpy]

62. Holder gets bashed a lot, and sometimes deservedly so, but I give him kudos on this.

[Go Vols]

66. Fuckin' A

Its about time.

[Segami]

67. It will be interesting to see how many states

follow suit with Colorado & Washington's lead after today's announcement.

[railsback]

71. Tyranny!

Now Obama is going to use the NSA to illegally hunt down all the pot smokers and disappear them! Follow the self written memes…

Back in RealityLand.. C'mon, CA! We can do it!

[Warren DeMontague]

125. To quote Fred Willard:

"Hey, wha' happened?"




http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=profile&uid=250413&sub=trans

[Spitfire of ATJ]

72. NOW can we talk about a blanket amnesty for all weed offenses and lower our prison population?

[DisgustipatedinCA]

73. Mark me cautiously optimistic. I'll wait and see what CA-based federal prosecutors do. n/t

[Isoldeblue]

75. Every little bit helps...

as we inch towards decriminalization of the kind herb.

[Ratty]

76. So now will the Ron Paul cheerleaders STFU a bit? n/t

[liberal_at_heart]

123. We are not Ron Paul cheerleaders and no we will not shut up until marijuana is legal at the federal

level.

[They_Live]

77. uh huh

[quakerboy]

99. Yeah..

My personal interpretation is that they will keep raiding medical and now recreational MJ operations. They just wont waste time prosecuting folks after they rip apart the buildings and destroy the supplies and terrorize the workers and owners.

Add a heaping side order of civil asset forfeiture, both of the quasi legal and the off the books types, and you have.. well, really not that far off of what we've had for most of my lifetime.

So be sure and register and let them know you have pot at your place. I'm sure it will work out swimmingly.

[SammyWinstonJack]

116. Probably so. I wouldn't trust 'em.

[defacto7]

78. kick kick kick

&R

This is one time all caps are not only appropriate, they are necessary.

YEAH!

[OnlinePoker]

79. Now release the thousands of people incarcerated for minor drug offenses and we're getting somewhere

I seem to recall reading something last week that the cost for all the people imprisoned in the U.S. is somewhere around $85 Billion a year. You could probably cut that by a third or half if you did release those "offenders".

[MNBrewer]

80. That's excellent news, maybe the beginning of the end of The War on Drugs and associated madness.

[WillyT]

82. K & R !!!

[Warren DeMontague]

83. I've been critical of Holder on this issue, but this is an unequivocally positive step in the right

direction.

[Dustlawyer]

84. I hope every holdout in the DOJ and the DEA contract Small Fiber Sensory Neuropathy and

that they are allergic to most of the commonly used medications for nerve pain like myself! They would change their minds so fast it would make all of our heads spin! Pardon my language but to keep pot away from people that really NEED IT, should be fucking crimminal! To still contend that marihuana is as dangerous as heroin or OxyContin means that they do not know about any of the drugs they are trying to regulate, or they are lying to justify big, fat budgets and their own worthless existence!

[snort]

87. About

Time.

But way too late for those who have needlessly suffered under the Law.

[felix_numinous]

88. Great news!

I am happy to hear this today, shifting this issue to local grass roots

[AsahinaKimi]

94. So I guess this means in California, there will be no more raids

of medical Marijuana dispensaries? That is great, and ...I predict in a year or so, Marijuana may even be on the ballot as a recreational drug.

[Ruby the Liberal]

96. Sorry to be a fly in the ointment

but how will this impact the insane gun and abortion laws being bandied about in Oklahoma, Alaska and Texas under 'state right to overrule federal law"?

Thrilled they backed down, but it could have some unintended consequences.

Anyone know?

[mucifer]

97. The AG can decide who and how he wants to prosecute.

It looks like they decided with all the lack of federal funds and who knows, maybe for moral reasons, they are not going after the recreational and medical marijuana state laws.

Each issue takes different consideration.

[Ruby the Liberal]

102. Agreed, but doesn't this put the gun/abortion laws

in a place of standing?

[RainDog]

108. Isn't it just defining prosecutorial discretion?

The AG is saying... we're not going to enforce the law in this way at this time but we reserve the right to change this direction if, say, the state of Colorado turns reefer mad.

It doesn't change anything, permanently, it just says... go ahead and create a framework and we'll back off for now.

But the govs. really needed to have some guidance for their states, so at least this gives them some boundaries.

...it's sort of like The Netherlands, without the official decriminalization.

Senator Leahy mentions Congressional decriminalization of one ounce for possession in those states - but, honestly, this still doesn't address what needs to be done. But it starts the conversation.

[Warren DeMontague]

111. Any significant restrictions on abortion will run up against Roe v. Wade, which establishes

individual rights above and beyond the scope of what can be legislated.

I think the debate between state and federal law is a legitimate one. I definitely think in the case of the drug war, federal law is in overreach mode. Particularly given that it's absolute insanity to try to argue, as the feds have, that somehow arresting a cancer granny for smoking pot she grew herself, is somehow aligned with the interstate commerce clause.

[LiberalLovinLug]

98. This won't change anything

If you have another fundi/puritan megalomaniac anti-marijuana federal law enforcer. Most people will continue to buy off of someone who got it from some person or group that could be considered a "criminal enterprise".

And the DOJ made it clear they will work to prevent: revenue from the sale of marijuana from going to criminal enterprises, gangs and cartels, at least that could be argued in court.

Also what is included in "Federal property"? Buildings and grounds but also federal parks.

[polichick]

103. Finally! Great news.

[ladyVet]

104. This will make my youngest son happy.

He plans on moving to Colorado after he finishes school and can save enough money.

I'll probably never see him again.

[BillyRibs]

106. Yeah Right,

I'll believe it when I see the Proverbial Box go in the hole!

[Eleanors38]

107. A lot of loose-jointed exceptions, but I see a light. nt

[Incitatus]

109. I look forward to seeing no more raids on medical dispensaries

but I'm not holding my breath.

Didn't they just make it illegal for armored cars to transport cash for the dispensaries?

[DirkGently]

114. Sounds like dispensaries are still firmly in the cross-hairs

SAN FRANCISCO --Less than two weeks after Attorney General Eric Holder announced plans for sweeping drug sentencing reform to help fix a "broken system," the Drug Enforcement Administration has ordered security and armored vehicle companies to quit serving state-legal cannabis providers, according to industry sources.

The DEA, an arm of Holder's Department of Justice, confirmed the order to The Huffington Post, but wouldn't elaborate.

(snip)

"In 2011 they closed our bank accounts, which forced us to handle and store cash on-site," said Steve DeAngelo, executive director of Oakland dispensary Harborside Healthcare, in a release. "Now they have denied us any secure way to transport that cash to those whom we owe money, like the City of Oakland and the California Board of Equalization.”

DeAngelo told The Huffington Post that the DEA's order contradicts the administration's stated policy.
"Either there is a very serious disconnect between the views of the administration and law enforcement on ground, or the administration is playing a cynical double game," DeAngelo said.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/22/armored-vehicles-marijuana-dispensaries_n_3800281.html

Apparently both sides of Holder's mouth are in motion again.

[Warren DeMontague]

121. "It is fair to ask whether they are more concerned with maintaining public safety...

Last edited Fri Aug 30, 2013, 02:02 AM - Edit history (1)

or maintaining their marijuana-fighting jobs,"


DING DING DING

[tridim]

134. No, they didn't just make it illegal for armored cars to transport cash to dispensaries.

That story was made-up, whole cloth. There is NO order from the DEA or DOJ.

The MMJ industry is FREAKING OUT because of Holder's directive, and are now lying about it because legal Cannabis is their worst nightmare. A good chunk of the MMJ industry is corrupt. I saw it with my own eyes when I lived in CO. The raids that you read about are for corrupt dispensaries that are breaking state law.

[RainDog]

142. According to several news sources, this is happening

do you have a link to support your claim this was made up?

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-08-28/legal-pot-sellers-say-armored-car-companies-won-t-serve-them

Steve DeAngelo says his staff may need to carry cash in personal vehicles to pay Harborside Health Center’s bills after his armored car provider told his co-founder that a federal agency ordered it to stop serving cannabis businesses.

DeAngelo isn’t alone. Several large marijuana dispensaries in California and Colorado received similar notices from their armored vehicle services, said Steve Fox, director of government relations for the Washington-based National Cannabis Industry Association.

The U.S. Justice Department declined to comment on the matter, Ellen Canale, a spokeswoman, said by e-mail in response to repeated requests. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration referred questions to the Justice Department, its parent agency.

I have not seen any evidence to indicate this is made up, while several news sources are reporting MULTIPLE dispensaries have been told the armored car service will not do business with them under threat from the DEA.

[tridim]

144. There is no order, directive or law issued by any federal agency. It doesn't exist.

I've been asking for a link for a week, and there simply is none.

Harborside is lying, as they have many times before.

Unless and until they post a scan of the "notice" they received, they have no credibility.

[RainDog]

145. it's not just Harborside, or just CA dispensaries making the claim

I don't see that you have any evidence to claim this isn't true. I'm not saying it is or isn't - I am saying I am more inclined to believe the multiple reports that it is.

It doesn't have to be a law or directive. The DEA could tell the armored car group that they will be targeted for their practice. The DEA can do this with a letter sent directly to the company.

[tridim]

148. Let's see the order. Scan, upload, done.

Harborside says they have a document from an "agent". Why not show it?

[RainDog]

153. so that's enough for you to claim they're lying?

because you haven't seen it, while several news outlets report this for more than just harborside?

...when the DEA, in May of this year, sent dozens of letters to landlords threatening them if they continued to allow dispensaries on their properties? (the claim was a violation of 1000 yards of a park or a school. not just a school.

when, in 2011, more than 250 landlords were warned they faced confiscation of their property if they allowed dispensaries to operate on those properties?

[nradisic]

110. Great sign & good move

I can see the future now through the haze....almost...

[Historic NY]

112. Why isn't the market reacting.........

[tridim]

135. What market did you expect to react?

Big Pharma still has plenty of product and lots of stupid doctors to push it.

[blackspade]

113. OK, this looks a little less awesome now that I have read the details

Still, it is at least a baby step in the right direction.

[RainDog]

119. The headline for the OP is misleading

but people are happy to see some forward momentum.

I think this is a good signal, too, because Leahy's judicial committee hearing on Sept. 10th will address this in Congress - or at start to address some of the problems.

The federal agencies that determine drug schedules need to address the errors in drug scheduling, as well. If Michele Leonhart, as head of the DEA, is incapable of responding to the scientific evidence that indicates marijuana is not a schedule I substance, she should be removed from her position.

[Jack Rabbit]

122. Now what will Holder's excuse be for not going after Legs Dimon or Pretty Boy Lloyd?

I'm sure he'll have one.

[Dragonfli]

127. Old news _ He declared them ALL too big to jail last year or so.

Some nonsense about seeking convictions against such large banks will destroy the economy or something, the details are not that important as they are only excuses you will not find in any law book as valid defenses of criminal acts and should not be used to justify the reality that Wealthy elite bankers and their too big "Frankenstein's monsters" of international corporations are a class firmly believed to be above the laws of our country.

They are above the laws and we are not, that is all that is relevant, the excuses for this are of little import and are only PR window dressing anyway that can and will change as necessary to keep this special class firmly above the laws that bind those in the lower classes while excepting them, the new royal class.

[liberal_at_heart]

124. I'm cautiously optimistic. We will have to see how individual US attorneys react to this.

[BeyondGeography]

126. LAT: More states likely to change pot rules, both sides say

http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-marijuana-washington-20130830,0,1551141.story

[blkmusclmachine]

128. They'll give y'all the medical marijuana, but in exchnage for it, you'll have to give them another

illegal, budget-busting WAR FOR PROFIT

[tridim]

131. A word of advice to Democrats running in red states next year...

Run on state legalization, you will beat the Republican with ONLY the young vote.

[SHRED]

132. What about large scale hemp growing?

[tridim]

133. I'm willing to bet that is already happening in CO.

Kansas farmers are likely very upset about this since Kansas will likely be one of the last states to legalize.

I bet the southern states legalize after CA, for commercial purposes.

[SHRED]

136. A lot of people do not realize...

...that growing and product production of industrial hemp will be where the largest tax revenues will come from regarding the Cannabis plant.

[RainDog]

141. A farmer in CO planted the first hemp crop this year

legal for the first time since WWII.

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_23232417/first-major-hemp-crop-60-years-is-planted

[Romulox]

137. I don't believe them. nt

[tridim]

138. That's because you're so filled with irrational hate.

Smoke a J and chill out.

[Romulox]

139. It's because I remember candidate Obama's lies on the matter, as well as the phoney "Ogden" memo.

You want to drag it into juvenile name-calling for obvious reasons.

[tridim]

140. This directive is a restatement and expansion of the original Ogden memo...

Which never was a "lie". The Ogden memo never said ANYTHING about not going after dispensaries that break STATE law. Legal dispensaries are not raided by anyone.

Progress is happening despite your shitting all over it because you are so angry and misinformed.

Get over it.

[bleedinglib]

143. Funny Line!!!

The Governors were having a "Joint" phone call?? That must have been Wash. Colo. & Calif ?
I hope they call me soon!!