KiloByte
02-27-2009, 04:22 AM
Attorney General Eric Holder said at a press conference Wednesday that the Justice Department will no longer raid medical marijuana clubs that are established legally under state law. His declaration is a fulfillment of a campaign promise by President Barack Obama, and marks a major shift from the previous administration.
After the inauguration, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) continued to carry out (http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics/AP/story/878783.html) such raids, despite Obama's promise. Holder was asked if those raids represented American policy going forward.
"No," he said. "What the president said during the campaign, you'll be surprised to know, will be consistent with what we'll be doing in law enforcement. He was my boss during the campaign. He is formally and technically and by law my boss now. What he said during the campaign is now American policy."
The exchange takes place at about the 25:00 mark here (http://www.c-span.org/Watch/watch.aspx?MediaId=HP-A-15821).
Holder's declaration is a high point for the movement to legalize medical marijuana, which has been growing for decades despite federal hostility.
"It's good news for people in California who are so ill that they have gotten a doctor's note in compliance with the law," said Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) when told of Holder's promise. "If you have a doctor's note, you should be able to get whatever medicine you need."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/26/holder-vows-to-end-raids_n_170119.html
Finally, some good news from Washington.
After the inauguration, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) continued to carry out (http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics/AP/story/878783.html) such raids, despite Obama's promise. Holder was asked if those raids represented American policy going forward.
"No," he said. "What the president said during the campaign, you'll be surprised to know, will be consistent with what we'll be doing in law enforcement. He was my boss during the campaign. He is formally and technically and by law my boss now. What he said during the campaign is now American policy."
The exchange takes place at about the 25:00 mark here (http://www.c-span.org/Watch/watch.aspx?MediaId=HP-A-15821).
Holder's declaration is a high point for the movement to legalize medical marijuana, which has been growing for decades despite federal hostility.
"It's good news for people in California who are so ill that they have gotten a doctor's note in compliance with the law," said Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) when told of Holder's promise. "If you have a doctor's note, you should be able to get whatever medicine you need."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/26/holder-vows-to-end-raids_n_170119.html
Finally, some good news from Washington.