Despite Obama admin’s promise, DEA continues raids on medical marijuana growers

[cory777]

Source: Raw Story

Saturday, February 13th, 2010 -- 6:10 pm

On Thursday, a Denver news station interviewed Chris Bartkowicz about his medical-marijuana operation in the basement of his home. Bartkowicz, confident of his compliance with state laws, boasted of its size and profitability.

"I'm definitely living the dream now," he told 9News.

The following day, the dream was over.

Drug-enforcement agents raided his home, placed him under arrest, and carried off dozens of black bags of marijuana plants and growing lights

Read more: http://rawstory.com/2010/02/obama-admins-promise-dea-continues-raids-medical-marijuana-growers/

[tridim]

1. Obama and Holder called off the DEA in legal states

These are rogue federal agents stealing our Constitutional rights as Coloradans. They are arresting law abiding citzens. It must stop immediately.

I want these agents fired on Monday morning, by Holder. :mad:

[Fumesucker]

4. Cannabis is still a schedule 1 drug..

I don't expect that to change ever, the government would have to admit that it has been lying for seventy plus years.

It really doesn't matter what the states do as long as cannabis is still totally illegal at the federal level.

[tridim]

35. So what? Medical marijuana is legal in Colorado.

State's rights and all that.

How does the fed justify Synthetic THC which is FDA approved?

[Abq_Sarah]

5. That's problematic

Since Federal law says marijuana is illegal. It's up to the congress to repeal the law, not the President to ignore it.

Instead of saying we'll look the other way when it comes to medical pot, the law needs to be changed on the federal level. The majority of people favor repealing the federal law and that number cuts across party lines. Instead of listening to the citizens, the fed prefers to tell us to shut the hell up and let them decide the issue. I want this to be an issue for this administration. I want every single congressman and senator ON RECORD with their vote.

[scot]

6. What he said.....yea verily.

[Stumbler]

22. I agree, but we know it won't happen that easily

Every gov't dept receives extra funding for "participating" in the War on Drugs. Additionally, too many private business interests (& thus their lobbyists, & thus our representatives) feel threatened by the potential loss of revenue that could come about by the new competition introduced from the decriminalization of cannabis & hemp: Privately-owned prisons (loss of countless non-violent criminals to lock up),
logging & cotton industries (new competition from alternative paper & textile source),
BigAg & BigOil(new competition against corn for "biofuels"),
BigPharma (who'd pop pills w/ countless side-effects when they can smoke a joint to alleviate pain?),
Alcohol producers (many of us would quit drinking if we could openly smoke a joint after work)

This is one area that demands new rules for campaign finance, otherwise our "reps" will continue to have no reason to listen to the demands of "We the People."

[Hestia]

39. and it could easily be changed - look at Prohabition - it didn't take a constitutional admendment to

change the law, everyone just enough is enough, and Congress changed the law. Same can be done with cannabis laws.

[Alexander]

42. Actually it did take a constitutional amendment to repeal Prohibition.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twenty-first_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution

[RainDog]

27. bull. these aren't rogue agents. Obama just nominated a regressive Bush holdover for the DEA

He is pissing off taxpayers by continuing this bullshit war on drugs in states in which is is LEGAL to do what the guy was doing. He is pissing off progressives and libertarians. He is, ONCE AGAIN, seeking to validate regressive right wing policies that benefit the corporo-power and seek to deny individual freedom based upon informed decisions. This is why he is losing the American people.

(he may have poll numbers that indicate he is still popular, but don't scratch the surface on those with too many questions about actual policies. It's not enough to be "not Bush" after a while, esp. if you seem to be working overtime to be bush.)

He is doing this AFTER the AMA requested a look at rescheduling. I didn't know until recently that marinol (synthetic THC-only in a capsule, not as effective, lacking cannabinoids) is a schedule 3 substance. this rescheduling issue has been a problem for thirty years - the govt refuses to honor its own guidelines in regard to cannabis. the govt reefer madness discredits its agencies - and, ultimately, the entire authority of the govt if they insist on this madness.

Cannabis is still listed as a schedule I substance - which everyone who knows anything about the uses of cannabis for nausea, wasting, depression, etc. in cancer and aids patients knows is bullshit. People with MS know this is bullshit, as do their family members and loved ones.

His Bush holdover appointment REFUSED to allow controlled studies by a University research group because it was looking at medicinal properties rather than trying to continue the totally discredited war on cannabis propaganda.

It's total propaganda and the majority of Americans know it. The federal govt is far, far behind the people in this nation on this issue. And Obama appointed someone who totally supports this propaganda and the arrest of people in states whose laws vary from federal ones.

So, it's also gotten to the point where people no longer believe Obama when he says anything because his actions show whose power he supports. It isn't people power.

[tridim]

36. The DEA nomination has nothing to do with this rogue agent.'s actions

He said so himself, he disagrees with Holder's instructions last year.

Believe me when I say Colorado MMJ patients are PISSED. From what I'm hearing from people this case will morph into the catalyst for Federal rescheduling.

[salguine]

2. .

[wroberts189]

3. Obama Nominates Drug Warrior Michele Leonhart to Head DEA -- Reformers Gird for Battle

knr

http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/618/obama_nominates_michele_leonhart_dea_adminstrator


But Leonhart's career has also coincided with scandal and controversy. (A tip of the hat here to Pete Guither at Drug War Rant, who profiled her peccadillos in an August 2003 piece). Her time in St. Louis coincided with a perjuring informant scandal, her time in Los Angeles coincided with the beginning of the federal war against California's medical marijuana law, and as acting administrator, she blocked researchers from being able to grow their own marijuana for medical research, effectively blocking the research. As head of the DEA last year, Leonhart (or her staff) spent more than $123,000 of taxpayer money to charter a private plane for a trip to Colombia, rather than using one of the 106 airplanes the DEA already owned.

While Leonhart's role in the persecution of California medical marijuana patients and providers is drawing the most heat, it is her association with one-time DEA supersnitch Andrew Chambers that is raising the most eyebrows. Chambers earned an astounding $2.2 million for his work as a DEA informant between 1984 and 2000. The problem was that he was caught perjuring himself repeatedly. The US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals called him a liar in 1993, and the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals echoed that verdict two years later.

But instead of terminating its relationship with Chambers, the DEA protected him, failing to notify prosecutors and defense attorneys about his record. At one point, DEA and the Justice Department for 17 months stalled a public defender seeking to examine the results of DEA's background check on Chambers. Even after the agency knew its snitch was rotten, it refused to stop using Chambers, and it took the intervention of then Attorney General Janet Reno to force the agency to quit using him.

Michele Leonhart defended Chambers. When asked if, given his credibility problems, the agency should quit using him, she said, "That would be a sad day for DEA, and a sad day for anybody in the law enforcement world... He's one in a million. In my career, I'll probably never come across another Andrew."

[SemperEadem]

7. this is one woman I wouldn't mind having her nomination blocked

she's too shady.

[winyanstaz]

12. I agree,,,bad news there....

[wroberts189]

16. A bush holdover... why on earth she was nominated by Obama...

..is a bigger mystery then Bigfoot and UFO's. On edit: That's if you still have any faith left.

"She was confirmed as DEA deputy administrator in 2003 and named acting administrator upon the resignation of agency head Karen Tandy in 2007, a position she has held ever since."

[Flaneur]

8. Okay, this head DEA narc in Denver is totally off the reservation.

Someone needs to tell him about last October's Justice Department memorandum telling DEA to back off in states where medical marijuana is legal.

[winyanstaz]

11. got a name and number we can all call?

[wroberts189]

57. They are using federal law as an excuse to ignore Holder....

They went "rogue" ... blatantly ignoring the memo.


And btw ...whatever happened to the bush AG politicization scandal...?

According to pubs these people serve at the whim of the POTUS can be fired by the POTUS and replaced for no reason.

[slay]

9. It's not a war on drugs - it's a war on pot smokers

and other "drug" users. And it's really about POWER. They have power over us and they want to keep it that way. The tell us which drugs are "OK" - which is often a lie just to line the pockets of big Pharma - they tell us that marijuana is bad and should be illegal yet tobacco and alcohol are legal - what the fuck?! If Obama thinks this kind of behavior by a total shit agency like the DEA is OK and allows it to continue, I will NOT vote for him in 2012. If the world is going to continue being a shithole where the rich get richer while the rest of us get fucked then we should at least be allowed a bit of comfort in choosing weed over alcohol. I can't stand alcohol. FUCK THE DEA - I don't know how those fucking assholes sleep at night. :mad:

[winyanstaz]

10. Well that sucks...and that figures.....

asshats are running this country...:mad:

[davidhilton]

13. so i don't get it. state law says it's legal and federal law says it's illegal...

how confusing is that? the feds and the local DA raid dispensaries all the time here in san diego, even though medicinal MJ is legal here too.

[Metta]

14. He wants it both ways. He's afraid to make a stand and follow through. One issue out of many.

He's weak and afraid to make a stand.

[Occulus]

15. It occurs to me that the President has the power of the Presidential pardon

Is there such a thing as a "blanket pardon", covering a class of crime?

In any case, he could issue a stack of them daily.... if he wanted to.

"I will pardon every citizen charged with violating Federal cannabis prohibition until such a time that the Department of Health and Human Services reschedules cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule II or III."

That's all it would take.

[Metta]

19. He *could* do all sorts of stuff that would help real people but he won't. He's going to the right.

Has been all along. He doesn't want to rock the boat so he betrays his base and won't win over any opposition no matter whose liberty he tramples on.

[wroberts189]

20. Meanwhile the right says he is Hitler and going to destroy the USA...

While we all watch in utter astonishment that this smart man would be so foolish to pander to them no matter how bad they attack him.


It will never compute.

[tom_paine]

24. That's just the customary projection of RW Authoritarians and their followers.

You can't get more similarity between the modern Americccan RW and the Nazis, unless you add violence, in which case they are virtually indistinguishable.

[Vincardog]

59. IT is only a difficult thing to understand if you believed he was ever liberal. He is the best Repub

president we could get.

[Freddie Stubbs]

21. Yes, there can be blanket pardons

Jimmy Carter pardoned Vietnam draft dodgers.

So far President Obama has yet to exercise his power to issue pardons.

[mdmc]

31. 1

[mdmc]

30. 1

[larryageda215]

17. The feds/dea will just hand the looting off to the local authorities

This is by far the biggest lie/misspeak of the Obama administration, I find when Men have children and as their kids approach teenagers the Father usually becomes a major hypocrite about marijuana use including His own.

Happens all the time.

meanwhile this type of crap/ will continue until he legalizes marijuana=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-VFEtteDt0

[Wizard777]

18. It's Mutiny!

[tom_paine]

23. Obama is not in control of law enforcement and he is not in contol of the military.

He is CERTAINLY not in control of the Bushified NSA/CIA/whoever.

Things like this are to be expected.

[bitchkitty]

25. He said the magic word for raids - PROFIT

The narcothugs won't bother me - I'm in Oregon, and there are two (legal) choices for me - grow my own or get someone to grow it for me. Well - there's a third, someone could give me marijuana, but could not accept remuneration for it. Technically they can charge for electricity and nutrients.

There are two bills coming up - one that will allow dispensaries in Oregon, and one that legalizes marijuana. If the first passes, then we'll have dispensary raids in Oregon - count on it. I don't believe the latter will pass.

Now - watch for all herbal supplements to be regulated. We can't have our pharmaceutical companies losing money, you know...

Fuckers. Even if I wasn't legal, I would consider it my patriotic duty to break this stupid law.

edited for clarity

[WeekendWarrior]

26. Here's the Problem

When you go on fucking TV and boast about your dream come true, you're just setting yourself up for trouble. Why be such an idiot? Why not just quietly grow your pot within compliance, and keep your stupid yap shut.

I don't think ANYONE should be arrested for pot. I think pot should be legal. But until it is, use your brains, if you have any.

[tridim]

33. Meanwhile Budwieser can ADVERTISE and boast about their poison on TV

Cannabis is LEGAL in Colorado. Period.

[uncle ray]

37. it is not "legal, period."

it is sort of legal.

this grower was an idiot bragging about how much he is raking in on tv, in a big story right after the olympics coverage. he should have kept his cover up instead of bragging how his neighbors didn't know what he was doing in his million dollar home in a community that is not MJ friendly. he was practically begging for a raid. if the feds didn't nail him, rippers would have.

that said, the neighbors who called him in are the lowest of scum.

[tridim]

38. Medical cannabis is 100% legal in Colorado.

It's in our Constitution.

This particular grower shouldn't have to fear cameras in his garden, because what he was doing is 100% legal. It's not just sort-of legal.

[uncle ray]

41. not until federal law agrees.n/t

[Freddie Stubbs]

43. Selling it is a violation of federal law in Colorado or any state

[tridim]

46. It is legal to manufacture and sell cannabis in Colorado.

It's been legal in our Constitution since 2000.

[Freddie Stubbs]

47. State laws do not supercede federal laws

Just because something is not a violation of Colorado law does not mean that it is not in violation of federal law.

[tridim]

48. AG Holder disagrees.

Do you disagree with the USAG?

Oh, and why can't I order a beer in Utah? It's federally legal to do so.

[Freddie Stubbs]

49. Holder never said that medical marajuana was legal

He only said that it will not be a priority to use federal resources to prosecute patients with serious illnesses or their caregivers who are complying with state laws on medical marijuana.

[tridim]

50. Exactly right, and that statement can be boiled down to..

State law (in the case of MMJ) trumps federal law. Honestly I don't know how anything else can be inferred from it.

That is precisely why the statement was made so early in the administration.

[Vidar]

28. Poor Obama. He's great at speaking, but not very good at telling the truth.

[tridim]

34. When did Obama say the feds wouldn't raid grow ops?

Ironically it's you who aren't very good at telling the truth.

[gulfcoastliberal]

51. Unfortunately it happens quite a bit. K&R... nt

[mdmc]

29. too bad we still have a neo-con drug czar

[RainDog]

32. Obama's drug war budget shows his actions - it's Bush redux.

Feb. 12th-
http://www.alternet.org/story/145659/obama%27s_drug_war_budget_looks_a_lot_like_bush%27s

President Obama’s newly released drug war budget is essentially the same as Bush’s, with roughly twice as much money going to the criminal justice system as to treatment and prevention. This despite Obama's statements on the campaign trail that drug use should be treated as a health issue, not a criminal justice issue. And despite his drug czar telling the Wall Street Journal last year the war on drugs should be ended.

[Lorien]

40. Maybe this is really just another payoff to Big Pharma

my dad is a doctor and he's a strong advocate of medical marijuana. He prefers it over various pain killers and anti-nausea drugs because it's safer and more effective-which is probably the very reason big pharma hates it so much. Unless Monsanto can patent it we'll never see a change on this issue.

[ensho]

44. is there a 'someone' whispering into Obama's ear?

bad mouthing maryjane? threatening him? like a pharma baron?

being a smart man he knows maryjane is a helpful plant.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

45. These are rouge DEA agents................

It reminds me of the dispensary busts in Los Angeles earlier this month in which the DEA agents executed several warrants on dispensaries with out notifying the LAPD beforehand which is the normal procedure:

"A Los Angeles police spokesperson said the department, which is normally notified of such operations, got no advance warning from DEA. In other words, the DEA was so worried that the LAPD might alert the White House of its plans beforehand and so it bypassed the normal procedure there." (emphasis mine)

As off last week, the WH continued to attest that they will not circumvent State Law:

"Today, the White House made it clear to the Reuters news agency that the DEA is acting without its blessing: White House spokesman Nick Shapiro on Wednesday reiterated Obama's stance that "federal resources should not be used to circumvent state laws. And as he continues to appoint senior leadership to fill out the ranks of the federal government, he expects them to review their policies with that in mind," Shapiro said."

http://narcosphere.narconews.com/thefield/white-house-dea-raids-medical-marijuana-states-will-stop

[Cha]

54. Thanks for the facts on this story..I knew it something like

this and not just "raw story's" sensationalizing:silly:

[CrownPrinceBandar]

55. We'll see..........

If the Feds go ahead with pressing charges this week, then I'd say its not sensationalism at all.

[Cha]

56. Yes, indeed we will see..bc I've

seen too many sensationalized aritcles from the so-called left that I'm wary of what I read from them.

[wroberts189]

58. +1

[backscatter712]

52. The DEA is a cancer upon American freedom.

Subhuman fucks...

[Joey Liberal]

53. And Rush is still on Armed Forces Radio

I thought that would stop too, but no...............