hiamps
04-16-2011, 12:36 AM
Looks like the Gov. decided not to sign as she has been told it would put State employees at risk. I kind of wondered that myself. Here is what a friend sent me...
Subject: Blatant Intimidation
Dear Friend,
The deceitful actions of two U.S. Attorneys could result in the death of a medical marijuana bill in Washington state. If you email President Obama, we may be able to rectify the situation and ensure that the bill survives.
Since October 2009, the Obama administration has had a straightforward policy with regard to medical marijuana: Do not prosecute individuals who are in "clear and unambiguous compliance with existing state laws." In a memo from the Deputy Attorney General, U.S. Attorneys were told, "As a general matter, pursuit of [drug trafficking] priorities should not focus federal resources" on these individuals.
Sounds pretty simple.
Well, a couple of federal prosecutors apparently didn't get -- or have decided to defy -- the memo. U.S. Attorneys for Eastern and Western Washington, Michael Ormsby and Jenny Durkan, are steering Governor Chris Gregoire toward vetoing a bill to regulate the sale of medical marijuana in the state by providing her with deceptive and misleading information about the Obama administration's position. They have reinterpreted the policy so that it seems as if they would go after individuals acting in compliance with state law.
They are engaged in blatant intimidation.
The irony is that the memo cited above actually stressed that U.S. Attorneys are "invested...with the broadest discretion" with respect to pursuing federal prosecutions. So it is one hundred percent within their power to respect state medical marijuana laws to the full extent. Yet, they are acting as if they must act contrary to the guidance they have been given. Even worse, they are infecting the state's legislative process with their own willful ignorance.
We have no idea why these two individuals prefer underground criminal markets over regulated, state-licensed sales of medical marijuana. Perhaps they are too lazy to go after real criminals. But they need to be set straight -- again. And we need President Obama to know that we are watching him closely on this. So please send an email to Obama, urging him to inform these misguided U.S. Attorneys that the position of his administration on medical marijuana is to not prosecute people who are in compliance with state law.
Thank you,
Steve Fox
Director of Government Affairs
Marijuana Policy Project
Subject: Blatant Intimidation
Dear Friend,
The deceitful actions of two U.S. Attorneys could result in the death of a medical marijuana bill in Washington state. If you email President Obama, we may be able to rectify the situation and ensure that the bill survives.
Since October 2009, the Obama administration has had a straightforward policy with regard to medical marijuana: Do not prosecute individuals who are in "clear and unambiguous compliance with existing state laws." In a memo from the Deputy Attorney General, U.S. Attorneys were told, "As a general matter, pursuit of [drug trafficking] priorities should not focus federal resources" on these individuals.
Sounds pretty simple.
Well, a couple of federal prosecutors apparently didn't get -- or have decided to defy -- the memo. U.S. Attorneys for Eastern and Western Washington, Michael Ormsby and Jenny Durkan, are steering Governor Chris Gregoire toward vetoing a bill to regulate the sale of medical marijuana in the state by providing her with deceptive and misleading information about the Obama administration's position. They have reinterpreted the policy so that it seems as if they would go after individuals acting in compliance with state law.
They are engaged in blatant intimidation.
The irony is that the memo cited above actually stressed that U.S. Attorneys are "invested...with the broadest discretion" with respect to pursuing federal prosecutions. So it is one hundred percent within their power to respect state medical marijuana laws to the full extent. Yet, they are acting as if they must act contrary to the guidance they have been given. Even worse, they are infecting the state's legislative process with their own willful ignorance.
We have no idea why these two individuals prefer underground criminal markets over regulated, state-licensed sales of medical marijuana. Perhaps they are too lazy to go after real criminals. But they need to be set straight -- again. And we need President Obama to know that we are watching him closely on this. So please send an email to Obama, urging him to inform these misguided U.S. Attorneys that the position of his administration on medical marijuana is to not prosecute people who are in compliance with state law.
Thank you,
Steve Fox
Director of Government Affairs
Marijuana Policy Project