Feds to Issue New Medical Marijuana Policy

Monday, October 19, 2009 3:40 AM

Obama Decriminalizes Medical Marijuana in California, Other States


In a move seen by many as a major step toward eventual legalization, the Justice Department announced today that pot smoking patients and their sanctioned distributors will not be targeted for prosecution in 14 states that allow medical marijuana. The move comes as California and other states look toward the plant as a source of new taxes.


WASHINGTON -- Federal drug agents won't pursue pot-smoking patients or their sanctioned suppliers in states that allow medical marijuana, under new legal guidelines to be issued Monday by the Obama administration.


Two Justice Department officials described the new 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 law.

A marijuana plant is grown under lights at the Boulder County Caregivers in Boulder, Colo. It's all legal and it's all taxed. But this marijuana dispensary and nearly 60 others that are serving a growing number of medical marijuana users operate with little oversight by state or local authorities. (AP Photo)

The guidelines to be issued by the department do, however, make it clear that agents will go after people whose marijuana distribution goes beyond what is permitted under state law or use medical marijuana as a cover for other crimes, the officials said.

The new 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.


California is unique among those for the widespread presence of dispensaries _ businesses that sell marijuana and even advertise their services. Colorado also has several dispensaries, and Rhode Island and New Mexico are in the process of licensing providers, according to the Marijuana Policy Project, a group that promotes the decriminalization of marijuana use.


Attorney General Eric Holder said in March that he wanted federal law enforcement officials to pursue those who violate both 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 Monday to federal prosecutors in the 14 states, and also to top officials at the FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration.

The memo, the officials said, emphasizes that prosecutors have wide discretion in choosing which cases to pursue, and says it is not a good use of federal manpower to prosecute those who are without a doubt in compliance with state law.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the legal guidance before it is issued.

"This is a major step forward," said Bruce Mirken, communications director for the Marijuana Policy Project. "This change in policy moves the federal government dramatically toward respecting scientific and practical reality."

At the same time, the officials said, the government will still prosecute those who use medical marijuana as a cover for other illegal activity. The memo particularly warns that some suspects may hide old-fashioned drug dealing or other crimes behind a medical marijuana business.

In particular, the memo urges prosecutors to pursue marijuana cases which involve violence, the illegal use of firearms, selling pot to minors, money laundering or involvement in other crimes.

And while the policy memo describes a change in priorities away from prosecuting medical marijuana cases, it does not rule out the possibility that the federal government could still prosecute someone whose activities are allowed under state law.

The memo, officials said, is designed to give a sense of prosecutorial priorities to U.S. attorneys in the states that allow medical marijuana. It notes that pot sales in the United States are the largest source of money for violent Mexican drug cartels, but adds that federal law enforcement agencies have limited resources.

Medical marijuana advocates have been anxious to see exactly how the administration would implement candidate Barack Obama's repeated promises to change the policy in situations in which state laws allow the use of medical marijuana.

Soon after Obama took office, DEA agents raided four dispensaries in Los Angeles, prompting confusion about the government's plans.

2009 Associated Press

Yes we Cannabis.

(10-19-2009 03:12 PM)cb4029 Wrote:  Yes we Cannabis.

You have a PM.

Nice, the federal governemnt respecting federalism!

(10-19-2009 03:40 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  Nice, the federal governemnt respecting federalism!

I think its direction to the US Attorneys not to enforce the federal laws on marijuana possession/distribution in those specific states.

There is probably something in the California Penal Code that says "possession" doesn't include marijuana held according to an Rx.

This is one thing he's done that I agree with.

(10-19-2009 04:26 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  This is one thing he's done that I agree with.

I agree. I don't believe there should be a damn federal law against it to begin with. States are capable of governing themselves.

(10-19-2009 04:32 PM)Rebel Wrote:  

(10-19-2009 04:26 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  This is one thing he's done that I agree with.

I agree. I don't believe there should be a damn federal law against it to begin with. States are capable of governing themselves.

The Federal Laws covered deal with Distribution Across State Lines, Possession of Large Amounts with intent to distribute, maybe some of the drug laws enacted to prevent drug distribution by gangs etc.

Looks like some State Prosecutors didn't get the Memo though and they arer still going forward.

It shoulda been done a while ago.

Healthcare reform we can believe in...