Why do I keep getting told that the Obama Administration supports medical cannabis...

[cleanhippie]

when this keeps happening? Somebody, anybody, please help me understand how THIS is supporting medical cannabis?????

U.S. attorney threatens to seize 23 Colorado marijuana dispensaries


U.S. Attorney John Walsh sent letters to 23 medical marijuana dispensaries in Colorado on Thursday, warning them that they faced legal repercussions if they did not close down within 45 days.

“This letter constitutes formal notification that a marijuana dispensary is operating on the above described property in violation of federal law,” the letter states. “You are further advised that the real property is subject to forfeiture, and any money you receive, or have received, from the dispensary owner may also be subject to seizure and forfeiture.”

The 23 dispensaries were specifically targeted because they were each within 1,000 feet of a school.

“When the voters of Colorado passed the limited medical marijuana amendment in 2000, they could not have anticipated that their vote would be used to justify large marijuana stores located within blocks of our schools,” Walsh said in a statement.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/01/12/u-s-attorney-threatens-to-seize-23-colorado-marijuana-dispensaries/

Ahh, I see, it's for the children.... yeah, the children. Or something.

[msongs]

1. got to justify the feds budget for something that is not that urgent really lol nt

[limpyhobbler]

2. um.............................................

i think there is like a federal law that says you can't deal drugs in a school zone.

So while I think weed should be legal period, especially when the state has a medical law,
the president still has to enforce the law, that's his job. It's not up to him to just ignore laws he doesn't like.

Reverse it in you brain ya know, like if Congress passed a law and a republican like reagan or bush was president but they just ignored the law and didn't liek enforce the laws. that would suck and i'd be soo mad at them.

We have to change the law instead of getting mad at the president, OR EVEN FEDS COPS, who are just doing their job by enforcing law.

I dunno i could be wrong? whagt do ya think? not debating. just talkin.

[DeSwiss]

7. Utter BULLSHIT. n/t

[limpyhobbler]

8. huh ? which part?

[DeSwiss]

11. Any such law is UTTER BULLSHIT.

As are the so-called ''law'' enforcers whom we see can readily find and identify marijuana sellers, but who can't seem to find any fraudsters or thieves on Wall Street who wrecked the whole fucking world economy.

- To hell with all of 'em.........

"As for medical marijuana ... I'm not familiar with all the details of the initiative that was passed, but I think the basic concept of using medical marijuana for the same purposes and with the same controls as other drugs prescribed by doctors, I think that's entirely appropriate. ... I'm not going to be using Justice Department resources to try to circumvent state laws on this issue." ~Barack Obama, The Mail Tribune March 23, 2008

[phleshdef]

23. No its a sensible law probably designed to make the communities feel more comfortable.

I am pro-legalization to the core. I'm also not so fucking naive that I think we can just shove legal marijuana down everyone's throat. Anything like this has rules and regulations to follow. Alcohol, pharmaceuticals, etc. Its the dumb fucks that are opening up dispensaries near schools and the dumb fucks taking advantage of the new found medical marijuana freedom that are going to ruin it for us all. If you really want marijuana legalized, then you shouldn't support wreckless idiots who open these places up near schools. You shouldn't support people drumming up any little medical condition they can dream up in order to get a doctor's note just to obtain some good weed for what was really for recreational purposes all along.

The legalization of marijuana has to happen in baby steps. But we'll never get there if these dumb fucks don't stop pushing the limits and making all of us who want weed to be legal look like irresponsible fools.

[eShirl]

13. I know; if that were true we'd have been prosecuting Bush Admin. war crimes by now.

The president doesn't enforce inconvenient laws.

[jberryhill]

3. Does CO state law allow them within 1000 feet of a school?

[uncle ray]

6. yes.

the state law is several hundred feet from schools. it was heavily debated how far to keep them away, 1000 feet was considered but it was decided that distance was too restrictive for businesses.

FWIW churches are included in facilities that MMJ dispensaries cannot be located near. the same buffer zone applies to other dispensaries as well.

[Robb]

64. It would appear you are incorrect.

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_19729288

Congressman Jared Polis, who has defended Colorado's medical-marijuana laws in Washington, said a 1,000-foot buffer from schools makes sense and did not express outrage at the limited crackdown. He said dispensaries should comply with the 1,000-foot limit in state law.

[Suich]

4. No drugs within 1000 feet of a school.

I was on a jury about 4 years ago about a guy dealing coke. 2 or 3 of the 6 or 7 charges against him had to do with dealing within 1000 feet of a school. We found him guilty.

Some pot dispensaries in WA State were shut down and Jenny Durkan, US Attorney, said, "You can't sell 5 pounds of pot out of the back door.....and expect to stay open."...or words to that effect.

I got the impression that they're not hassling the guys that are running a legitimate business. There's one just up the street from me that is on my list of places to check out!

[Upton]

14. I'm glad you still got dispensaries in Seattle..

but down here in Lewis County they were all shut down, actually a "moratorium" was placed on them, ever since the DOJ sent Gregoire the letter threatening to prosecute state employees..

This administration is no friend of MMJ users..

[SixthSense]

5. as usual

I am kind of pissed off at this situation, I have friends directly impacted by this.

Why is the Democratic Party consistently failing to deliver what most Democrats want? Why do I have to look to a Republican to hear these things? Where is that portal to Bizarro Land I stepped through and how do I get back?

[Uncle Joe]

68. That video does make current politics seem like we're in Alice in Wonderland.

[KamaAina]

99. And if anyone ought to know racism when he sees it, it's Ron Paul

[DeSwiss]

9. K&R

Question: "Why do I keep getting told that the Obama Administration supports medical cannabis when this keeps happening? Somebody, anybody, please help me understand how THIS is supporting medical cannabis?????"


Oh well that's an easy one. I see why you're confused. You're being LIED TO.

You see, this administration [font size=5]IS NOT SUPPORTING MEDICAL MARIJUANA[/font], okay? This administration (as with all previous ones no matter what the party affiliation is), is [font size=5]ONLY SUPPORTING[/font] those institutions with [font size=5]EXTREMELY LARGE BANK ACCOUNTS OR WHO ARE ACTUALLY BANKS[/font].

You know, like Big Pharma who can't patent it, or those soulless whores and bastards of multinational banking fame who launder the drug money and keep it hidden from taxation in Cayman Island accounts.


- It's twue, it's twue!!! I think I saw a story about it on the news once, a long time ago........

"As for medical marijuana ... I'm not familiar with all the details of the initiative that was passed, but I think the basic concept of using medical marijuana for the same purposes and with the same controls as other drugs prescribed by doctors, I think that's entirely appropriate. ... I'm not going to be using Justice Department resources to try to circumvent state laws on this issue." ~Barack Obama, The Mail Tribune March 23, 2008

[cleanhippie]

20. +1

[Warren DeMontague]

12. He supports medical cannabis, he just thinks we should throw cancer grannies in prison

for smoking it.

But he, like, totally supports it.

[Warren DeMontague]

30. Then why is his DOJ and DEA continuing to do it, then?

Despite his promises to the contrary in 2008, even.

[phleshdef]

31. They haven't thrown any pot smoking grannies in prison. Federal law enforcement doesn't even have...

...that kind of responsibility.

Shutting down a dispensary is not equal to throwing grannies in prison. If any grannies have gotten thrown in prison, then that means their own state did it and there was a judge involved. This shouldn't even need to be explained to you.

[Warren DeMontague]

33. It needs to stop. NOW.

Stop making excuses for the stupid fucking drug war. We've got "austerity" coming out of our ass, our roads and bridges are falling apart, these schools that are near the dreaded pot dispensaries are UNDER FUNDED, and yet we have billions of dollars to waste to keep people from smoking a fucking plant.

And yes, Grannies are going to prison for weed. Fucking enough, already. You should be ashamed of yourself.

[phleshdef]

34. No one said grannies haven't went to prison for weed. You said Obama put them there.

And then you accused the DEA and the Justice Department of putting them there. Thats evidence that you have no idea how government works or which agencies have authorities to do such things.

And thats an intellectually dishonest argument. A 100% LIE.

The President doesn't even have the power to make that call. If you don't want to be called out for lying, then don't tell lies. Its really that simple.

And while you are at it, get your emotions under control. I am against the criminalization of simple drug possession. I USE MARIJUANA RECREATIONALLY, MYSELF!

But I am also pro-drug regulation. Pharmaceutical companies are regulated and have to follow strict guidelines. Drug stores are regulated and have to follow strict guidelines. Liquor stores are regulated and have to follow strict guidelines. The same should be for marijuana, period.

"Oh woah is little old me, they won't let us sell weed near a school, WE IS SO OPPRESSED WAAAAAA!". Who gives a flying FUCK!? Go open your dispensary somewhere its fucking allowed. Its not rocket science. People like you are a bigger threat to legalization than any President's DEA.

[Warren DeMontague]

49. "WE IS SO OPPRESSED"? Fuck a duck... Do you write your own material?

Charming, really.

Look, Bub, I'm thrilled that you're able to reconcile the cognitive dissonance of smoking weed recreationally and yet simultaneously making apologetic noises for the idiotic drug war. Personally, the last time I smoked it, Bill Clinton was in the White House, so "WE IS" not really having a dog in this hunt, other than being a taxpaying citizen who is sick of government telling consenting adults what they can do with their own bodies. Nor am I personally concerned about personally opening any dispensaries, near schools or not.

But you maybe haven't been paying a whole lot of attention (maybe you were high? ) since it's not just dispensaries near schools that are getting hassled, in fact there has been a stepped up campaign of harassment and federal interference against mmj dispensaries across the board in the past 6-12 months.

In DIRECT contradiction, as has been repeatedly noted, to what Candidate Obama SPECIFICALLY said about the issue.

And yes, The President controls the DOJ and has a wide latitude in terms of enforcement priorities at Justice. He ALSO has the power to unilaterally order a rescheduling of cannabis from schedule 1, something that is long overdue.

[phleshdef]

57. I'm not apologizing for anything. No one owes you an apology for anything.

There are regulations to follow. These dispensaries that are being shut down are not following them. They deserve to get shut down. They are hurting the cause. End of story.

Candidate Obama never said he would allow people to just start selling weed right and left, following no rules at all. Thats what you want and thats idiotic.

And yes, I write my own fucking material. Damn proud of it too.

[Warren DeMontague]

61. You seem to think it's just about a few outliers not following the rules.

It's not.

[Robb]

65. But it is. The article cites 23 dispensaries being told to move.

Do you know how many there are in Colorado? Heck, how many there are just in Denver?

[Warren DeMontague]

72. there is the larger context of a stepped-up push against ALL mmj dispensaries

which has been extensively documented here and elsewhere.

[Robb]

74. So they're just not very good at "cracking down on MMJ" in Colorado or something?

What, is it the weather?

[Warren DeMontague]

75. give it time.

Look, no one ever said the drug war had to be successful.. it just needs to provide a nice rich gravy train for drug warriors, and a steady supply of bodies for the prison-industrial complex.

Even the biggest drug war boosters admit they can't lock up all the pot smokers- (sigh) but, hey, they'd still like a lucrative taxpayer-funded gig trying to!

[Robb]

77. You sound a touch like someone explaining why they believe in God.

Yes, there's no evidence, but you just know it's so.

A tiny fraction of dispensaries are being told they face closure for being in violation of existing laws. The rest are remaining open. Yet this leads you to believe there is a targeted effort by federal law enforcement that goes all the way to the top.

I'm having trouble believing it, I'm sorry.

[Warren DeMontague]

81. a tiny fraction in this story, and yes, you're ignoring the larger context

but unlike delusional godbaggers, I'm more than happy to provide evidence to back up my claims:

http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/2011/11/obamas-medical-marijuana-crackdown-1-1-1-1-1.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/07/federal-crackdown-forces-medical-marijuana-shops-to-close_n_1133850.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/24/us/medical-marijuana-target-of-us-prosecutors.html?pagewanted=all

http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/us-launches-california-medical-marijuana-crackdown-dpgapx-20111007-to_15378624

http://articles.latimes.com/2011/oct/07/local/la-me-obama-medical-marijuana-20111008

[phleshdef]

84. Your links provide no proof of any broad agenda to shut down dispensaries. NONE.

I am sure you are capable of utilizing basic math skills, right?

Heres the fucking math. 97% of dispensaries in Colorado have not been targeted. I don't have the exact statistics for the other states, but its along those same lines. A broad agenda would not allow the VAST MAJORITY of dispensaries to go untouched. And thats just the fact of the matter. The vast majority have been untouched. No matter how badly you want to believe otherwise, you are not entitled to your own facts. This administration is allowing most dispensaries to operate. You can post a million links to a million media articles and you still won't be able to change that.

[Warren DeMontague]

87. we'll see, won't we?

yes, yes we will.

Anyway, if- as you claim- we both want the same thing; i.e., it legal, regulated, and taxed.. then there's fundamentally no disagreement. I hope you're right, and this isn't the front wedge of a larger push to go after all the dispensaries in Colorado.

Like I said, we'll see.

[phleshdef]

91. We've had 3 years to see. Thousands of dispensaries have been allowed to operate during that time.

[Warren DeMontague]

93. so in 6 months if they've all been shut down, are you going to admit you were wrong?

I'm guessing not.

[phleshdef]

95. Thats like saying "in 6 mos, if Obama locks us up in FEMA death camps will you admit hes Hitler"

A fractional number of them have been shut down over the past 3 years. Theres no logical reason to believe the administration is going to shut all of them down. It would have happened already.

[Warren DeMontague]

97. So, that's a yes then.

cool. like I said, we'll see.

(by the way, the $60 Billion-a-year drug war is real. unlike the FEMA camps)

[phleshdef]

98. Of course its a yes. I would be on the front line of criticism if they were...

...shutting a vast majority of them down. But the situation thus far is the opposite of that and most of these shutdowns seem to have sound legal reasoning behind them. So I'm okay with it. I won't start getting outraged until I see a concrete reason for it. And my heart will be all the healthier for that approach.

[A Simple Game]

100. No proof? You are a quicker reader than I am. Four minutes between posts, wow.

Especially because the first two links were each videos of over ten minutes each.

No proof? More like no idea.

[Upton]

86. Don't forget Washington state..

Gov. Chris Gregoire on Friday is expected to veto all or part of a landmark medical-marijuana bill because of federal prosecutors' threat to prosecute state employees who carry it out.

That threat, delivered by the state's two U.S. attorneys earlier this month, has prompted concerns about federal meddling in state policymaking. Legislators, law professors and marijuana activists said Thursday that threat is hollow, and may not be constitutionally legal. Gregoire has publicly said she will not sign the bill, and has called a news conference for Friday to discuss it.

She has cited a letter by U.S. Attorneys Jenny Durkan of Seattle and Mike Ormsby of Spokane, which said state employees could be held civilly or criminally liable for enforcing the proposed law, which would legalize and regulate medical dispensaries and grow operations for the first time.

http://cannabisnews.com/news/26/thread26511.shtml

Gregoire, after the threat, subsequently partially vetoed the bill...throwing the MMJ industry here into disarray.

[Warren DeMontague]

89. Nothing to see here, folks.. move along.

no, there's no federal crackdown on medical marijuana. Rinse. Repeat.

[Robb]

90. But even all those links, the numbers don't support your position.

In order, the numbers of dispensaries closed per your links:

1. No numbers, no citations. Opinion piece.

2. 3 dispensaries closed in the Bay Area, 13 in Sacramento (no citation), 139 in San Diego (!).

3. No numbers, no citations ("some&quot .

4. No numbers, no citations.

5. "38 dispensaries in 13 cities where dispensaries are not allowed and where local officials have pleaded for help" in California.

If I had to extrapolate, I'd say there's a problem in California, particularly in San Diego.

[phleshdef]

92. I'd love to see the straight numbers from all states combined.

The number of dispensaries that have been allowed to operate with no trouble vs the number that have been actually shut down. If one were to have those numbers, the argument that this administration is pursuing some kind of broad anti-medical marijuana agenda would be rendered fairly anemic.

[Warren DeMontague]

94. That's where the crackdown has been focused. I think the OP's point

is wondering whether this is an indication that Colorado is next.

[Buddyblazon]

101. There are over 700 in Colorado...

FYI.

[phleshdef]

82. Considering that only 3% of the dispensaries in CO have been shut down. Then yes. IT IS.

[Warren DeMontague]

83. See the above post/response to Robb.

The story; and this is indicated in the phrasing of the OP IMHO- is part of a larger situation that has been going on for several months. It's not just about these 23 dispensaries.

[phleshdef]

85. Until you can provide a concrete statistic that proves otherwise, Robb's point stands unrefuted.

[Warren DeMontague]

88. I'm glad you've appointed yourself referee.

Ya get a free stripey shirt with that, or what?

[_ed_]

15. Are you talking about Candidate Obama

or President Obama? Because there's a hell of a difference between the two.

[NorthCarolina]

16. Over 50% of Americans support legalization, so obviously

Candidate Obama supports it as well. It is President Obama that doesn't really support it. You have to be able to differentiate the two from one another, and then everything becomes clear.

[phleshdef]

25. If he doesn't support it, then why are so many dispensaries allowed to operate untouched?

[Warren DeMontague]

32. Because your tax dollars are currently busy busting the other ones.

Give it time.

[phleshdef]

35. Thats ludicrous. There is nothing stopping them from shutting them all down tomorrow.

You just WANT to believe that they are going to shut them all down, even though the facts are kicking you flat in the face.

[Warren DeMontague]

50. No, I WANT to believe we're going to stop spending $60B/year to stop pot smoking.

And eventually, we will. In the meantime, though, our leaders should do what they're supposed to do, i.e. LEAD.

[phleshdef]

52. I want that too. But even if it were legal, places that sell it should still have regulations.

And like any business that violates regulations, they should be penalized or shut down, depending on the severity.

[Warren DeMontague]

55. Yes, they should have regulations. I'm in complete agreement.

But the only reason there's this goofy dance going on in the first place, again, is because our leaders don't step up and say "This is insane, it's time to end prohibition".

Clear laws would make regulations far easier to achieve. Right now mmj is in a legal gray area, and yeah there are people using 'medical' as an excuse to score weed, and why shouldn't they? Because the fucking law against it is stupid, and we're well past time to do away with it.

But you are mistaken- I'm sorry, you are- if you think that the recent actions against dispensaries are only targeting ones that 'break the rules'. As far as this administration is concerned, sadly, it's become very apparent that they think they ALL are breaking the rules, just by existing.

[shanti]

37. oh, you mean in LA....

in sacramento county alone, the only dispensaries allowed to remain open are in the actual city of sacramento. most of the ones in the county that were doing fine, not near schools, etc. are now closed after the threats to prosecute in september. it used to be a 10 minute drive away, now it's a 45 minute drive.

[phleshdef]

39. What was the reason given for their closing?

[shanti]

41. that the landlords

would come under fire (asset forfeiture, anyone?) if they remained open, so they shut them down preemptively. in my (apparently conservative) community, there was even something on the ballot so that even if you did grow at home, you'd have to put up a $15,000 bond first, effectively stopping it right there. it passed. AND the city also refused to allow any dispensaries.

[phleshdef]

42. That sounds more like a community problem than a federal problem.

I was speaking specifically about the DEA coming in and shutting dispensaries down. There are many that the federal government appears to be leaving alone. I can't speak for what state or city officials may do from case to case.

[shanti]

43. sorry, i don't buy that

most of the communities didn't say squat until the DEA crackdown. who's going to wait around until their property is forfeited?? obama has the power to say NO, and he did not.

[phleshdef]

44. Well, unless you can provide concrete evidence of otherwise, it doesn't matter what you buy.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

109. See, that's not the way it works, Zippy

We live in California, and I take it you don't, based on your displayed ignorance of MMJ happenings in the state. It doesn't matter what it "sounds like" to you. You're demonstrably wrong about the federal government's interference in California. It's not incumbent on us to prove a damned thing to you.

[EC]

17. Why would dispensers open

near schools? There are laws about not opening near schools, so why did they choose those locations?

You are complaining about Obama when you should be complaining about the idiots that didn't study the laws before opening their business.

[cleanhippie]

21. How close can a pharmacy be to a school?

Medicine is medicine. If its legal, a school should have nothing to do with anything.

The "we gotta protect the children" meme is bullshit.

[phleshdef]

26. From a community standpoint, I'd bet more people view it more like a liquor store and less...

...like a pharmacy. And thats a perception that any sensible advocate of legalization would realize we have to work with. And we shouldn't get all up in arms over it. I think its perfectly reasonable to say "ok, you can have this, but you can't have it near a school". Anyone that disagrees with that is less interested in actually seeing legalization eventually happen and more interested in shoving their point of view down the throats of people who are still (misguidedly) leery of marijuana.

[Buddyblazon]

104. Part of the problem is the average pioneer...

in this growing (no pun intended) industry is that the majority of them dress like jackasses. The people representing the pot industry give the appearance of a stereotype most communities frown upon....the "thugged out G".

I've told several of them at conventions, "If you want to be taken seriously by your community, stop sagging your pants, stop wearing flat brim caps sideways, stop wearing boatloads of bling. If you want to be considered a professional...dress like a professional.".

Now I don't agree with the stereotypes. I think people should dress how they want. But if they dress in that fashion and continue to name strains things like "Green Crack"...don't be shocked when the average American won't take the industry seriously. Unfortunately, that's the way of the world.

It's a shame. Because it really is a marvelous plant. And I wish more Americans could be exposed to it.

[EC]

27. Not the same

and you know it. Stop making excuses for a mistake you've made blaming the wrong party. The owner of the dispensory chose to go into the business, they should have studied where they could place it and any other restrictions. The owner is at fault here, period.

[phleshdef]

29. Exactly. Advocates for legalization should WANT to see these dumb asses shut down.

We have a social stigma against marijuana that we are fighting here. We should want strict regulations on it. We should want those strict regulations followed.

[cleanhippie]

38. You should look at the state law. It has NO 1000 ft restriction.

An this I about the bigger issue of the administration NOT following through on it's pledge to allow medicinal cannabis in states where it's legal.

Stop making excuses for the lies of the administration.

[phleshdef]

40. Except you are dead wrong and they are allowing many to operate. Just not all of them.

And I've seen quite a few people from CO post that the 1000ft restriction DOES exist.

[randome]

45. And that doesn't even matter.

Federal law still trumps state law.

[phleshdef]

47. Agreed. Some fellow liberals want to have that both ways.

[cleanhippie]

51. Regardless, to argue about 1000 or 100 feet is missing the point.

Entirely.

[phleshdef]

54. How so?

[Buddyblazon]

105. Every dispensary owner knows the 1000ft rule...

here in CO. This is discussed even amongst home growers...which I'm still not sure about in regards to the state law...though it does apply on the Federal level (stiffer penalties).

[EC]

48. I think you need to sort out the difference between a lie

and doing their jobs. Obama has nothing to do with what the States Att.'s decide. Remember seperation of powers? He can't just order States Att's, DA's or judges to do what he wants.

Obama is not doing this. Put the blame where it belongs.

[cleanhippie]

53. EC, these are US Attourneys that are doing this.

Surely you know the difference?

[EC]

58. Yes,

But Obama still cannot just order them to stop upholding the laws. It is still a matter of the owners not fullfilling their obligations to follow the laws. Move their dispensories, that's all that they need to do.

[cleanhippie]

62. ....

[EC]

71. Bang your head all you want

it may clear out the block.

Look, I'm for legal pot all around, not just meds. But when we make some advancement in the fight, I really wish those who take advantage of the new laws would follow them. Mark my words - if we screw up the medical pot laws by not following them - it'll make it 10 X's more difficult to get it legalized all around.

The shop owners were not following the law. They can move and reopen or get charged. If we want it legalized we have to show we can be good stewarts of the little steps forward we do manage to get or it will be more difficult to prove that we are responsible, law abiding citizens able to be users in a responsible way.

[Buddyblazon]

108. Here you go...

http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/hs/medicalmarijuana/resources.html

For everyones info.

BTW...not positive about this. But the original Amndt. 20 doesn't discuss dispensaries.

[alc]

18. an easy mistake to make

* the Obama Administration DOES NOT support medical cannabis
* the Obama Campaign DOES supports medical cannabis

There's a big difference between "campaign" and "administration" but it's easy to forget/miss. The actual reasons for the difference are a little trickier

* the president cannot do everything he wants (i.e. must follow federal laws even though he has leeway on which laws he puts effort toward)

* politicians are full of BS during campaigns and say what they think we want to hear rather than what they believe

* some combination

[phleshdef]

28. It seems to me that they aren't trying to shut them all down. Just ones that are questionable.

And anyone that thinks every dispensary is operating in good faith of the state regulations that allow their existence is kidding themselves. Anyone that thinks none of these dispensaries are just a front for recreational weed are also kidding themselves.

I'll say it a thousand times. I want it to be completely legal and REGULATED. I want to go to a state marijuana store and show my ID to prove I'm 21, and buy a bag. Thats ultimately the day I want to live to see. But we aren't going to get there by shoving it down everyone's collective throat and not following the rules. This has to be done carefully and I feel like a lot of these dispensaries are operating in ways that hurts the cause more than any justice department raid.

[Edweird]

19. Have you seen "Mars Attacks"? "Don't run, we are your friends."

[phleshdef]

22. The administration has allowed many, many dispensaries to operate with no trouble.

As I posted in another thread on this topic...

Some people in Cali and Colorado and other states are ABUSING their new found freedom. As a pro-legalization advocate it pisses me off and they DESERVE to be shut down.

They are opening up dispensaries right and left. They are opening them up in places where they shouldn't be opened, like near schools and places like that. While other people are going out and getting a doctor's note for any little ailment they can cook up in order to obtain some weed (when they probably don't need it outside of recreational usage).

Best case scenario, I want marijuana legalized and regulated like alcohol. Worst case scenario, I want simple possession completely decriminalized and medical use legalized. I have used it for recreational purposes myself. I'm not anti-weed by any stretch of the imagination. And thats why I think some of these places deserve to be raided and shut down. They are abusing the new found freedoms their states have given them and it makes us all look bad. It makes us look like we can't handle bringing legal weed to America responsibly.

And then a bunch of DUers get all up in arms about it, acting like we should expect the government to look the other way when there is such blatant disregard for both state and federal laws. Wake the hell up. Some of these dispensaries are HURTING the cause.

[Bluenorthwest]

69. those who slander patients are not on the righteous side of any argument

you lost me when you put on your 'play doctor' outfit and decided you know they don't need it medically. What utter arrogance.

[phleshdef]

80. I didn't slander patients. I just know what recreational marijuana users do. I am one.

You are lying to yourself if you think that every person seeking a prescription really wants it for a medical reason. I personally wouldn't abuse the system like that myself because I think it hurts the cause of legalization. But get off your fucking high horse (hahahaha HIGH horse) and cut the bullshit. People make shit up to get pain pills. This has been proven. People make shit up to get weed. Don't act so naive. You know better. I never said there weren't plenty of legitimate patients who need this for pain or for handling chemotherapy and stuff like that. Of course there are. But its not one way or the other. Some people need it for a medical reason. Some people just want to get high sometimes (I am one of those people).

[shanti]

36. because it worked in california

[theaocp]

46. My guess is because

the Administration has a moral compass. That, and too much fucking free time.

[Ter]

56. Federal drug laws are all illegal

They violate the 10th Amendment, and I can't believe any SC Justice wouldn't agree.

[phleshdef]

60. Federally drug laws banning the selling of drugs is 100% legal and constitutional.

And penalties for simple possession are controlled at the state level.

Phony ass Ron Paul, anti-regulation, anti-control of commerce argument is all you got.

[Fumesucker]

73. Then why was an amendment needed to prohibit alcohol?

Or is alcohol not a drug?

[phleshdef]

76. I'm not sure an amendment really was needed. But it criminalized more than just the "selling" of it.

It also criminalized the production and transporting of alcohol.

[Robb]

79. The Volstead Act was really the governing law.

Notably it allowed alcohol consumption when prescribed by a doctor.

[joeybee12]

59. For the same reason you're being told he's ending the wars...

You're getting propoganda.

[DefenseLawyer]

63. The President appointed a Bush drug warrior, Michele Leonhart, to head the DEA

She was a Bush appointee from the Los Angeles office of the DEA and one of the most outspoken zealots in an agency full of outspoken zealots. It's not just that this administration has continued Bush policies, it has continued with the EXACT SAME PEOPLE. Why would any rational person assume that this wasn't by design?

[shanti]

103. you know

and this is what kills me. when *ush came in, he swept everything clean and installed his people. you cannot say the same for obama. i'm going with his actions, rather than his words, thank you, and my eyes are not happy campers.

[Robb]

66. 23 out of nearly 1,000 dispensaries? Hell of a "crackdown."

[Bluenorthwest]

67. As candidate, the President told Oregonians he'd do differently and added that he felt

DOJ and other law enforcement had other things to do, such as fight terrorism. Apparently now he feels this is the priority, we are safe an secure.

[Robb]

70. Less than 3% of Colorado dispensaries were targeted here.

If this is a priority, they're not very good at it.

[joshcryer]

111. Only 3%? God, we have a really crappy sense of proportion.

[phleshdef]

78. You actually believe the DOJ has been pursuing this more than anything else?

As another poster said, this targeted around 3% of the dispensaries in the state.

[i_sometimes]

110. I have not seen any crackdowns

here in Oregon. I have not heard of any closing or getting raided, we have three locally plus two or three delivery services. Our grow has been inspected 4 times in the last two years for paperwork and health/safety, always pass with flying colors.
Our inspection by the county (Coos) three weeks ago had us getting accolades for the cleanliness of our op and the quality of our meds.
That said, Oregon law has let growers flood the market, there is so much weed around it has driven the black market prices into the ground. Street deals are at 100-150 for top shelf. We get comped more than that from dispensaries.


We have an attorney on retainer though, just in case the Feds come calling.

If these stores were in violation of State law, then fine, close them.
But fuck the Feds.

[Cali_Democrat]

96. Because he doesn't support medical cannabis

and the people who say he does are just covering for him.

[Cerridwen]

106. Marketing 101. n/t

[Buddyblazon]

107. Jury Nullification...

It's what the population needs to know. If you get jury duty and it's for a pot infraction....refuse to find someone guilty.

It's an easy way for plain old Jane and John Doe to pass the message on, "We do not support your witch hunt...and every time you send us one of these...we'll find them Not Guilty.".