So just what did the U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder's statement about the change of policy regarding federal raids against medical marijuana facilities actually mean?
Depends on who you ask apparently.
Holder was pretty clear: "This is now American policy."
But MSNBC reports that at least one California police official says it means virtually nothing. Rob Bryn with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department said "There is absolutely no new information in this."
Come again? Try running that by Mr. Holder.
The story gets right to the razors edge of the problem with marijuana policy in California and the eleven other states that allow some level of legal medical marijuana, use, growth and sales. Who is legal and who isn't? California Attorney General Jerry Brown wades into that morass last August, trying to issue regulations to clarify the state's position. It touched off almost more controversy and debate than before it was issued.
Meanwhile, plenty of former distributors, like Charles Lynch, are awaiting trial for criminal charges following federal raids of their medical marijuana facilities.
Which is why San Francisco Assemblyman Tom Ammiano wasn't just buzzing for some camera time when he held a press conference last week announcing legitimate legislation that would legalize marijuana in California, a move he said would save the state a billion a year in prison expenses and make the state another billion in taxable revenue.
Nothing ignites a blaze, or in this case a blunt, like the issue of marijuana. But this on both the state and national level is just started to smolder again.
News Hawk- Ganjarden 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Examiner.com
Author: Scott Sabatini
Contact: Examiner.com
Copyright: 2009 Examiner.com
Website: Marijuana Debate Flames on to National Level
Depends on who you ask apparently.
Holder was pretty clear: "This is now American policy."
But MSNBC reports that at least one California police official says it means virtually nothing. Rob Bryn with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department said "There is absolutely no new information in this."
Come again? Try running that by Mr. Holder.
The story gets right to the razors edge of the problem with marijuana policy in California and the eleven other states that allow some level of legal medical marijuana, use, growth and sales. Who is legal and who isn't? California Attorney General Jerry Brown wades into that morass last August, trying to issue regulations to clarify the state's position. It touched off almost more controversy and debate than before it was issued.
Meanwhile, plenty of former distributors, like Charles Lynch, are awaiting trial for criminal charges following federal raids of their medical marijuana facilities.
Which is why San Francisco Assemblyman Tom Ammiano wasn't just buzzing for some camera time when he held a press conference last week announcing legitimate legislation that would legalize marijuana in California, a move he said would save the state a billion a year in prison expenses and make the state another billion in taxable revenue.
Nothing ignites a blaze, or in this case a blunt, like the issue of marijuana. But this on both the state and national level is just started to smolder again.
News Hawk- Ganjarden 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Examiner.com
Author: Scott Sabatini
Contact: Examiner.com
Copyright: 2009 Examiner.com
Website: Marijuana Debate Flames on to National Level
This legislation will spawn new revenues that the American government has not even imagined. How many people do you know who would be willing to invest 15k with the honest ability to gross 100k without breaking the law? Come on FED's open your eyes and accept our money like you do the alcohol and tobacco industries. Our money is GREENER 
These billions of dollars they discuss are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to a US marijuana industry. How many people do you know who quit smoking because of drug testing at work? How many people do you know who occasionally turn to hustling to make ends meat? How many people do you know who are law abiding citizens who have to buy weed from the same drug dealer who sells drugs that enter through your nose or veins? We have the opportunity to see the largest cash crop in the history of the US become legalized and regulated. I am excited and hopeful that by 2015 we will be able to walk into a "Cafe" and buy weed on my Debit card or hell, OPEN UP A DISPENSARY
