What's Behind the Obama Administration's About Face Regarding Medical Marijuana?

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Here was the Obama administration's well publicized position on medical marijuana, circa 2009 (via the Ogden memo to all United States attorneys):

The prosecution of significant traffickers of illegal drugs, including marijuana, and the disruption of illegal drug manufacturing and trafficking networks continues to be a core priority in the Department's efforts against narcotics and dangerous drugs, and the Department's investigative and prosecutorial resources should be directed towards these objectives. As a general matter, pursuit of these priorities should not focus federal resources in your States on individuals whose actions are in clear and unambiguous compliance with existing state laws providing for the medical use of marijuana.

Here's the Obama administration's not-so-well publicized position on medical marijuana today (via the May 2, 2011 letter sent from the office of the United States Attorney, District of Arizona, to the Arizona Department of Health Services re: the implementation of the voter-approved Medical Marijuana Program): "The United States Attorneys Office ... will vigorously prosecute individuals and organizations that participate in the unlawful manufacturing, distribution and marketing activity involving marijuana, even if such activities are permitted under state law."

In recent weeks, the Administration has reversed its position regarding states' implementation of medical marijuana legislation -- replacing what was once perceived as a 'hands off' approach with one of intimidation.
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full @ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-armentano/medical-marijuana-obama-_b_858204.html
 
What's Up With Obama's Cynical Approach to Medical Marijuana?

Related reading in this article..

In October 2009, the Justice Department declared that prosecuting medical-marijuana users and caregivers who clearly comply with state laws was not a wise use of its resources. That declaration has dominated public perception of President Barack Obama's policy on the issue-minimal progress, but is a welcome improvement on his predecessors.

In reality, however, the Obama administration has attacked medical-marijuana providers on several fronts. Since January 2010, it has staged more than 90 raids on dispensaries and growers, according to figures collected by the patient-advocacy group Americans for Safe Access. That represents a pace double the Bush administration's, says ASA spokesperson Kris Hermes. The administration has also threatened state officials with prosecution if they participate in licensing or regulating medical marijuana. The Internal Revenue Service has expanded auditing dispensaries for tax evasion, on the grounds that drug-trafficking enterprises cannot legally claim business-expense deductions.
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full @ http://www.alternet.org/drugs/150840/what's_up_with_obama's_cynical_approach_to_medical_marijuana
 
^I've been wondering this as well. I was very pleased with his administration's announcement in 2009 regarding the "hands off approach"...I'm really wondering if the about-face is a political move.
 
NeighborhoodThreat said:
^I've been wondering this as well. I was very pleased with his administration's announcement in 2009 regarding the "hands off approach"...I'm really wondering if the about-face is a political move.
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It appears the anti-marijuana lobby is flexing its muscles. I don't know why else he would change his policy so quickly. I guess the question is if he will let up any in his second term? (I'm almost positive Obama will have a second term as the republicans don't have a single candidate who could beat him in the general)

Time will tell I guess, but this isn't a good sign.
 
Has nothing to do with Obama really. Government is a big system and I'm sure they don't have any plans to legalize medical Cannabis. I think it is more of the states government in deciding to allow it. Wish my state would open it's eyes (which it will probably be the last to). My Dad could really use medical Cannabis for his shoulder inflammation.
 
Other then that Obama wants to get reelected. I'm sure he would lose many well needed votes if he were wanting to do this. Perhaps maybe in his second term if he gets one.
 
pf echoes said:
Has nothing to do with Obama really. Government is a big system and I'm sure they don't have any plans to legalize medical Cannabis. I think it is more of the states government in deciding to allow it. Wish my state would open it's eyes (which it will probably be the last to). My Dad could really use medical Cannabis for his shoulder inflammation.
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I'm aware the government is a big system, but this still has everything to do with Obama. There are 3 branches of government right? Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. The branch going after the clinics is Executive which Obama is the boss of. Obama *does* have the power to tell his Justice Department to stop raiding clinics, in fact he said this was going to be the case before!

I agree this should be a matter of state law, but what is happening is the states are passing laws and the federal government is going after then anyway because they disagree with federal law, and federal law trumps state law.

The stated previous policy was to give the states a pass and let them do their thing, and they have went back on that. That is what the entire article is about.
 
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