Wow.
By DEVLIN BARRETT, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON
– Pot-smoking patients or their sanctioned suppliers should not be
targeted for federal prosecution in states that allow medical
marijuana, prosecutors were told Monday in a new policy memo issued by the Justice Department.
Under the policy spelled out in a three-page legal memo, federal prosecutors
are being told it is not a good use of their time to arrest people who
use or provide medical marijuana in strict compliance with state law.
The
guidelines issued by the department do, however, make it clear that
federal agents will go after people whose marijuana distribution goes
beyond what is permitted under state law or use medical marijuana as a
cover for other crimes.
The memo advises prosecutors they "should not focus federal resources in your states on individuals whose actions are in clear and unambiguous compliance with existing state laws providing for the medical use of marijuana."
The
new policy is a significant departure from the Bush administration,
which insisted it would continue to enforce federal anti-pot laws
regardless of state codes.
"It will not be a
priority to use federal resources to prosecute patients with serious
illnesses or their caregivers who are complying with state laws on
medical marijuana, but we will not tolerate drug traffickers who hide behind claims of compliance with state law to mask activities that are clearly illegal," Attorney General Eric Holder said in a statement.
By the government's count, 14 states allow some use of marijuana for medical purposes: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. Some medical marijuana advocates
say Maryland shouldn't be included in that group, because the law there
only allows for reduced penalties for medical marijuana usage.
California
stands out among those for the widespread presence of dispensaries —
businesses that sell marijuana and even advertise their services. Colorado also has several dispensaries, and Rhode Island and New Mexico are in the process of licensing providers, according to the Marijuana Policy Project, a group that promotes the decriminalization of marijuana use.
Advocates say marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain and nausea, among other ailments.
Holder said in March that he wanted federal law enforcement
officials to pursue those who violate both federal and state law, but
it has not been clear how that goal would be put into practice.
The memo spelling out the policy was sent Monday to federal prosecutors in the 14 states, and also to top officials at the FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration.
The memo written by Deputy Attorney General David Ogden
emphasizes that prosecutors have wide discretion in choosing which
cases to pursue, and says it is not a good use of federal manpower to
prosecute those who are without a doubt in compliance with state law.
"This
is a major step forward," said Bruce Mirken, communications director
for the Marijuana Policy Project. "This change in policy moves the federal government dramatically toward respecting scientific and practical reality."
The change has critics, including lawmakers who see it as a tactical retreat in the fight against Mexican drug cartels.
"We cannot hope to eradicate the drug trade if we do not first address the cash cow for most drug trafficking organizations — marijuana," said Rep. Lamar Smith of Texas, the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee.
Administration
officials said the government will still prosecute those who use
medical marijuana as a cover for other illegal activity.
In
particular, the memo urges prosecutors to pursue marijuana cases which
involve violence, the illegal use of firearms, selling pot to minors, money laundering or involvement in other crimes.
And while the policy memo
describes a change in priorities away from prosecuting medical
marijuana cases, it does not rule out the possibility that the federal
government could still prosecute someone whose activities are allowed
under state law.
The memo, officials said, is designed to give a sense of
prosecutorial priorities to U.S. attorneys in the states that allow
medical marijuana. It notes that pot sales in the United States are the
largest source of money for violent Mexican drug cartels, but adds that
federal law enforcement agencies have limited resources.