After Colorado and Washington legalized marijuana in November, many wondered how the Obama administration would react.
Those working on legalization said that they believed the Obama administration would probably leave those states alone. In an interview with Barbara Waters, it sounds like that will be the case. In light of the free ride for HSBC with laundering money for drug cartels, leaving people alone is the least the administration could do.
This is a big step for legalization efforts around the US.
In a Barbara Walters interview airing Friday on ABC, Obama was asked whether he supports making pot legal.
“I wouldn’t go that far,” Obama replied. “But what I think is that, at this point, Washington and Colorado, you’ve seen the voters speak on this issue.”
But the president said he won’t pursue the issue in the two states where voters legalized the use of marijuana in the November elections. Marijuana remains illegal under federal law.
“… as it is, the federal government has a lot to do when it comes to criminal prosecutions,” Obama said. “It does not make sense, from a prioritization point of view, for us to focus on recreational drug users in a state that has already said that under state law, that’s legal.”
On a related note, Senator Leahy is seeking clarification on how to deal with states that choose to legalize marijuana. As a country, we have too many important issues to be bother with something that voters find perfectly acceptable and legal.
Marijuana via Shutterstock
Leahy pressed the drug control office, which is part of the White House, on how it intends “to prioritize federal resources” in light of the new state laws and whether the administration can guarantee that it will not prosecute state officials who are involved in the licensing process.
“What assurance can and will the administration give to state officials involved in the licensing of marijuana retailers that they will not face federal criminal penalties for carrying out duties assigned to them under state law?” Leahy wrote.
Leahy also said Thursday that he will call a Judiciary Committee hearing early next year on those questions and others involving marijuana policy.
Excellent! Thank you.
Words are wothless in this administration. I watch what they actually do. His words are fantastic; but, his actions are far to the right of Richard M. Nixon.
Obama Administration: US Forces Can Assassinate Americans
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/2/9/obama_administrati…
NYT: Obama Administration Pressuring NY AG To Accept Bank Settlement Instead Of Prosecuting
http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/nyt-obama-admini…
Feds threaten crackdown if medical-pot makeover becomes law
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014777…
White House visitor logs riddled with holes
http://www.iwatchnews.org/2011/04/13/4115/white-house-v…
Obama’s John Yoo Moment– Cherry Picking Lawyers
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Obama-s-John-Yoo-Momen…
Activists cry foul over FBI probe – The Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/activists-cry-fo…
Emails Show White House Promotes Genetically Engineered Crops in Wildlife Refuges |
http://www.truth-out.org/emails-show-white-house-promot…
Dems: Obama Broke Pledge to Force Banks to Help Homeowners
http://www.propublica.org/article/dems-obama-broke-pled…
Among Obama’s tough budget cuts: money to help needy pay for heat
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2011/0210/Among-O…
Labor unions uneasy as OSHA withdraws proposed rules
http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/141121-labor-une…
Justice Department seeks to have all web surfing tracked
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/01/25/justice-departmen… /
Treasury Blocks Legal Aid for Homeowners Facing Foreclosure | The Nation
http://www.thenation.com/blog/156973/treasury-blocks-le…
US to lift ban on new cases for Guantanamo detainees
http://articles.boston.com/2011-01-20/news/29343360_1_c…
Obama administration keeps new policy on Miranda secret
http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/01/19/…
Drug Makers Win Administration Support in Price Dispute
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/10/us/politics/10drug.ht…
Counterinsurgency Outsourcing: America’s New Mercenaries in Afghanistan, Middle East, Africa
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2010/12/15/counte…
Obama administration readies indefinite detention order for Guantanamo detainees
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20…
War Room: Contrary to public statements, Obama admin fueled conflict in Yemen
http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/12/09/…
A Reversal on End-of-Life Planning Under Medicare
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/05/health/policy/05healt…
Obama and GOPers Worked Together to Kill Bush Torture Probe
http://motherjones.com/politics/2010/12/wikileaks-cable…
U.S. drops demand for Israeli settlement freeze
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40554057/ns/world_news-mide… /
Big Polluters Freed from Environmental Oversight by Stimulus
http://www.iwatchnews.org/2010/11/29/2289/big-polluters…
Obama waiver allows U.S. aid to 4 countries using child soldiers
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20…
The Deal with the Hospital Industry to Kill the Public Option
http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/10/05/the-deal-with-th… /
Blackwater Wins Piece of $10 Billion Mercenary Deal
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/10/exclusive-black… /
Obama invokes ‘state secrets’ claim to dismiss suit against targeting of U.S. citizen al-Aulaqi
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20…
Despite Fresh Rhetoric About Saving U.S. Manufacturing, Obama Is Quietly Pushing Failed Bush Trade Policies
http://www.alternet.org/economy/147957/despite_fresh_rh…
Administration backs utilities in climate case
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20…
DOJ gags scientists studying BP disaster.
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2010/08/10/112945/sci… /
US Still Holds Detainee Pentagon Wanted Freed in 2004
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/08/18-2
Banks to benefit most from White House program to help fight foreclosures
http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/banking-financial…
White House proposal would ease FBI access to records of Internet activity
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20…
White House Mulling Business Group’s Regulatory Hit List
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/15/white-house-mu…
Obama Hires Fmr. Wellpoint Exec to Implement Health Care Law
http://www.openleft.com/diary/19449/obama-hires-fmr-wel…
Obama – Scientists expected Obama administration to be friendlier – Los Angeles Times
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jul/10/nation/la-na-sc…
Across From White House, Coffee With Lobbyists
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/25/us/politics/25caribou…
Administration Hardens Stance Against Leaks to Press – NYTimes.com
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/12/us/politics/12leak.ht…
U.S. Is Said to Expand Secret Actions in Mideast
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/25/world/25military.html
Obama administration backs private twist to public housing
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20…
Lawsuit to Challenge Salazar’s Wholesale Disregard of Marine Mammal Protection Laws in Gulf of Mexic
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/05/14-1
NOAA Warned Interior It Was Underestimating Threat Of Serious Spill
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/03/noaa-warned-in…
Feds on GMO Labeling: Don’t Tell, Don’t Ask – Barry Estabrook
http://www.theatlantic.com/life/archive/2010/04/feds-on… /
New rules on terror custody being drafted
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/apr/15/nation/la-na-ob…
Afghans ‘abused at secret prison’ at Bagram airbase
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8621973.stm
Obama administration backs telecom immunity
http://articles.sfgate.com/2009-02-27/bay-area/17190307…
Obama Packs Debt Commission with Social Security Looters
http://www.alternet.org/story/146183/obama_packs_debt_c…
Pesticide Lobbyist Gets Posted as Chief Agricultural Negotiator |
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/03/30-9
Environmentalists Blast Obama Mining Reversal
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/04/02/national/main…
More Obama DOJ attacks on whistle-blowers
http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/…
We are not quite ready to legalize marijuana. A few thousand peasants need to be chased off their land near the international border and another 50-60 thousand Mexicans need to be murdered. After we redistribute the land to our campaign contributors then we can seriously think about legalizing marijuana.
It is only necessary to make war with five things;
with the maladies of the body, the ignorances of the mind, with the
passions of the body, with the seditions of the city and the discords of
families.
:)
My brother was a world-class scientist who did a mountain of work on the pain-killing properties of marijuana, identifying both the active analgesic cannabinoids and the sites where they act. It’s too bad Congress doesn’t have expertise in this area, I’m sure my brother’s colleagues would be happy tho help out.
Semi OT … every time I see you little dog, I want to hug you tight. What a cutie pie!
If you dig a little deeper, he also said this:
However, Jon Walker writes:
http://justsaynow.firedoglake.com/2012/12/14/obama-doesnt-need-congress-to-change-federal-law-regarding-marijuana/
“Obama’s statement is pretty-much meaningless.” As always!
“if someone has enough.” Bingo! Confiscation laws are very lucrative.
Isn’t that special. Obonger is out of the weeds.
Yep.
The Feds haven’t gone after medical marijuana users either.
What they have done is gone after the licensed growers and dispensaries, making it difficult or impossible for patients to receive the medicine prescribed to them. In truth, they haven’t really cared much about simple possession, either. What they do prosecute is if someone has enough so they can assert there was intent to sell it.
Need a federal license or permit that requires drug testing and you use MJ (medically or recreationally)? You won’t get it. Those licensed state dispensaries and distributors? They’ll have to run a 100% cash-only operation because the feds won’t let them accept credit cards and will seize any bank accounts the dispensary opens. They’ll also likely seize any property and vehicles belonging to the owners. The IRS will probably audit and hassle them endlessly, too.
This statement, as Count Ulster says, from Obama is meaningless and in no way represents a change in gov’t policy.
Did anyone bother to pass the message down to the DEA and FBI offices in those states? When the head doesn’t know what the hands and feet are doing, it doesn’t really help anything. The President can say he and the “Justice” Department won’t do anything, but that doesn’t stop other federal agencies from continuing on as if nothing changed.
My guess is, the administration will crack down hard on growers and distributors in those two states. The feds don’t arrest people for possession, so Obama’s statement is pretty-much meaningless.