Obama Supports States Rights

When it suits him that is.....
On Wednesday, AP reporter Devlin Barrett, gave an article titled Attorney general signals shift in marijuana policy.

Attorney General Eric Holder signaled a change on medical marijuana policy Wednesday, saying federal agents will target marijuana distributors only when they violate both federal and state law.

A euphemism for as is applies to California, we are not going to enforce federal law.

That would be a departure from the Bush administration, which targeted medical marijuana dispensaries in California even if they complied with that state's law. "The policy is to go after those people who violate both federal and state law," Holder said in a question-and-answer session with reporters at the Justice Department.

In the case of illegal immigration across southern California's southern border, does this mean that the Mexican are breaking both state and federal law, the deportment's will start? Or should there be a third tier to Holder's policy, that the sanctuary policies of San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco, should be recognized as law and applicable as the third leg of the excuse to let the same old shit pass?

Medical marijuana advocates in California welcomed the news, but said they still worried about the pending cases of those already in court on drug charges. California law permits the sale of marijuana for medical purposes, though it till is against federal law. Holder did not spell out exactly who no longer would face the prospect of raids by the Drug Enforcement Administration. But he was quick to add that law enforcement officers will target anyone who tries to "use medical marijuana laws as a shield" for other illegal activity.

The shield excuse is widely known to be abused. When legally challenged the state plays ignorant to the situation, California is complicit in it's refusal to enforce its already weak position.

"Given the limited resources that we have, our focus will be on people, organizations that are growing, cultivating substantial amounts of marijuana and doing so in a way that's inconsistent with federal and state law," the attorney general said.

And giving a pass to the one's that successfully pretend.

Advocates and government officials had been waiting since President Barack Obama was sworn into office for a clear signal on what the new president's drug policy would be toward medical marijuana. As a candidate, he repeatedly promised a change in policy in situations in which state laws allow the use of medical marijuana. Yet shortly after Obama took office, DEA agents raided four dispensaries in Los Angeles, prompting confusion about the government's plans. Thirteen states have laws permitting medicinal use of marijuana. California is unique among them for the presence of dispensaries, which are businesses that sell marijuana and even advertise their services. Legal under California law, such dispensaries are still illegal under federal law. Kris Hermes, a spokesman for national medical marijuana advocacy group Americans for Safe Access, said he welcomed Holder's perspective.

Watch video of customers at San Francisco dispensaries. They do not make an attempt to hide that the purchases are for personal enjoyment. For real medical, it should be legal everywhere.

"It signals a new direction and a more reasonable and sensible direction on medical marijuana 8policy," he said. Still, Hermes said his Oakland-based organization was concerned about the fate of more than two dozen California medical marijuana cases currently pending in federal court. "There remains a big question as to what the federal government's position is on those cases," Hermes said. He pointed specifically to the case of Charles Lynch, who was federally convicted for running a medical marijuana dispensary collective in San Luis Obispo County last year. Hermes said Lynch could face decades in prison when he is sentenced Monday even though his clinic had been compliant with state law.

Come on dude, if we think the law is, like wrong, going to jail for it is totally bogus. Where are the ding dongs?

Now if you take a little thing like the recent bailout, Obama and Democratic leadership have no interest in the individual state constitutions. They actually put a provision in giving the state legislatures authority to bypass constitutional powers of state governors. The intent is clear, get the states to accept un-ending obligations for a one time payment. Sort of like making a deal with the devil, you want that money, but you better be damned careful because your fixin to spend eternity in hell paying for it.

For the drug thing, I really don't care, but it seems to be another piece of the liberal mindset, what you want is the most important thing.