Stop Smoking Blog

Obama To Stop DEA Raids On Medicinal Marijuana

February 8th, 2009 | by Jeff Trikoleti |

http://GoVaporize.com

Repeating a promise made during the presidential campaign, the Obama administration yesterday vowed to stop the federal government from interfering in states with medical marijuana laws as soon as they can appoint a new head of the DEA.

The president believes that federal resources should not be used to circumvent state laws, and as he continues to appoint senior leadership to fill out the ranks of the federal government, he expects them to review their policies with that in mind, White House spokesman Nick Shapiro told reporters.

Obama promised a hands-off policy on medical marijuana during his campaign, but since he took office the DEA, led by Bush appointed Acting Administrator Michele Leonhart, has nonetheless raided at least three medical marijuana dispensaries in California, each time seizing money and medicine, but making no arrests.

The administrations renewed commitment to respecting states with medical marijuana laws follows thousands of phone calls to the White House, plus a flood of comments on change.gov, all calling for the President to make good on his campaign promise. Americans for Safe Access, the nations largest medical cannabis advocacy organization, greeted the statement with strong approval.

Americans for Safe Access acknowledges President Obamas continued pledge to end federal interference with state medical marijuana laws, commented Caren Woodson, Director of Government Affairs. We look forward to working with the President and his Administration to enact long-term policies that support safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research.

Read the rest of the article at http://hightimes.com/legal/ht_admin/5054 or on my blog at http://govaporize.com/obama-vows-to-stop-the-raids/

*************
Overall 100,000 deaths occur each year due to the effects of alcohol.

Correction: According to the NHTSA web site (nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/RNotes/2006/810686.pdf), there were 43,443 alcohol related traffic fatalities in 2005 in the USA.

As a comparison, AIDS claimed 18,000 lives in 2003.

How can alcohol be blamed for 100,000 deaths each year?

5% of all deaths from diseases of the circulatory system are attributed to alcohol.

15% of all deaths from diseases of the respiratory system are attributed to alcohol.

30% of all deaths from accidents caused by fire and flames are attributed to alcohol.

30% of all accidental drownings are attributed to alcohol.

30% of all suicides are attributed to alcohol.

40% of all deaths due to accidental falls are attributed to alcohol.

45% of all deaths in automobile accidents are attributed to alcohol.

60% of all homicides are attributed to alcohol.

(Sources: NIDA Report, the Scientific American and Addiction Research Foundation of Ontario.) Also see Alcohol Consumption and Mortality, Alcohol poisoning deaths, CDC report

Duration : 0:4:59

Technorati Tags: "barak, "DEA, "illegal, "medicinal, california, Cannabis, drug, legalization", legalize, marijuana, MEDICAL, Obama, on, raids"