DEA's view on California and it's medical marijuana laws.

[Spliff Twister]

California Medical Marijuana Information

The assertion that all medical marijuana is headed for seriously ill patients is misleading. Statistics from the California Branch of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) shows that a survey of Californians reports the top three reported uses of medicinal marijuana:
40% Chronic Pain
22% AIDS-Related
15% Mood Disorders
(23% All other categories)

In California there is no state regulation or standard of the cultivation and/or distribution medical marijuana. California leaves the establishment of any guidelines to local jurisdictions, which can widely vary. For example, Marin County allows up to six mature plants, and/or a half-pound dried marijuana. It's neighbor, Sonoma County permits possession of three pounds of marijuana, and allows cultivation up to 99 plants, and physicians may recommend more for "exceptional patients."


Local and state law enforcement counterparts cannot distinguish between illegal marijuana grows and grows that qualify as medical exemptions. Many self-designated medical marijuana growers are, in fact, growing marijuana for illegal, "recreational" use.


Elected law enforcement officials, i.e. Sheriffs and District Attorneys in California have been targeted by the "marijuana lobby." Political action by groups such as NORML have endorsed and supported candidates favorable to medical marijuana. NORML tracks local elections and takes credit for the defeats of anti-marijuana candidates. Last year the DEA arrested a major marijuana trafficker in Humboldt County who was an undeclared candidate for sheriff.


The DEA and its local and state counterparts routinely report that large-scale drug traffickers hide behind and invoke Proposition 215, even when there is no evidence of any medical claim. In fact, many large-scale marijuana cultivators and traffickers escape state prosecution because of bogus medical marijuana claims. Prosecutors are reluctant to charge these individuals because of the state of confusion that exists in California. Therefore, high-level traffickers posing as "care givers" are able to sell illegal drugs with impunity.


The California NORML website lists federal defendants for the largest indoor marijuana cultivation operation in the U.S., which occurred in Northern California, as "green prisoners." While unscrupulously claiming to be "medical marijuana" defendants, in fact these two individuals were dangerous, armed fugitives believed to be responsible for drug-related murders and other violence.


DEA's San Francisco Field Division coordinates the statewide Domestic Cannabis Eradication/Suppression Program (DCE/SP). The number of plants eradicated and assets seized represent the largest totals in California history.

http://www.dea.gov/ongoing/calimarijuana.html

Just thought you guy's might want to know how the "enemy" views us.

[Spliff Twister]

NORML recently released a counter to this I'll have to search and see what I can find. I like how the DEA dons't feel the chronic pian and aids qualifies as "seriously ill"

[merickson]

We have to admit that there is some truth in the story.

We all know someone(s) who have medical needs (wink, wink).

And there are plenty of growers who sell some for social use and some for medical.

There is little distinction between medical marijuana and recreational.

[HappyKitty]

Originally Posted by merickson

We have to admit that there is some truth in the story.

We all know someone(s) who have medical needs (wink, wink).

And there are plenty of growers who sell some for social use and some for medical.

There is little distinction between medical marijuana and recreational.

I agree with you Merickson.

Spliff,who are these Green Prisoners they are talking about?

The DEA needs to get real, and quit worrying about marijuana, and start looking for other things to fill their need. If they let California delegate their own standards, we wouldn't be sending good citizens of this state to jail, just because they want to smoke/grow pot.

Parmaceuticals are given out in en mass, yet something from Mother Nature can cause such a big stir....

Peace and happiness

[bahnzo]

What I don't get is why the DEA is even bothering with this? It's not the DEA's job to provide opinion or policy. They continually forget that the "E" stands for "enforcement" and that's all they should do.

It's easy to see they are worried about thier precious jobs and tax dollars.

[Spliff Twister]

I'm not really sure who Green Prisoners are but I do know that NORML said that they did not list the two men as "Green Prisoners".