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  Obama Explains Increasing MMJ Crackdowns

Posted by CN Staff on April 25, 2012 at 07:39:13 PT
From Rolling Stone 
Source: Huffington Post  

Washington, D.C. -- Amid an increased crackdown on medical marijuana producers across the nation, including a recent high-profile raid on a California training school, President Barack Obama faced questions in a new interview with Rolling Stone about the seeming disconnect between his 2008 campaign rhetoric and his administration's actions since he took office."I'm not going to be using Justice Department resources to try to circumvent state laws [on medical marijuana]," Obama promised in 2008, according to an earlier Rolling Stone report. But Attorney General Eric Holder announced in 2010 that federal authorities would continue to prosecute individuals for marijuana possession, despite its legalized status in some states.
The Huffington Post's Lucia Graves reported recently on subsequent enforcement activity:Since then, the administration has unleashed an interagency cannabis crackdown that goes beyond anything seen under the Bush administration, with more than 100 raids, primarily on California pot dispensaries, many of them operating in full compliance with state laws. Since October 2009, the Justice Department has conducted more than 170 aggressive SWAT-style raids in 9 medical marijuana states, resulting in at least 61 federal indictments, according to data compiled by Americans for Safe Access, an advocacy group.Speaking with Rolling Stone, the president tried to explain his original comments, claiming that the recent pressure on dispensaries and providers was in line with his intent."What I specifically said was that we were not going to prioritize prosecutions of persons who are using medical marijuana," Obama said. "I never made a commitment that somehow we were going to give carte blanche to large-scale producers and operators of marijuana -- and the reason is, because it's against federal law."The president continued: "I can't nullify congressional law. I can't ask the Justice Department to say, 'Ignore completely a federal law that's on the books.' What I can say is, 'Use your prosecutorial discretion and properly prioritize your resources to go after things that are really doing folks damage.' As a consequence, there haven't been prosecutions of users of marijuana for medical purposes."Obama then shifted gears away from marijuana, saying that a "broader debate" on drug laws was warranted.While the president appears to believe that his administration's actions against medical cannabis don't conflict with his earlier statements on the issue, some lawmakers around the country disagree.Lawmakers in five states that have legalized medical marijuana recently wrote a letter to Obama criticizing him for a supposed "contradiction" on the matter and calling on the federal government "not to interfere with our ability to control and regulate how medical marijuana is grown and distributed."Source: Huffington Post (NY)Published: April 25, 2012Copyright: 2012 HuffingtonPost.com, LLC Contact: scoop huffingtonpost.comWebsite: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/URL: http://drugsense.org/url/4TGqzgKCCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml 

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Comment #44 posted by FoM on April 28, 2012 at 19:26:48 PT

The Correspondents Dinner
Jimmy Kimmel did good jokes with truth in them on Marijuana. I hope others saw it too.
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Comment #43 posted by Had Enough on April 28, 2012 at 15:27:59 PT

Debate...!!!

“”Obama then shifted gears away from marijuana, saying that a "broader debate" on drug laws was warranted.””A debate !!!...many have debated this for ONLY a few decades !!!We hear the talk...but see little action...Debate....Bring it on!!! A real debate without that mealy-mouthed noise coming from places where the DRUG CZAR resides (ONDCP)...and the groups that the Sembler’s and Calvina Fay (DFAF) spew about...(Paid Liars)Click to see...Drug Free America Foundation (DFAF)http://www.dfaf.org/***Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)http://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp

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Comment #42 posted by Had Enough on April 28, 2012 at 15:04:04 PT

Well now...Playin’ Ball ???

What it is Mr. Obama...When asking for votes...we HEAR things...after the vote...we SEE other things...Why is that...did you mislead the people you wanted for support just to get that support...Or is this just posturing for the next election trying to pander to the status quo rulers and keepers of the coin...If this is just pandering to these elitists at the expense of others...that is the totally wrong thing to do to your fellow mankind...This leads to some people thinking and asking the question “I wonder how he can sleep at night”So Mr. Obama...think of the harm that is being inflicted people, healthy people, sick people, people being put in a cage over all this, sick or not...Now that is what I would call repulsively sick thinking and actions...This form of Ball Playing has very serious consequences for others, some have suffered tremendously...others have even died...you should be ashamed...but I have learned...politicians and bureaucrats hold very little of that form of humanity...Got one more Mr. Obama...would you care to talk about the stop in Chantilly, VA (Builderberg meeting there at the time) when Hillary was on that airplane, when you were PRESIDENT ELECT...We noticed Hillary was selected as Secretary of State immediately after that stop on the way to Washington...and many others had noticed how you two had mean-mouthed each other while stepping on each other to climb the top of the Primary...then after the big election...all warm and fuzzy with each other...telling everyone how much you two supported one another...kinda just makes one wonder...***runruff...Cake Sale...I love it...I would have like to have heard the phrase...”Suck it up Cupcakes and have a Bake Sale”************Cream – Politicianhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJqgk2XAg4k&feature=related

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Comment #41 posted by greenmed on April 28, 2012 at 12:16:12 PT

runruff
Good on you, Jerry! Brilliant! Why they would hang up on you for suggesting a cake sale is beyond me. It's a great idea-- let the community show their level of support for aero-SWAT tactical intrusion.
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Comment #40 posted by runruff on April 28, 2012 at 08:36:36 PT

I called the report line.
I suggested they hold a cake sale to fund their activities.I reminded them that teachers have been doing this for 25 years to buy books for their students because all the public funds were going to pay for drug war helicopters.I got hung up on!I called back...Do you even know that elected reps are acting according to the will of the people. We the people do want you guys invading our private space, so the senators are finally responding to the people.The voice said, "who is this? I said, my Name is Jerry Sisson and I have already done time in your filthy prison and I am not afraid to speak my mind to youse!Again they hung up!
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Comment #39 posted by greenmed on April 27, 2012 at 21:45:22 PT

helicopter fly-overs
Senator Merkley must understand, as we all realize, that fly-overs are certainly not limited to public lands.
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Comment #38 posted by greenmed on April 27, 2012 at 19:41:37 PT

related blog post
Oregon May Cease Helicopter Patrols For Marijuana Grow-opsPosted by TJ Green -- April 27, 2012Due to proposed cuts in funding to the National Guard Counter-drug Program by President Obama, Oregon may cease all helicopter patrols for marijuana grow-ops statewide beginning next year. Apparently, the massive cost of the operation is simply too high, relative to the benefits of an air assault on cannabis. The Baker City Herald reported that “Baker County Sheriff Mitch Southwick is worried that proposed cuts in the federal budget will weaken local law enforcement’s ability to stop illegal marijuana-growing operations.” The Herald went on to say, “While [Sheriff] Southwick isn’t overly concerned about this year, how the proposed cuts would affect operations next year is unknown. The number of growing areas found in the county has been decreasing over recent years.”According to a letter from U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, D-Ore, to the Senate Appropriations Committee pleading for additional funds to keep up the patrols, “Under the proposed budget, funding for the Program in Oregon would be cut by 66 percent. This level of funding would significantly reduce, if not eliminate, all counter-drug air support for law enforcement within Oregon.”http://www.theweedblog.com/oregon-may-cease-helicopter-patrols-for-marijuana-grow-ops/

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Comment #37 posted by greenmed on April 27, 2012 at 19:37:59 PT

Funding for helicopter fly-overs to be cut.
"Marijuana detection flights could be curtailed."By Terri Harber, 
Baker City HeraldBaker County Sheriff Mitch Southwick is worried that proposed cuts in the federal budget will weaken local law enforcement’s ability to stop illegal marijuana-growing operations.An anticipated decrease in the National Guard Counterdrug Program would sharply curtail the helicopter flights that have been a crucial tool in finding pot grows in Baker County.While Southwick isn’t overly concerned about this year, how the proposed cuts would affect operations next year is unknown, he said.The number of growing areas found in the county has been decreasing over recent years. “Helicopter fly overs are considered a deterrent,” he said.This is because people often have someone posted near the crop to watch for trouble. The helicopters flown by National Guard pilots and manned by sheriff’s deputies trained to spot the illegal crops are the most maneuverable aircraft because they can slow down, stop and turn around more easily than fixed-wing aircraft, for example.U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., sent a letter to key members of the Senate Appropriations Committee asking them to preserve funding for the counterdrug program.President Barack Obama’s proposed budget for fiscal 2013, which starts Oct. 1, 2012, would drastically reduce the funding.(cont'd)http://www.bakercityherald.com/Local-News/Marijuana-detection-flights-could-be-curtailed

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Comment #36 posted by afterburner on April 27, 2012 at 07:30:24 PT

3 Little Birds - to make you smile
Bob Marley - One Drop
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=G7DnJayQlQk&feature=endscreenBob Marley - No more trouble 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLR7qPgHogk&NR=1&feature=endscreenBob Marley - Jah Live 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=a8oRqXKYXvs&feature=endscreen
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Comment #35 posted by The GCW on April 27, 2012 at 07:26:06 PT

Harder times are coming.
We are making it harder for people to be ignorant.
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Comment #34 posted by FoM on April 27, 2012 at 07:00:09 PT

The GCW
You are right and you made me smile. Thanks!
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Comment #33 posted by The GCW on April 27, 2012 at 06:09:12 PT

FoM #30,
I think it's more like 2 steps forward and 1 step back. 
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Comment #32 posted by Paint with light on April 26, 2012 at 23:01:06 PT

comment #27 by John Tyler
"I guess what we can take from all of this is that the only answer is full cannabis legalization like alcohol."There seem to be more and more people thinking this is the easiest and quickest solution.It is an easier understood proposal than some of the ideas that have been expressed.To convert the remaining prohibs that is what it will take.Once that happens and cannabis is rescheduled we can work on educating people even more on the lack of harm and multitude of benefits that cannabis provides.I can foresee a time when cannabis will even be more legal than alcohol, but for now........Legal like alcohol. 
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Comment #31 posted by Hope on April 26, 2012 at 19:50:51 PT

So true, John Tyler. So true.
"That way, though the price may go down overall, everybody will be protected." It's true. The people that want to keep the price extremely high, don't want it to be truly legal. The price will go down. The thing is, why protect an illicit profit... if you're not profiting from it? If they have an extraordinary product, it will be, likely, at the top of every connoisseur's "must try" list. Every body wants to try it every once in a while if it's that good. They can probably still get outrageous prices for it.But it's not right to profit at the expense of so high a price, in money and life, that some people find themselves paying. 
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Comment #30 posted by FoM on April 26, 2012 at 19:47:17 PT

MikeEEEEE 
I must have hope. If I thought we were doomed I wouldn't be doing CNews. We have come a long way. I know one step forward and two steps back but it is moving more our way even though we are right now in the middle of the shaking I knew would happen.
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Comment #29 posted by FoM on April 26, 2012 at 19:44:09 PT

John Tyler
I heard him say that to. Not anytime soon. Not soon but in the future maybe?
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Comment #28 posted by MikeEEEEE on April 26, 2012 at 19:23:13 PT

it's just too easy! 
"But Attorney General Eric Holder announced in 2010 that federal authorities would continue to prosecute individuals for marijuana possession, despite its legalized status in some states."Sounds like bu$iness as usual.Beer companie$ do not want you to grow this plant.
Big pharm does not want you to grow your own medicine.
Corporations want to control you, wanting productive little minds/slaves, no risk to productivity--of course, unless something's in it for them.
The industrial/prison complex will lose prohibition client-state$ funding. 
Etc, etc, etc.Compassion does not = to corporate states--of course, unless something'$ in it for them.
Plus, the loss of investment in, and cost of un-conditioning the sheepie.But on a more positive side: cannabis can pay down the debt caused by (existing corrupt individuals--raking the sheepie to the tune of 15 Trillionnnnnnn, it's just too easy!). 
The founders of America used a word to assist in the future, "UNITED."
The 99% understand know that. But the corporation knows the sheep are a lazy breed, that prefers the easy feedings of negative news, scandal, simple explanations, etc.--to keep like minds un-united. The scope of this sh.. is outstanding, but in a sick corrupt way.Anyway, on a more position note again: John Tyler may be right. Obama may have some wisdom, but does he have the guts, or is it busine$$ as usual?FoM, perhaps you see some hope, that's just fine.Columbia is akin to the wall falling down in the eastern block. But kept quiet, for now.  Meanwhile, the herd is being redirected to the secret cervix prositution scandal in Columbia. 
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Comment #27 posted by John Tyler on April 26, 2012 at 18:40:00 PT

some thoughts
I haven’t read all of the comments here so forgive me if this is redundant. I remember something Obama said way back about cannabis legalization, that it would have to wait until his second term. I think maybe he would have a little more political leeway then. Maybe. Also when he was on the Jimmy Fallen show I think he said “Don’t count on it anytime soon”. That is a slippery phrase. Can we count on it later then? Like in his second term. It doesn’t sound like he is counting it out to me. It is going to happen one way or another. 
Another thing is the failed California legalization vote in 2010. Legalization was opposed by some of the same medical cannabis outfits that are getting slammed now. They wanted to protect their gains, (and that is understandable) thinking they were on solid ground. Looking back now, I wonder if they had supported full legalization, and it passed, they might not be in trouble now. I guess what we can take from all of this is that the only answer is full cannabis legalization like alcohol. That way, though the price may go down overall, everybody will be protected.

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Comment #26 posted by FoM on April 26, 2012 at 16:43:31 PT

Hope
I sometimes wish I didn't see beyond the moment. I seem to see further on down the road in some situations and know what more then likely will happen in time as far as our issue goes. Putting the cart before the horse might seem ok to some but inevitably you will have to get that horse in front of the cart. 
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Comment #25 posted by Hope on April 26, 2012 at 16:18:11 PT

Indeed, FoM.
"I am saying this because I feared people would read more into what Obama said and start more pot shops and wonder why they got busted when they finally did."I remember you saying that. More than once even.

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Comment #24 posted by Hope on April 26, 2012 at 16:07:36 PT

But they do extort tax money from many of us
to finance the insanity. I don't feel that money was extorted from me when my tax money pays for schools and good roads and good water and sewage and waste disposal and all that .I do feel that my income has been extorted when it's used to finance these assaults against freedom and enterprising citizens by heavily armed, jack booted bullies and thugs.I don't feel like I want to pay for doing this to people. I don't see how it's worth it... or even right.
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Comment #23 posted by Hope on April 26, 2012 at 15:53:46 PT

It's insane.
It's doubly insane that it is still going on.At least they don't go in shooting as they have so many times before. At least they didn't see someone with a cell phone they thought was a gun and blow them away.At least they didn't kill any animals or small children or any children at all. This time.At least they didn't burn the buildings down around them or cause them to die of vomiting.That's an improvement.It's insane, though. Still. And once again, I have to wonder why everyone can't see it.
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Comment #22 posted by FoM on April 26, 2012 at 15:18:26 PT

11 Arrested in Raid on Oakland Pot Warehouse
URL: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/04/26/BABC1O9JRN.DTL&tsp=1
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Comment #21 posted by FoM on April 26, 2012 at 14:21:09 PT

Here's The Article
http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/drug-law/president-obama%E2%80%99s-slippery-double-speak-medical-marijuana
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Comment #20 posted by FoM on April 26, 2012 at 14:20:30 PT

Just an Observation
I just saw an article where they were blaming Obama for this bust below. He wasn't even President then. Why don't people research a little better?California Doctor-Lawyer Couple Get Five Years For Growing and Selling Marijuanahttp://www.justice.gov/dea/pubs/states/newsrel/sanfran032008.html
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Comment #19 posted by afterburner on April 26, 2012 at 09:11:27 PT

Sorry,didn't Post this Sooner, Been Working on Tax
Oaksterdam Fights for Its Existence.
By Ellen Komp, Cannabis Culture - Thursday, April 19 2012 
http://www.cannabisculture.com/v2/content/2012/04/19/Oaksterdam-Fights-Its-Existence
{
Former California Senator John Vasconcellos, the author of SB420, which codified collectives, spoke against the "federal reign of terror." He said we must face these facts: 1. Marijuana is not a narcotic; 2. It is not addictive; 3. It is not a Gateway drug; and 4. It is a medicine. He pointed out that California spent $9 million on a research program at UC San Diego that unanimously proved marijuana's medical value.Photo:
A "For Lease" sign now sits on the Oaksterdam mural on the side of the school's building.
Endphoto.Vasconcellos said that SB420 was the result of 18 months' work on a task force that included everyone from Dennis Peron to narcotics officers, and that the resulting bill had the support of the California District Attorneys, doctors, nurses, the legislature and the governor. The "vehemence and zealotry" of the federal prosecutors made Vasconcellos say they ought to be in therapy. He mentioned that he was himself a medical marijuana patient, and had his recommendation in his car. 
}
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Comment #18 posted by FoM on April 26, 2012 at 07:23:58 PT

One More Thing
I wish President Obama would have tried to go further in what he said then he did but he didn't so I knew this war wasn't over but just softened.
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Comment #17 posted by FoM on April 26, 2012 at 07:21:49 PT

Sir_Bakeinton
The problem with that terrible shooting was no one knows when someone is going to snap and go on a shooting spree. Some people are walking time bombs. The same thing happened in Chardon, Ohio not too long ago. 
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Comment #16 posted by Sir_Bakeinton on April 26, 2012 at 07:11:31 PT

FoM
He stated at the end of the video that he would not be using the Justice Department resources to try an circumvent Stat laws on this Issue ( Medical Marijuana )because he wants folks to be investigating Violent crimes, Poetical Terrorism We'v got a lot of things for our law Enforcement to deal with........ However dealing with the resent raid on Oaksterdam not to far from the University there was a Mass shooting but he wants to be investigating Violent crimes, All I ask is where is the focus if any? Seems like the issues that matter don't get the attention that he wants
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Comment #15 posted by Oleg the Tumor on April 26, 2012 at 06:06:47 PT:

Sir Bakeinton
What I get from this video is the big smile on his face when he says, " . . . well, I'm not going to use up a lot of political capital on this . . ."This means he is placing his re-election above all else.I assume this is what you were referring to on comment 2.
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Comment #14 posted by FoM on April 26, 2012 at 05:06:14 PT

 Canis420
When Obama was running for President I hung on every word he said about medical marijuana. I remember him saying no to mom and pop shops and people growing their own. I went oh boy people will get angry with him when busts happen. My sister was a deputy sheriff and an expression I was told is ignorance of the law is no excuse. She said she never had a person in jail that didn't say they were innocent. I am saying this because I feared people would read more into what Obama said and start more pot shops and wonder why they got busted when they finally did. 
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Comment #13 posted by Canis420 on April 26, 2012 at 00:56:53 PT:

FOM
I believe that if these establishments were operating contrary to state law the Statees would be busting them. He (O) backpedals in his rolling stone comments, he says "What I specifically said was that we were not going to prioritize prosecutions of persons who are using medical marijuana," That is not what he specifically said. He said he will not use justice dept resources to circumvent state laws, he did not delineate down to "persons" This latest statement says he will go after everybody above a card holder no matter the state law. Same obfuscation crap...make it legal for medical but dont allow it to be sold...reminds me of the tax act! 
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Comment #12 posted by ekim on April 25, 2012 at 16:23:15 PT

Gill the birdseed thc with all the plant -wont fly
http://www.drugwarrant.com/2012/04/young-turks-debate/#comments
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Comment #11 posted by FoM on April 25, 2012 at 13:58:53 PT

Excerpt From Rolling Stone Interview
Let me ask you about the War on Drugs. You vowed in 2008, when you were running for election, that you would not "use Justice Department resources to try and circumvent state laws about medical marijuana." Yet we just ran a story that shows your administration is launching more raids on medical pot than the Bush administration did. What's up with that? Here's what's up: What I specifically said was that we were not going to prioritize prosecutions of persons who are using medical marijuana. I never made a commitment that somehow we were going to give carte blanche to large-scale producers and operators of marijuana – and the reason is, because it's against federal law. I can't nullify congressional law. I can't ask the Justice Department to say, "Ignore completely a federal law that's on the books." What I can say is, "Use your prosecutorial discretion and properly prioritize your resources to go after things that are really doing folks damage." As a consequence, there haven't been prosecutions of users of marijuana for medical purposes.The only tension that's come up – and this gets hyped up a lot – is a murky area where you have large-scale, commercial operations that may supply medical marijuana users, but in some cases may also be supplying recreational users. In that situation, we put the Justice Department in a very difficult place if we're telling them, "This is supposed to be against the law, but we want you to turn the other way." That's not something we're going to do. I do think it's important and useful to have a broader debate about our drug laws. One of the things we've done over the past three years was to make a sensible change when it came to the disparity in sentencing between crack cocaine and powder cocaine. We've had a discussion about how to focus on treatment, taking a public-health approach to drugs and lessening the overwhelming emphasis on criminal laws as a tool to deal with this issue. I think that's an appropriate debate that we should have.http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/ready-for-the-fight-rolling-stone-interview-with-barack-obama-20120425?page=2

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Comment #10 posted by FoM on April 25, 2012 at 13:41:39 PT

dongenero 
I agree.
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Comment #9 posted by Richard Zuckerman on April 25, 2012 at 13:15:03 PT:

Ron Paul Revolution is the answer!!!
It is broken promises like these which should awaken Americans to the reality that Barack Obama is a fraud. Don't believe the polls and major media. Vote for Ron Paul for U.S. President. As with a vote on a jury, vote with your conscience, not merely with the crowd. Yes we can change Presidents!!
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Comment #8 posted by dongenero on April 25, 2012 at 13:11:26 PT

Congress
In a way, I believe Congress cannot act due to the perpetual election cycle and ongoing fear of what were very effective campaign attacks centered on "soft on crime" claims. On the other hand there's the entrenched, backwards mindset of many Prohibitionist Congress members.But we need Congress to act! We need House Bill 2306, removing cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act, to be released from the Judiciary Committee and allowed to come to a vote, and we need The House to do the right and sensible thing and pass it.Then we need the Senate to pass it as well.Then we need the President to sign it.In this case, our system of checks and balances, combined with baseless fear, serves only as a means of obstructing progress to a more sensible solution.
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on April 25, 2012 at 13:06:00 PT

Canis420 
Are dispensaries with lots of plants or cannabis for sale ok'd by the states? I thought most of the states just collected taxes.
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Comment #6 posted by The GCW on April 25, 2012 at 13:01:55 PT

And the truth is?
Did Obama say that: "I'm not going to be using Justice Department resources to try to circumvent state laws [on medical marijuana]," I believe that's what I heard Obama say.-0-Is Obama, that is, the federal government "using Justice Department resources to try to circumvent state laws [on medical marijuana]?" The answer is YES. 
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Comment #5 posted by Canis420 on April 25, 2012 at 12:07:37 PT:

Obama
This is what he said "I'm not going to be using Justice Department resources to try to circumvent state laws [on medical marijuana]," But many of the establishments ARE working within state laws. The justice department has been sending intimidating letters to state's who are considering enacting state laws also flies in the face of his comments...
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Comment #4 posted by museman on April 25, 2012 at 10:30:29 PT

I'm sorry
"As a consequence, there haven't been prosecutions of users of marijuana for medical purposes."The man is either grossly un-informed, or deliberately obtuse. Or just a plain liar.I know of a few locally who were busted for felony possession, cultivation, and intent to sell because their 'weight' was slightly over the 'legal' limit by a few ounces. How is that not prosecuting 'users of medical marijuana?'The loopholes in the 'actual statement' are large enough to drive all the SWAT teams, DEA, and any other gung-ho cop who hates liberty loving people right through into the Actual Gestapo Police State that is a result of -not just O's contribution, but a systematic plan that goes back at least to Nixon."What I can say is, 'Use your prosecutorial discretion and properly prioritize your resources to go after things that are really doing folks damage." and growing the herb is doing this HOW!!!!?The CIA, DEA, controlled 'drug war' is the REAL HARM, and no amount of 'illegal sales of medical marijuana' -regardless of the demonic intent of the FEDERAL LAW does harm to any but the rich.Trying to point out the fact that there are criminal-minded people taking advantage of the situation, and making a connection between them and the growers is missing the point. There are more criminals, causing more harm, sitting in congress and the senate, than there are in the cannabis culture. There is more harm caused every day by the ape-men given power over us with guns, and false badges of authority, than has ever been caused by any drug throughout history, I don't think this man truly knows what "really doing folks damage" actually is.LEGALIZE FREEDOM
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on April 25, 2012 at 09:27:59 PT

Sir_Bakeinton 
I have watched the video many times. I can't figure out what you mean though. 
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Comment #2 posted by Sir_Bakeinton on April 25, 2012 at 08:34:02 PT:

Just take a good Listen to the video!!!
Please don't let this Comment sway you from the truth really listen to the video The proof is in the Video!!!

Barack Obama and Medical Marijuana (interview Q&A)
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on April 25, 2012 at 07:47:28 PT

That's What I Thought He Meant From The Beginning
Obama Quote: "What I specifically said was that we were not going to prioritize prosecutions of persons who are using medical marijuana," Obama said. "I never made a commitment that somehow we were going to give carte blanche to large-scale producers and operators of marijuana -- and the reason is, because it's against federal law."The president continued: "I can't nullify congressional law. I can't ask the Justice Department to say, 'Ignore completely a federal law that's on the books.' What I can say is, 'Use your prosecutorial discretion and properly prioritize your resources to go after things that are really doing folks damage.' As a consequence, there haven't been prosecutions of users of marijuana for medical purposes."

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