Lit_Match

Will Obama End the Medical Marijuana Raids?
11-06-08|Drug War Chronicle|by Scott Morgan

When Barack Obama enters the White House in January, will he make good on his promise to end federal interference with state medical marijuana laws? Reformers have not easily forgotten the broken promise of George Bush, who spoke of "state's rights" regarding medical marijuana on the campaign trail only to subsequently declare war on patients and providers in states that protect medical use.

While the terms of engagement between DEA and the medical marijuana community under an Obama administration won’t be fleshed out for many months, I’d like to remind everyone what exactly we’ve been told to expect. This is the Obama campaign’s response to emails about medical marijuana:

As I've argued previously, it's really quite silly to argue that arresting patients is a "poor use of resources" as though we'd persecute the sick if only we could afford to. The hysteria about "many violent and highly dangerous drug traffickers" is also utterly irrelevant and distracting, a frivolous pander to law & order types who may or may not require constant reassurance that Obama doesn't plan to end enforcement of all criminal laws on day 1.

And yet, despite the almost complete incoherence of Obama's position on medical marijuana, it somehow arrives at the conclusion that we must stop arresting medical marijuana patients and providers. Is there any ambiguity about that? If nothing else, the above statement insists convincingly that Obama has every intention of promptly discontinuing one of the worst excesses of the modern war on drugs. If this happens, it will be the functional equivalent of the chronically doomed Hinchey Amendment, and one could scarcely overstate the significance of such an event.

__________________
Donation links to NORML (The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) | MPP (Marijuana Policy Project)

kinghelwig

no obama wont follow through he's a good liar no tax raises then after he's elected well I will have to raise taxes sorry about that one people but I will do all else I said I would I wouldn't buy a car from him that's what he reminds me of a used car salesman,and It's my opinion that he's already in deep shit,it'll just get deeper when he takes office,who knows we'll see.One thing for sure it wont happen over night if at all.

homemadebubbler

Next time, try one of these .

Personally, I think Obama will follow through. What can I say, I'm an optimist

__________________
When they took the 4th Amendment away I was quiet because I didnt deal drugs//When they took the 6th Amendment away I was quiet because Id never been arrested//When they took the 2nd Amendment away I was quiet because I didnt own a gun//Now they took the 1st Amendment and all I can do is be quiet...

Freedom_User

I don't understand how the writer turned the words right around. I personally believe in Obama. People cannot automatically jump on his case, when he hasn't had a single day in the White House.

And comparing Obama to Bush. I mean, really? Remember the past 8 years?

Change.gov | Contact the Transition

__________________
The feds continually use and twist this simple clause as an excuse to expand their own power - at the expense of our liberty.

"If you shot a ton of pot to the Sun, will it burn up and get everyone high?"

Hashishi

Obama's a centrist. Perhaps a centrist of a different calibre, but a centrist nevertheless. I think it's pointless trying to pin down something as specific as MMJ policy at this point in time, but the question up in the air is 'will he aim to please or will he find his guns and stick to them?' If the former, he's certainly not gonna put his neck out in defence of MMJ.

Buzzby

That's not why arresting patients is a "poor use of resources". It's because law enforcement resources are limited and should be used to fight real crimes. The writer seems to be going out of his way to misinterpret the message.

Since most gangs are violent and make their money by selling drugs, that means there are violent and dangerous drug traffickers out there. All the message meant was to reinforce the statement about "poor use of resources" in prosecuting medical marijuana patients and facilities.

Many people involved in the sale of illicit drugs are violent, dangerous criminals. Moving enforcement efforts towards them and away from medical marijuana facilities makes good sense to me.

__________________

Victor_vicious

That is interesting. Its not because we can't afford it, its because the resources are limited??? Maybe he is right? VV

Buzzby

I would consider funding to be a limited resource.

Everlong2019

Well, all I can say is that I hope he follows through on what he said he would do. It is crazy to keep spending time and money on harmless individuals when there is so much more that could be done.

marcusJay

I don't think he will. It was just a campaign promise to some far left wing people who he KNOWS will back him no matter what. The mere promise is good enough.