News from the DOJ regarding a new marijuana policy (again)
We have heard it before. The Ogden memo released in 2009 was supposed to give a clear path to medical marijuana dispensers to enjoy the state laws that protect their services. In June 2011 that instruction was reversed, and top priority was given to authorities to pursue and prosecute medical marijuana dispensaries.
Reference this: http://reason.com/blog/2011/06/30/white-house-overrides-2009-mem
Today August 29th 2013, a new memo was released regarding specifically Colorado and Washington’s new marijuana laws.
You can read that here:
http://hempstrategies.com/doj-update-to-marijuana-enforcement-policy-8292013/
I am happy that they are concerned about this topic, and so far they are responding favorably to the laws that people passed. But I am of course holding my breath for the other shoe to drop. Just last night before this memo was released, I wrote an article documenting how Obama has violated all of his past promises regarding this issue and others. So I expect the same thing from him again. This may just be the distraction that he needed, to distract us from the Syrian conflict. Who knows?!
See more information on Obama’s changing policy on marijuana, and how he is has indicted nearly 9000% more medical marijuana providers than George W. Bush; http://youtu.be/x39bmr892hw
Here is the new memo in it’s entirety, we will have to wait and see how it goes. It appears to leave some loop holes in place for federal authorities to change their mind;
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEThursday, August 29, 2013Justice Department Announces Update to Marijuana Enforcement Policy
Today, the U.S. Department of Justice announced an update to its federal marijuana enforcement policy in light of recent state ballot initiatives that legalize, under state law, the possession of small amounts of marijuana and provide for the regulation of marijuana production, processing, and sale.
In a new memorandum outlining the policy, the Department makes clear that marijuana remains an illegal drug under the Controlled Substances Act and that federal prosecutors will continue to aggressively enforce this statute. To this end, the Department identifies eight (8) enforcement areas that federal prosecutors should prioritize. These are the same enforcement priorities that have traditionally driven the Department’s efforts in this area.
Outside of these enforcement priorities, however, the federal government has traditionally relied on state and local authorizes to address marijuana activity through enforcement of their own narcotics laws. This guidance continues that policy.
For states such as Colorado and Washington that have enacted laws to authorize the production, distribution and possession of marijuana, the Department expects these states to establish strict regulatory schemes that protect the eight federal interests identified in the Department’s guidance. These schemes must be tough in practice, not just on paper, and include strong, state-based enforcement efforts, backed by adequate funding. Based on assurances that those states will impose an appropriately strict regulatory system, the Department has informed the governors of both states that it is deferring its right to challenge their legalization laws at this time. But if any of the stated harms do materialize—either despite a strict regulatory scheme or because of the lack of one—federal prosecutors will act aggressively to bring individual prosecutions focused on federal enforcement priorities and the Department may challenge the regulatory scheme themselves in these states.
A copy of the memorandum, sent to all United States Attorneys by Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole, is available below.
One a postive note, all of my stocks saw a sharp rise today!
This is not real time, stock quotes are for 1-day.
These charts serve as a basic reference point.
You will want to do your own research.