What the hell is going on?? Now here Come The Feds!

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Originally Posted by copobo

that's a big part of the problem - the dispensaries have played along while we've been divided; and unconcerned when someone else's cannabis rights were taken away, NOW... the people who would be the biggest supporters, aren't in the game anymore..

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Yea ....Too bad huh !!!

what the supremes never talked about, was my argument. :rastasmoke: in the 1930's ruling on wheat it was assumed that the gov't had a right to force a state to purchase a certain crop from other states and, under some ag bill, it did have that right. In the recent case against the people of California, there is no law that requires a state to purchase cannabis from another state or anywhere else. The only "interstate commerce" that is affected is black market commerce. This case ruled that the state of California had no right to allow it citizens to grow their own because it would interfere with interstate black market commerce.

if you look at the big picture from Gun Walker to all the rest this seems to be exactly what is going on to me. :twocents:

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Originally Posted by DenverRelief

It is rather misfortunate that the prevailing attitude seems to be that any Republican candidate, unless a moderate comes out of the cracks, only increases Obama's chance of reelection.

We are so mired in the two party system, the whole citizen body doesn't even seem to be aware of more than two options.

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I think there really are only two options w/r/t medical marijuana: Obama wins or your business is raided, shuttered, and you face trial and federal prison time.

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Originally Posted by denverbear

I could be wrong but legaly I don't believe the feds can get ahold of the registry...and if they do we are all screwed.

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They want to throw this grandmother in jail? Bring it on! I'm so sick of being intimidated by the same jerks I voted into office... When you are in pain that makes you want to take a swan dive off of a high building then you no longer have anything to lose.

Hang in there kids! XOXO

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Originally Posted by HighPopalorum

I think there really are only two options w/r/t medical marijuana: Obama wins or your business is raided, shuttered, and you face trial and federal prison time.

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I don't share your pessimism. In a year's time MMJ will have continued to gain public support, and any serious candidate is going to have to become somewhat moderate, at least a hands-off attitude as Obama claimed he would have in 2008.

This is also assuming that if Obama doesn't win, it's going to be (insert ignorant Republican mouthpiece here)? That was my point exactly. We are a year away from the election, but the candidates and the outcome is already decided?

All that's left to do is fill in the details so that another election can play out in the same predictable manner that it has for the last half-century. When we allow those in power to frame the debate, the only debate that takes place is between false opponents who work together to engender more power for themselves.

"In a year's time MMJ will have continued to gain public support, and any serious candidate is going to have to become somewhat moderate, at least a hands-off attitude as Obama claimed he would have in 2008."

Don't be naive. You're committing a federal crime for which the punishment is the death penalty. I don't expect you to be lined up and shot, but I do expect any Republican administration will seek to make some examples of dispensary owners and employees by handing out some of those harsh sentences for which federal sentencing guidelines are famous. They'll shut you down. They'll threaten your bank, your insurance company, your landlord with probes and RICO prosecutions unless they dump you. They'll make it impossible for you to do business, even if they don't arrest you.

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Originally Posted by HighPopalorum

I think there really are only two options w/r/t medical marijuana: Obama wins or your business is raided, shuttered, and you face trial and federal prison time.

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Out of curiosity, what is the basis for your belief that it makes a bit of difference who is elected vis-a-vis mmj? Do you believe Obama's Justice Dept. is going off the reservation and contradicting his orders, or are they following them? In any event, his administration's actions clearly contradict his public pronouncements and it appears that no mmj business is safe under this administration or the next, whatever the party.

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Originally Posted by senorx12562

Out of curiosity, what is the basis for your belief that it makes a bit of difference who is elected vis-a-vis mmj?

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Simple. Obama's JD (so far) has not raided or otherwise interfered with MMCs in Colorado. This is a major departure from the previous administration's policy.

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Do you believe Obama's Justice Dept. is going off the reservation and contradicting his orders, or are they following them? In any event, his administration's actions clearly contradict his public pronouncements and it appears that no mmj business is safe under this administration or the next, whatever the party.

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I think they're following his orders, otherwise they would have shut the industry down by now. My intuition is that the JD is acting in cases where state law is unclear or non-existent (CA) and in states where the governor / legislature is hostile to MMJ and asks for federal LEO assistance (MT). Our growing body of regulatory law keeps criminal organizations out of the business and maintains vigilant oversight of inventory and revenue, lessening the risk of tax fraud and money-laundering. Of course, I may be wrong; Obama could shutter every MMC in America tomorrow, if he chose.

I do think, however, that even the most authoritarian Republican administration will leave patients alone and focus on retailers. MMJ is a bell you can't really un-ring.

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Originally Posted by HighPopalorum

MMJ is a bell you can't really un-ring.

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In this vein, I hope that any person making public policy decisions regarding MMJ will see that shutting down retail locations removes transparency and opens the door to cartels.

Politically it is the stronger position to say, "I support making MMJ available, and making it safe, while keeping it out of the hands of minors, and ensuring that only local product is sold, and that proportionate taxes are collected" rather than "I support making MMJ available, and I don't care where it comes from so prosecute anyone who ever worked or owned an MMC and let the patients and caregivers fare for themselves."

Nor do I see the Colorado AG letting the Feds undercut CO legislation in this manner.

HB1284, and HB1043, aren't going to be un-rung.

I've said it before, and it's worth repeating, the regulations are a daily pain in my butt, yet the legitimacy offered by State law protects us and sets an example that hopefully other states will follow.

Responsible, professional, and transparent is the way to move MMJ forward.

Even the most authoritarian Republican may be able to see that they in fact get more authority through regulation, because they can curb cartels, and watch those selling MMJ to keep it above the board not to mention the beleaguered fact of tax-revenue.

I hope you're right. Romney seems to be back on top of the Republican dog pile, and he has a record of not upsetting the status quo on social issues in MA. I hope he takes a "hands off" approach to MMJ and broader drug-policy liberalization if elected.

I don't share your faith in AG Suthers. Only a few days ago, (sharing the stage with a DEA agent) he claimed the entire retail model was fraudulent, a complete joke and a failed experiment. You better watch out if state government changes hands and he gets taken off the leash.