Obama Declares All-Out War on Medical Marijuana

Tony Aroma · Jul 1, 2011

Check out the latest Attorney General memo below. Absolutely no doubt about the meaning of THIS memo. Anyone involved with marijuana is fair game, subject only to the DEA’s whim. Not only those involved in the business, but those facilitating it, like landlords or state employees. Also those engaged in transactions involving the proceeds of the business, like banks or credit card companies. I’d say it’s pretty clear that Obama’s going to do everything in his power to put an end to medical marijuana. The gloves are off and the war is on.

To be fair, I don't believe state employees or banks are going to be charged with crimes. I believe this is just intimidation -- keep anyone involved in medical marijuana in a constant state of fear. Essentially, they're using terrorist tactics against the American people. And I think it will work, as it will now give governors (AZ, NJ) and other opponents an excuse to not implement, severely curtail, or outright cancel mmj programs without having to worry about going against the wishes of their constituents.

June 29, 2011

MEMORANDUM FOR UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS

FROM: James M. Cole Deputy Attorney General

SUBJECT: Guidance Regarding the Ogden Memo in Jurisdictions Seeking to Authorize Marijuana for Medical Use

Over the last several months some of you have requested the Department’s assistance in responding to inquiries from State and local governments seeking guidance about the Department’s position on enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) in jurisdictions that have under consideration, or have implemented, legislation that would sanction and regulate the commercial cultivation and distribution of marijuana purportedly for medical use. Some of these jurisdictions have considered approving the cultivation of large quantities of marijuana, or broadening the regulation and taxation of the substance. You may have seen letters responding to these inquiries by several United States Attorneys. Those letters are entirely consistent with the October 2009 memorandum issued by Deputy Attorney General David Ogden to federal prosecutors in States that have enacted laws authorizing the medical use o f marijuana (the “Ogden Memo”).

The Department of Justice is committed to the enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act in all States. Congress has determined that marijuana is a dangerous drug and that the illegal distribution and sale of marijuana is a serious crime that provides a significant source of revenue to large scale criminal enterprises, gangs, and cartels. The Ogden Memorandum provides guidance to you in deploying your resources to enforce the CSA as part of the exercise of the broad discretion you are given to address federal criminal matters within your districts.

A number of states have enacted some form of legislation relating to the medical use of marijuana. Accordingly,the Ogden Memo reiterated to you that prosecution of significant traffickers of illegal drugs, including marijuana, remains a core priority, but advised that it is likely not an efficient use of federal resources to focus enforcement efforts on individuals with cancer or other serious illnesses who use marijuana as part of a recommended treatment regimen consistent with applicable state law, or their caregivers. The term “caregiver” as used in the memorandum meant just that: individuals providing care to individuals with cancer or other serious illnesses, not commercial operations cultivating, selling or distributing marijuana.

The Department’s view of the efficient use of limited federal resources as articulated in the Ogden Memorandum has not changed. There has, however, been an increase in the scope of commercial cultivation, sale, distribution and use of marijuana for purported medical purposes. For example, within the past 12 months, several jurisdictions have considered or enacted legislation to authorize multiple large-scale, privately-operated industrial marijuana cultivation centers. Some of these planned facilities have revenue projections of millions of dollars based on the planned cultivation of tens of thousands of cannabis plants.

The Ogden Memorandum was never intended to shield such activities from federal enforcement action and prosecution, even where those activities purport to comply with state law. Persons who are in the business of cultivating, selling or distributing marijuana, and those who knowingly facilitate such activities, are in violation of the Controlled Substances Act, regardless of state law. Consistent with resource constraints and the discretion you may exercise in your district, such persons are subject to federal enforcement action, including potential prosecution. State laws or local ordinances are not a defense to civil or criminal enforcement of federal law with respect to such conduct, including enforcement of the CSA. Those who engage in transactions involving the proceeds of such activity may also be in violation of federal money laundering statutes and other federal financial laws.

The Department of Justice is tasked with enforcing existing federal criminal laws in all states, and enforcement of the CSA has long been and remains a core priority.

cc: Lanny A. Breuer Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division
B. Todd Jones United States Attorney District of Minnesota Chair, AGAC
Michele M. Leonhart Administrator Drug Enforcement Administration
H. Marshall Jarrett Director Executive Office for United States Attorneys
Kevin L. Perkins Assistant Director Criminal Investigative Division Federal Bureau of Investigations

Bullfrog44 · Jul 1, 2011

What an idiot. He has the worst economy in US history and he wants to spend more time and money on pot? WTF happened to this country? Where are the George Washington's, Jefferson's, Lincoln's? Do we really have to put up with these Bushes and Obama's much longer?

Donald Trump · Jul 1, 2011

IM FUCKIN LOSIN IT

bentom187 · Jul 1, 2011

oooooohhhhhhhhh shiiiiiiiiit, im more than commited to voting this ass hat out of office

RON PAUL 2012 or say goodbye to you liberties.

NOKUY · Jul 1, 2011

saw that earlier....what a crock of shit

obama is a piece of shit anyway

CherChezLaGhost · Jul 1, 2011

Looks like shit could get hectic.... Y'all be safe... I think they're still gonna focus on large scale growers. The Washington and Jefferson and Lincoln didn't have to deal with the greed of the powers that that be...

zymos · Jul 1, 2011

CherChezLaGhost said:
The Washington and Jefferson and Lincoln didn't have to deal with the greed of the powers that that be...

Probably gonna get flamed for this, but not ALL the greed is coming from the side of the govt. and establishment big business.

If there wasn't so much $$ involved, maybe it could just be more about compassion and healing...

Cojito · Jul 1, 2011

Tony Aroma said:
I’d say it’s pretty clear that Obama’s going to do everything in his power to put an end to medical marijuana. The gloves are off and the war is on.

wow. i don't like this but - am i missing something? why are you claiming Obama's "declaring war" on us when the "guidance" is coming from the attorney general, and most of us are not in the business this memo talks about? if i understand correctly the attorney general is targeting "persons who are in the business of cultivating, selling, or distributing marijuana and those who knowingly facilitate such activities."

bentom187 · Jul 1, 2011

so if you have any sort of stash of cash and weed,i dont think the court is gonna care about symantics.

"are in violation of the Controlled Substances Act, regardless of state law"

"Those who engage in transactions involving the proceeds of such activity may also be in violation of federal money laundering statutes and other federal financial laws."

SmilinBob · Jul 1, 2011

I think this is more aimed toward large scale cultivation, and distribution. I have no doubt that most, forgive me I don't have figures, of those operations are for profit.

If you're growing a pound in your closet I don't think you have anything to be worried about.

bentom187 · Jul 1, 2011

if you have a state issued licence to grow,its null and void.

"are in violation of the Controlled Substances Act, regardless of state law"

they addmit in the memo its a waste of money and resources but their gonna do it anyway. and if they come kicking in your door and shooting your pets or family for what the state was supposed to uphold,i think the law is the last thing your gonna be upset about.

Tony Aroma · Jul 1, 2011

Cojito said:
wow. i don't like this but - am i missing something? why are you claiming Obama's "declaring war" on us when the "guidance" is coming from the attorney genera

The AG answers to Obama (executive branch). You think he would send out such a controversial and far-reaching memo without approval from his boss?

And I don't necessarily think the raids and arrests will increase significantly. I think the main reason for this memo is to put the fear of the DEA into anyone who dares defy them. To give state and local politicians an excuse to shut down their programs without having to blatantly go agains the will of the voters.

And I especially like that they're not going to go after cancer patients, not because it's the right thing to do, but because they just don't have the resources. The implication being that if they had more money, every one of those damn hippy pot-smoking terminally ill people would be behind bars where they belong.

zymos · Jul 1, 2011

bentom187 said:
if you have a state issued licence to grow,its null and void.

It's just as illegal today as it was last week as it was decades ago.
Federal law trumps State's...sad but true.

whateverman · Jul 1, 2011

PoopyTeaBags · Jul 1, 2011

best thing to do is to grow more tweeds... overgrow was a philosophy and we are soldiers... some of us will fall... but are liberties will live on.

Cojito · Jul 1, 2011

Tony Aroma said:
The AG answers to Obama (executive branch). You think he would send out such a controversial and far-reaching memo without approval from his boss?

i would hope so. the man's the attorney general. his duty is to uphold the law of the land. i believe you'd need congress to overturn the law. and it would be politically suicidal for Obama to side with cannabis users before an election.

Tony Aroma said:
TheI think the main reason for this memo is to put the fear of the DEA into anyone who dares defy them. To give state and local politicians an excuse to shut down their programs without having to blatantly go agains the will of the voters.

i agree. no doubt Arizona republicans are thrilled by this.

whateverman · Jul 1, 2011

^^^You're right. I admit I was very upset when I read this and was a little emotional. If we live like that then they've already won.

I voted for the guy and I'm having a tough time admitting I've been had, thoroughly.

Fuck it. Mario Cart time bitches. Eat a dick Holder. A big, fat one with a weird vein pattern.

Bullfrog44 · Jul 1, 2011

The second amendment is there for a reason. The reason back when our founders wrote the amendment was to fight government that was getting too big. Our founders were coming off an oppressive government themselves. How much you want to bet the next big push is banishing guns. Hmmm, who else did this in history? Hitler? Mussolini? The list goes on.

Phillthy · Jul 1, 2011

he spoke with a forked tongue long before he was elected prezzy. no one paid attention. blind voters never get the gift of sight from their elected official....

Bullfrog44 · Jul 1, 2011

The "yes we can" speech had more than 50% of the speech talking about fundamentally changing America. Wonder why we didn't see it coming.

Obama Declares All-Out War on Medical Marijuana

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