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Obama Says Hed Support Easing Marijuana Restrictions
By Zeke J Miller @zekejmillerJan. 31, 2014
President Barack Obama says in a new interview that he would support efforts to remove marijuana from the federal governments list of the most serious narcotics, but that Congress must act to make the change.
In an interview with CNN that aired Friday, Obama was pressed on recent remarks he made to the New Yorker that marijuana is no more dangerous than alcohol, and on whether he would push to remove pot from the Drug Enforcement Agencys list of so-called schedule I narcotics.
First of all, what is and isnt a Schedule I narcotic is a job for Congress, Obama said.
I stand by my belief, based, I think, on the scientific evidence, that marijuana, for casual users, individual users, is subject to abuse, just like alcohol is and should be treated as a public health problem and challenge, Obama added. But as I said in the interview, my concern is when you end up having very heavy criminal penalties for individual users that have been applied unevenly, and in some cases, with a racial disparity.
The DEA is required to make determinations, Obama said, but based on laws passed by Congress. A spokesman for the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy tweeted Wednesday that the attorney general can reclassify marijuana after a scientific review, but that it was not likely given current science.
But Obama said he would support congressional action to remove the schedule I classification for marijuana.
more...
http://swampland.time.com/2014/01/31/marijuana-obama-decriminalization/?iid=sl-main-lead
Scuba
(53,475 posts)If it's Congress' job to lead the Nation, we are truly fucked.
Coyotl
(15,262 posts)The DEA has placed things on the list without consulting Congress. That is FACT!
eShirl
(18,495 posts)ProSense
(116,464 posts)that the AG can act.
In some parts of the United States, it is now legal to sell marijuana to adult consumers. But an unforeseen problem recently popped up that hadnt received much attention before: businesses that sell pot cant open a bank account.
Because federal law still classifies cannabis as a Schedule I illegal narcotic, federally regulated banks dont want to do business with pot retailers or dispensaries, even when theyre legal. Indeed, they cant banks would be subject to criminal penalties under money-laundering laws.
For policymakers, there are a couple of options. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), for example, wants to reform the Controlled Substances Act so that marijuana is no longer a Schedule I illegal narcotic and banks wont have anything to worry about. Since that would require congressional approval, its unlikely well see this change anytime soon. (See the correction below.)
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* Update: I heard from Blumenauers office this afternoon, which said congressional action on reforming the Controlled Substances Act may not be necessary the Attorney Generals office can act unilaterally without lawmakers approval. With this in mind, it would appear Holder can declassify marijuana as a Schedule I illegal narcotic at his discretion and without congressional input.
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/making-the-banking-system-marijuana-friendly
Originally posted here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024397961
Fumesucker
(45,851 posts)I wonder what that means?
eShirl
(18,495 posts)RainDog
(28,784 posts)Holder should reschedule in order to make it possible for parents to access cannabis for children with life-threatening illnesses.
shanti
(21,675 posts)with my own two eyes
Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)MagickMuffin
(15,944 posts)Most of them don't have the training to make these decisions. And even the ones that do, don't have the best interest of the nation as a whole.
But at least it is starting to be discussed!