Took this off the wire:

WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration will not seek to arrest medical marijuana users and suppliers as long as they conform to state laws, under new policy guidelines to be sent to federal prosecutors Monday.

Two Justice Department officials described the new policy to The Associated Press, saying prosecutors will be told it is not a good use of their time to arrest people who use or provide medical marijuana in strict compliance with state laws.

The new policy is a significant departure from the Bush administration, which insisted it would continue to enforce federal anti-pot laws regardless of state codes.

Fourteen states allow some use of marijuana for medical purposes: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.

California is unique among those for the widespread presence of dispensaries -- businesses that sell marijuana and even advertise their services. Colorado also has several dispensaries, and Rhode Island and New Mexico are in the process of licensing providers, according to the Marijuana Policy Project, a group that promotes the decriminalization of marijuana use.

Attorney General Eric 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.

A three-page memo spelling out the policy is expected to be sent Monday to federal prosecutors in the 14 states, and also to top officials at the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The memo, the officials said, emphasizes that prosecutors have wide discretion in choosing which cases to pursue, and says it is not a good use of federal manpower to prosecute those who are without a doubt in compliance with state law.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the legal guidance before it is issued.

"This is a major step forward," said Bruce Mirken, communications director for the Marijuana Policy Project. "This change in policy moves the federal government dramatically toward respecting scientific and practical reality."

At the same time, the officials said, the government will still prosecute those who use medical marijuana as a cover for other illegal activity. The memo particularly warns that some suspects may hide old-fashioned drug dealing or other crimes behind a medical marijuana business.

In particular, the memo urges prosecutors to pursue marijuana cases which involve violence, the illegal use of firearms, selling pot to minors, money laundering or 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 federal government could still prosecute 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 allow 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 limited resources.

Medical marijuana advocates have been anxious to see exactly how the administration would implement candidate Barack Obama's repeated promises to change the policy in situations in which state laws allow the use of medical marijuana.

Shortly after Obama took office, DEA agents raided four dispensaries in Los Angeles, prompting confusion about the government's plans.

HTH

This was followed by the D.A. in L.A. saying

My Way News - LA's top prosecutor vows to target pot shops

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"Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats."

H.L. Mencken

also keep in mind...

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as I stated in the other posting of this 'news', this is the same vague reference to medical marijuana, made earlier by this pretender ... enforcement is still in the hands of law enforcement authorities, at their discretion, this probably won't change anything ... more double-talk that means very little, from the 'Politician-in-Chief'

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" keep it simple, it's a WEED ! "

" when in doubt, imitate Nature "

" 2008 people voted for Obama to prove they weren't racists.....in 2010 they will vote to show they arent socialists " - Islandborn

I agree. Till it gets written on a legal document its just a recommendation.

Yeah,im totally unsure about this.But who knows maybe it can end up being something to turn things in the right direction. Just keep doing things the way you have been and you will be fine. gotta be optimistic man.

The Yahoo news report on this issue
Feds to issue new medical marijuana policy - Yahoo! News

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"The comments Holder made earlier this year appear to have emboldened entrepreneurs as marijuana shops cropped up across California. In Los Angeles alone, there are an estimated 800 dispensaries, more than any other city in the nation. In 2005, there were only four, authorities said."

holy shite! the Angleno in me wants to say "fuck yeah" but I wouldn't be surprised if they start cracking down there, I mean there are only four legal shops in Oakland now, in contrast.

But this, to me begs the question . . . will L.A. legalize distribution if this initiative gets on the ballot and passes in '10?? My guess is Oakland will and likely S.F but will L.A.??? buzzed minds want to know.

and . . . how will this new law effect the whole "not for profit" idea for the med coops.

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yes, right now would be the perfect time for Congress to come together and pass a States' Right to Medical Cannabis bill for the President to sign into law. It could be a sort of an Awakening for the congress to come together for something important like this right now.

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why did i vote for obama nothing has changed

well, we 'evil conservatives' tried to tell you, he was nothing but a hack bagboy in the Chicago Democratic Machine, but you couldn't be swayed , and now, because you were so selfish about satifying your own desire for legal pot, our country is going down the drain ... I don't even blame the Socialist Obama, I blame the ignorant bedwetters, that voted for the inexperienced schoolboy

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" keep it simple, it's a WEED ! "

" when in doubt, imitate Nature "

" 2008 people voted for Obama to prove they weren't racists.....in 2010 they will vote to show they arent socialists " - Islandborn

I'll wait for these changes to take affect before I start celebrating. I got a ticket in the national forest in April after the first announcement. The forest ranger said I was on federal land and state law did not apply so my valid state license meant nothing to him. I told him that I heard the federal government was supposed to lay off people who were legal in the state. He said if I wanted to argue he would just arrest me and take me to jail in S.F.
So I said give me the ticket. I did not even think what I was doing was illegal at the time since I had a small amount and a valid license. I got the ticket and hired a lawyer ($1100) to fight it. If I stay out of trouble for 1 1/2 months more I will not have any record.

I'm not in an MMJ-friendly state, sadly, nor am I an Obama fan... but reading these articles has me hopeful that something noteworthy might come from his administration. Too early to tell, I guess...

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States are still stuck by themselves..with California as the Grow State
Unfortunately there is a no out of state commerce clause in the law concerning out of state money being used to purchase california medication.

I would like to see in the next two years a
"medical marijuana union"...which would hold interstate commerce licenses and therefore we would be able to transfer medication to any legal medical marijuana patient in any state without fear of prosecution.

I've been researching the Prop. 215 guidelines, and haven't run across anything like that ... as a retired trucker, I've filled prescriptions in every state in the union ... this 'may' affect me, as I have changed my residency ... could you post it up, or tell me, where you saw that ? ... thanx

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" keep it simple, it's a WEED ! "

" when in doubt, imitate Nature "

" 2008 people voted for Obama to prove they weren't racists.....in 2010 they will vote to show they arent socialists " - Islandborn

Don't any of you understand. theres not shit nobody can do about dispenseries, and weed being legalized in the next 2 to 5 years. Times have changed, you have a lot more older people smoking these days. 50-70 years old. At the end The goverment is going to have to realize that the drug war has failed, and more people are for legalizing weed then agienst it.

Obama CAN stop law enforcement agencies. The DEA, FDA, FCC and other agencies are made by executive orders, all the President has to do is abolish them. What the hell are you people talking about there is nothing Obama can do? This hack is just side-stepping the issue again not to step on a single persons toe. This lazy sham of a politician is honestly one of the most greedy, lazy, no-good system free rider I have EVER seen. I work with politicians for a career too. No one exploits the system like this guy: NO ONE.

Obama wants to create more law enforcement agencies. Do you not think if cap and trade were to pass as its written currently, that there wont be a new group to police the green laws that are in the bill? Cause there will be.

They already dig through ur trash in england....to make sure ur doing ur social duty for Mother Earth. Hilarious and so sad at the same time. Humans are becoming sooooooo pathetic and needy. Help me help me...im so mistreated and sad...please give me a handout....makes me fuckin sick. Ill take care of my own damn family and kids. BUTT OUT

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"Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats."

H.L. Mencken

damn, if I didn't know better, I'd think I've been cloned ! ... right on, right on, right on

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" keep it simple, it's a WEED ! "

" when in doubt, imitate Nature "

" 2008 people voted for Obama to prove they weren't racists.....in 2010 they will vote to show they arent socialists " - Islandborn