Obama's Medical Marijuana Crackdown Could be Stopped by Executive Order

By Dennis Romero Tue., May 1 2012 at 9:07 AM

It wouldn't surprise us to see a sitting president tighten up on marijuana enforcement as he faces an upcoming election against an increasingly right-wing Republican party. However, we are a little surprised that Obama did so using some less-than-honest reasoning.

He recently explained his federal crackdown on medical marijuana in places like California by saying, " ... It's against federal law. I can't nullify congressional law. I can't ask the Justice Department to say, 'Ignore completely a federal law that's on the books.'"

Turns out he can:

At the same White House Correspondents Dinner over the weekend in which the president was skewered by Jimmy Kimmel over his pot policy, Obama's Attorney General, Eric Holder, acknowledged there's quite a lot the administration could do to back off state-legal medical cannabis.

U.S. DOJ

Eric Holder.

Holder happened to be sitting at the table of the Huffington Post, where a journalist asked him about Obama's statement suggesting the administration's hands were tied by "congressional law."

The Post journalist noted that Obama could legally make an executive decision removing marijuana as a Schedule I drug, thus allowing its legal medical use -- and preventing even federal law enforcers from going after legit dispensaries.

Congressional approval would not be necessary.

Holder's response?

"That's right."

[@dennisjromero / djromero@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]

Tags:

dispensaries, Eric Holder, Huffington Post, marijuana, medical marijuana, Obama, Schedule I

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Wayward Bill

President Obama could do a lot with his government issued pen. He could reschedule cannabis on the controlled substances act.. Hopefully not Schedule 2 which would turn cannabis over to big pharm. However given the President's lack of size nine balls I doubt that we will be seeing any pen strokes before the election in cannabis' favor.Peace, Pot, Politics,Wayward Bill ChengelisChairman, US Marijuana Party

Twalker

Ron Paul isn't getting the nomination. Vote Gary Johnson.

m577a2

This is how marijuana was made illegal: “…the primary reason to outlaw marijuana is its effect on the degenerate races.”. “Marijuana is an addictive drug which produces in its users insanity, criminality, and death.”. “Reefer makes darkies think they’re as good as white men.”. “Marihuana leads to pacifism and communist brainwashing”. “You smoke a joint and you’re likely to kill your brother.”. “Marijuana is the most violence-causing drug in the history of mankind.”. This is how it is kept illegal (and all 3 requirements MUST be met): (A) The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse. (B) The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. (C) There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision."

There is no truth behind prohibition, only lies which the government uses to wage war on us. That is called tyranny. No taxation without representation.