Page A3
October 21. 2009
Feds Won’t Target Medical Marijuana:
When patients
comply with
state law
(AP) -- Pot-smoking patients
or their sanctioned suppliers
should no, be targeted for fed
eral prosecution in states that
allow medical marijuana, includ
ing Oregon and Washington,
prosecutors were told Monday
in a new policy memo issued
by the Justice Department.
Under the policy spelled out
in a three-page legal memo, fed
eral prosecutors are being told
it is not a good use of their time
to arrest people who use or pro
vide medical marijuana in strict
compliance with state law.
The guidelines issued by the
department do, however, make
it clear that federal agents will
go after people whose m ari
juana distribution goes beyond
what is permitted under state
law or use medical marijuana as
a cover for other crimes.
The memo advises prosecu
tors they "should not focus fed
eral resources in your states on
individuals whose actions are
Dr. Michael Aldrich smokes medicinal marijuana during
last month's annual convention of the National Organiza
tion for the Reform o f Marijuana Laws (NORML) in San
Francisco.
in clear and unambiguous com
pliance with existing state laws
providing for the medical use
of marijuana."
The new policy is a signifi
cant departure from the Bush
administration, which insisted
it would continue to enforce
federal anti-pot laws regardless
of state codes.
"It will not be a priority to use
federal resources to prosecute
patients with serious illnesses
or their caregivers who are com
plying with state laws on medi
cal marijuana, but we will not
tolerate drug traffickers who
hide behind claims of compli
ance with state law to mask ac
tivities that are clearly illegal,"
Attorney General Eric Holder
said in a statement.
By the government's count,
14 states allow some use of
marijuana for medical purposes:
Alaska, California, Colorado,
H aw aii, M aine, M aryland,
Michigan, Montana, Nevada,
New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode
Island, Vermont and Washing
ton. Some medical marijuana
a d v o c a te s say M aryland
shouldn't be included in that
group, because the law there
only allows for reduced penal
ties for medical marijuana us
age.
California stands out among
those for the widespread pres
ence of dispensaries — busi
nesses that sell marijuana and
even advertise their services.
Colorado also has several dis
pensaries, and Rhode Island
and New Mexico are in the pro
cess of licensing providers, ac
cording to the Marijuana Policy
Project, a group that promotes
the decriminalization of mari
juana use.
Advocates say marijuana is
effective in treating chronic
pain and nausea, among other
ailments.
Holder said in March that he
wanted federal law enforcement
officials to pursue those who
violate both federal and state
law, but it has not been clear
how that goal would be put into
practice.
The memo spelling ou, the
policy was sent Monday to fed
eral p ro se c u to rs in the 14
states, and also to top officials
at the FBI and Drug Enforce
ment Administration.
The memo written by Deputy
Attorney General David Ogden
em phasizes that prosecutors
have wide discretion in choos
ing which cases to pursue, and
says it is not a good use of fed
eral m anpow er to prosecute
those who are without a doubt
in compliance with state law.
"This is a major step for
ward," said Bruce Mirken, com
munications director for the
Marijuana Policy Project. "This
change in policy moves the
federal government dram ati
cally toward respecting scien
tific and practical reality."
The change has critics, in
cluding lawmakers who see it
as a tactical retreat in the fight
against Mexican drug cartels.
"We cannot hope to eradi
cate the drug trade if we do not
first address the cash cow for
most drug trafficking organiza
tions — marijuana," said Rep.
Lamar Smith of Texas, the top
Republican on the House Judi
ciary Committee.
Administration officials said
the government will still pros
ecute those who use medical
marijuana as a cover for other
illegal activity.
In particular, the memo urges
prosecutors to pursue m ari
juana cases which involve vio
lence, the illegal use of firearms,
selling pot to minors, money
laundering or involvement in
other crimes.
And while the policy memo
describes a change in priorities
away from prosecuting medical
marijuana cases, it does not rule
out the possibility that the fed
eral government could still pros
ecute someone whose activities
are allowed under state law.
The memo, officials said, is
designed to give a sense of
prosecutorial priorities to U.S.
attorneys in the states that al
low medical marijuana. It notes
that pot sales in the United
States are the largest source of
money for violent Mexican drug
cartels, but adds that federal law
enforcement agencies have lim
ited resources.
H1NI Vaccines Run Low
T he C e n te rs fo r D isease been reduced to 5,<XX) doses.
With this smaller allocation,
Control and Prevention said
Friday that it anticipates 29 mil Public Health is limiting vaccine
lion doses of H 1N 1 vaccine by administration to vaccine clin
the end of the month instead of ics in several schools, childcare
the 40 m illion originally ex centers and the Women, Infants
pected. The manufacturing pro and Children clinic.
“It’s very difficult to predict
cess was slower than expected.
As a result, the 19,400 doses how many doses will be avail
anticipated for Clark County able in the weeks ahead. We
and other southwest Washing know that this can create some
ton communities this week has frustration for healthcare pro
viders and anxiety for people
wanting to get vaccinated. All
of us are waiting for vaccine
supply to increase,” said Dr.
Alan Melnick, Region IV Health
Officer.
As vaccine continues to ar
rive, information will be posted
a
t
FluN ew sSW W ashington.org.
Residents can also call 877-661-
4951.
sM
Come find oui oi the
&pu ltic u ltu r a l
H ealthy K ids
H ealthy H omes F mr ,
Local Students Give Back
c la ssro o m c o lle c tin g cans.
They said that the sixth grade
Just after two weeks, they classrooms suspected them of
gathered 2(X) cans from class stealing their cans, but once
room s throughout the acad they u n d ersto od w hat they
emy. They’ll use them to cook were doing they came together
up soup that will be served to to work and listen.
T he stu d en ts leading the
needy people at Dawson Park
food drive also learned to ap
as weather gets cold.
“ I th o u g h t th at p eo p le preciate what they have. They
w eren’t really going to bring realized that they might not al
anything, but they all had a lot ways have money to go to the
of cans, so they brought them," mall, but they have food on the
said Marlando Sparks, who was table at hom e, w hich many
responsible for taking notes at people don’t.
“I don't like seeing people on
the student group’s committee
meetings and making reports to the streets,” said Daytreiona
Jackson, who handled public
the school’s principal.
Naiqwan Penn and Delmody ity for the food drive.
But the work of the school.
Tillman went from classroom to
continued j ^ f r o m Front
F
where many students are no
strangers to hunger, won’t stop
with the food drive. Beginning
in November, SEI will be holding
a sock drive for needy people.
The following month, students
will partner with the Salvation
Army to put together baskets of
clothes, food, and toys for the
month of December.
“They’re not at that age when
they're thinking about giving
back. It’s usually when they go
to college and come back to the
community," said Green, who
was impressed by the way the
students met everyday. “ But
they’re starting now. And this
particular 8th grade class is re
ally on point.”
Fun Activities & Resources to Protect 3 >,
Kids from Lead & Home Health Hazards
African American Alliance for Homeownership
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