McClatchy Newspapers: Obama policies fresh air for medical marijuana advocates

[marmar]

Obama policies fresh air for medical marijuana advocates
By Rob Hotakainen | McClatchy Newspapers


WASHINGTON — After California legalized medical marijuana, Charles Lynch opened his cannabis dispensary nearly two years ago in Morro Bay, getting a license from the city and joining the chamber of commerce. Even the mayor showed up for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

A year later, U.S. drug enforcement agents raided his business. Now Lynch is worried that he'll get at least five years in prison when he's sentenced Monday in federal court in Los Angeles on five counts of distributing marijuana.

Whatever happens, Lynch said, he'll appeal. "I don't feel like I deserve going through life as a convicted felon for doing things the state of California allowed me to do," he said.

However, the nation's medical marijuana users are breathing a little more easily these days, confident that such stories soon will be a thing of the past.

At news conferences last month and again last Wednesday, Attorney General Eric Holder said that there'd be no more federal prosecutions of cases involving medical cannabis dispensaries. He said they'd be left alone as long as they were complying with state laws. .......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/226/story/64507.html

[bluestateguy]

1. It's about respecting states rights

nt

[Webster Green]

2. It is so sad that a bunch of neanderthal fuckwads prevent cannabis use..

Cannabis is truly one of the most amazing and useful plants.

A bunch of lying thugs got the plant outlawed in 1937, and in 2009 we are still fighting to be allowed to make use of this wonderful gift. :wtf:

[Traveling_Home]

3. USFS has announced they will continue to ticket and/or arrest Med Marij Patients in National Forests

[Andy823]

4. I have no problem

With medical use of pot, and I do think it should be legalized to stop the drug dealers and the violence associated with drug dealers, however after reading the article I think that if the article was correct and Lynch was using the store for a front to sell pot to minors, and others who either did not have a note from a doctor, or who were using the doctor in the article that was also involved in giving out notes for now reason with no exam, then this is wrong.

Make it legal, make it like alcohol, apply the same laws, no minors, and no problem. Until then I think medical use of pot is good if a person is examined by a doctor and the person selling the pot under state laws to "only" those with notes from doctors. Making millions selling to minors or those not legally able to use it is no different from the drug dealers on the street, and I have no use for that.