Obama (Double) Speaks on Medical Marijuana
April 25th, 2012Posted by Kris Hermes
Finally, President Obama has spoken about his aggressive stance toward medical marijuana. Unfortunately, but not unexpectedly, his statements are underwhelming, inaccurate and do nothing to address medical marijuana as a public health issue. In response to a question from Rolling Stone on why his administration is conducting more medical marijuana raids than the Bush administration, President Obama failed to come clean on reasons for the breadth and intensity of the attacks, which significantly escalated since he took office.
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…
Actually, what Obama said on the campaign trail in 2008 was that he was “not going to be using Justice Department resources to try to circumvent state [medical marijuana] laws.”
The shell game continued with Obama declaring that, as President, he “can’t ask the Justice Department to…‘ignore…a federal law that’s on the books.’”
In fact, Obama has complete discretion to let local and state authorities enforce their own medical marijuana laws. When affirming that discretionary authority in 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court also questioned the wisdom of going after medical marijuana patients.
Obama then declared that his Justice Department should use “prosecutorial discretion and properly prioritize [its] resources to go after things that are really doing folks damage.”
That, however, seems to beg several questions, not the least of which is “how does one determine what “things” are “really doing folks damage?” Why is that not the purview of local and state officials to enforce? And, is the federal government doing more damage than it’s supposedly preventing? Keep in mind that the damage his administration has inflicted also impacts the fiscal bottom line of local and state governments. In California, dispensary closures precipitated by the federal crackdown have robbed the state of millions of dollars in lost taxes.
The president seems to seek cover with his comment that, “there haven’t been prosecutions” of medical marijuana users. But, even if it was true, and it’s not (all of the more than 60 people indicted on his watch use medical marijuana), this reasoning would still not justify the SWAT-style raids and the fear and intimidation they create. Nor would it justify the purging of lawful medical marijuana businesses from commercial banking institutions, or the IRS requirement that dispensaries pay taxes on gross proceeds, thereby ensuring bankruptcy, or discrimination against patients in public housing and the Veterans Administration.
At the end of the day, whether or not Obama’s Justice Department decides to prosecute whom it considers “wrongdoers,” qualified patients are still being denied a safe and legal means of obtaining their medication.
Even Obama’s “Drug War” excuses don’t match those of his U.S. Attorneys who are directly engaged in the attacks. The president erroneously stated that, “The only tension that’s come up” has been “commercial operations” that may be “supplying recreational users.” However, U.S. Attorneys have made little reference to targeting medical marijuana businesses because they’re allegedly selling to non-patients. The prevailing excuse has been simply that dispensaries are federally illegal or that they are too close to schools and other so-called “sensitive uses” (according to federal standards, not to local or state standards).
Obama’s weakest rationale for continuing the assault on medical marijuana patients is that he “can’t nullify congressional law.” However, the president can realistically do a number of things to address medical marijuana as a public health issue. First of all, Obama could introduce a bill that would carve out an exception for medical marijuana patients and providers. In fact, he doesn’t even have to introduce his own legislation, he could simply throw his weight behind HB 1983, a bill that would do just that. The president could also issue an executive order, not to change federal marijuana statutes but to exclude medical marijuana so as to let the states enforce their own laws.
Additionally, the president, through his executive powers, could also reclassify marijuana from its current status as a Schedule I substance — a dangerous drug with no medical value. Yet, he and his Drug Enforcement Administration choose not to. In addition to four governors who have filed rescheduling petitions within the last year, Americans for Safe Access has a pending federal lawsuit that seeks reclassification.
At some point, President Obama is going to run out of excuses. Until then, please join ASA in urging him to do the right thing.
April 25th, 2012 at 7:38 pm
I am soooo tired of all the BS. Obama lied to the people of California, not just about THIS, but about other issues & he’s lost a great deal of credibility among CA voters for having been just another lying politician. Despite the good he’s done, in Spite of the good he’s done, I have lost respect for the very man I find myself trying to convince others to vote for. It makes me feel hypocritical, however…he’s STILL a better choice than Romney. And I am still a Yellow Dog Democrat.
April 25th, 2012 at 8:16 pm
keep up the fight
April 25th, 2012 at 9:20 pm
While the benefits of medical marijuana have long been recognized by the medical community, I am afraid that the truth of the matter is that the substance, and its users, are indistinguishable to me as either approved or unapproved medical quality. As a citizen, I still today, desire complete non-exposure to both as I always have, and always will, recognize marijuana as a dangerous substance to be controlled ethically and responsibly as such, and never to trafficked carelessly and irresponsibly or combined with other substances. Modern practices for such a poison seem very lax.
April 26th, 2012 at 6:04 am
[...] Obama (Double) Speaks on Medical Marijuana: [...]
April 26th, 2012 at 7:37 am
I would vote against Mr. Obama ,but we have no other choice, Romney? palease! He’d be worse. We are just gonna have to hammer away at his lies, bring them out and make him look directly at them!
April 26th, 2012 at 9:10 am
[...] Obama’s rationale: He never made a promise to ignore federal law, and even if he did, he can’t, because Congress, not the White House, makes the laws. That turbid statement was dismissed by medical cannabis advocates as “underwhelming, inaccurate,” and ignoring … [...]
April 26th, 2012 at 12:32 pm
The media WANTS you to think we have no choice. The republican election is not over. Its NOT just mitt romney… Did we forget Ron paul is in the race as well. He if FOR legalization of med marijuana. And not just with that but he is for smaller government in general. The media WANTS you to think its over but its far from that! Even if it was, you still have every final right as a voter… In November, to clear your conscience and write in RON PAUL!!!!!!
RON PAUL 2012!!!!!
April 28th, 2012 at 9:37 am
I say medical marijuana should be legalized because its better an safer than any pill..for medical reasons..
April 29th, 2012 at 8:56 am
The way to effect change is to vote more in the local elections for the right candidates.
April 30th, 2012 at 9:55 pm
[...] Meanwhile, on Obama’s watch, over 170 raids have taken place in nine of the states where medical marijuana is legal. That’s just about as much as George W. Bush was able to oversee in two terms – double Obama’s current years in office. “The prevailing excuse has been simply that dispensaries are federally illegal or that they are too close to schools and other so-called “sensitive uses” (according to federal standards, not to local or state standards),” says a blog entry on the Americans for Safe Access site. [...]
May 1st, 2012 at 10:28 am
My theory holds that Obama made a deal with Mexico and its cartels. Follow the money: Mexico nets 40-50 billion a year from marijuana. Allowing medical marijuana means marijuana from California putting a dent in that income. In exchange for the crackdown in California, the cartel gives a laundered monetary kickback to Obama’s reelection campaign, along with assurance of as many Latino votes as they can influence. That is why the Republicans are so anxious to get their hands on Fast and Furious documents. The documents could show how the operation fully intended to provide the cartels with weapons as part of the deal, with the tracking issue being a mere fig leaf. That’s my theory, no proof, but to me it makes sense.
May 1st, 2012 at 10:56 am
give us a break .. I do not use medical marijuana but I have friends that do .
I have seen with my own eyes what it can do for pain .. Freaking legalize it already .. Just because i do not do it does not mean that i do not believe in its healing power . I am starting to believe that the reason they wont legalize it is because they cant get there greedy little hands in it more ..
May 1st, 2012 at 11:04 am
Grrrr. I realize that politicians have to be politicians. Perhaps Obama’s stand on the cannabis issue will allow him to get enough votes from the right to ensure another term of office. I can only hope he’ll soften or reverse his stance in his next term. He’s still a far better choice than Romney.
May 1st, 2012 at 1:57 pm
I’d vote for Micky mouse before I vote for either of the candidates backed by the D’s or the Rs! The two party system is bogus, the people running this country into the ground control both parties! all our founding fathers used cannabis in some form
May 1st, 2012 at 2:02 pm
Big thanks to the ASA for always being a great resource. We linked to this article here – http://www.kushmagazine.com/news/2838-jimmy-kimmel-talks-marijuana-at-white-house-correspondents-dinner – keep up the fight!
May 1st, 2012 at 2:31 pm
Frankly, I voted for Obama, as did my Mother, at the time, because we, like others (lots of Blacks, too) believed his lies about “Change” & “Hope” + not to go after MMJ Patients & dispensaries = low priority + to let the MMJ States deal with it. Now, the D.E.A., IRS, Banks, ATF, State AGs, etc. are going after & arresting/procecuting + closing down dispensaries & Patients who are sick and use MMJ! Seems CA does NOT matter much when the Electorial Votes come in, too! UGH! My 2
May 1st, 2012 at 2:48 pm
MaryAnne.. calling medical marijuana “poison” tells me you are misinformed, and your entry is a statement of blindness, hostility and stupidity. There are long term and short term studies that prove marijuana to be entirely harmless to the consumer. The two reasons that MJ has never been legalized is that the Lawmakers do not want to legalize an additional item which they expect will cost the Country considerable national medical costs, similar to alcoholism.
The second reason is the ignorance and fear of people who dont have a clue what they are talking about (i.e. “reefer madness” ) blindly attacking those of us that can benefit from its properties as a medication.
In addition, your statement :”While the benefits of medical marijuana have long been recognized by the medical community, I am afraid that the truth of the matter is that the substance, and its users, are indistinguishable to me as either approved or unapproved medical quality”— is a group of words that make no sense at all………………. almost as if someone were drunk…
May 1st, 2012 at 4:02 pm
I can’t believe how ridiculous you sound. He lies right to your face. But what the hell we will just live with it. NOOOO you don’t when someone goes against your wishes and lies through his teeth to your face. Get him out. He does not care about you he will do whatever he wants. Obama is not looking out for anyone but himself. It is time for him to go. If he is not supporting you he is totally useless in office. The DEA is closing everything they can get their hands on and it will not stop. Can’t blame that on Bush.
May 1st, 2012 at 5:03 pm
End this riddiculas war in drugs..
End the IRS from stealing our hard earned wages..
End government nosence or over spending..
Restore freedom
To America..
Wake up people..
RON PAUL 2012… Speak loud…
We are many..,
May 2nd, 2012 at 3:08 pm
The main thing wrong with cannabis is the law! As long as we allow the continual abuse of the facts, we are subjecting everyone to are life on mother earth. I am ashamed of generations who know better maintain the cultivation of distortions of truth. Mr. President do what is right now! Join the world in an enlightened path towards a peaceful future.
June 7th, 2012 at 8:13 pm
I respect Obama’s decision to fight against any drugs. I am sick of this false drug lobby. Marijuana is a dangerous crap that destroys the body and the soul gradually. Users of marijuana are losing any motivation to work, development and intellectual advancement. So, does it mean someone will be working and paying taxes for marijuana users, while they sit at home and smoke the drug? Now I don’t blame the real sick hopeless people who need pain medications. I’ve seen a lot of young people who use cannabis and almost all of those guys have loosen their potency, strength of mind and motivation for their lives.
Who can say clearly about useful part of cannabis? There aren’t any clear facts or evidence. But there is the fact that it is dangerous for the development of the brain of youths, for human’s genitourinary system, etc. Around drug crime and dirt are always formed…that’s a real fact .
Yes, I believe that a very small percentage of hopelessly sick people may need a drug for pain relief. Why are amount of users of medical marijuana growing up rapidly? Why do the small amount of real hopeless sick people need the huge farms of this drug? Why do we need a Huge thriving industry of medical marijuana? For a small number of really sick patients? Hmm….a lot of questions.