More Possible Policies From The President-Elect

[The Venting Machine]

As posted in the Americans for Safe Access newsletter-

President Elect Barack Obama Statement on DEA Raids of Medical Cannabis Dispensaries, as of 11/03/2008

On Tuesday, Barack Obama was elected to become the first African American President of the United States. His campaign succeeded with a message of "Change". We'll be unsure of what this means for ASA until our staff has an opportunity to meet with his transition team. However, the following reply from the Obama Campaign to an inquiry from a prominent medical cannabis advocate on November 3rd, represents his current stated position. We felt it appropriate to share with you.
[Dear Friend,

Thank you for contacting Obama for America to inquire about the Senator's position on allowing severely ill patients to use marijuana for medical purposes.

Many states have laws that condone medical marijuana, but the Bush Administration is using federal drug enforcement agents to raid these facilities and arrest seriously ill people. Focusing scarce law enforcement resources on these patients who pose no threat while many violent and highly dangerous drug traffickers are at large makes no sense. Senator Obama will not continue the Bush policy when he is president.

Thank you again for contacting us.

Sincerely,

Obama for America]

This position is the direct result of activists from across the country communicating with the Obama Campaign in public and in private. You've met with his staff, you've written letters and emails, you called his campaign office, and this statement came from the action you took. It is evidence that the work you put in does have an impact. For the first time in the history of ASA, our executive branch target for a federal medical cannabis law is with a President who at least seems willing to listen. ASA will do everything in its power to hold the new President accountable. But keep in mind as we move forward together, that we can't do it without you.

[The Venting Machine]

So, does this mean that we will see a precedent set on curtailing DEA raids on co-ops and dispensaries? If that's true, I'm changing my line of work!

This also poses another interesting question: If I'm a cardholding medical marijuana user, and I apply for a job, shouldn't drug testing for mj now be illegal as it could be used to discriminate against medical marijuana users seeking employment? Feel free to weigh in...

[That One Guy]

I'd think that if you're a card carrying member you shouldn't be popped for having weed in your system. I know that some jobs that if you have a prescription for painkillers and they find them in your system if you can prove they are prescribed they'll let you work there.

And on that note I will be making fake cards for the low, low price of $57.99 per letter. How can you pass up that deal?

[The Venting Machine]

Well, if that price was per card, I could see you garnering some customers. As far as card carrying members go, a State Supreme Court ruled that marijuana prescriptions should be treated no differently then any other prescription that comes from a licensed doctor, so you might be onto something there.

That One Guy said:

I'd think that if you're a card carrying member you shouldn't be popped for having weed in your system. I know that some jobs that if you have a prescription for painkillers and they find them in your system if you can prove they are prescribed they'll let you work there.

And on that note I will be making fake cards for the low, low price of $57.99 per letter. How can you pass up that deal?