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Obama's DOJ Backs Prosecution of Medical Marijuana Providers

Mon, Apr 20, 2009 1:47 pm

more: headline news, obama, medical marijuana, medical news, charles lynch

It's official – under Barack Obama, the Department of Justice will not restrain federal prosecutors targeting medical marijuana providers. Any lingering hopes that the new Administration would implement change in this area were blasted April 17 when U.S. Attorney Thomas O'Brien forwarded to District Judge George Wu a letter from DOJ clarifying ObamAdmin policy.

The clarification had been requested by Judge Wu. On March 23, responding to widespread media reports of a "policy change” under Obama, Wu had postponed the sentencing of Charles Lynch, 46, a Morro Bay dispensary operator, until the U.S. Attorney could provide a written statement elucidating the present policy.

The definitive letter, signed by H. Marshall Jarrrett, director of the office that oversees all U.S. Attorneys, is addressed to O'Brien.

"In response to your request, the Office of the Deputy Attorney General reviewed the facts of this case to determine whether the prosecution of Mr. Lynch comports with the Department of Justice's policies with respect to marijuana prosecutions. Based on the facts of this case, the Office of the Deputy Attorney General concurs with your office that the investigation, prosecution, and conviction of Mr. Lynch are entirely consistent with Department policies as well as public statements made by the Attorney General. Accordingly, you should seek to proceed with the sentencing recommendations which your office has filed with the court."

Attorney General Holder had proclaimed that DOJ would henceforth approve prosectuion only of those medical marijuana providers who violate state law as well as federal law. (Federal prosecutors and the DEA claim that this has been their approach all along.) Pro-cannabis activists contend that Lynch ran an exemplary operation in Morro Bay. The letter from Deputy AG Jarrett begs the question: in what way did Lynch's dispensary violate state law? No evidence of profiteering by Lynch had been introduced during his trial. Nevertheless, ObamAdmin policy is now unambiguous: California dispensaries are subject to DEA raids, and their operators are subject to prosecution. Gone is the hope of retroactive leniency for Tom Kikuchi, Stephanie Landa, Dustin Costa, and dozens more growers and dispensary operators who are in prison or facing prison terms.

The few that I've met are intelligent, skilled, decent people who, in a rational society, would be contributing to the welfare of their families and communities.

Judge Wu will sentence Charles Lynch April 23 at 10:30 a.m. in his Los Angeles courtroom. Supporters will be out in force. Ronnie Naulls is one of those in the pipeline to prison whose fate will be affected by Jarrett's letter. He emails, "This is very upsetting news. We all have to join together and go to court to support Charles. Lord knows I would be there in a heartbeat but because of my house arrest I will be there in spirit."

» add a comment

Mary Ann

Jun 5 2009, 7:29 pm

Just goes to show Obama can't control the DEA. They are a paramilitary thug army that does what it wants to whoever it wants with no accountability.

Da MA

May 13 2009, 6:44 pm

Thank You American Voters,
For Natures Medicine in Loveland Colorado. The dankest place on earth, they have the dopest service on earth. They care about their patients,so go check them out, remember Natures Medicine a wellness center

Medicate Responsibly

treehugger

May 12 2009, 7:07 pm

Dale - I think we got religion on our side, at least 1/2. And with Israel leading the world in research (they retaliate on terrorists within 48 hours-not 48 years).

URB

Apr 27 2009, 8:03 pm

THE GOVERMENT WANTS LADY MARY TO THEM SELVES

umm

Apr 25 2009, 1:41 pm

HU210, You youself admit to not proofreading at times.HU210
Apr 24 2009, 3:22 am
♥

HU210

Apr 25 2009, 11:54 am

OFF TOPIC

umm exposed

http://hightimes.com/video/ht_admin/5231

To Below

Apr 25 2009, 5:54 am

You are naive .

Dale

Apr 24 2009, 6:07 pm

Time is a very long thing. Unfortunately, some people seem to think that change happens instantly. Why do they not see that resistance must be pounded out like metal to make it take on the desired form, which in this case is to dissapear. Just remember, the United States is mostly christian, which means it's full of people who stubbornly hold on to the beliefs that were programmad into their heads. The easy path is to accept what you are told while the hard path is to keep your mind open and actually analyze the reality that unfolds before you. It takes a lot more work to approach truth in your understanding than to simply be brainwashed. Give the Obama and Marijuana situation time to develop. Keep your mind open and analyze things over time. Oh, and if you can't do that, than believe me when I tell you, your money is infected with lice, so give it to me and I'll clean it for you.

Miss Communication

Apr 24 2009, 5:36 am

Obamas actions inspire a new word:

Hopelash

The achy breaky feeling you get in your neck (and heart) when you whip your head one way, find nothing, then violently whip it around the other way only to meet bupkis again, just trying to find Hope.

Cant find hope, don't see change

Clinton Redux

HU210

Apr 24 2009, 3:22 am

Darn I should proof read

That should start out.

If every person with a drug case took..

WAKEUPPEOPLE

Apr 23 2009, 2:01 am

If you can do it legally grow your own hello it will pay for itself if you learn how to clone once you stop buying it legal or not we will all be high anyway correct and we dont want the man addin chemicals to our plants so we become addicted or get diseases to feed there insatiable appetite for money through the health system its a joke chemo is a joke sloan kettering is the biggest joke directly responsible for ruining peoples lives

joeswan

Apr 22 2009, 1:47 pm

OBAMA IS A JOKE!!!!!!!! Everything he said he was going to do when he became president he has flipped F THAT MONKEY!!!!

www.infowars.com

the obama deception

Reality Check

Apr 22 2009, 6:12 am

Damn , who would have thought it ? ..oh yea , I did .
Are we still debating that "promise " bullshit ? Its tough being right ALL the time ....

ok...

Apr 22 2009, 3:37 am

Any more commercials? Anyone? Any more websites you feel the need to plug here? We all done? Fill your quotas yet?

HU210

Apr 21 2009, 11:55 pm

If person accused in a drug case took their charge to a speedy trial. The war on drugs would be over in a year or less. As the system would collapse due to the volume of cases going to trial.

Not to mention what would happen if people also handed out FIJA fliers on the days that your county picks jurys.

The primary function of the independent juror is not, as many think, to dispense punishment to fellow citizens accused of breaking various laws, but rather to protect fellow citizens from tyrannical abuses of power by government.--FIJA.org

FIFTH PARAGRAPH

Apr 21 2009, 7:01 pm

First sentence, what does it say?

F. H. O.

Apr 21 2009, 3:33 pm

I freaking tried to tell my buddies about this Obama guy, he is just a silver tongue snake and will say anything to get elected and is not to be trusted. I am a Ron Paul fan, libertarian is the way.

F. H. O.

Apr 21 2009, 2:56 pm

I freaking tried to tell my buddies about this Obama guy, he is just a silver tongue snake and will say anything to get elected and is not to be trusted. I am a Ron Paul fan, libertarian is the way.

HU210

Apr 21 2009, 11:46 am

Well golll-eee

Where are the Obamaites now? Lets hear your defence.

Oh Ron Paul Cant win. Was the mantra. A self fullfiling prediction when ya dont vote for him.

See any other politico's on the boob tube proposing a "CHANGE" and introducing or supporting ending the drug war?

What is it ya didnt get,suckers.

Stoney Republickin

Apr 21 2009, 9:48 am

Are you really suprised. Could you not see that your candidate for change was surrounded by the same old democrats that have had the same policy on legalization for years. SHEEPLE! Cast aside the wool from your eyes. DEMOCRATS WILL NEVER LEGALIZE. The party of real change is Libertarian. Look into it.

420soldier

Apr 21 2009, 9:10 am

Everyone who wants to make a change go to the following website and sign the petition for the legalization of marijuana. http://www.change.org/actions/view/legalize_marijuana

Pappagallo

Apr 21 2009, 5:28 am

Pappagallo dei Prohibitionists che cosa sono dette per dire da they' re capo. I capi che conducono la gente alla guerra non sono buoni capi. Gli esseri umani sono capaci di molto pi� della mentalit� primitiva del caveman della lotta o del volo. Abbiamo cervelli e siamo evitati usando.

umm

Apr 21 2009, 5:05 am

to bitchassiness, of course racial epitets are doing no one any good. I understand the anger though.

We live in a country who has been lied to. Anger and fear are from those who see no way out. Whenever a countries drug policies are centered around hate for some people "marijuana appreciators", no good will ever come from said country. Penis envy? No. Freedom envy of people in the Netherlands? Yes

to Same shit,different day, Interesting metaphoric wording, and I agree.

to trail.hicker, you need to not hate too.

to Tas, there has to be a way. How about not voting on policies that go against our Constitution?

to Graciela, What are you doing for me? Your hero obama and his wars are not good for the country or the world.

to land of the free home of the tax, well said!

to lol, yes. I do feel like a slave. I feel like step & fetchit sometimes and there isn't any legal way out. Not a good feeling at all.

To anonymous, Penis size really all that important to you is it?

To Racists And Consiracy Freaks, I agree with both points you make, especially the first one. The news should be verified somehow, but maybe it is? I dunno..

To: To "WAKE UP", Lets hope you're right

to Hey, you!, what makes you feel like what they say isn't important? You don't speak my thoughts on the matter. What makes you speak for me? I don't feel we should ban peoples opinions. Except maybe yours?

to WAKE UP, So I've heard - over and over and over - any suggestions?

to Do Your Homework, lets hope you're right.

to Reading Is Fundamental, retarded comments? or Angered comments? All the title of the article says is: Obama's DOJ Backs Prosecution of Medical Marijuana Providers. Pisses me off too.

to freedom420FTG, seems you're right there.

to Source?, I think you're right. This story makes way too many assumptions, but with the headline reading Obama's DOJ Backs Prosecution of Medical Marijuana Providers, lets hope it is propaganda.

to jim r, I couldn't agree more. YOu're right. We're just fodder for their prison system.

to NOW YOU KNOW, I know there is no love coming from dc. That doesn't mean love doesn't exist. God is love by the way in case you didn't know.

to ALEX JONES, Thanks for the info, and personal sacrifices made to do what you do.

to hmmmhmmm, Looks like it.

umm

Apr 21 2009, 3:43 am

I just found out that DC has settled the Magbie case with a "substantial" settlement. I read though that even though the voters in DC voted to have medical Marijuana available to people like Mr Magbie in 1998, DC refused to listen to the voters.

When warmongers lead the people, people suffer and die.

When will it end? Is there any hope of decency returning to the states? Will anyone have any sympathy for us as a nation if we are ever in need of any kind of help from Countries outside the states? Or will we be spit on, and set on fire and dragged around? If we do not show compasion for ALL people as a nation, then what happens when the karmic bubble bursts?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBixgXrRpeo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvtsgcYuEaQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZvtmXfOiRs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf6qAjCBVrY

umm

Apr 20 2009, 11:57 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9onHuIrcT8

Same shit,different day

Apr 20 2009, 10:54 pm

As the soup thickens,the plot gets greasy with the sloppy slime that oozes into the sewers and freezes up the thinking process. Give me another toke! Fuck em,Grow your own

Apr 20 2009, 10:07 pm

Sad to say this story is legit.
From the Friends of Charles C. Lynch site:
http://www.friendsofccl.com/

Copy of the decision with letter from the department of justice:
http://www.friendsofccl.com/documents/Govts_Response_to%20Inquiry_by_the_Court_Re_Sentencing.pdf

umm

Apr 20 2009, 10:02 pm

TO "NOW YOU KNOW",

Well, I still believe there is love in this world. Its just that the love for war and money is all the government promotes. Its a sick twisted sort of love, in fact it is loving to hate. That is what war is all about. Loving to hate people. I mean it. I'm too old for this silly shit. Who's with me? Lets bust out of here! lol. Oh man. 420 too.
A shame. A real shame.

Tas

Apr 20 2009, 9:52 pm

This is not good at all.There has to be another way.Why can they just free the weed and her people.

Graciela

Apr 20 2009, 9:51 pm

SHIT UP!!! what r u guys doing for the country,any ways!!!!! Not a damn thing at all.But running your mounth.Can u do any better,No? He has to cleaning up the mess that Bush made all these years. It is not easy to do what he has to do after someone leaves a mess like that.I think that we need a change,an Thank God for giving us this chance to do the world a Better place for all of us!!!!!!! Thank You, Obama for the work that you are doing, I know that it is not easy what you do.So I give you a hand for all that you are doing for all of us in the world.

land of the free home of the tax

Apr 20 2009, 9:11 pm

its all corruption thats all this boils down to, the people with money and power right now know that if we legalize pot it will give a lot of other industries a run for their money, and they wont be making 10 million a year, freaking wah cry me a river you rich f***S, hemp/marijuana has thousands of different uses!, and fyi i dont even smoke it! i just like to grow it for the fantastic smells and beauty of the plant!! my buddies get the buds!. every US politician needs to resign and we just need to start over and every ceo of every corrupt company needs to be fired as well

lol

Apr 20 2009, 8:40 pm

The new world order rich bastards fu*cking with all of us. $$$$$$$$$$$$$ all about $$$$$$ control $$$$ be a good slave $$$$$ 2012??????

To "WAKE UP"

Apr 20 2009, 7:07 pm

Wrong, wrong, wrong, and no, fuck you and the idiot who sold you this bullshit. Fucking idiot.

Hey, you!

Apr 20 2009, 7:03 pm

all you spammers and haters can choke on a dick. GTFO if you don't have anything relevent to say, no one cares about your links to propaganda video's and your misguided opinions inspired by idiots and misinformation pumped out by rich idiots. I swear if I see one more post advertising "The Obama Deception" or "infowars" bullshit I just might learn to hack, find you idiots, print out a bunch of facts disproving your bullshit, as well as other facts you are ignoring, put all that paper in a sack, and beat you with it as I read them to you, then read it again and leave a copy for you to consider. That's how sick I am of your crap, this is supposed to be a place to comment on the story, not a chatroom or your personal message board or a place for free ad space.

WAKE UP

Apr 20 2009, 6:59 pm

Obama supports taking your second amendment away, there are laws which passed, and are in the process.

Obama is also going to force your children into a "mandatory service." Go google the bill, it's PASSING, and will be LAW.

Wake up people, Obama will NEVER legalize shit, and he's taking away your freedoms, not giving you any.

Watch Obama Deception, and GOOGLE the facts.

Do Your Homework

Apr 20 2009, 6:58 pm

High times really needs to do its homework. You have all these non readers running off at the mouth and they never read the article. It does not say what the article says it says.

Reading Is Fundamental

Apr 20 2009, 6:55 pm

As I read these stupid ass retarded comments I realize why Marijuana has not been legalized. All the article says is that the Federal government will not go against state law. Does anybody know the facts of the case? Does anybody know what the state is alleging? I don't so I won't run off at the mouth until I read the case. WTF would this country be like if civil liberty and civil rights leaders were a bunch of whiny bitches like so many of you. Stop Bytching join NORML and get your bitch asses behind JIM WEBBS legislation which will look into and more then likely conclude marijuana should be legalized at best or decriminalized at worst.

freedom420FTG

Apr 20 2009, 6:46 pm

WE GOT CHANGE ALRIGHT WITH TWO FACE OBAMA FUCKING SOCIALIST

Source?

Apr 20 2009, 6:44 pm

A website? Not credible. Why is hightimes outsourceing their reporting to .orgs? This doesn't prove anything, and isn't the last word by far. As far as we know the case may currently be continuing only because it started under different rules, bush's rules. This story makes way too many assumptions.

jim r

Apr 20 2009, 6:34 pm

Obama doesn't care about the stoner's .We're just fodder for their prison system. He wants to liberate all the Cuban terror suspects, but he wants to lock up a harmless business man. Charlie Lynch is just another victim of our unjust justice system.

NOW YOU KNOW

Apr 20 2009, 6:27 pm

THERE IS NO GOD......

ALEX JONES

Apr 20 2009, 6:22 pm

He is a puppet that reads from a teleprompter...Change we cannot beleive thanks to Wall Street

Be sure to check out the "Obama Deception" free on youtube

umm

Apr 20 2009, 6:02 pm

Fuck! I want out of this shit hole country.

Anyone have some land in a free country?

Please! Let me know!

Immediately!

hmmmhmmm

Apr 20 2009, 5:28 pm

population controll thats why marijuana is illegal still

Jason Bermas

Apr 20 2009, 5:23 pm

Paul Joseph Watson
Prison Planet.com
Monday, April 20, 2009

Obamas First 100 Days: Worse Than Even We Predicted 200409top

As President Barack Obama approaches his first 100 days in office, the corporate media prepares a new round of fawning idolatry about the Obama administration’s “achievements,” yet a summary glance at what Obama has actually done in that short time with regard to expanding the Bush police state and the Neo-Con empire is worse than even we predicted.

The day after Barack Obama was elected the 44th President of the United States in November last year, we challenged Obama supporters and the administration itself to follow through on the rhetoric of “change” by starting to dismantle the architecture of the Bush police state and beginning to roll back the unwieldy morass of the American empire. Obama has done neither, and in fact his every action has been about ensuring the Bush police state remains in place, that the people who put it in place are protected from prosecution, and that the empire continues to expand.

We presented Obama and his supporters with a series of issues on which to make progress. While we did not expect Obama to accomplish much in his first few months in office, we at least challenged the new President to take the first steps in reversing eight years of what was a de facto dictatorship and plotting the course for the “change” that was so consistently promised.

We asked the following questions of an Obama presidency;
featured stories Obamas First 100 Days: Worse Than Even We Predicted
Obama featured stories Obamas First 100 Days: Worse Than Even We Predicted

Eagle eye 1

Apr 20 2009, 5:19 pm

http://www.infowars.com/

gstlab3

Apr 20 2009, 5:13 pm

SOME CHANGE I'LL SAY!!! GOD FORBID WE GET A LITTLE COMPASSION AND SOME NEW JOBS!!!!oh..., I forgot it would"nt pad any POLITICIANS POCKETS!or a BIG PHARMACUETICAL COMPANY COULD'NT PATENT IT OR EVER CONTROL A BUNCH OF HEALTHY FREE THINKING PEOPLE EITHER! ???!???? nor could the government for that matter!!!!"anyone smell a rat?"

Yote

Apr 20 2009, 5:12 pm

Maybe it time the People take this country back from an oppressive government.

dro

Apr 20 2009, 5:10 pm

Your mad about this? How about the fact that George bush managed to leave office with 1.2 trillion in debt and in Obama's first 3 months he has managed to triple that. Oh by the way it took George Bush 8 years to accumulate that debt.

Change We Can't Believe in!!!

Happy 420!!! I guess....

ALEX JONES

Apr 20 2009, 5:10 pm

I told you there not working for us...they could give two shits about us.

WAKE UP PEOPLE THEY WORSHIP LUCIFER AND THERE ALL PUPPETS BOUGHT AND PAID FOR BY CORPORATIONS AND THE ELITE

stlab3

Apr 20 2009, 5:07 pm

WHEN THE VOTE BECOMES INEFFECTIVE AND THE VOICES GO UNHEARD., IT'S TIME FOR THE SHOTGUN TO SING IT'S SONG., THE TREE OF LIBERTY REQUIRES TIME AND TIME AGAIN TO BE REBORN WITH THE BLOOD OF MEN WHO HAVE FORGOTTEN OF IT.,

dro

Apr 20 2009, 4:58 pm

You Tube "The Obama Deception"

You Tube "The Obama Deception"

You Tube "The Obama Deception"

You Tube "The Obama Deception"

You Tube "The Obama Deception"

You Tube "The Obama Deception"

You Tube "The Obama Deception"

You Tube "The Obama Deception"

You Tube "The Obama Deception"

OBAMA LIES AGAIN!

Apr 20 2009, 4:30 pm

OBAMA IS JUST ANOTHER LIER WE PUT IN OFFICE JUST LIKE THE REST! CHANGE IS NEVER GONNA HAPPEN AND WE NEED TO RELIZE THIS! WE SHOULD JUST STOP VOTING FOR ANY PREISDENT AND THEN SEE WHAT OUR GOVERNMENT IS GONNA DO!

anonymous

Apr 20 2009, 4:01 pm

im glad i wasted my vote on Paul fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama fuck obama

ANGRY

Apr 20 2009, 3:57 pm

Don't let this setback deter you. Take this anger and put it to use. This country is a piece of shit; conservative christians and Middle Eastern Arab scum like Obama only set us back but with sheer numbers we can push forward. Don't forget. This piece of shit's in office because you put him there and you have a voice. The government represents all of us (except stoners) but I do remember something in the constitution about the goverment not being able to exist without the consent of the governed.

john

Apr 20 2009, 3:32 pm

what a damn joke obama is a fucking retard hope he dies in his sleep

Call this number

Apr 20 2009, 3:06 pm

And shoot a quick call to the Marijuana Legalization Line! (781-452-0647)

chuck

Apr 20 2009, 3:05 pm

Welcome to the newest USSR! Times are definitly changing but one thing remains the same,, Our voice is not heard or forgotten about or better yet not cared about!

Supporter

Apr 20 2009, 3:00 pm

The Administration folded & collapsed under pressure of the stigma backlash of being a pro-Marijuana supporter.

This is a setback, but do not take it as a defeat. Like the saying says: "They might have won this battle, but not the war"... The realities of the situation haven't changed, we only need to change the methods in which to reach out goal.

The government feeds & thrives off of hopelessness to control..lets not cave to their will.. Lets make them bend to ours.

Acid Lab

Apr 20 2009, 2:46 pm

This is bullshit! There needs to be MAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSIIIIVVVVVEEEEEEEE Protests for us to even get anywhere!!! We don't have riot gear like the police do - This fight will be tough!

THE ENTIRE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO BE OVERTHROWN - WHETHER BY FORCE OF THE PEOPLE OR BY SUBMISSION TO THE PEOPLE!

chroniccalvin

Apr 20 2009, 2:16 pm

this makes me sick, its time to take matters into our hands, i demand nationwide rally's and protests today..everyone get out there.......the only thing holding us back is whats left of the older generations, so i guess we have to wait for them to all die off

WeedLover

Apr 20 2009, 2:14 pm

Obama is a grade A bullshitter with no backing of a thing he promised. He is a waste of oxygen and has lost all of the respect I had for him. I have extreme hatred for people like him.

420!

Apr 20 2009, 1:56 pm

Obama is a liar waste of a vote