Pelosi Condemns Obama’s Continued Raids on Marijuana Dispensaries

[morningfog]

President Barack Obama’s emphasis on raiding medical marijuana dispensaries drew a rebuke from none other than House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) this week, who warned in a prepared statement that she has “strong concerns” about her political ally’s policy.

Since President Barack Obama took office, “more than 200? state-approved medical marijuana facilities have been raided, according to Kris Hermes, spokesperson for Americans for Safe Access (ASA), who spoke to Raw Story on Thursday.

“That exceeds the number of raids his predecessor, George W. Bush, oversaw during his entire eight years in office,” he said.

The startling statistic wasn’t lost on Pelosi either, whose statement comes just days after she received a petition by marijuana patients in her district.

“I have strong concerns about the recent actions by the federal government that threaten the safe access of medicinal marijuana to alleviate the suffering of patients in California, and undermine a policy that has been in place under which the federal government did not pursue individuals whose actions complied with state laws providing for medicinal marijuana,” she said.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/05/03/pelosi-condemns-obamas-continued-raids-on-marijuana-dispensaries/

[xchrom]

1. Du rec. Nt

[wildbilln864]

2. k & friggin r! nt

[freshwest]

3. Good for her! Speaking up for the folks there.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

4. Still, you have no other choice

this November.

[longship]

5. Go Boxer!

And if you honestly believe that Rmoney will change his mind before Obama, you're probably wrong.

Decriminalization of cannabis isn't going to happen overnight. We have many more, and more important issues to tie our votes to. Women's rights. LGBT rights. Republican attacks on science and education. To say nothing about what they want to do about the economy!

But, go ahead. Stay home in November because Obama has the same position on cannabis as every president since the 1930's. See what this gains us all on those other minor issues.

[gateley]

7. Who are you talking to? nt

[Gold Metal Flake]

6. Does she go under the bus now?

[Romulox]

8. Thank you Nancy. SOMEBODY has to speak for common sense, compassion.

The sneering arguments of the prohibitions are illogical and hateful.

[RainDog]

9. Now Democrats in the legislature need to write legislation

to change the law so that the DEA cannot go after people.

Since that asshole in Texas has one bill in committee and has vowed he will not let it leave there (he loves him some petrol industry) craft another one.

Look at the equal protection clause to see if the current assumption that mmj is illegal was actually made void two years ago when, after more than a decade, Congress finally appropriated money to D.C. to implement the law that had been voted into existence more than a decade ago.

Democrats - put some actions behind those words if you're in the legislative branch.

[midnight]

10. How refreshing to hear a voice for those in need of this herb getting some support...

[Honeycombe8]

11. Obama does not direct the DOJ. It is a fed department, but it's separate and decides for itself

what to pursue and what not to pursue. Remember how Bush tried to stuff the DOJ with Republicans, and fired Republicans who hadn't pursued actions against Democrats (altho the administration used different excuses to fire them)? That was against the law.

Remember recently when Holder came out publicly and directly contradicted Obama's statement that the Supreme Court would not be within Constitutional Law to rule against the ACA....Holder saying that the Supreme Court's decision would in fact be constitutional?

Obama is not a dictator. He is the head of the Executive Branch, with distinct and separate powers from the other branches, and with limits on how he can direct federal agencies and departments, ESPECIALLY the DOJ.

[Romulox]

13. This is 100% incorrect. DOJ is a department *in* the Executive Branch,

and furthermore, the Attorney General "serves at the pleasure" of the President, which means the President can demand his resignation at any time.

[Luminous Animal]

14. What a big giant pile of

claptrap.

[Ichingcarpenter]

15. Maybe if Obama spent a little more on Education than

busting pot when wouldn't have to read this garbage.

[Enrique]

21. unless its a good thing

then its totally Obama.

[Bolo Boffin]

12. Good for Pelosi.

If there's anyone who knows how to do principled stands against political allies, it's her. And this issue is one I totally agree with her on.

[RainDog]

18. She's representing her constituents

Do you really think she's not going to say something about this issue, knowing where her voters stand? Oh, and the majority of the American people in every region of the nation, too.

- Not to mention the loss of revenue from these actions.

I really wouldn't start with the snark about taking principled stands against political allies when it comes to the Obama administration because he'd lose that snarkfest.

[Bolo Boffin]

19. I need to move to her district for a lot of reasons.

Was I being snarky about taking principled stands against political allies? Hm. I'm usually aware of when I'm being snarky. Oh, well...

[RainDog]

20. pardon me if I misunderstood n/t

[RainDog]

16. there's also a thread in LBN

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=112586

[Warren DeMontague]

22. Enthusiastic K&R.

Between this and the San Diego college student who got locked in a room for 5 days with no food or water... and had to drink his own urine to survive...all for smoking pot at a frat house, it's well past time we admit that the drug war is OUT OF CONTROL and NEEDS TO END.

Enough, already.