Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Roscoe Compassionate Collectve, Canoga Park, CA (AP Photo-Los Angeles Times, Genaro Molina)
The U.S. Department of Justice’s announcement on Monday regarding medical marijuana reversed an almost decade-long federal policy of going after pot users and distributors in states that have legalized the drug for medicinal purposes. The directive instructed federal prosecutors across the country to stop pursuing people who use or provide medical marijuana, as long as they are complying with state law.
Currently, 14 states allow some use of marijuana for medical purposes: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. Rhode Island and New Mexico are in the process of licensing providers. California has the most to gain from the federal shift due to its hundreds of taxed medical marijuana dispensaries.
Justice officials noted that federal agents will continue to pursue people whose marijuana distribution goes beyond what is permitted under state law or use medical marijuana as a cover for other crimes.
Reform advocates hailed the announcement as a sign that the nation is moving closer to legalizing marijuana altogether. Some local law enforcement and Republican lawmakers warned the change could adversely impact efforts to stem the illegal trade of drugs across the U.S.-Mexico border.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
Memorandum for Selected United State Attorneys on Investigations and Prosecutions in States Authorizing the Medical Use of Marijuana (U.S. Department of Justice)
Obama Eases Policy on Medical Marijuana (by Devlin Barrett, Associated Press)
U.S. Eases Stance on Medical Marijuana (by Carrie Johnson, Washington Post)
Holder's Baby Step On Medical Marijuana (ChrisWeigant.com)
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