Feds Say Leonhart is ‘Right Choice’ for DEA, Despite Widespread Calls for Her Withdrawal
One month after MPP and an ideologically diverse coalition of drug policy reformers and advocacy groups called on President Obama to withdraw Michele Leonhart as his nominee for DEA administrator, a spokesperson for the White House has declared that the president is confident that the Bush holdover is the “right” choice for the job. Mike Riggs has the story in The Daily Caller:
Obama is confident that Leonhart is the right choice, the White House staffer said, and that as of Friday the president wasn’t considering anyone else for the position. In other words, the response from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. to a chorus of concerns boils down to: Leonhart or bust.
MPP and others – including FireDogLake’s Jane Hamsher and the states-rights group the Tenth Amendment Center – pointed to Leonhart’s interim leadership of the DEA, which has included federal raids on state-legal medical marijuana providers and the denial of medical marijuana research applications, as evidence that she is continuing Bush-era policies that Obama promised to end. During the campaign, and in an October memo from the Department of Justice, the president and his administration pledged to end federal raids on state-legal medical marijuana providers.
But when Riggs asked the feds whether recent raids in California violate the spirit of the October memo, spokespeople for both the White House and DOJ seemed to backtrack on the president’s pledge.
But the White House and the Justice Department both told TheDC that Holder’s memo does not give dispensaries carte blanche to grow or sell marijuana, and that recent raids don’t conflict with what Obama expressed while campaigning.
“I wouldn’t say the memo ‘discourages’ certain raids,” a DOJ offical told TheDC. Rather, “it talks about prioritizing resources most efficiently.” And both the White House and the DOJ argued that the gist of the Holder memo was that the DEA would “not focus its limited resources on individual patients with cancer or other serious diseases.”
One can’t help but wonder, with the nomination of Leonhart, the ongoing raids, and this type of public about-face on the issue, if President Obama is now reneging on his campaign pledge to approach medical marijuana issues differently than his predecessor.
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs thinks it’s absurd to even suggest such a thing. “I hear these people saying he’s like George Bush,” Gibbs said recently. “Those people ought to be drug tested. I mean, it’s crazy.”
Crazy is exactly right, Mr. Gibbs. I mean, it’s not like President Obama picked the same person George W. Bush did to lead the DEA, and has insisted on standing by her while she employs the same policies that were in place under Bush. Oh wait …
Tagged with: Daily Caller and DEA and Michele Leonhart and Mike Riggs and Obama and Robert Gibbs by the author
83 comments
Obama has lost my respect and trust. We are the “progressive left” who put him in office, and he has turned on us. The only way he could save face is to IMMEDIATELY direct the DEA to reclassify cannabis as the AMA recommended to him months ago, so that medical patients do not have to live in fear and important research cannot be blocked. Even that will not win back the trust he has destroyed. Time for a change? Yes, and Governor Gary Johnson may be the change that Obama promised, should the GOP be smart enough to get behind him in 2012. We need an end to the Bush policies and a return to personal liberties and freedom.
He wont get my vote next time,another politician ,he just keeps the prohibition thing going on while other countries Mex. inc. are starting to talk, you cant have a talk with somebody who wont listen ,he clearly doesn’t give a shit and caves in when the going gets tough.
Yep its Go Gary next round without one doubt
Support proposition 19…we have to do this ourselves.
Why doesn’t this surprise me after Gibb’s assholish remarks? The White House insider echo chamber still has the volume cranked up loud, because they aren’t listening to our message. Or maybe they are and What a bunch of pussies!
They must be watching the polls, and aren’t going to stick their necks out for any kind of overt cannabis law reform over California. They’re not going to stick their dicks out, but are going to wait until somebody else sets up legalization and then do whatever they can to fill their pockets in the usual way.
The only way they could save face with me now is for them to put a muzzle on that bitch Michele Leonhart. Make sure that bitch and the rest of her pack to do not bark a word against Proposition 19.
Cut the DEA’s budget to penalize them for raiding legal medical marijuana ops.
I don’t want to hear shit out of this bitch unless she is going to work with states on regulation, legalization, that suits the federal government, too. Just keep her yap shut unless she is going to testify before Congress that the plan to legalize cannabis to the satisfaction of the federal bureaucracies is ready. Like, okay you senators & representatives, you can vote “yes” to legalize marijuana because Michele baby thinks it’s a win-win and approves this message.
I sure hope they’re going to work behind the scenes to make sure California’s legalization effort succeeds so that other states go for the money grab, too. The nation needs the jobs, revenue and all the benefits of its market for marijuana. After all, we’ve been putting up with the drawbacks of our marijuana market and all the prohibitionist government has been able to succeed in is sourcing the supply abroad, mostly Mexico.
You know, we’ve been putting up with all the shit of having a market for marijuana for 40 years now under prohbition. It’s fuckin’ high time we got the benefits now. Legalization is long overdue. You now, we need the cannabis sector jobs and revenue in order to give businesses and the rich their Bush-like tax cuts so they create jobs. I mean, if they’re working they’re not listening to maniacs talking about a 2nd Amendment solution.
California, you’re up to bat:
Register to vote (fill out the form and mail it in): http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_vr.htm
College students in California: Check this out and help change the world:
http://www.sos.ca.gov/admin/press-releases/prior/2006/06_058.pdf
You can even vote by mail (request a ballot now and skip the election-day crowds)
http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_m.htm
Spread the links!
It was sad enough coming to the realization that American voters had to pick medical cannabis as the premiere issue for showing politician’s we can and will take our government back. Now that even the Democrat’s are fighting the will of the people I have but little choice but to become a one issue voter. Voted for two Pepublican’s in 37 yrs. I’ll be voting for anyone regardless of party that supports cannabis reform. Wasted vote that will cause Democratic loss? Likely, but what else to do?
I’ll never vote for 0bama again. He’s been a traitor and a hypocrite on all counts.
PROP 19 IS NOTHING BUT A MONEY GRAB ! VOTE NO !!!!!
Nobody is ever going to change the law for us. We have to do it ourselves, through ballot initiatives.
That is the bottom line.
I voted for No Bama, sadly he is still persecuting mmj and users, so this means I WILL NOT BE VOTING FOR OBAMA AGAIN< I mean , HEMP should be legal and should never have been illegal, but NO bama should have made cannabis legal across the board, WHAT AN IDIOT!
I Have to agree with Wayne i would rather throw my vote away than vote for anyone who is ANTI MARIJUANA Noboma has let all of america down every day he is in office everyday he does somthing else that is against the will of the people so there for he thinks himself KING to our Pleb Status. COME ON 2012
[...] at 12:43 pm by LeisureGuy The Bad Obama seems to be the one responsible for drug policy. Mike Meno of MPP: One month after MPP and an ideologically diverse coalition of drug policy reformers and advocacy [...]
i begged mpp to stop endorsing obama early in the primary phase of the election. they said they weren’t endorsing anybody, but simply not using the word “endorse” doesn’t mean they weren’t doing just that. i told them he’s a liar and a fraud, but they kept pushing his sorry butt on an unsuspecting public. that’s when i quit supporting them. ron paul was the only candidate who has pushed for years to stop this war on our own citizens. it’s a war that has not and will not be won and which destroys lives and families. great job mpp. NOT!!!!
Is there any type of petition going into action to stop Obama from making this foolish and dangerous choice for the election of the head of the DEA? If not there should be, and I would be the first to sign it. Here is FL you can get busted for having a bud. I don’t ever think I will see the day when FL or the entire south would actually allow medical marijuana, Although coke, and pill mills are rampant. Whereas a simple weed that has dozens of proven medical cures supported by the AMA, that even the VA in states that is is allowed will dispense it to any Vet in need, if I am understanding the MPP news correctly. When I move again it will be to a marijuana friendly state! Not that even this is a guarantee of safety at this time. Has our government and president learned anything from Prohibition?
WE THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA WILL PASS “OUR” AGENDA AND WE WILL SHUT DOWN THE WHOLE OBAMA/BILDERBERG GROUPS AGENDA FOR A GLOBAL ENSLAVED ONE WORLD SOCIALIST/COMMUNIST GOVERNMENT. LOOK AT BILDERBERG, HAARP, HENRY KISSRNGER, THE ROTHSCHILD FAMILY, ROCKRRFELLER FAMILY, THE HUSSAIN FAMILY TIES TO OUR US ECONOMY! WAKE UP AMERICA! SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SMOKE SHOPS! DECRIMINALIZE MARIJUANA IN VIRGINIA AND ALL OTHER STATES AND NEVER GIVE UP TIL THE JOB IS DONE!
I certainly am not giving up on President Obama. The man has an extreme overload of issues that are troubling our country. Not cast my vote for him again because of cannabis? Come on people! You had rather go back to the Bush days? That is exactly what the GOP wants. They are trying to find any little teeny tiny minute thing to bring our president down, from Michelle going on a vacation, to the current statement he made about the mosk possibly being built near ground zero. Had the President said it was wrong, then the GOP cronies would have blamed him for not following the constitution of the USA! It is a no win situation.
What the GOP is trying to do is get your mind off the real problems that plague our country and again are deceiving you by putting up scare tactics. It is all politics…dirty politics as the GOP is well known for. When you see Carl Rove and Newt Gingrich slide out from under their rock to criticize, you KNOW it is all BS.
Instead, let us all write a personal letter to the President and tell him how medical cannabis has helped us with our ills. If you do not know how to write a letter, ask someone to help you. This is the only way we will change the current cannabis laws in the USA, not by switch voting.
Peace.
WE NEED TO OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT AND PUT A NEW GOVERNMENT IN PLACE! A GOVERNMENT RUN BY THE PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE!
A NEW SYSTEM WHERE EVERY CITIZEN VOTES ON EVERY SINGLE ISSUE.
WE ALL LIVE HERE AND PAY TAXES SO WE ALL HAVE AN EQUAL SAY IN WHAT HAPPENS!
2012 will come around and it will be the same song and dance as before.
Come on people when are you going to open up your eyes and see whats going on?
It doesn’t matter who gets into office they will completely change their views and follow their own agendas to best suit their wallets.
The longer we wait the harder it is going to be to fix the problem!
California voters can go online to register to vote:
http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_vr.htm
or to vote by mail
http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_m.htm
South Dakota citizens can go online to register to vote, and you can vote as an absentee if your a SD citizen who is currently out of state (e.g., a student):
http://www.sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/registrationvoting.shtm
Other states: Google your state name and “voter registration.” It takes 5 minutes to change the world.
College students can usually register as residents of the place they live while in college OR, if they are from elsewhere, they can register as a citzen of their “home town.” The choice is theirs, so college students, you might want to think about where to make your vote count the most.
And as a side note: If you’re not already registered or if you’re just not sure, do it today. Most states have a deadline that’s a few weeks BEFORE the election, so don’t delay!
(And also: If you didn’t vote in 2008, there is a good chance you are no longer registered; in some states you have to re-register if you miss an election or two, so make sure you’re registered, and if you have a chance to vote early (either by mail or in person at a polling place, jump on it!)
Register. Vote. Change things. Share the links.
Kraazykid, if you see what’s going on, you will be told you are a psychotic bully on this site. Yep, voting, petitions, nothing of a civil nature works. Of course, it is SO UNCIVILIZED to defend yourself when being attacked, so I guess the only acceptable alternative for all the peaceniks is for us to bend over and take it right up the keester. Yep, don’t fight back, that’s just rude! Take it like a queen instead.
Maybe there isn’t enough of a public mandate yet. Only polling. When it becomes such an issue where debates on the subject are mainstream, action at the executive level will be required. Until then we just need to continue ramping up the pressure.
I personally send at least 6 letters per week, talk about it to all my friends (all 3) and social network it constantly.
We are making a change, we just need to do more. Don’t give up. Obama is doing his part, we need to keep doing ours.
In all honesty, I will vote for him again just because I feel he is trustworthy. At least more so than anyone else so far. IMO
OBama has proven himself to be a spineless wimp. I hope a decent candidate becomes available to run in 2012. I will not support OBama, Palin is the worst of jokes, Clinton-no thanks(more of the same career politician). If pot were legal, it would cause thousands of cops to lose their jobs and we don’t want any more unemployed before the elections.
what is fucked up and honestly fucked up is that a majority of our citizens have enjoyed the pleasures of the cannabis plant. Cannabis is what this country needs. With cannabis legalized it will allow a majority of our citizenship to put more faith in our justice system, especially the coming generations who are more prevalent to the use of marijuana and hemp by products. With our without the help from our government this is the direction our social structure is pushing and although our government has created crime’s and gang violence through the allocation of these laws our society has accepted them and ignored these rules at the same time. I have found that, though our citizenship as a whole wants legalization, people who do not make a sufficient living sell marijuana because of the acceptability of it’s use among citizens. This brings more revenue, tax free, to these people and they oppose marijuana reform, though at one time they may have been activist.
This law on marijuana does more then not allow us to smoke it is ruining the way we as a citizenship view the country’s government it’s police, it’s policies, and the way we view our leaders.
President Obama just took a crap on the Democrat party and those who voted for him. What thoughts goes into his head to make such a decision and why her? Does it matter to him that people don’t understand his decision of why the complete turnaround?
Who does he think voted for him?
I don’t think he could directly talk to the citizens of the United States about his opinion and his motives of why he chooses her?
If she becomes the DEA administrator, be prepared for the worse social destruction in United States history when every citizens increasingly becomes paranoid because of gangs, Drug Cartels, the constant threat of drug testing, drug search, house invasion, and the DEA….etc.
MARIJUANA PROHIBITION MAKES EVERYONE A CRIMINAL!
why anyone actually believed for one second that Obama was and is anything but a career politician and a sell-out is beyond me. Is it the racist idealogy of him being black? Not all black people understand or care that the drug war especially hurts black people and quite a few actually support it. “But he has smoked pot!” So had Bill Clinton, George W. and myriad other pot hypocrit career politicians. I actually explained this to a few pot-smoking Obama idolizers but because of knee-jerk anti-Bush reactions and racist reasons my words of wisdom fell on deaf ears. Obama painted his past pot use as if it had been a heroine habit that he had managed to kick by finding god! This is the retoric of an anti-drug warrior! He has also flat out said “I don’t think legalization is a good idea”. Many “tea-partyers” are knee-jerk reacting to Obama now (for other reasons) and will possibly vote for someone worse than Bush and if they win the same idiots that put Obama in power are likely to knee-jerk react and possibly put someone even worse than Obama in power unless they will have realized their folly and or wind up in jail.
Think about what it will be like when the conservatives get back the White House.
The politicians think that all we are is dust in the wind! I think they need to take a good look around because the answer is blowing in the wind. God gave us free will it is about time our Government does the same. I am a Republican that voted for Obama. Trust me, you look to the right and you might get a real drug warrior for president next time. We have two years ahead and Obama may not have come through yet but you have to keep hope alive. We The People must continue to let him know that if he wants to continue on as President then he needs to stop, listen to the sounds, and he must look around. Peace out!
the 2-party system is broken. when are you people going to see that? we must look to the constitution, libertarian, and other parties for decent candidates. and we must have term limits very soon. the definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing while expecting different outcomes. stop voting for dems and reps.
Why would you allow some one that is like Bush be a DEA officer. You President Obama, i have lost all respect for you. You do not care about what the citizens of this contry wants, You my good man is lying to all of us!!!!
Have we really grown this pathetic and weak that we look at government for every solution?
I’m with KrazzyKid and Jim L., it’s time we realize that government is the problem and not the solution. We havent had a real democratic government in over a 100 years and unless WE THE PEOPLE do something, it’s not going to change or get any better.
How long are we going to wait for a change while our homes are being raided and our freedoms are violated?
I can promise you change when people gather together and march on DC in numbers and ready to fight for our freedom. Untill then enjoy your empty promises that our politicians are so willing to hand out left and right.
Free The Weed. Free The People.
Obama is starting to look more and more like Bush on so many issues. Crapping on your political base isn’t a good way to get re-elected Mr. President. Just another puppet go figure. That’s why I never bothered voting for him… He wasn’t any better an option than McCain at the time.
If things don’t change soon or after the next election, intsead of smoking out, I’m goining to march on Washington next 4:20. Anybody with me?
I never respected Obama and I never will. Inept, inexperienced and a professional yes man. He goes with the political flow, attempting to ‘change his viewpoint’ with every criticism that he hears. He’s useless and a spinesless, future one term only president. Not be an idiot myself, I can say I did not vote for the shmuck. Had I done so, I would have been voting for him for one reason and one reason only, to make him the first Black President, but that would have been a racial motivation and that I will never do, I actually have a brain in my head. When our and everyone elses’ (the large countries) governments are being controlled by lobbyists and other forms of ‘legal bribery’ how can there ever really be freedom? Marijuana would have never been prohibited, let alone demonized, had big companies not seen their profits possibly affected by its’ legalization. You can read about it, it is all public record and well known. I’m still trying to figure out the part of the Marijuana that is bad and the part about alcohol that is not bad. I must be a moron afterall, since I cannot understand the logic of preventing a proven medication from being used, especially with a side effect profile akin to water.
I’m with you humboldt. but we will need more then two, and what year are you talking about 2011 2012 or after the next election
I’m talking about next 4:20, in 2011. I’m mad as hell and I want to let them know it! We will definately need more than two though. Who else is with us?
Krazzykid, see what I mean? Almost every single comment after mine had people falling into that fake two party system division. Neither of the two parties will ever permit a sheeple population to have their weed, it would take away too many corrupt institutions which are profitable for the few. Others still believe that voting for someone else will solve all their problems in this. News flash: Prohibition has proven that no politician or party will ever legalize weed based upon what the people say with their votes, phone calls, letters, emails, or even marches. The people they represent are not the majority of the population. When people figure that out (and boy are the people stupid) then the solution will be at hand. Weed will only be legal when the people get a spine.
Jim Lunsford Im glad I at least have you and FreeTheWeed on my side.
Yes I know the majority of the country is just scared sheeple. They bitch and whine when something doesn’t go their way but are too afraid to make things go their way.
Honestly Im not really surprised by the comments tho cause most of the people that comment on this site don’t even bother to read the other comments, they just read the post by MPP and then complain. I can honestly say I have read almost every comment by every person on this site.
I am ex military and when I joined I swore an oath to protect the Constitution of the United States of America. Just because I am no longer a member of the Army does not mean I will no longer uphold that oath. It just means I no longer have any officers over me and I DO NOT have to follow the presidents orders.
I will still die if I have to trying to get my rights back, even if I have to do so alone!
Everyone else: GROW A PAIR AND DO THE RIGHT THING
Oh yeah by the way
Humboldt Hemp why are you waiting til 4/20 to do your march?
That’s the day they would be expecting something like that and therefore in their eyes you are just another druggie that got high and decided to go for a walk
Krazzykid, I’m ex military as well. However, we don’t use the Constitution anymore, so you are freed from that oath. That document was trashed before we even took the oath actually, but that’s a whole ‘nuther story. lol But, if you are dying for your rights, you are not trying, you are taking. That’s what makes it a right. Sheeple try, free people have. And free people have because they refuse to give them up. They refuse to submit. Few free people are posting here. They don’t matter anyway. As for me, today it’s me and mine. I no longer owe allegiance beyond that. The state doesn’t deserve it, that’s for sure. And it’s collapsing anyway. Even the MSM talks of it all, albeit in circles. So many sheeple here talk of the next elections, and me? I sincerely doubt there will be a next election. As crappy as these times are for us, as a nation, these are the last of the good days. The pinata was busted open and it was filled with sewage.
The battleground is in California. In 1996 Prop 215 made history and paved the way for almost 30% of the states to follow suit with medicinal laws. There will be more. We must continue to gain ground and not surrender anywhere we have had success. Proposition 19 isn’t perfect, but its a step in the right direction and far from a cash grab.
I urge MPP to help unite the movement and support proposition 19.
Obama is a CIA man, Who ran the CIA? Bush Sr.
I voted for Cynthia McKinney a former congresswoman who had more experience than Obama. Obama was setup to destroy the democratic party and you all ate it hook line and sinkah. I voted for Kerry and before that I voted for Nader. I never voted for Iraq, I knew 9/11 was an inside job the day that it happened I had no doubt in my mind that it was Illuminati.
the united states is not a democracy. we are a republic. look it up if you don’t believe me. we have a represetative form of govt.
i voted for ron paul in the primary and chuck baldwin of the constitution party in the general election. i voted for debra medina for governor, but gov. perry and his good buddy glenn beck screwed her royally and she did NOT get kissed first.
Webster Tarpley, historian and commentator, warned us that Obama was a front for the Bush/Clinton gang. Clearly, he was right.
barbm, we used to have a republic, but we couldn’t keep that form. Now we have corporatism, which is when the needs of the corporations over=ride the needs of the state. As in Monsanto runs our agriculture (and is killing us via a poisoned food supply) Standard Oil (and it’s ilk) run our energy department, which is a lot of why weed is illegal and we still use oil, and so on. Figure it out. You don’t count to the state.
Disappointment :/
Tyranny!
I thought 4/20 would be a nice choice for a march. I am an eternal optimist and living in California I have been proud to be a citizen of the first state to legalize medical marijuana. Yes, I agree our government has strayed far from its original intentions and most (if not all) of our political officials are at the beck and call of greedy corporations. It is also a well known fact that is it because of corporate greed that marijuana and hemp remain illegal. I proposed the idea of a march on Washington because it has been a proven method in the past to get Washington’s attention. I even agree that many people will think that it is just a bunch “stoners” out for a walk. That is way is it so important to show the world that more people use marijuana than just delinquent kids and old burn-outs. It’s (forgive the pun) high time we get over our “paranoia” and take a stand once and for all that we are tired of the lies and the hypocrisy. If 4/20 seems too far away, then propose a better date. I thought it would allow more people time to plan and organize so that we could get as many people together as possible together.
Counting on Jim Webb and Steve Cohen to grill the FBI and LEOnoheart over the hypocrisy that is cannabis prohibiton.
The FIVE R’s of Green Central Station
‘GreenCentralStation’ presents “MedicalMarijuanaOutlaws” – host introduction-debut 8/21/10
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZ-UTB3Q8q4
RIGHTS,ROCK,REGGAE,RAP,REFORM ……BRING IT !!!!!!!!
I’ve read what all had to say and all are basically saying the same. The only way to make these people listen is on a State-by-State deal. Providing the states incorporate a Medical Marijuana Law, only then will this stop. Just remember this – even the Federal Government has a Medical Marijuana Program.
I,m all for the March,if it’s 4 2 0 or not, wake up America . God gave this Herb for us to enjoy,not for the Goverment(we the people} yeah right, to take this away from us.
[...] Feds Say Leonhart is ‘Right Choice’ for DEA, Despite Widespread Calls for Her Withdrawal — MPP…. // [...]
Jim, I think you will see that Prohibition of Alcohol was overturned. Along with the fact that England is producing a pharmaceutical product using the whole plant as well as our military medical approval system is looking into the use since Iraq, maybe..? Don’t forget according to the DEA “We have medical Marijuana, it’s called Marinol” (check their site via Google with “Marinol”), contrasts that there is no use, yet we have it?
I voted for Obama for a number of reasons. Mainly because I felt he was sincere and wanted to do the right thing. I know what the the right thing is to do here with every fiber of my being. He’s not doing it. Like ‘LindaSpeaks’ says up near the top of the replies here, he’s losing more and more of my respect and trust every day as it appears to me that he is not holding to his word and memo the DEA. Obviously Michele Leonhart is getting a pat on the back and a job well done for the continuing raids on Medical Marijuana.
As for Prop 19 in California, please support it. It may not be perfect, but if your looking for perfection on earth your on the wrong planet. Without a doubt, I believe it contains the most important thing that matters, Legalization. I think at the very least, it is an excellent start. I ask you to consider the following…
1) People have no fear of being persecuted for drinking an alcoholic beverage if the police come to the club/bar they are being entertained at, or even their own house.
2) People are free to purchase alcohol from licensed establishments and transport it from said establishment to the privacy of their own home, with no fear.
3) People can distill and ferment their own home brews and wines in their home if they want with no fear of having their door bashed in by the law.
From what I can see, under Prop 19, Marijuana users would enjoy the same freedoms as alcohol users do. The stigma of being considered and looked at as a criminal because you prefer/enjoy Marijuana over other more harmful and riskier choices, would be gone. Marijuana users would be looked at just like alcohol users are looked at, as regular normal citizens who have chosen to consume a legal drug.
Obama works for the same corporations as GWB! If you live in Calif., please vote for Prop 19. Don’t buy into the BS that certain “Medical MJ Dispensery Operators” are pushing – the are protecting their own business interests. We have to chip away at the stone. Misdemeanor for under 1 oz was the 1st chip, Prop 215 was the 2nd chip. Prop 19 is a BIG 3rd chip – not everything we wanted, but 25 sq ft of growing space sure sounds good to me.
to everybody on this site who essentially wants to start a revolution to legalize marijuana rather then political avenues and talking back control of our government, which a third party would need to win a election or a single party would need to gain all the power for the other to dissipate allowing a third party to come in power, unless you have a army and mass weaponry I suggest you think about your odds. Protests and political avenues are the best option we have, and they have worked, unless of course you have tanks and weaponry to fight a few million trained soldiers.
Excellent points, Perspective 53. As Americans, we CAN change our government every few years by VOTING.
California voters can go online to register to vote:
http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_vr.htm
or to vote by mail
http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_m.htm
South Dakota citizens can go online to register to vote, and you can vote as an absentee if your a SD citizen who is currently out of state (e.g., a student):
http://www.sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/registrationvoting.shtm
Other states: Google your state name and “voter registration.” It takes 5 minutes to change the world.
College students can usually register as residents of the place they live while in college OR, if they are from elsewhere, they can register as a citzen of their “home town.” The choice is theirs, so college students, you might want to think about where to make your vote count the most.
And as a side note: If you’re not already registered or if you’re just not sure, do it today. Most states have a deadline that’s a few weeks BEFORE the election, so don’t delay!
(And also: If you didn’t vote in 2008, there is a good chance you are no longer registered; in some states you have to re-register if you miss an election or two, so make sure you’re registered, and if you have a chance to vote early (either by mail or in person at a polling place, jump on it!)
Register. Vote. Change things. Share the links.
I’m all for a March on Washington. If there’s going to be one I’d like to be a part of it, if…
it’s going to be really really big, I MEAN HUGE!
I just feel we’d need a really need an enormous showing.
Cheers
Humboldt, Perspective and Wendy – Let’s do it, let’s keep getting more people involved and protest. I’m all up for march on DC, wether it’s on April 20th, 2011 or any other day. I strongly believe that if enough people show up in front of white house, the FEDs will have to do something about it.
Perspective – and i dont think we have to fight few million trained soldiers. How do you think it would look if military started shooting up unarmed protestors.
April 20, 2011 – March to Free The Weed
Free The Weed. Free The People.
LEGALIZE!! It does not matter how small or big each little step is. Vote for any and all cannabis reform. We will win one bill at a time, one state at a time.
Here’s a site with a few tips on etiquette for public gatherings
http://oregon912project.org/forum/204
And a couple of words from John Lennon…
“You say you want a revolution,
Well, you know, we all want to change the world…
But when you talk about destruction,
Don’t you know that you can count me out”
Let’s remember we’re trying to win people over, not beat “them” down.
I’m going to see what I can do and contact every organization I can get a hold of. The march is on 4/20 2011. It’s time to show Washington that we are not afraid to stand up for our right to use/grow Marijuana and Hemp. Neither of these plants should have been made illegal in the first place and it is time to right the wrongs that have to done to the worlds two most useful plants in exsistence. Freedom is never easily won but I agree, lets show them that we can do it peacefully.
Hi, MPP-
Is it okay to post links to voter registration sites on here? I’ve got those on hand for California and South Dakota, and I’m wondering if it would be appropriate to post those links here. Seems to me like we’re at the point that getting people registered to vote is the next step. Any thoughts?
Go right ahead!
Thanks, Mike. I’ll plan on cross-posting this to new MPP Headline stories as they pop up in order to, hopefully, get this info in front of the larger viewing audience. I would encourage the sharing of these links through other venues as well (but first check them out to make sure I’m legit and not just posting some stealth thing)
California voters can go online to register to vote:
http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_vr.htm (print the form and mail it in)
and can also request a ballot to vote by mail
http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_m.htm
South Dakota citizens can go online to register to vote, and you can vote as an absentee if your a SD citizen who is currently out of state (e.g., a student):
http://www.sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/registrationvoting.shtm
Other states: Google your state name and “voter registration.” It takes 5 minutes to change the world.
College students can usually register as residents of the place they live while in college OR, if they are from elsewhere, they can register as a citzen of their “home town.” The choice is theirs, so college students, you might want to think about where to make your vote count the most.
And as a side note: If you’re not already registered or if you’re just not sure, do it today. Most states have a deadline that’s a few weeks BEFORE the election, so don’t delay!
(And also: If you didn’t vote in 2008, there is a good chance you are no longer registered; in some states you have to re-register if you miss an election or two, so make sure you’re registered, and if you have a chance to vote early (either by mail or in person at a polling place, jump on it!)
Register. Vote. Change things. Share the links.
Obama is so useless that he uses left over Bush garbage. Leonhart is evil, the kind of Bush evil that kills women and children.
Obama has proven more than once that he has no interest in letting Americans have freedom. He needs to step down and let a decent person carry out the Obama campaign promise–CHANGE–.
A smashing disappointment. First, befriend the banks, then side with Big Oil, pave the way for the destruction of life on earth with
nuclear power, and now, persecute those who need cannabis as
a medicine. What is Barak thinking? Who’s side is he on?
Hi, Mike 61 / MPP:
I’ve sent posts of links to the Cali and South Dakota voter registration sites and it seems to get hung up in “awaiting moderation.” I’m wondering if inclusion of URLs might be creating a problem with the posting as a “Comment” and that got me to thinking: Would MPP be interested in creating a button or something that says “Click here to Register to Vote” and “Click here to Vote as an Absentee?” A couple of buttons on the homepage might do more to get people registered than to simply have the info buried as a comment. If you’re interested in creating the link-to-register and a link-to-vote-by-mail page, I’ll be happy to gather info and pass it along to you. I’ll keep an eye out here for an expression of interest on your part, or you can reach me by email at my address in the Comments database.
I JUST wrote the President an email commenting on the outrageous nomination of Michelle Leonhart as the Director of the DEA.
Take five minutes and make YOUR activism ACTIVE…
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact
Anyone who is blaming Obama is missing the bigger picture. The fact is, unless we vote someone in office who is in favor of decriminalizing marijuana use and possession for any reason, and is not afraid to make this statement during the campaign, this issue will never get the support it deserves. The fact is, any candidate that does have the guts to support us will never get voted into office, simply because there isn’t enough support for it yet. Too many old geezers are still around, bringing their reefer madness mentality to politics and the voting booths. I completely agree with Pat’s post that Obama is basically another career politician, and Christian Olson is right – support proposition 19, we have to do it ourselves.
this was my post to the white house:
appalling!!!!!!!!!
Why would you chose to keep a murderer on staff? That is what this Leonharrt is – a murderer. She sanctions murder by DEA agents, be it a dog or a human.
My 1st insticnt would be after prop 19 passes to move to California.
Passing prop 19 is a no brainer, but look what the DEA is still doing to legal dispensaries. This will only continue after CA votes to legalize because the state will still NOT be in compliance with federal law. It will go like this:
Legal marijuana sold in local bar. DEA raids bar, kills bud tender’s dog, steals computers, all cash and all product. Bud tender complains “But it’s legal now in this state.” DEA says, tough shit, FUCK YOU federal law backs me up.
Bud tenders need to be heavily armed today and not afraid to defend their property and rights. This will become even more appartant after full out legalization.
My instinct now is to stay where I am and hope that eventually my state legalizes it. But by then I will be dead. So, time to move out of this repressive country.
apparant – sorry, computer glitch
Yeah Mark #68 you are right.
That will undoubtedly happen. Then we are going to have to go to war with the federal government to change that. So why not just skip a step and save some lives
# 70: or we can all leave this country, move to another, say Canada, or Netherlands and make those countries super powers. Europeans eat our knowledge up, they might like the opportunity to become super powers. They might welcome us, with a good marketing campaign. Shit, in this country we can market a pet rock. But we cant legalize pot. Go FUCKING FIGURE!!!!
I’m not worried about Obama. i’m worried about the guy waiting in the wings to save us from Obama
Leonhart wasn’t chosen by Obama because of her qualifications. the last person the president is gonna want to have heading up the Worlds mot people hating organization(DEA) , is anyone who might be even slightly sympathetic to the cannabis lobby. Being the smart guy that he is, he picks the person that is least sympathetic to our cause. I wonder how he would feel if someone broke into his house and shot his dog,and got away with it.
Leonhart wasn’t chosen by Obama because of her qualifications. the last person the president is gonna want to have heading up the Worlds most people hating organization(DEA) , is anyone who might be even slightly sympathetic to the cannabis lobby. Being the smart guy that he is, he picks the person that is least sympathetic to our cause. I wonder how he would feel if someone broke into his house and shot his dog,and got away with it.
Obama, who I spent a lot of time and energy supporting, has again proved to me that he is a very poor selector of his subordinate officials and advisers. My only consolation is that the alternatives to Obama were and are far worse. I guess all we can do is keep informing him of the displeasure he has caused by his terrible choices. Perhaps, if he gets reelected, a second term may encourage him to find his “cajones” and begin to act like a world leader.
I think the man is relying on too many Bush era adivsors, holding too many Bush era conventions and the Dem Party is even worse – no Bushites, but talk about Max Sennet comedy stupid…I have told them all to take me off their lists – as one of those the “Bush” recession (kept alive by Obama’s support of Bushite Wall Streeters and Bankers and Democratic bungling) victims, what little money I have to contribute will go to MPP!
I am with others who have commented on this matter.
Obama is a traitor and a liar and also a pussy.
This bitch is the one who put Tommy Chong in the slammer,not to mention her other outrages against cannabis and those who use it. This is yet another example of Obama’s cowardice in the face of the Republican party and his craven accomodation of the Corporatists. To hell with us,who believed his campaign lies and bullshit. Obama makes Jimmy Carter look like Superman. At least Jimmy Carter had some small degree of personal integrity.
Barack Obama is a joke.
Screw him.
I have many medical probems and for anyone to take this issue lightly should realize this isn’t a joking matter. When I get up in the morning my pain level is very high until I use (Marijuana) then it calms my pain down so I can go on for the rest of the day. Also it stops me from severe and I mean severe muscle spasms all over my body. Maybe one day these so called educated people will listen to people like me and all the proof that has been written on Marijuana that provides relief to the sick. I also want to mention to President Obama, walk in my shoes for a day and then and only then will you understand. I keep asking for someone to hear me but for the past 10 years I have had no luck and the way it looks I guess I never will.
I love the American voter! You morons love to bash Obama. Sure let’s go back to war, hatred, and jail. It would help if you actually knew how our government works. Stop listening to the Republican Facist and stick with what you believe. Most people that I hear who don’t like Obama Admin. is tha he’s black???? Can’t we all just evolve???
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