Eric Holder Says DOJ Will Let Washington, Colorado Marijuana Laws Go Into Effect

[Grassy Knoll]

Source: Huffingtonpost.com

WASHINGTON -- The United States government took an historic step back from its long-running drug war on Thursday, when Attorney General Eric Holder informed the governors of Washington and Colorado that the Department of Justice would allow the states to create a regime that would regulate and implement the ballot initiatives that legalized the use of marijuana for adults.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/29/eric-holder-marijuana-washington-colorado-doj_n_3837034.html

[mike_c]

1. come on California!

The time is now.

[cascadiance]

16. I think Oregon is preparing another attempt at getting a prop on their ballot next election too...

... which would have the whole west coast legalized if California would also legalize it as well.

Oregon will also have the opportunity in that election to become the first state to update their constitution that would overturn the earlier ban on gay marriage to give Oregonians the right to have gay marriage in its constitution. Signature gathering or this effort has already over half the needed signatures for this to get on the ballot now...

http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/07/gay_marriage_campaign_will_put.html

So, both of these efforts could help each other, though the right sounds like its planning stuff like a "right to work" measure too. Though if the symbolism of them putting Art Robinson head of the GOP party in this state has relevance, hopefully we can bury the Republican measures then.

[Comrade Grumpy]

24. I think the time will be in 2016.

There are already two initiatives being bruited for 2014, but the big money wants to hold off until the presidential election year.

Oregon and Alaska will probably go in 2014 via the initiative process, and maybe Rhode Island via the legislature.

Look for California, Arizona, New Mexico, and maybe more in 2016 via the initiative process.

But who know? The process could accelerate now.

[Scairp]

40. All that would not be needed

If the feds would just change marijuana status and include it in the same schedule group as alcohol and cigarettes, the problem would over tomorrow, there would be no need to go state by state.

[Comrade Grumpy]

46. I think we're going to have more states go legal first. The feds will be last on board.

[jmowreader]

52. That would be "unscheduled"

There are six ways to categorize a drug.

Schedule I drug: "Substances in this schedule have no currently accepted medical use in the United States, a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision, and a high potential for abuse." LSD and heroin are on this schedule, as is weed.

Schedule II drug: "Substances in this schedule have a high potential for abuse which may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence." Meth and pentobarbital are on this schedule. Heroin should be on it - this shit would be a breakthrough in pain management for terminally ill patients.

Schedule III drug: "Substances in this schedule have a potential for abuse less than substances in Schedules I or II and abuse may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence." Vicodin is on this schedule.

Schedule IV drug: "Substances in this schedule have a low potential for abuse relative to substances in Schedule III." Xanax and valium are Schedule IV drugs.

Schedule V drug: "Substances in this schedule have a low potential for abuse relative to substances listed in Schedule IV and consist primarily of preparations containing limited quantities of certain narcotics." This is the cough syrup schedule - almost everything on Schedule V is a cough syrup with codeine in it. In many states, Schedule V drugs are available OTC in four-ounce bottles.

Everything else is unscheduled, including alcohol, cigarettes, penicillin...there are some exceptionally dangerous drugs that aren't scheduled because no one on the face of the earth would abuse them. Who in hell would try getting high on AZT more than once?

Look close at Schedule I: no currently accepted medical use, lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision and a high potential for abuse. That describes Marlboros to a tee, doesn't it?

[Scairp]

54. I did not know that

I thought that alcohol and cigs were scheduled, the lowest scheduled at least. Thanks for the info.

[Scairp]

36. Seriously

They could at least stop shutting down shops through raids. It's really hard to find one, though the delivery only services have taken up some of the slack. The law doesn't seem to be bothering them very much at all. This is a step in the right direction, finally.

[Little Star]

2. k&r

[Scuba]

3. So Eric, please redeploy those agents to Wall Street, not my State.

[jtuck004]

17. +100! n/t

[Enthusiast]

23. The perfect response!

[pnwmom]

4. Here's another article about that.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/08/29/justice-medical-marijuana-laws/2727605/

[DiverDave]

18. Thanks for the link thats NOT hp

why anyone goes to that ripoff site is beyond me.

[bemildred]

5. I'll believe it when I see it. nt

[bbgrunt]

14. me too. nt

[forestpath]

28. Me three.

[idwiyo]

53. me four

[JustAnotherGen]

6. This is good

His time would be better spent taking a double look at how minorities and women are getting effed over every day by angry old white guys. More time on going after places like PA that wish to take the vote away from black and hispanic inner city Americans and less on this bullshit.

[daleo]

7. The war on drugs is breaking down

As with most wars, eventually people become fatigued by the human, financial and moral costs.

[SpankMe]

8. They promised the same "de-emphasis" in Washington state.

Then, they went in an busted everyone and everything.

I'll believe this when I see it.

[Warren Stupidity]

10. yes there is that.

But was there an official policy statement by Holder?
Also I suspect that local DEA offices will choose to develop selective hearing syndrome for a while.

[Comrade Grumpy]

25. Holder's message was accompanied by a memo to all US Attorneys.

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/160507622/DAGMemo8-29-13

They will still have some discretion, but it will be limited.

[Dragonfli]

9. Wasn't there a similar message re State legal Medical use a while back that ended up being a lie?

I noticed some weasel wording in that he only agreed to "allow the states to create a regime that would regulate and implement the ballot initiatives", he never said he would honor what they set up, I imagine that as with all things this DOJ does each word was chosen carefully and "redefined" as necessary.

[Ocelot]

20. Yes there was (n/t)

[Comrade Grumpy]

26. Not exactly. There were two memos to US Attorneys.

The 2009 Ogden memo told them to lay off medical marijuana, and they pretty much did.

The 2011 Cole memo told them it was okay to go after it again, and they did.

This latest memo, also from Assistant US AG Cole, gives prosecutors some wiggle room, but not much. It looks like absent things like sales to minors, violence, criminals profiting, and the like, the prosecutors have been told to leave it alone.

[Supersedeas]

51. You are correct sir

[sinkingfeeling]

11. About time!

[99th_Monkey]

12. What's Lucy doing with that football... again? nt

[Phlem]

13. Way to go Holder!

Fucking ass wipe.

Pleased spend even more time messing with pot smokers. They destroyed murica more than Bankers, crooked politicians, corporations, and what's this with Syria. Glad you can suck on the teet of the American taxpayer while you do shit about anything other than fuck with pot smokers.



-p

[Comrade Grumpy]

34. Uh, did you actually read the article?

[Phlem]

44. Yes I did

And have read numerous ops here on DU about the same subject matter.

I'll wait till it actually happens though. Last time a "relaxing" of this issue brought raids to medical marijuana establishments here in Seattle including the oldest co op around. I've been watching Holder since he's been in the administration and am very disappointing in him. This issue is small potatoes compared to everything else that's happening, that's my issue. While I do have a license and am glad about this, my point it this should have been done yesterday. All it is is a distraction. And the resources wasted on busting pot smokers?

So, so, many more important things to do other than busting pot smokers.

I've used it since a teen for a severe case of PTSD from a fucked up drunk republican retired Air Force step father, only recently have I gotten a prescription for it. For an ailment that I've been medicating myself with for 35+ years. Now it's ok!?

This country is stuck a 1000 years in the past.

-p

[duhneece]

15. Come on, New Mexico nt

[Comrade Grumpy]

27. 2016, I think. Presidential election year. Lots of young voters.

[John2]

19. The Obama Administration

finally does something I approve of.

[Andy823]

45. Really?

So nothing else they have done meets your approval?

[Vincardog]

21. That is Campaign Obama's line. Will President Obama walk the walk and RESCHEDULE it? nt

[Comrade Grumpy]

31. Better to deschedule it. I don't a doctor to tell me when I can smoke pot.

[Vincardog]

55. Right now it is a substance with NO MEDICAL value. Your DR. Can not suggest it might help you.

[RainDog]

56. It's an herb, not a drug

And should be handled, because people use it for intoxication, under the same regulatory agency that handles tobacco and alcohol.

Doctors should be able to recommend this as an herbal supplement.

As far as other health care issues related to cannabis - it won't be the plant material, as is, that will be used for other medicinal purposes. Doctors want something they understand, in terms of dose and titration, so they'll want a pill or oil for uses other than general supplement.

In the meantime, Haborside wants to compile a user survey (Harborside has the largest user customer base in the U.S.) to help quantify patient relief related to strain for various health issues. This most basic sort of research (a user survey) has not been made available until now - but it's the sort of thing that can help doctors with recommendations, too.

(The No. CA US Attn, Melinda Haag, is trying to shut down Harborside, in spite of Holder's announcement and a lawsuit from the City of Oakland.)

Morning glories, nutmeg, bananas, poppies - all are plant material, like marijuana, that can induce intoxication of various kinds. None of these are regulated (even the poppy that creates heroin) because the effects aren't as benign as marijuana and, thus, are not used often.

If they were used more often (most people obtain processed heroin, they don't make it themselves), then they, too, would probably suddenly become a drug rather than a plant, but they'd still just be plants, not drugs.

[onehandle]

22. Good. The sooner marijuana is legalized, the sooner public smoking will be restricted...

...from coast to coast.

Do you think that mothers are going to accept pot smoking on sidewalks, in parks, on beaches, ...anywhere near their children?

[Comrade Grumpy]

30. Well, that's a bizarre post. Public smoking is already quite restricted, due to prohibition.

And state medical marijuana laws and the two legal states also ban public smoking.

I can see pot smoking bans in some places, where appropriate. But at outdoor rock concerts, for example ? Good luck with that.

[Hekate]

48. Treating pot like alcohol might mitigate public consumption. Treating pot like cig-

Treating pot like alcohol might mitigate public consumption (open-container laws, public intoxication, etc.). Treating pot like cigarettes would mitigate public smoking (second-hand smoke). DUI for driving would definitely still apply.

"Mothers" don't have to object to anything -- the applicable rules are already in place.

[RKP5637]

29. K&R! This is a very sane and futuristic response! Excellent!

[RainDog]

32. A positive step. Now time for CONGRESS to step up

Hopefully Leahy's Sept. 10th hearing can address the issue of scheduling and Congress will take the next sensible step and remove cannabis from the CSA and allow it to be regulated like alcohol.

[Comrade Grumpy]

38. Yes, deschedule, not reschedule.

[Comrade Grumpy]

33. Kudos to Attorney General Holder for recognizing reality.

Everybody now: "The times they are a-changin'."

[RainDog]

35. would you mind cross-posting this in the Drug Policy Forum?

if so, thanks!

[Nuclear Unicorn]

37. Federal law trumps state's rights!!!

[Civilization2]

39. No plant should be illegal,. it is a flower.

war on drugs is a corporate money grab,. and and expansion of the police-state. Also racist, and anti-logic.

[yesphan]

41. We have this guy to thank

for the last 80 years of prohibition.

http://www.csdp.org/publicservice/anslinger.htm

Asshole !

[Agnosticsherbet]

42. Very, very good. n/t

[musiclawyer]

43. I posted here many times that DOJ would pass

On WA and COL. They can't go to court. They can't. It would be the blowout of all legal opinions. More one sided than Judge Walkers opinion demolishing prop 8 in CA. Why?
Because a seminal case would have placed weed in schedule 1 on trial. And the government has no science behind its logic. Nothing. All the science is behind weed NOT being on schedule 1. Mark this day. The WOD is effectively over. The entire west coast will be weed legal in some form by November 2016. Most of the nation in ten years. Thank god.

Weed , hemp , electric cars, science, and sustainable energy will allow this country to rise from its knees eventually

[In_The_Wind]

47. Excellent!

[christx30]

49. Good.

I don't smoke, but I think it should be treated like alcohol. Get a license to manufacture and sell it. Gotta be 21 to buy recreationally. Parents are allowed to give to ailing children for medical reasons.
If you are found to be operating a motor vehicle while partaking, a hell of a lot of legal and finantial pain comes down on you (in Texas a DUI can cost upwards of $10,000 or more).
But I doubt any of it will happen. Having pot illegal makes too many people rich, not to mention all of the people that enjoy the power. But it is a nice dream.