More Democrats stand up to threats & intimidation from Obama Adm. and condemn medical pot attacks

[Better Believe It]

For Immediate Release:
May 3rd, 2012
House Minority Leader Pelosi Joins Democrats in Condemning Federal Medical Marijuana Attacks
Momentum builds as more Democratic leadership stand up to threats & intimidation from Obama administration

San Francisco, CA -- U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) issued a statement yesterday condemning the escalated attacks on state-compliant medical marijuana businesses in her state. Responding to recent federal government actions threatening safe access to medical marijuana, Pelosi said she has "long supported" and will "continue to strongly support" efforts to "advocate federal policies that recognize the scientific evidence and clinical research demonstrating the medical benefits of medicinal marijuana, that respects the wishes of the states in providing relief to ill individuals, and that prevents the federal government from acting to harm the safe access of medicinal marijuana provided under state law."

As a result of threats by U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag to bring criminal and civil charges against San Francisco dispensary operators and their landlords, five city facilities have been forced to close, and at least four additional dispensaries have received similar threatening letters. Pelosi's statement comes on the same day the Alameda County Democratic Party unanimously adopted a resolution "decrying the federal raids on dispensaries and calling for the U.S. Department of Justice to refrain from future expenditure of public resources on any act that contradicts the will of the California voters regarding medical marijuana."

Last week the San Francisco Democratic Party passed a similar resolution, calling on President Obama, Attorney General Eric Holder, and U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag "cease all Federal actions in San Francisco immediately, respect State and local laws, and stop the closure of City-permitted medical cannabis facilities." This resolution followed a statement earlier in April by San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, opposing "recent federal actions targeting duly permitted Medicinal Cannabis Dispensaries...that aim to limit our citizens’ ability to have safe access to the medicine they need."

The group behind the recent momentum of opposition by local, state and federal elected officials is the coalition "San Francisco United for Safe Access," made up of patients, patient advocates like Americans for Safe Access (ASA) and its local ASA-SF chapter, as well as other stakeholders seeking to maintain a safe and legal means by which qualified patients can obtain their medication. "We applaud Pelosi's leadership in urging President Obama to address medical marijuana as a public health issue," said ASA Executive Director Steph Sherer. "Rather than defending a policy of intolerance, President Obama should end his unnecessary and harmful attacks once and for all."

President Obama, who was recently interviewed by Rolling Stone magazine, weakly defended his administration's practice of aggressively raiding permitted dispensaries by claiming that "there haven't been any prosecutions" of medical marijuana patients. President Obama conspicuously avoided the question of why he was using Justice Department funds to carry out a campaign against medical marijuana that not only contradicts a campaign pledge, but has also far surpassed that of his predecessor President George W. Bush. Obama's Justice Department has conducted more than 200 SWAT-style raids on dispensaries and growers in at least 9 medical marijuana states since he took office in January 2009.

Further information:
Statement by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi: http://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases/2012/05/pelosi-statement-on-recent-federal-government-actions-threatening-safe-access-to-medicinal-marijuana.shtml
Today's Alameda County Democratic Party resolution: http://AmericansForSafeAccess.org/downloads/DCCC_Alameda_Resolution.pdf
Last week's San Francisco Democratic Party resolution: http://AmericansForSafeAccess.org/downloads/DCCC_SF_Resolution.pdf
President Obama in Rolling Stone: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/ready-for-the-fight-rolling-stone-interview-with-barack-obama-20120425

# # #


http://www.safeaccessnow.org/house-minority-leader-pelosi-joins-democrats-in-condemning-federal-medical-marijuana-attacks

[Autumn]

1. Good to see them getting on this.

Rec

[sabrina 1]

2. Doing their job as Democrats, good for them. If the people do not let their feelings be known, the

Corporations win. They need to be out shouted by the people or politicians will cave to what they want. And they are in DC every day, while the people do not have the time to spend, or the money. Good for those Democrats for keeping their Party's feet to the fire. That is what good Democrats are supposed to do.

[msongs]

3. the democratic wing of the party fights back against the republican wing lol nt

[xchrom]

4. Du rec. Um if a patient formerly getting their weed legally

From a dispensary gets arrested for then procuring illegaly - why is that left out of the equation?

[crunch60]

113. Health Insurance Lobby/Big Pharma involved in keeping Marijuana illegal- Obama does

not want to step on their toes.

Always follow the money! $$$

MARINOL -- The SYNTHETIC CANNABIS:
#


# MARINOL IS EXPENSIVE, very expensive; In fact there is as much as a 100-to-1 cost ratio between the two. But don't take my word for it, do the math.

* If Legal, a pound of high-quality Medical Marijuana would cost (much less than) $100.oo,[1] which is enough to create 400 [2] Cigarettes.
* That 15 mg of Marinol, is the equivalent of one-half of a Cannabis cigarette. [3] Therefore one pound of Cannabis = 800 medical doses, or the equivalent of 27,397-mg of Marinol.
* That 20 mg of legal Marinol can costs $1,050 per month or $12,500 per year.

Now at this point, do the rest of the math yourself, and Ought!


http://antiquecannabisbook.com/chap20/NewMarinol.htm

[Harmony Blue]

5. The reason why some Democrats within the party are able to fight

back is because the public, especially the Millennial generation, are backing them. This is one issue where the Obama administration needs to back off from. This isn't the 90's and the "just say no" slogans are an embarrassing legacy.

[Harmony Blue]

7. Truth can be negative and positive depending on your view

In my view, Obama administration has misread the tea leaves when it comes to this issue. Republicans, Democrats, Independents, etc are pretty much in favor of medical marijuana. Especially the 18-50 age group.

[SidDithers]

9. Yup...

Sid

[bvar22]

66. When Telling the Truth and Reporting the News...

...is deliberately misconstrued by a hostile minority as an attack on the President,
then we have a real problem.


You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their excuses.
[font size=5 color=green]Solidarity99![/font][font size=2 color=green]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/center]

[SidDithers]

91. Are you sure it's not a majority?...nt

Sid

[Aerows]

100. I read a story

That 75% of the American public is opposed to sending people to jail for marijuana. That includes fiscal conservatives that realize it is insane to put millions of people in jail for pot. Now I don't smoke pot, so it doesn't affect me one way or the other, but when you deny a proven medical treatment that can improve the quality of life for the very ill, or even worse, prosecute them, that is wrong.

I don't care who says it's right - I will vigorously disagree with them, no matter what "side" they are on.

Do you think it is right to deny a proven medical treatment to the very ill, or to prosecute them? Just honestly answer that question, please.

[mitchtv]

10. truth can hurt`

especially if you've been dishonest

[Comrade Grumpy]

12. Take it up with Nancy Pelosi. She's the one criticizing the president.

Or maybe she has good reason to on this. It's certainly the will of her constituents, and the San Francisco Democratic Party and the Alameda County Democratic Party, and just about every Democrat in Northern California.

[Autumn]

13. "More negative priming of the Obama adminstration by Pelosi and Democrats.

Fixed your post for you.

[dionysus]

15. and it'll never stop, you better believe it!111

[mitchtv]

19. so troll is a good thing?

you live and learn

[dionysus]

22. i didn't say that. unfortunately, it's perfectly OK to have a permanent campaign against a dem here.

[girl gone mad]

95. How many good Dems do you think Obama has thrown in jail..

or caused major problems for with his idiotic campaign against pot?

[Ken Burch]

29. This isn't an anti-Obama campaign

It's a campaign to get the administration to stop doing something stupid. There's a big difference.

Obama doesn't have to be zero tolerance on medical pot to get re-elected. All the hardline anti-drug types vote straight-ticket 'pug.

(And you might want to reflect on the irony of dismissing this issue in posts that feature a picture of Jerry Garcia).

[Logical]

8. Obama needs to explain his total change on this topic! n-t

[alittlelark]

11. I love both my senator and congresswoman...

AND PELOSI!!!!!

[Tsiyu]

14. I love you, Nancy!

It's time to admit that Obama IS being a hypocrite and is allowing the Justice Department to act contrary to the wishes of the American people.

Laws are designed to make life better for human beings. When a law does more harm than good, that law is no longer serving its purpose.

Dying people, people with PTSD, or undergoing chemo, or dealing with MS should not be made pawns of an ignorant, arrogant and CRUEL Justice Department.

Whether avid Obama supporters like it or not, the president is WRONG on this issue.

Shine the light....

[dionysus]

16. i'm an avid obama supporter, but i really dont like him allowing the DOJ to go after those people...

[Tsiyu]

18. I'm with you

There is much to admire in Obama, and much about which to be dismayed.

But my thoughts are that we don't need to worry about the people on DU. Every MMJ patient who is being denied access is going to think twice about casting their vote for Obama. That's the reality of Obama's crackdown on clinics and dispensaries.

One can mock them all one chooses, but all that course of action does is alienate people who have a legitimate beef - and a very personal one.

[Zalatix]

20. If I were a MMJ patient I would not shoot myself in the foot by not voting for President Obama

my alternatives all end with an even more hostile entity taking Obama's place.

Vote for President Obama and work within the Democratic Party to change things. You already have Pelosi in your camp.

You will set yourself back by doing otherwise.

[Tsiyu]

23. Don't tell that to me

My TN state legislators are too busy driving around drunk with loaded handguns in their cars and passing laws about saggy pants to legalize Cannabis for suffering people.

They like all that For-Profit Prison jack, too.

I would benefit from it greatly, but I am abstaining until I move somewhere where it is legal. I barely weigh 100 pounds and struggle to stay there. i worked twelve hours today and ate only a small snack. Came home and am having to force myself to eat something so I can work ten or twelve hours tomorrow without passing out.

It sucks to be starving and to have no appetite. You have no idea.

Give your sermon to people dying of very painful diseases, or living with them. You think they give a shit about Obama now? He is attacking them personally at their lowest point. Every day is a challenge for them. They don't give a fuck about making you happy or making what most of us on DU agree is a good choice.

All they know is that they are suffering, hurting and being denied access to a safe substance that eases their pain. Obama will lose MANY votes because of this.

[Zalatix]

24. Obama will lose MANY votes because of this. And you will lose even the meager gains you have made.

Mark my words, you will regret doing this.

History will be your teacher, not I.

[Tsiyu]

26. Reading for comprehension is always nice

Where did I say I wasn't voting for Obama?

You miss the point in your authoritarian spin...

[Zalatix]

31. "Obama will lose MANY votes because of this." Now you're saying that doesn't include you?

You're all but officially encouraging people not to vote for President Obama here. You don't even add an "I hope they do vote for him" as a disclaimer.

The problem here isn't my reading comprehension - it's your not taking responsibility for what you are saying.

[Tsiyu]

36. it's not my problem if you jump to conclusions

Reread what I wrote and accept responsibility for your own failure to understand nuance.


They don't give a fuck about making you happy or making what most of us on DU agree is a good choice.



I suppose it's my fault if sick people are tired of being called criminals and won't vote for Obama? Is that what you're trying to say?

Hilarious. Really.

[Zalatix]

38. "Obama will lose MANY votes because of this." Take RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT COMMENT.

Now you are weaseling out.

[Tsiyu]

42. I stand by that comment

Are you honestly so immature that you think you can change the truth by asking me not to say it?

If I say "Many people won't vote for Obama because of his record on MMJ" I am stating a fact.

If I say "It's raining outside," did I make it rain, too?

You are too funny. Shaking your fist at the truth doesn't change it honey.

[Zalatix]

49. You are completely ignoring the existence of alternative actions that angry medicinal users can take

Such as working within the Democratic Party to effect changes in Federal medical marijuana policies, versus dumping the Democrats and bringing in a Republican administration that will utterly destroy all the gains you've ever made.

All medicinal marijuana users will pay the WORST possible price for not voting for President Obama, if he loses. You're cutting off your nose to spite your face. Do you get it yet?

Of course not. You are going to argue that not voting for President Obama will make things better for medicinal pot patients. History will roll right over you on this one.

[Tsiyu]

53. You're claiming to be psychic, too? Hope they don't pay you for your lack of skill

"You are going to argue that not voting for President Obama will make things better for medicinal pot patients"

Really? Have you got any evidence of this or are you just overrun with straw? I've never said on DU or IRL that one should not vote for Obama. Or that voting against him will help anyone.


Saying that people won't vote for Obama does not also mean that I agree they should not. You just don't get that and I feel very sorry for you.



You want to attack the messenger, and that's apparently all you can do, but my mind is not the one you need to change. You're just making shit up about someone you don't even know because it makes you feel like you're accomplishing something.

To me, you just look like an imbecile.

[KharmaTrain]

51. Not Everyone Is A Single Issure Voter...

My other half is undergoing breast cancer treatment and we'd sure like if there were legal MMJ laws in my state. Legalization is long overdue for many reasons and there's no defense of this administration's aggressive actions in a "war" they will never win. While this issue is one my wife and I would love to see changed and the polls show the time has come to eliminate the draconian laws and the waste of money. Tax and regulate...

That said, this issue will not stop either of us from strongly supporting President Obama and a Democratic ticket in November. In her case, it's preventing the rushpublicans from nominating the next SCOTUS justice while I see Rmoney as a straw man for more fleecing of the treasury that destroyed the economy under boooosh.

Change has to come from within...and its the Democratic party that is the best hope of pushing for that change. The teabaggers sure won't push for legalization. The game is not just helping elect Democrats and then going home after election day...it's holding them accountable to who elected them rather than special interests.

[Tsiyu]

54. Really? I did not know that.

I'm not a single issue voter, either. I am disgusted with Obama right now on this issue, but overall support him.

I never said anywhere that I would vote solely on this issue. I merely stated that there are those who will not vote for him because of the suffering they or their loved ones are enduring. This is a problem for Obama, but not one that I personally advocate or have caused.

Nuance is wonderful.

The sun is shining. I want to be given credit for making it shine now.

Thanks.

[KharmaTrain]

56. Yes It Is Wonderful...

I'm not directing my remarks at you but toward the number of posts that have proliferated here in recent weeks on MMJ and those who have said that this is a major issue with them. One went as far as to advocate for a third party candidate. It's nuance that allows for one to view things in a broader perspective and hopefully that's the majority consensus around here.

On the overall scheme of things I think the economy and healthcare will be far bigger issues President Obama will have to deal with and the "war" on drugs will fall into the "law and order" game that both parties play. While progress has been made on the state level (where it should), the federal government is far behind and where the push on Congresscritters makes a lot more sense than throwing this issue (along with so many others) at the administration. Work for electing those who will have the ultimate vote on decriminalization and legalization. As we've seen this administration can want a lot of things but with an obstructionist legislative little can change.

Here's wishing you lots of sunshine...life is a good place, it's just the politics that get in the way.

Cheers...

[Tsiyu]

58. Thanks for the post

I agree with what you said, but I also do not minimize the very real and personal struggles Americans are going through with this War on Drugs and Obama's escalation of same.

I may not agree with their decision not to support Obama over this one issue, but I think it's unwise to hide our heads in the sand and pretend that they don't exist and that their votes do not matter.

And I am amused by those who are "preaching to the choir." Or those who think I have some power or sway as a poverty-ridden Appalachian.

What is Obama going to do to win their votes back? That's the real issue.

Here's an example some can chew on: If I state (factually) that Teabaggers will not vote for Obama, how many people would pile on and argue that I am "supporting the Teabagger position?"

Wouldn't they seem ridiculous? And wouldn't they be arguing with themselves after all? If I said "Teabaggers are all going to the polls to vote for Obama!!!!" would that make it true?

If I have that much power to impact votes, then I'll say it:

"Teabaggers are all going to vote for Obama! Yay!" Now, he's a shoo-in! Yay me!


You get the point, I know, but many do not and now I have to go to work....

Peace KT

[Zalatix]

17. Troll post alert.

But never fear, as that also means I am a troll, too. And so is the once (and future!!!) Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

I'm not a fan of legalized marijuana but what we've done to prosecute marijuana is far worse than the drug itself. Hell, it's no worse than legalized alcohol. I can think of bigger fish to fry with my tax dollars, thank you.

[EFerrari]

21. Good for Nancy. nt

[BlueIris]

25. Nice to see them doing the bare minimum for sick people with legitimate needs.

Dem fever--catch it.

[fuddyduddy]

27. count me among the many millions of Americans SICK of this intimidation.

Obama better get his pen and an EO ready. It's time to pressure Obama to end this silly drug war that is doing more harm than it is intended for.

Shut down the DEA or redirect the DEA's assets to something more dangerous - like meth, crack, krokodil, heroin

[Uncle Joe]

28. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Better Believe It.

[midnight]

30. K&R

[MrScorpio]

32. OMG, Demcrats are going to abandon Barack Obama at the polls

What are we suppose to do?

[DiverDave]

33. Snarky much?

If people want to show there anger at the President, they can.

By being snarky about an issue that sick people feel passionately about does little for your
attempt to get me to 'listen to mr scorpio'

[MrScorpio]

41. There's a diff between anger, even about single issues...

And a sustained campaign to publicize negative stories about the only candidate for office who's running as a Democrat.

The snark comes from understanding one from the other.

[Better Believe It]

43. Obama is "only candidate for office who's running as a Democrat." ??????

The Democratic Party is running thousands of candidates for federal, state and local offices.

[MrScorpio]

44. I hope that you're not being obtuse.

I was only talking about for president.

There, I spelled it out for you.

[Autumn]

59. MrScorpio, the Obama administration is pushing this.

If it shows them in a negative light, well the blame lays on them not the people who are posting the information or Pelosi and the other Democrats who are objecting to his stance. Are you really saying that it is wrong or trollish to post this information? As a Democrat I like being informed.

If negative stories being published about Obamas policies, and they are not lies perhaps Obama should quit pursuing negative policies

[MrScorpio]

61. I, for one, don't think that Nancy Pelosi harbors a general objection to the Obama admin

That's because she doesn't end up in every negative news article that's posted in GD.

She may have a difference of opinion on the matter with the admin. That's all well and good. I'm also entitled to my own difference of opinion with THAT opinion.

I think the nation's lawmakers who object to the drug laws on books should get up off their butts and get them changed, instead of just putting all the onus on the Administation to cherry pick what laws they want to see enforced and what laws not to enforce. I tend to think that there is plenty of blame to go around in this matter.

This same kind of mechanism of blame against whatever the Prez does or doesn't do is just pretty freaking ridiculous every time I see it. The government isn't always doing everything just because the president says so.

One last thing, I'm not the only one to notice that the same contingent is constantly posting negative stories about Obama, a lot of them from dubious sources.

My most basic reaction is that it's tiresome and I really would love to understand the underlying motivation and expectation from this persistent highlighting of negative opinions.

[JonLP24]

64. The administration

has the authority to change Federal drug laws by the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 which was passed by Congress. The HHS has the complete authority to reclassify scheduled drugs and state if they should not be controlled.

[Dr Fate]

79. But it is someone elses job to make him keep his promise. Either congress or letter-writers.

Obama told us that we would have to "make him do it" when it comes to all this liberal stuff.

Apparently someone is rolling js with the papers instead of writing more letters to centrtists on them.

Well, if Liberals are too lazy/stoned/and or not writing enough letters to make him keep his promises, who's fault is that?

[JonLP24]

83. Why when he has the authority?

Congress gave the administration this authority do this kind of thing. When it was first past, the Nixon administration did exactly that, put all kinds of drugs on trial and gave them their classification in-spite of beneficial medical evidence presented.

[Dr Fate]

85. I agree- Obama cannot order Holder to re-focus on other crimes. Only the legislative branch can.

It's up to congress to force him to keep honor his promise- Liberals knew that when he promised it, now they pretend they did not.

Anyone who took 8th grade civics knows that congress, not the President who is responsible for the priorities and what orders a President gives out to the members of his executive branch.

[JonLP24]

86. Not when the legislative branch

gives the executive the authority.

[Dr Fate]

88. Right- and the ONLY authority he has is to step up the busts.

He has ZERO authority to tone them down or re-focus on other crimes.

That is, unless we "make him do it/and or not do it"

[JonLP24]

90. Like I said

The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 gave the Executive a wide latitude of authority for this kind of thing. Primarily the HHS for years have scheduled, rescheduled drugs since it has passed without Congressional interference because they gave it to them. So "ONLY" is incorrect.

[Dr Fate]

92. So he had a built in excuse. Obama sure knows how to fool those liberals with his promises!

So your argument is that Obama KNEW the legislative branch would would force him to keep up the busts no matter what.

If he can fool stoned cancer vicitms into voting for him by saying he will not bust pot- that is fine.

If he can convince law and order conservatives into voting for him (And we KNOW they will) by breaking that same promise, that is fine too.

It's all the fault of congress and or the lazy left if Obama cant keep his promises. We seem to agree on that much.

[Dr Fate]

77. Exactly. Only congress can force Obama to keep his promise.

Congress must tell Obama to order Holder to NOT focus on busting pot clinics.

Until they do- sorry far left Liberals- Obama can bust whoever he wants whenever he wants, promises notwithstanding.

If Liberlas/congress is too lazy to force Obama to keep his promises, that is their fault.

Obama once siad "make me do it."

I agree- Pelosi (and Liberals/stoners) must keep on trying to make him (not) do it/and or make him keep his promise.

[B Calm]

34. How would a Mormon President

handle medical marijuana?

[paulk]

39. with both hands?

I don't understand how elected Democrats disagreeing with their President over a policy issue equates to support for Romney, as you seem to imply...

[SammyWinstonJack]

45. +1

[B Calm]

73. Those policy issues add up

and yes it will equate. .

[paulk]

109. thank god the Democratic Party

still has some elected officials willing to disagree with it's leadership on policy. It's what separates us from the GOP.

and I'm pretty sure Nancy Pelosi, et al, wouldn't take too kindly to the notion that these disagreements "add up" to supporting Mitt Romney.

[Egalitarian Thug]

35. K&R. It's going to be an interesting summer. n/t

[JoePhilly]

37. Obama Bad Obama Bad Obama Bad Obama Bad

[paulk]

40. on this issue he is

thanks for pointing it out

[SammyWinstonJack]

46. ...

[treestar]

47. How dare he enforce the law?

He was supposed to just hand out goodies!!!!

[girl gone mad]

96. He refused to enforce the laws against Wall Street fraud and war crimes.

But when it comes to sick cancer patients using marijuana, suddenly he's got religion.

[Union Scribe]

102. Hand out goodies?

I usually hear that sort of phrase about Obama in RW email forwards.

What, er, "goodies" are you mad at people for wanting from Obama?

[treestar]

48. Who cares?

If you want that law changed, talk to your Congress and state representatives! Why are you trashing the POTUS and not your Governor? POTUS = magic dictator crap as usual.

[Fumesucker]

52. Possibly the same people that care about nonexistent torture prosecutions?

You know, liberals.

[SalviaBlue]

50. Where in this article are "threats and intimidation" addressed?

[Fumesucker]

55. To be fair..

You have a point.

The OP title is straying into over the top rhetoric, the article itself not so much.

"House Minority Leader Pelosi Joins Democrats in Condemning Federal Medical Marijuana Attacks"

[SalviaBlue]

60. Thanks, I agree. I am against what Obama is doing with regards to marijuana;

however, implying that there is some nefarious intimidation and threats happening is over the top and unnecessary.

[Luminous Animal]

80. Oh, I see. The OP says something the article doesn't say. Sorry.

[Luminous Animal]

81. My bad! Deleted.

[ProSense]

57. Bush?

President Obama, who was recently interviewed by Rolling Stone magazine, weakly defended his administration's practice of aggressively raiding permitted dispensaries by claiming that "there haven't been any prosecutions" of medical marijuana patients. President Obama conspicuously avoided the question of why he was using Justice Department funds to carry out a campaign against medical marijuana that not only contradicts a campaign pledge, but has also far surpassed that of his predecessor President George W. Bush. Obama's Justice Department has conducted more than 200 SWAT-style raids on dispensaries and growers in at least 9 medical marijuana states since he took office in January 2009.

The prison population for drug offenses climbed 28 percent under Bush:



Source: http://drugwarfacts.org/cms/?q=node/62

It increased slightly in 2009 and 2010, but has been dropping slightly since.

February 2012:

Drug Offenses: 95,528 (48.7 %)

March 2012:

Drug Offenses: 94,899 (48.5 %)

http://www.bop.gov/news/quick.jsp#1

That's the the lowest number of drug offenders since 2008.

The percentage is down from about 56.3 percent in 2000, and is at a pre-1990 low.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002430710

[TiberiusB]

106. Wrong thread

If you want to talk about prosecutions, then you should start another thread.

This one is about raids.

It would be a bit like me trying to claim the DEA are actually heroes because while they may have neglected to provide food or water to Daniel Chong, they didn't prosecute him either. In fact, he wasn't even charged with anything, so clearly he has nothing to complain about.

A reversal in the growth of the prison population is a good thing, but it doesn't excuse the administration's record on dispensary raids.

[ProSense]

110. Actually,

"Wrong thread"

...it's the right thread. Here's the full statement to which I responded:

President Obama, who was recently interviewed by Rolling Stone magazine, weakly defended his administration's practice of aggressively raiding permitted dispensaries by claiming that "there haven't been any prosecutions" of medical marijuana patients. President Obama conspicuously avoided the question of why he was using Justice Department funds to carry out a campaign against medical marijuana that not only contradicts a campaign pledge, but has also far surpassed that of his predecessor President George W. Bush. Obama's Justice Department has conducted more than 200 SWAT-style raids on dispensaries and growers in at least 9 medical marijuana states since he took office in January 2009.

"If you want to talk about prosecutions, then you should start another thread."

That was a bold statement for being so completely wrong.

"A reversal in the growth of the prison population is a good thing, but it doesn't excuse the administration's record on dispensary raids."

No one said it was an "excuse." The fact remains, Bush was throwing drug offenders in jail at much higher rate. If people are going to mention Bush, it's perfectly OK to present the full picture.

I mean, "surpassed Bush" without the Bush data is misleading.

<...>

The raid came during the waning days of the Bush administration, as signals from Obama of a soon-to-come change in federal marijuana policy made the future of enforcement uncertain. During Bush's presidency, DEA agents conducted more than 200 raids in California alone. But even with a new administration in place, the federal government's approach to medical marijuana has remained inconsistent. Since 2008, federal raids have occurred in Los Angeles, San Diego, Bakersfield, and other cities that license medical dispensaries. As with the previous administration, the selective enforcement of federal laws is something of a mystery.

http://www.eastbayexpress.com/ebx/medical-marijuana-dispensaries-in-legal-limbo/Content?oid=2044006

<...>

During the Bush years, the DEA raided more than a hundred California dispensaries, sometimes merely seizing their medicine and cash, sometimes prosecuting their operators and sending them to federal prison. But the DEA has also gone after a medical marijuana organization in Washington state that supplied starter plants for its members, used a federal grand jury in Oregon to obtain patient records, and even threatened New Mexico officials planning to implement that state's medical marijuana distribution program.

In Thursday's raid, DEA agents hit the Holistic Solutions dispensary in South Lake Tahoe, seizing cash and medical marijuana. They made no arrests.

http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2009/jan/23/medical_marijuana_dea_hits_calif

[Scuba]

62. I bet if Congress passed a law legalizing weed, the Prez would sign it.

[JoePhilly]

63. I think you are correct. But there is no way he puts this issue above jobs.

Unless he is REALLY high!

[MannyGoldstein]

65. Hey Joe! To continue our discussion from the other day...

So it seems like we both agree that Obama has called for cuts in Social Security benefits: our only quibble is over how deeply he wants to cut benefits.

Yes?

[JoePhilly]

72. No. He's willing to let the GOP discuss them. He is not, and has not, "called" for them.

That's the part I think you miss, perhaps intentionally.

If Obama was "calling" for cuts ... then he's be CALLING for cuts. Like today, he was CALLING for a continuation of low interest rates for college loans. Did you see any of that?? He had lots of college students there as he CALLED FOR continuing low interests rates.

Has Obama done something similar for these cuts to Social Security you claim he has made? I guess I missed that rally.

So, with regard to Social Security, he has never CALLED FOR cuts (or your preferred word SLASHING). He has said he's willing to discuss cuts. Which is not the same as CALLING for them.

He's daring the GOP to actually describe how THEY want to cut / slash / dismantle Social Security. He knows they do not want to do that because the American people would flip out. Smart politics ... he knows the GOP would love to kill Social Security, and he's trying to get them to say it out loud.

So he's giving them some rope.

Now I understand that you start from a negative position on Obama. When he speaks, you hear the evil code words. Kind of like playing a Beatles album backwards.

Bottom line, Obama has not called for those programs to be cut. It has not happened. And the cuts you keep predicting won't happen either.

But stick with it. Obama should be out of office in about 4 1/2 years.

[JonLP24]

67. Jobs is really vague

Something specific has to be put in place for jobs to be created, depending on what that specific thing is, dictates the types of jobs. Legalizing cannabis would create jobs, not just for the growers, packagers, and distributors. The cultivation of hemp could produce a great number of jobs in multiple different industries.

So the 2 may not be mutually exclusive.

[Dr Fate]

74. Obama knows that legalization takes jobs away from teen-aged gangs.

So I might argue that busting these cancer clinics is a jobs creation plan as well.

[JonLP24]

75. You could argue

most actions creates jobs in way or the other. Keeping cannabis illegal is certainly job security for courts, law enforcement, and attorneys for both sides.

[JoePhilly]

76. Sure ... and Newt's Moon colony idea would create lots of jobs too.

I understand your point. I don't really disagree.

But there is no way you can get that line of thinking off the ground to a point where it makes a difference in the near term. And certainly not between now and the elections.

The American people aren't there yet.

[Dr Fate]

71. Exactly. This is a jobs creation program for teen-age street dealers.

If Liberals have their way, only the snooty, taxable clinics will be in on the action.

I thought liberals WANTED poor kids in the cities to have jobs- make up your minds.

Obama simply CANNOT focus on jobs AND order Holder not to bust cancer clinics at the same time. What part of that do stoners not get?

[JoePhilly]

78. What are you babbling about?

Are you high?

BTW ... which cancer clinics has Holder "busted"??

Or is your garage, fitted with the special lights, and some awesome plants now a "cancer clinic"?

[Dr Fate]

82. Centrism.

I am arguing in favor of centrism-plain and simple.

Holder has busted no one but druggies and lazy stoners- we agree.

And no- I do not get high like Obama and Al Gore have. I am a CENTRIST, not some hazy-brained stoner, thank you very much.

So long as we agree that Obama cannot focus on jobs AND order Holder stop busting pot, then you and I are on the same page.

[JonLP24]

84. You may not be a stoner

but can't say you aren't hazy-brained.

[Dr Fate]

87. That is a great argument in favor of letting Obama break his promises.

I knew you were a centrist too.

[JoePhilly]

89. Hey ... I think we've met ... you are the guy on the Philly subway who thinks he's Jesus, right?

I mean you MUST be him. Because he also says that centrists don't get high. But I can't tell if in his head, the word "centrist" is in all CAPS when he says it.

And like you, he keeps telling me that we agree on things that we never actually discussed. Kind of like in your post above.

My sense is that there is a voice in his head that he confuses with my voice. Actually, I think he has lots of voices in his head and they don't all get along or agree.

Are you him? Oppps ... I mean "them"?

[Dr Fate]

93. That is an AWESOME argument in favor of allowing Obama to break his promise(s).

Even better than the whole 'you cant create jobs w/o busting cancer victims' thingy.

[JoePhilly]

94. That's exactly what he said earlier today!!!

You have an amazing memory.

[Dr Fate]

98. That's b/c he's a centrist too!

Again- thanks for the AWESOME arguments and facts, as opposed to falling back on insults like some stoned liberal would.

[girl gone mad]

97. He's been willng to put a lot of issues ahead of jobs.

The deficit, for instance.

[Dr Fate]

99. You cannot focus on jobs unless you ALSO criminalize cancer victims. It's economics 101. n/t

n/t

[Dr Fate]

70. Yes- only congress can force him to not order Holder to focus on pot busts.

If liberals are too lazy to make him keep his promise, that is their fault.

Besides, we dont have 85 Senators yet (I beleive that is how many we need now, right?)

[NorthCarolina]

107. I'm not so sure, I bet he would side with the

private prison industry who depend on income generated by the 'war on drugs'. They have the kind of DEEP POCKETS that politicians like.

[wendylaroux]

68. Dang, if this admin.

keeps busting the medical pot industry,all of the repubs will be all for it. It will have to be their idea,ya know. They are like 5 yr. olds.

[Dr Fate]

69. What legislation do DEMS plan on introducing/fighting for to make him keep his promise?

Anything binding in the works, or is this just good cop/CYA talk on Pelosi's part?

If Obama wants to keep his promise, all he has to do is order Holder to call off the dogs and re-focus on real criminals- but if the legislative branch wants to force his hand, fine.

My guess is that they will all end up doing something centrist.

[Aerows]

101. My take on this

I don't smoke pot, so it doesn't affect me one way or the other, but when you deny a proven medical treatment that can improve the quality of life for the very ill, or even worse, prosecute them, that is wrong.

I don't care who says it's right - I will vigorously disagree with them, no matter what "side" they are on.

Do you think it is right to deny a proven medical treatment to the very ill, or to prosecute them, regardless of WHO does it? If you can say "yes" to that question, just because of a particular politician or party, you choose political expediency over common decency and compassion.

If that statement bothers some of the usual suspects in this thread - and make no mistake, I'm an Obama supporter - so be it. I can support the man without throwing my brain, my compassion and my ethics out the window. A few of you - and we all know who you are - ought to try it sometime, this thinking for yourself idea, and having some common decency and compassion.

[pokerfan]

103. medical marijuana, gateway drug

[blackspade]

104. +1000

[felix_numinous]

112. Apologies

please disregard my above post, I had a really stinky brain fart, and this is an important subject that I certainly do not want to disrupt!!

Sorry!!--Felix