Against this backdrop, given the political capital he possesses, Obama has the opportunity to do something about this. In fact, in a March 2008 interview, candidate Obama stated, "If it's an issue of doctors prescribing medical marijuana as a treatment for glaucoma or as a cancer treatment, I think that should be appropriate because there really is no difference between that and a doctor prescribing morphine or anything else". He went on to say, "what I'm not going to be doing is using Justice Department resources to try to circumvent state laws on this issue". These words gave encouragement to civil libertarians and medical marijuana proponents that an Obama Administration would change the direction of at least some parts of the War on Drugs.
Then on Tuesday of this past week, the Drug Enforcement Agency, a part of the Justice Department, raided four medical marijuana facilities in the Los Angeles area. Agents seized over 400 lbs of the drug and $10,000 in cash. When questioned about the raids in light of candidate Obama’s campaign remarks, DEA spokeswoman and special agent Sarah Pullen answered that, "There has been no direction as to a change in how we ... enforce federal law". The key word in the quote of course is “change”.
It is certainly disappointing that the Obama Administration hasn’t yet put a halt to one of the most uncompassionate things the federal government does –- deny medication to those in pain. Indeed, the new president is preoccupied with two other wars he inherited and an economy headed for depression. Maybe he just hasn’t gotten around to addressing drug policy. For that possible reason I am willing to give him an “incomplete” on “change” in regards to the War on Drugs. However, my patience is running thin.
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Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Dave Nalle
I believe Obama has openly said that he's going to stop prosecutions of medical marijuana cases, but your example from California seems to make that a lie.
With drug warrior supreme Eric Holder in charage of the Justice Department I see a Clintonesque elevation of the war on drugs coming.
Dave
2 - Brunelleschi
Another example of the change being image, and not substance.
It's good news that we have a leader that is intelligent and likable, and one that has already changed America's image for the better.
Just don't hold your breath waiting for the revolution. We already got all we are going to get for now.
3 - Arch Conservative
"It's good news that we have a leader that is intelligent and likable, and one that has already changed America's image for the better."
Impotent brie eating Parisians named Jaqcues and Pierre like us again.........
Oh goody gum drops.........
Now I feel so much better about "the one's" intentions to collude with Bela Pelosi to spend this nation out of existence
4 - zingzing
"Now I feel so much better about "the one's" intentions to collude with Bela Pelosi to spend this nation out of existence"
bush tried to do that. and it almost worked!
5 - Dr Dreadful
"Please excuse the teacher in me for a moment, but let’s review President Obama’s performance so far in bringing “Change” to America [...] it took him all of four days in office to authorize a cross border bombing of Pakistan."
A rather wicked part of me is imagining the following conversation in the Oval Office:
'Excuse me, Mr President, but we need you to authorize this military action into Pakistan.'
'Sounds important. Can't it wait? I'm still trying to find my bearings here. I have only been in this job for four days, you realize. Does anyone here know where George kept the whiteout?'
'I realize you've got a lot on your plate, sir, but this is rather urgent. It's a project your predecessor was following quite closely, but unfortunately circumstances on the ground meant that he wasn't able to see it through before he left office. So if - '
'I mean, it's bad enough that after eight years he still couldn't get around to having this stain cleaned off the carpet here.'
'I can come back in a few minutes, sir, if that would be better for you. It's just that our people's lives are at stake here, and - '
No, no, that's no good. I'm meeting with the Senate minority leader in five minutes. What's his name? Goddamn. Lot to remember. Aw, jeez - here it is!'
'Sir?'
'In the bottom drawer here with the Yellow Pages! Now that makes no sense - why would you wanna keep whiteout down there? Oh, heck, gimme that thing. I'll authorize it. I'm sure it's necessary in the short term. When I can at least get the thermostat in here figured out I'll feel like I can get more of a handle on things. It's like freakin' Hawaii in here. Why d'you think I moved to Chicago? Sheesh...'
6 - Clavos
Funny, funny, funny, Doc!
7 - Roger Nowosielski
I don't understand what these people expect?
A totally new tone in the Oval Office.
A trillion-dollar stimulus package - whose virtues are still hotly debated - though whether it will work, no one really knows.
The closing of G-Bay within a year
The cap on the executive pay for CEOs involved in the bailout.
It's been less than two weeks, the last time I looked. But one way or another, that is CHANGE, whether one likes or not.
But that's perhaps the crux of the quarrel and the basis of the complaint - that it's not to everyone's liking. Well, I can't help that, especially if you haven't voted for him.
8 - Clavos
...that it's not to everyone's liking. Well, I can't help that, especially if you haven't voted for him.
Clearly it's not, and likely never will be; fewer than one in four eligible voters voted for him.
9 - Roger Nowosielski
Well, the rest may have just given up - so enthralled they must have been about either party's candidate.
10 - handyguy
The rush by Mr. Jabobine and others to pass judgment on an administration that is all of 18 days old is just ridiculous.
On the issue of drug policy I am as much a libertarian as Dave Nalle. But to jump to drastic conclusions on such scant evidence...well, it's overreaching, to say the least.
And for a person who is a teacher to resort to one-liner caricatures ["Rahmbo," "a tax cheat in charge of the IRS," the blithe dismissal of Clinton and Gates as an aggression monger and a cold warrior] is embarrassing. Shameful, really.
What really is your point? What would Obama be doing that would meet your approval, Mr. Jacobine? You never bother to make any constructive suggestions in this series of bad articles you've given us with "Change" used sarcastically in their titles.
11 - handyguy
Another Clavos classic:
fewer than one in four eligible voters voted for him.
Now pray, continue with the statistics. What percentage of eligible voters voted for any president? Why do you consider this meaningful for Obama in particular?
12 - Roger Nowosielski
As I said, Handy, the use of the word "change" is full of sarcasm because it doesn't meet with the approval of the hearer. It's as simple as that.
13 - Roger Nowosielski
I'll pass on #11. Have made enough enemies already, and I certainly don't want to be adding to that number.
14 - Clavos
Another Clavos classic:
fewer than one in four eligible voters voted for him.
Why thank you, handy!
Unexpected, but nonetheless, high praise indeed.
15 - Dr Dreadful
Actually, when George Washington was first elected president there were only about 11 eligible voters. Presumably they all voted, because none of them would have wanted it to be set down in history that they couldn't be arsed to vote in their country's first-ever presidential election as an independent nation. So there's a >50% number right there.
And Roger @ #7: for a moment there I thought you said that the President wants to close eBay within a year. What's he got against online auctions? I asked myself. Surely a ready supply of people willing to spend $200 on a camping iron (as my father-in-law was prepared to do until his daughter got it for him for a quarter as much) is just the sort of economic stimulus we're looking for.
Then I looked again.
I still think it's funnier the first way.
16 - Roger Nowosielski
Right, Doc. I should have thought of that and let the mistake creep as though by error. If only to see the response.
17 - lumpy
i'm eager to her how obama has changed things for the better in the last couple of weeks. was it when he bombed pakistan?
18 - Roger Nowosielski
I take it you disapprove. So do I.
19 - Lumpy
I'm beginning to think that liberalism is like a depressant drug for the intellect. it provides uncritical self-affirmation and makes intellectual curiosity unnecessary.
20 - Dr Dreadful
Lumpy, purely out of intellectual curiosity, do you actually have a basis for your statement or are you just slinging mud?
21 - Arch Conservative
"bush tried to do that. and it almost worked!"
Ah yes........what is destined to be the reply to any criticism of King Barry over the next four years.......change the discussion to a Bush bashing session.
Sooner or later everyone will see that the emperor is naked and nothing will be able to save him then.
This is going to be more fun than a plethora of pinatas!
22 - bliffle
Kenn says: "Rahm “Rhambo” Emanuel is a firm supporter of Israel whose dad actually perpetrated terrorist acts in the 1940s to bring about the birth of that nation."
So, are the sins of the father to be visited on the sons? Are you making a god-like judgement here?
Pretty presumptuous.
23 - Kenn Jacobine
#10 Handyguy, my point is that while the 25% of Americans who voted for Obama are still mesmerized by his charms, good looks, and oratory, he is just another corporate stooge who lied to them. The "Change" he talked about during the campaign should have been immediate and decisive once he was sworn in. It hasn't been.
Rhambo is not my creation it is what his close friends call him.
Geithner is a tax cheat. He owed taxes from years past ($36,000) and didn't say anything until he was nominated for Treasury Secretary. Daschle ditto.
It is common knowledge that Hillary pressured Bill into bombing Serbia and she did vote for invading Iraq. How could Obama appoint as his Sec. of State a person who favored what he ran against?
With all due respect, look at the facts - think with your head instead of your heart.
24 - Kenn Jacobine
Bliffle,
Emanuel's record speaks for itself in terms of his fervent support of Israel. In terms of his father's activities, I don't recall him repudiating or disavowing them as a public servant. That is because he is proud of them.
25 - handyguy
Kenn, my objection was your use of a single item from a person's past to represent their entire identity. This is intellectually lazy, and it is a reprehensible way to carry on a political discussion.
I do think with my head, thank you. I prefer to use all of my head, and not a tiny selective part. I get better results that way. You may want to give it a try.
Calling Obama a "corporate stooge" is neither meaningful nor true. Why not use a more nuanced argument? Is it because you are unable to do so?