Inside The Trump Administration's Secret War On Weed

[Mrs. Overall]

Source: BuzzFeed

The White House has secretly amassed a committee of federal agencies from across the government to combat public support for marijuana and cast state legalization measures in a negative light, while attempting to portray the drug as a national threat, according to interviews with agency staff and documents obtained by BuzzFeed News.

The Marijuana Policy Coordination Committee, as it’s named in White House memos and emails, instructed 14 federal agencies and the Drug Enforcement Administration this month to submit “data demonstrating the most significant negative trends” about marijuana and the “threats” it poses to the country.

In an ironic twist, the committee complained in one memo that the narrative around marijuana is unfairly biased in favor of the drug. But rather than seek objective information, the committee’s records show it is only asking officials to portray marijuana in a negative light, regardless of what the data show.

“The prevailing marijuana narrative in the U.S. is partial, one-sided, and inaccurate,” says a summary of a July 27 meeting among the White House and nine departments. In a follow-up memo, which provided guidance for responses from federal agencies, White House officials told officials, “Departments should provide … the most significant data demonstrating negative trends, with a statement describing the implications of such trends.”

As several states have approved laws allowing adults to use and purchase cannabis, critics have contended lax attitudes will promote drug abuse, particularly among youth, and they have pressed for a federal crackdown. The White House at one point said more pot enforcement would be forthcoming, though President Donald Trump has never said he was onboard with that agenda and he announced in June that he "really" supports new bipartisan legislation in Congress that would let state marijuana legalization thrive.



Read more: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/dominicholden/trump-secret-committee-anti-marijuana?bftwnews&utm_term=4ldqpgc#4ldqpgc

[Maxheader]

1. Yeah, all that state revenue really sucks..

[ancianita]

2. They hate truth. It has a factual liberal bias.

[truthisfreedom]

3. They can't afford to let these states increase revenue

and become less dependent on the federal government. How will the feds push them around?

[mahatmakanejeeves]

4. Here's the office coordinating the activities:

White House Office of National Drug Control Policy

[bucolic_frolic]

5. Casinos lose when cannibis wins

it's all about the money

[mainer]

7. Big Pharma also loses when cannabis wins

Because people can grow their own drugs, rather than pay big bucks for them.

[erronis]

8. That's it. Of course, we can now get PHRMA-engineered weed --- for a price.

[red dog 1]

9. + 1

Good point!

[bitterross]

11. BINGO! You hit the real nail on the head.

Big pharma needs to keep cannabis illegal. It has too many positive effects for people who suffer from chronic diseases. Chronic diseases for which they want to sell their drugs to people.

It's always all about the money.

[DownriverDem]

6. That sucks

Michigan has recreational pot on the ballot in November. We already have legal medical pot. Once the repubs took over the state they have done all they can to mess it up. I'm hoping that the Dems win in November so that we can have a smooth transition to recreational pot.

[red dog 1]

10. K&R...Thanks for posting

The Trump Crime Family strikes again!

(Who cares what the vast majority of Americans think!)

[Haggis for Breakfast]

12. I see the finely manicured hand and polished fingernails of

Jeff Sessions all over this. He HATES that marijuana is gaining popularity. He has said repeatedly "Good people don't smoke marijuana." He rescinded the Obama-era directive that instructed federal prosecutors not to prioritize arrests for pot. This is known as the Cole Memo. Sessions has even gone so far as to trample all over the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment that prohibits the Justice Department from using federal funds to intervene in the affairs of states that have legalized medical marijuana. He even wants to engage in civil forfeiture to punish marijuana growers and consumers.

But from the look of it, Sessions will not be in his office much longer, as trmp wants him gone.

[argyl]

13. Marihuana: The Weed With Roots In Hell

Where's Harry Anslinger when you need him?

[GWC58]

14. Just one more reason to

Hate this fucking administration! And that I surely do WITH A PASSION!!! 😠😡 To the ONDCP 🖕🏻YOU!!

[riversedge]

15. So many need a liveable wage and health care and the Trump admin priority is weed. damn.