News - the federal government will not interfere in marijuana legalization within...

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-29/u-s-won-t-sue-to-block-state-marijuana-legalization.html

The federal government just made history! Within the States that legalize marijuana, the federal government will not sue to stop the implementation of their laws. That opens the floodgates for the remaining 48 States to shape their own policy and in the end, marijuana will be available in every one of the 50 States within 15 years.

I suspect the last remaining holdouts will be shameless places such as Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida(?), Oklahoma, Kentucky, Missouri, Illinois, The Dakotas, The Carolinas, and Texas. (Take particular note to all the inbred backwater States Aforementioned)...they resisted The Civil Rights act as well. Can't save 'em all I guess...

i don't see the big deal so long as cannabis is classified as a schedule one drug and illegal on the federal level tbh..

racerboy71 said:

i don't see the big deal so long as cannabis is classified as a schedule one drug and illegal on the federal level tbh..

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Ummmm...ok. Do you not live in America and understand how much precedence this sets? The federal government just came out and admitted that they will respect the 10th Amendment to the US Constitution and you can't see how this is a 'big deal'? WOW!

Grow up junior and learn how the country and federal government work in relation to the States and perhaps you'll then understand how paramount this actually is. We were all young at one point so I don't fault you for that but do try and understand the situation prior to passing on judgment that diminishes the relevance of this monumental moment to those whom are informed.

racerboy71 said:

i don't see the big deal so long as cannabis is classified as a schedule one drug and illegal on the federal level tbh..

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I can't figure out just what the hell you're talking about.

bullwinkle60 said:

I can't figure out just what the hell you're talking about.

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We can't blame the ignorant for being uninformed / misinformed. We just have to deal with them...

racerboy71 said:

i don't see the big deal so long as cannabis is classified as a schedule one drug and illegal on the federal level tbh..

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The U.S. won’t challenge laws in Colorado and Washington that legalized the recreational use of marijuana and will focus federal prosecutions on ties to criminal organizations, distribution to minors and transportation across state lines, the Justice Department said.

Racer has a point. Read in a different way, what they could be saying is:' Come on, big boy, we won't fuck around in the political arena where what we do can cost us votes. No sir, we shall help the privatised prison industry thrive'

In their eyes, even a dispensary is a criminal organisation. So what if they RICO the fuck out of anybody associated with them? The cashier, the grower, the guy printing the plastic card with your name on it. Hell it even includes the doctor that wrote the prescription.

This is still possible at the drop of a hat. It is a small step in the right direction sure enough, and for that I applaud the US government, but it is indeed not enough to set every mind at ease.

But still, from me, a congratulations is in order: You have won every little gain through much hard work, activism has taken up people's entire lives. Good to see you folk are getting something back. I can't wait for the day the US government all-out legalises, Africa loves to copy what you guys do and we will be but a short step behind. Hell we're an exporting country so we might even finally have something of real value to trade with and give our shitty economy a boost.

MH

The key point here is that the feds will continue a variation on a previous policy. They will handle the big fish, the states will cover day to day enforcement. The change is that both the fed and the states used to be on the same page, marijuana is illegal and needs to be suppressed. Now that states are no longer marching in lock step with this 'war on drugs' the feds are modifying their position somewhat.

So long as the states regulate cannabis use to prevent the 8 points the feds indicate as their enforcement priorities, the feds will let the states do it. If they don't, the feds will step in. In any event the feds can continue to step in if the want to even in the face of good state laws regulating the use of cannabis, but they don't seem inclined to do so.

My non-legal read of this is that it will not affect Michigan at all as far as large scale or commercial operations go, there are no laws allowing that in this state now so it is 'unregulated'. However, this is an invitation to the state to 'create' a regulatory system which, if it meets federal muster, will be left alone by the feds. So we might actually get a dispensary bill passed.

We shall see. If it means patients can get meds, home grows are allowed as they are now, and the caregiver system survives intact, I am all for it.

Dr. Bob

Mad Hamish said:

The U.S. won’t challenge laws in Colorado and Washington that legalized the recreational use of marijuana and will focus federal prosecutions on ties to criminal organizations, distribution to minors and transportation across state lines, the Justice Department said.

Racer has a point. Read in a different way, what they could be saying is:' Come on, big boy, we won't fuck around in the political arena where what we do can cost us votes. No sir, we shall help the privatised prison industry thrive'

In their eyes, even a dispensary is a criminal organisation. So what if they RICO the fuck out of anybody associated with them? The cashier, the grower, the guy printing the plastic card with your name on it. Hell it even includes the doctor that wrote the prescription.

This is still possible at the drop of a hat. It is a small step in the right direction sure enough, and for that I applaud the US government, but it is indeed not enough to set every mind at ease.

But still, from me, a congratulations is in order: You have won every little gain through much hard work, activism has taken up people's entire lives. Good to see you folk are getting something back. I can't wait for the day the US government all-out legalises, Africa loves to copy what you guys do and we will be but a short step behind. Hell we're an exporting country so we might even finally have something of real value to trade with and give our shitty economy a boost.

MH

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This is the ultimate indication of SUBMISSION, friends. There is no other way to interpret this action. The feds have violated their agreement to only go after offenders not abiding by State law, yes. They are however only getting involved with the shade tree operations that are obviously drug dealing fronts that don't want to pay their taxes, won't move from school zones, won't move away from churches, etc.....

The tide of public opinion has shifted so hard and so far that the majority of Americans now agree that marijuana prohibition is a flaw on American society and livelihood. The government will continue to act as they always have in a chameleon like state that transforms to public opinion as the years pass. Public opinion is now of the thinking that marijuana is no more harmful if not less harmful than alcohol. There is significant public opinion (and proven studies) that show marijuana to be an incredibly efficacious natural plant that has many hundreds if not thousands of uses...

Light up a joint my friends and hold it high in the air today...these are the first few bricks to fall from the wall of marijuana prohibition! Let it rain bitches!

racerboy71 said:

i don't see the big deal so long as cannabis is classified as a schedule one drug and illegal on the federal level tbh..

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WoW, is all i can say. You must have no idea what a Class I drug is
"Schedule ISchedule I drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Schedule I drugs are the most dangerous drugs of all the drug schedules with potentially severe psychological or physical dependence. Some examples of Schedule I drugs are:

heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), marijuana (cannabis), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy), methaqualone, and peyote"
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Schedule II drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with a high potential for abuse, less abuse potential than Schedule I drugs, with use potentially leading to severe psychological or physical dependence. These drugs are also considered dangerous. Some examples of Schedule II drugs are:

cocaine, methamphetamine, methadone, hydromorphone (Dilaudid), meperidine (Demerol), oxycodone (OxyContin), fentanyl, Dexedrine, Adderall, and Ritalin


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funny thing is more people die from Class 2 drugs then they do from Class 1.


so what your saying is that it is worse then cocaine, and Meth + shows no medical uses???
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Keep in mind that these GUIDELINES are to be taken with a grain of salt. If there is money to made by the DEA, you can bet your britches they will be there to rake it in.

A guideline is simply that; a guideline. It is not a written and established piece of legislation, it is not rule of law, it is not a reschedule of Marijuana.

That being said, it is still a victory and should be celebrated.. just stay as frosty as you were until it is actually changed into law rather than a simple guideline.

Seems insanely complicated to an outsider, guys! But in the end, public opinion will rule, no? Your democracy still works as far as I can see. Ours is bit of a joke, they keep passing laws that NOBODY agrees with.
Count yourselves fortunate if your vote/say means something. It is not like that everywhere in the world. I have nothing but hope reading news like this.
An end to persecution of herb-tokers is not something I thought I would see in my lifetime. Yet here it comes...

jonnynobody said:

Ummmm...ok. Do you not live in America and understand how much precedence this sets? The federal government just came out and admitted that they will respect the 10th Amendment to the US Constitution and you can't see how this is a 'big deal'? WOW!

Grow up junior and learn how the country and federal government work in relation to the States and perhaps you'll then understand how paramount this actually is. We were all young at one point so I don't fault you for that but do try and understand the situation prior to passing on judgment that diminishes the relevance of this monumental moment to those whom are informed.

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Maybe its time to stop the insults and grow up yourself. If you want people to understand what you're saying then why start slinging shit at them?

Sanjay is staying nice and friendly yet clinical and reasonable. That will stay potent. People are tuning into his message and I think that's evidenced by the fact that networks beyond CNN are linking and playing his video segments. They would never do that unless there was significant traffic associated with the news

racerboy71 said:

i don't see the big deal so long as cannabis is classified as a schedule one drug and illegal on the federal level tbh..

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On a side note, Racer have you seen the new Vice video about Arjan the king of cannabis? they show comments of yours in the video from RIU about Arjan lol

bullwinkle60 said:

I can't figure out just what the hell you're talking about.

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I believe all racerboy is simply pointing out is that there is still a major conflict. As long as that shit is schedule 1 with the Feds then we still have pot.ential problems. Sure the bama statement is encouraging, but I tend to not get my hopes up when I've seen so many contradictions already. Anyway we're moving frwrd nothing can stop this train.

as far as the "guidlines" go..i read the memo and the memo states they are not "optional" that gave me a little bit of optimism.

I would be cautiously optimistic about running out and starting a business in this industry just yet. It's risky either way but I think I see those questions posted here more than any other and like I said before that's what feds are going to want to crack down on. Sucks but it's true.

Part of yesterday's announcement I see clarified today has specific wording to banks to go ahead and do biz with state-legal ganja-biz. Onion layers being removed.

Well thats a start, but I almost would think that then they could track all of your business earnings. It would however make things a lot safer for dispensaries to not have to be cash only donations.