Why is the Obama Administration cracking down on medical marijuana now?

[Cali_Democrat]

What's the point? We've got two wars raging, massive defense spending, a crappy economy, a jobless crisis, cuts to social programs, attacks on unions, loads of cash buying off politicians, warrantless wiretapping of US citizens, drone strikes killing innocent civilians, a record number of Americans on food stamps, police brutality against peaceful protestors and bankers essentially running the country.

All this shit going on and Obama is concerned about an 80 year-old lady smoking weed to alleviate her glaucoma?

What's the point?

Obama's War On Weed: White House Launches Crackdown On Medical Marijuana
First Posted: 10/11/11 04:24 PM ET Updated: 10/11/11 04:48 PM ET

SAN FRANCISCO -- Three years on, not a single Wall Street banker has been prosecuted after a financial crisis rooted in rampant fraud brought the global economy to its knees. President Obama's Department of Justice has more dangerous miscreants to worry about: medical marijuana shop owners.

The DoJ has launched an assault on medical pot dispensaries, vowing to shut down establishments licensed and regulated by state and local governments, in a reversal of an earlier policy, based on an Obama campaign promise to leave the shops alone as long as they followed state law.

And while major corporations have managed to get their federal tax bills down to zero, the IRS has determined that pot clinics can't deduct salaries, rent, the cost of bud or other operating expenses on their tax returns. If a business can't deduct those expenses, its tax bill almost always winds up exceeding even its profits.

Despite a previous DoJ memo that targeting medical marijuana is an inefficient use of time and resources, this past Friday morning, four California-based U.S. Attorneys and their staffs gathered in front of Sacramento's capitol building to announce an aggressive new crackdown on medical marijuana operations throughout the state -- this one aimed at the landlords who manage buildings in which dispensaries operate.

Read More: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/11/war-on-weed-obama-marijuana_n_1005483.html

Where are our priorities?

Please contact the White House and tell them to stop this shit:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact

[teddy51]

1. I totally agree, it's about as stupid as some of the shit that the Congress

Republicans are doing right now.

[tridim]

2. The Obama Administration officially supports legal MMJ

[frylock]

9. third base

[RandomKoolzip]

14. So then why are they cracking down on it? Seriously?

A more than one-sentence answer that actually addresses that question would be nice. Thanks.

[boppers]

18. They're not. It's a false premise.

They're cracking down on tax evasion, money-laundering, zoning violations, and for-profit businesses running in a non-profit industry.

The industry is MMJ, but they aren't cracking down on the whole industry, just the portions that are running afoul of the law in more ways than one.

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Sheepshank]

31. OP tries to exploit 1/2 tales when it serves and anti Obama purpose n/t

[Arctic Dave]

3. Dude, read your list and answer your own question.

Obama is not yours or my friend. He was slick advertising by the power brokers to think you changed the leadership and direction of the country.


This is the reason they are frothing at the mouth over OWS.

[the other one]

4. This might explain it, to some extent

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2093285

[Cali_Democrat]

7. Thanks for that

I hadn't seen that article.

[boppers]

20. Marijuana based pharmaceutical products have been legal in all 50 states for many, many, years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetrahydrocannabinol

Looks like your link is another entrant into the field.

[PoliticAverse]

27. "Follow the Money" n/t

[babylonsister]

5. LOL! Good one! Is there anything you actually like about 'the

Obama Administration'?

[Cali_Democrat]

6. "You never loved him!"

:cry:

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[frylock]

11. why not discuss the topic of the OP rather than discuss personalities?

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

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[Rosa Luxemburg]

12. how much is the government spending on this?

we do have more priorities

[FrenchieCat]

13. I disagree with this stance, and do not understand why the DOJ is

spending time on this....
as there are other more important priorities..

So this is one I disagree with.

President Obama needs to step in, and he needs to do it like yesterday,
if this is due to a DOJ Brain fart or whatever the reason, period.

I have written to the White House in reference to this, and will do so again.

That being said that I don't support this policy, I still support this President's
relection....although that is not anything I mentioned in my letter.

[musiclawyer]

15. And a lot of people laughed at me when I said this puts CA in play

Others have said it puts Oregon in play too.

POTUS could wrap up the west coast tomorrow--like a drum-- if he came out and said the adminstration fully supports MM, I have directed all the US attorney to cease and desist assist from getting involved in local zoning issues, and I am working to declassify MJ from the schedule 1

But he wont do it.............The 99% must revolt and make elected officials take sides once and for all. Like with prohibition of alcohol

[tech5270]

16. My best guess is that drug companies are an influence

They want the market for synthesized THC rather than a wild, albeit well engineered, weed with no profit center to be the source.
It's all about controlling the profit center and maximizing those profits. If you let people grow their own there is no profit. If you tax the sale through dispensaries the only profit is taxation.
If you control the only source and have the force of government to assure your monopoly, you can demand any price you want.

If you hadn't figured it out by now, I'll give you a clue. Obama is VERY corporate friendly. Take some time to read his books and read transcripts of speeches and interviews. I knew well before his election that this was the road we would be steered down. I don't think the actions since election have proved me wrong. But hey! better of the two evils right?
I'm not damning the guy but he is what he is and that is seen in his actions not in his words.

[treestar]

17. They are not cracking down on anything that is legal

Don't know why people think it's a good idea for any President to ignore a law.

[Bake]

22. But if I understand it correctly, selling MJ is against federal law

Despite what state law says. So the DOJ is enforcing federal law, and there is no "exemption" for medical MJ.

But I could be wrong.

Bake

[sweetloukillbot]

24. Are they cracking down in ALL states where it is legal? Or just California?

If it's just California, what is different about their law that makes it a target?

[treestar]

29. That's a good question to ask

Maybe we should know about that before deciding.

[treestar]

28. At least the feds should be heard before being judged

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_19068125


I mean, hear out both sides. The feds may be wrong, but at least their side should be considered. Listen to only one side and you don't have objectivity.

[Harmony Blue]

Trampling on states rights

isn't a good way to win friends.

[treestar]

30. Tell that to Abe LIncoln

[Harmony Blue]

25. Trampling on states rights

isn't a good way to win friends.

[mitchtv]

34. but states' rights are ok if

you want to vote somebody's rights away

[vroomvroom]

21. EASY - Obama wants to help Big Pharma KILL THE COMPETITION!

Obama is a center-right president and as an article even explained in detail that Big Pharma is on the verge of releasing their brand canibas and Obama is paying his dues to his corporate masters by helping them kill the competition. No surprises here.

[Sheepshank]

32. excuse for a rant when the OP poses an incorrect situation?

but it would appear that is what you do.

Why not research the true situation before running off half cocked. That kind of shit really does weaken your position on other things too lol.

[paulk]

35. please explain where the "situation posed by the OP"

is incorrect. What is your take on the Obama administration's actions on MMJ in california?

show your "research".

I want to understand why the Obama administration is doing this.

[LetTimmySmoke]

26. Because he figures if he gives a speech one way and takes action another way..

...everyone will like him.

[uponit7771]

33. *****VERY MISLEADING POST***** Obama admin not going after legal sellers