by Mark Silva
Here's another note on health-care reform this morning:
The Associated Press reports:
The Obama administration will not seek to arrest medical marijuana users and suppliers as long as they conform to state laws, under new policy guidelines to be sent to federal prosecutors today. Two Justice Department officials described the policy to the Associated Press, saying prosecutors will be told it is not a good use of their time to arrest people who use or provide medical marijuana in strict compliance with state laws.
The policy is a significant departure from the Bush administration, which insisted it would continue to enforce federal anti-pot laws regardless of state codes.
Fourteen states allow some use of marijuana for medical purposes: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.
Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr. said in March that he wanted federal law enforcement officials to pursue those who violated federal and state law, but it has not been clear how that goal would be put into practice. A three-page memo spelling out the policy is expected to be sent today to federal prosecutors in the 14 states and to top officials at the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Tom Angell, spokesman for the group, Law Enforcement Aganst Prohibition, writes in this morning: "Although no one seems to have seen the actual 3-page memo yet, this does seem like a major step, to officially put the non-interference policy in writing.'
Comments
This issue should sail through our Congress, if the Republican-Libertarians are true to their agenda, but of course, it is a "moral issue". An issue, in which, they hope to make hay out of, so to speak, because the element of fear sits at the surface of this issue. We all know how well they can manipulate our country with their fear-mongering !! That devil-weed is back, hang on to your morals everyone !! Meanwhile, these same hypocrites will lie, cheat and steal to get our dollars from us and not deliver the goods. From Detroit to Wall Street these moralists have cheated the American citizen, in every way possible, in order to keep us at their beck and call. Getting tired of it, yet, America ?? I hope so, because we are all getting tired of the duplicity that these Republican-Libertarians engage in and then, don the robes of the pure. Their losing strategy is decimating their ranks and it is, only their faults, that have accomplished this !! We heartily thank them for their greed and their stupidity !! It has allowed America to elect some real leadership, President Obama !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | October 19, 2009 8:56 AM
The Federal government should decriminalize the possession of marijuana for all.
Then it should tax it as they do tobbaco!
This would be a tax that many could support.
Posted by: Pat H | October 19, 2009 9:15 AM
Considering that it's always a libertarian and conservative approach to defer to the states on their laws, I wonder if the right will fight this, and if so, how will they justify it? It's actually a very libertarian move.
I applaud the approach. It's a terrible waste of taxpayer funds to be fighting this stuff out in courts when the state has already said it's not a problem.
Posted by: Joe | October 19, 2009 9:16 AM
If you want to tax marijuana, it has to be legalized. NOT decriminalized. You can't tax something that is illegal.
Posted by: Marc Davis | October 19, 2009 9:55 AM
This is all part of BO's plans to raise revenue - get people stoned, have them get the munchies, eat a bunch of junk food - which will be taxed thru the roof.
Also, it will be easier to fool the people when more of them are stoned.
Posted by: Terry | October 19, 2009 1:16 PM
Big Donny? you have created boogie men around every corner in your partisan world! All things bad republican, all things good democrat.
You must have the smallest mind imaginable, especially with your childish daily rants about US troops over seas! Get over yourselve there donny boy, the world is much larger than you could ever believe or comprehend.
Posted by: springfield | October 19, 2009 2:24 PM
"Also, it will be easier to fool the people when more of them are stoned."
Really? You really think that when folks are stoned they are easily fooled, that they become some dumb, no brain, individuals? Ignorant. Some of the brightest, and smartest folks have smoked marijuana. I first smoked when I was 16, occasionaly, and graduated from highschool with a avg. of 3.8 gpa. Responsibility is the key. Alcohol is much more detrimental to your health. Plus, have you ever seen a "stoned" individual with alcohol effects? Mood swings,random spark of anger, lousy and poor judgement?
Posted by: Johnny | October 19, 2009 2:54 PM
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Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | October 19, 2009 8:56 AM
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Correction, Don: It would sail right through Congress if Congress had a significant number of Libertarians. Republicans are not Libertarians. Unlike Libertarians, Republicans do not favor the decriminalization or non-regulation of medical Marijuana by the federal government. Some Republicans still think it is an evil, dangerous drug that turns dark skinned minorities into violent street-persons (when, actually, it is relatively harmless; useful as a medicine; and definitely doesn’t make anyone violent).
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Social issues, in general, divide Libertarians from Republicans. Libertarians favor allowing people to decide for themselves what behavior is socially moral and ethical if it doesn’t harm others. This is what we mean by “self-government.” Some Republicans, on the other hand, believe in using laws to define a particular ethical and moral code. This is just one more difference between Republicans and Libertarians (along with the latter’s opposition to non-defensive or elective wars, lack of constitutional orthodoxy, and Washington’s big government, big spending ways). By now you should clearly know that it isn’t right to confuse Libertarians with Republicans.
Posted by: John W. | October 19, 2009 3:43 PM
I see from your ramblings, " John W ", your crop is in early. I said, lighten up, not light up !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | October 19, 2009 3:56 PM
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Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | October 19, 2009 3:56 PM
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You think I’m high? You’re the one stuck on stupid with the way you suffer delusions and constantly confuse Republicans and Libertarians. If I'm high, I have to wonder: What have you been smoking?
Posted by: John W. | October 19, 2009 4:56 PM
Im a joker
Im a smoker
Im a midnight toker
I sure dont want to hurt no one - especially Iran, but I will hurt Fox
Posted by: Barack Hussein Obama Mmm, mmm, mm! | October 19, 2009 7:39 PM
It's high time to legalize pot. Finally, something the liberals and libertarians can agree on.
Posted by: C.Morris | October 19, 2009 8:39 PM
Like Bob Marley said: Legalize it. Marijuana can be legalized and taxed and save/earn this country a lot of money. Smoking pot is not as detrimental as people think it is. Get educated. Just because its been negatively presented by the mainstream doesn't mean it's evil. Also, if you think that legalizing marijuana will turn the nation into a bunch of stoners... That's just tomfoolery. Everyone who wants to smoke pot does it illegally now anyways. Heck, you probably are associated with one person that smokes pot on a regular biases and you don't have a clue about it.
And I love that this is all about individuals' parties. I'm a Republican, so what. Bashing each other doesn't solve anything. Smoke a joint, pack a bowl, or if that's not your thing, just plain relax.
Posted by: WI | October 19, 2009 10:19 PM
My libertarian market driven vision for the world is ALIVE.
It's ALIVE!!!
Side effects:
Slackers not just for one generation but far, far into the future...
Is it possible to drive the SUV with a cell phone in one hand and a marijuana cigaret in the other?
Posted by: Milton Friedman | October 20, 2009 8:50 AM
especially with your childish daily rants about US troops over seas!
Posted by: springfield | October 19, 2009 2:24 PM
So you think its childish that our troops are being killed, maimed and blown up? That Don wishes and hopes for peace and that our men and woman can come home?? Would you prefer he signed off with your thoughts:
DONT SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, DONT BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NEVER.
Posted by: Scot S. Blakeley | October 20, 2009 9:38 AM