Obama's New Marijuana Policies Also Target Alt-Weeklies and the Bill of Rights

[Newsjock]

http://blogs.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2011/10/now_obama_wants_to_kill_alt-we.php

​​In their unrelenting quest to kill legal medical marijuana dead, President Barack Obama and the United States Department of Justice appear content to incur collateral damage.

Last week, property owners who rent to dispensaries were informed that the federal government could seize their properties within 45 days; this week, one of the four United States attorneys who declared open season on anything connected to state-legal cannabis http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/feds-target-newspapers-radio-marijuana-ads-13049">told California Watch that the fourth estate is next. Specifically, the administration says any publication -- from print to web to broadcasting -- that accepts advertisements from medical marijuana businesses could face prosecution.

In other words, Barack Obama will screw California alt-weeklies, some of which rely on medical marijuana ads for 25 to 30 percent of advertising revenue, sources say. But in this move, legal and media experts contacted by SF Weekly say that the government has a First Amendment issue on its hands.

... Yet this may be a prosecution too far, says Liz Enochs, president of the Northern California chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. "Regardless of how you feel about medical marijuana, this is about economics -- and, by extension, the First Amendment," she said. "An attack on the business model of news organizations could be seen as a de facto attack on the press."

[krabigirl]

1. Yay, let's attack publishers now. Go Obama! /s obviously

[Ezlivin]

2. He. Might. Go. All. The. Way!

Fuck it. Just outlaw talking/writing/musing about anything illegal.

This administration has been a crushing disappointment when it comes to anything cannabis-related.

[frylock]

3. all cyprus hill CDs to be removed from retail locations..

how far are these dumbnuts willing to take this?

[Vanje]

4. Sickening.

This is not the Change I can Believe in.

[arcane1]

5. U.S. Attorney Laura E. Duffy needs to shut up about "the children"

Nothing demonstrates insincerity more than constant, absurd references to children. Children are NOT the target of MMJ ads in newspapers, they can't even buy it!!

U.S. Attorney Laura E. Duffy sucks.

[frylock]

7. if she were so concerned for "the children" she would target the "lingerie models"

that are also advertised in the back of the reader and city beat.

[patrice]

6. How might support for legalization be established in a powerful & politically meaningful form in an

election year?

I am recalling fundraising for Howard Dean that ended with, I think it was, 4 digits identifying the date that HD succeeded in passing protection for same-sex marriage in Vermont.

Just brainstorming here.

I believe the majority of Americans support the legalization of hemp and marijuana. It would be helpful if there were a way for them to express their political power directly.

This President has demonstrated willingness to "go there" on at least one issue with which he has a personal critique, DOMA, but does not mix that with the will of the people, at least on that issue.

I think he'd yield to the political pressure if there were enough support for legalization, but that level of support would require some strange bed fellows.

[Warren DeMontague]

8. Again, the administration proves they will stop at nothing to disappoint and disillusion supporters.

Enough, already.