DEA to halt medical marijuana raids

[foxfeet]

Holder confirms states to have final say on use of drug for pain control

Supporters of programs to provide legal marijuana to patients with painful medical conditions are celebrating Attorney General Eric Holder’s statement this week that the Drug Enforcement Administration would end its raids on state-approved marijuana dispensaries.

Federal raids on medical marijuana distributors continued at least into the second week of Barack Obama’s presidency, when federal agents shut down at least two dispensaries in California on Feb. 3.

Holder was asked about those raids Wednesday in Santa Ana, Calif., at a news conference that was called to announce the arrests of 755 people in a nationwide crackdown on the U.S. operations of Mexican drug cartels. He said such operations would no longer be conducted.

More at:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29433708/

[tanngrisnir3]

1. Most excellent news.

[Buck Laser]

2. It could save us a bundle of money, too.

[Warpy]

3. About fucking time

and all it took was a little leadership from the top.

Let's hope a little leadership will next stop the DEA war against pain patients and the doctors who attempt to treat them.

[foxfeet]

4. It's such a sane thing to do, it scares me a little.

Bush-induced PTSD, I guess.

[bigtree]

5. about fucking time

[Occam Bandage]

6. Good news. Glad to see Holder's come around.

[ixion]

7. end all the raids now

stop jailing pot smokers.

[rcrush]

8. kicked

[Jamastiene]

9. Good. n/t

[varkam]

10. OMFG! An AG with some sense!

It's been a while...

[Mabus]

11. Yes we can!

:fistbump:

[crikkett]

12. I find it curious that the MSNBC article fails to disclose that Massachussetts decriminalized mj

altogether. If you're caught with less than 1 oz you pay a $100 fine.

They list 13 states that allow Medical Marijuana but left out Massachussetts.

http://www.dpfma.org/home/

[Mabus]

14. Two things

There is a difference between decriminalization and medical marijuana. Sure it is the same stuff but, like here in Maryland, the reason you have pot on you when you're caught determines with what you can be charged with. Here in Maryland, there is medical marijuana. If you can find a doctor that is willing to write you a note then if you're caught with it you get a fine. Otherwise, you're facing a possession charge. In Columbia, Missouri, if you're caught with less than an ounce of pot you don't need a doctor's note but you will get a fine.

Second thing, they are listing the states which "allow the sale, distribution and use of marijuana for limited medical purposes". Again, here in Maryland you can get a doctor's note but there is no places that are authorized by the state to sale or distribute pot for a medical purpose. Hence, Maryland did not make their list either.

[crikkett]

15. thanks for that. n/t

[cherokeeprogressive]

13. Too bad that doesn't handcuff the Sheriff in the country's largest county.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff in CA directs his deputies to cite anyone caught with less than an ounce of MJ, making note of the fact that person might have a MM prescription from a qualified doctor on the citation.