First Medical Marijuana Raid by DEA Under Obama Administration

[bigtree]

OAKLAND, Calif. -- According to marijuana advocacy group Americans for Safe Access, the Drug Enforcement Administration raided a medical marijuana dispensary Thursday in South Lake Tahoe, Calif. It was only the second full day of Barack Obama's term in office.

"Even though President Barack Obama had made repeated promises during his election campaign to end federal raids in medical marijuana states, many high-ranking Bush Administration officials have yet to leave office," ASA said in a statement.

For example, still at the helm of the DEA is acting Administrator Michele Leonhart. Neither Eric Holder, President Obama's pick for U.S. Attorney General, nor a new DEA Administrator, have taken office yet.

"Whether or not this unconscionable raid on a medical marijuana provider is the fault of federal officials from the previous administration, President Obama has an opportunity to change this harmful and outdated policy," said Caren Woodson, Director of Government Affairs for ASA. "We are hopeful that these are the last remnants of the Bush regime and that President Obama will quickly develop a more compassionate policy toward our most vulnerable citizens."

ASA says medical marijuana and an unknown amount of cash was seized during the raid from Holistic Solutions, but no arrests were made. According to ASA, this first DEA raid under the new Obama Administration is another example of more than 100 raids on medical marijuana providers that have occurred in California over the past two years.

"I would not have the Justice Department prosecuting and raiding medical marijuana users," Senator Obama said in an August 2007 statement. "It's not a good use of our resources," he continued. This statement was followed up by Obama in other public events in the run up to the election.

ASA has been working with the new Administration on changing federal law around medical marijuana, which has included providing a comprehensive set of policy recommendations.


http://www.opposingviews.com/articles/news-first-medical-marijuana-raid-by-dea-under-obama-administration

[Hippo_Tron]

1. The new Justice Department probably won't prosecute them

He could issue an executive order telling the DEA not to conduct these raids but it's pointless because the current guard will be unemployed in a week at the most.

[firedupdem]

2. I will be happy when all the shit from the previous administration

is gone. Ridiculous.

[Trajan]

3. SHUT DOWN the DEA ...

Spend those funds on TREATMENT, and DECRIMINALIZE ...

Grant clemency to NON violent convicted drug users ...

Make room in prison for REAL criminals who are violent and create a REAL threat to public safety ...

Let's get this shit right, for once ...

[truedelphi]

4. here, here. n/t

[Hippo_Tron]

5. Too many vested interest groups in the drug war for it to be shut down

They would destroy any politician that tries to do it. The only way to end it is to change public opinion one step at a time.

[Mist]

9. I think public opinion is ahead of the politicians on this. It's only some pols and

the DEA that want to keep "warring" on pot.

[JeffR]

6. damn right

:thumbsup:

[rcrush]

7. Fifthed!

[patriotvoice]

12. And BATF while you're at it, too.

"Laws keep the police state in business."

[DevonRex]

22. NO. Absolutely NOT.

[pleah]

13. K&R

[cbc5g]

19. +1

[Zhade]

27. Thank you for your sanity.

:smoke:

[leftstreet]

29. Wish I could recommend this post

:thumbsup:

[tucsonlib]

8. Meanwhile, Out West....

Man Sentenced To Six Years For Growing Pot
01-22-2009 3:26 AM

(Tucson, AZ) -- A Tucson man was sentenced to six years in prison Tuesday for growing pot in his North Side home. Fifty-five-year-old Phillip Richard Simmons was arrested in September 2007 after police officers responding to a disturbance call stumbled upon what appeared to be a marijuana-dealing operation in his house. According to court documents, police found 170 live marijuana plants and hundreds of containers filled with the illicit substance, along with drug-processing equipment, a marijuana pipe and a white powder. Simmons was convicted last month for possession of marijuana for sale, possession of narcotic drugs for sale and two other drug-related charges. He told the court he was giving the pot to cancer patients, and people with eating and pain disorders. He reportedly told the court, quote, "It's in God's word that it's all right. It's man's law that it's wrong."


As Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld et al roam free.........

[jillan]

25. Six years? That is insane.

I can understand (not really, but) six days.

I thought Tucson was more liberal than that.

[Tsiyu]

10. Don't you love how they have $$$$ for this?

In the worst economy since the Depression, this is where our tax dollars are going.

Nice priorities - picking on sick people with our tax $$$$.

[davidpdx]

11. The DEA has been trying to go after people in Oregon for years

for medical marijuana and has gotten slapped down by the courts time and time again. It was voted on twice, the first time it passed and the second time a group tried to repeal it and it was affirmed by a larger margin. Like others have said, it's just a matter of time before the housecleaning starts at the DoJ and Obama kicks out the dirtbags who have been working for Bush the last 8 years. I hope they confirm Holder fairly quickly.

[Bluenorthwest]

15. And we must hope that Obama's word is kept

Because Holder has a long history of favoring increased punishments for pot. So we will have to wait and see what policy really counts, the one we voted for, or Holder's.

[gabby garcia]

14. just a few last raids before the end...

I think their stash was running low.

[bigtree]

21. lol

sounds about right!

No arrests, just grabbed the stash . . .

[Zhade]

28. And the cash. It's theft, pure and simple.

NT!

[asdjrocky]

16. Seems to me the DEA is going renegade here.

It seems to me heads should roll. Michele Leonhart needs to go, and go today.

[bertman]

17. Let's start at the top to see who benefits from this screwed up mess:

politicians who receive millions in campaign funds from lobbyists for the prisons-for-profit industry;

companies like Wackenhut, GeoCorp, Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), who own and operate penal facilities and in many cases the sister industries that provide clothing, food, etc for the prisoners;

the pharmaceutical industry that wants to keep marijuana out of the hands of Americans who would use it for its medicinal benefits;

government bureaucracies such as the DEA which are nothing more than extensions of the prisons-for-profit industry;

state and local law enforcement agencies that receive hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for their high-tech weaponry, surveillance equipment (helicopters, infrared cameras, etc) and who also benefit from the sale of confiscated items such as homes, cars, boats;

pot dealers who smuggle in tons of reefer to sell to otherwise law-abiding Americans.

I'm sure I've missed some of the beneficiaries of this obscene and antiquated drug law scam, so please help me if you have other ideas.

[sad sally]

23. Mexican law enforcers seem to benefit from US drug laws - and not in a good way

[bertman]

24. I don't think you can "benefit" not in a good way, but I get your point, sally. LOL

[cbc5g]

18. Time for another new executive order Obama

[Serial Mom]

20. They REALLY have to spend their time on criminal actions!

Not on this!

[Zhade]

26. As a patient (glaucoma), I am watching Obama like a hawk on this issue.

If he breaks his promise, and thus endangers MY HEALTH, I'm done with him.

So here's hoping he keeps his promise!

(I think he will.)