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Executive Branch

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Richard Branson blogs about being invited onto the global commission, on virgin.com.
Richard Branson blogs about being invited onto the global commission, on virgin.com.

Big Name Panel Calls Global Drug War a "Failure" [FEATURE]

The Global Commission on Drug Policy, made up of former heads of state and other international dignitaries, is calling for fundamental reform of the international drug control system.
Marijuana Policy Project lobbyists and patient advocates watch SB 17 signed into law. (Image courtesy MPP)
Marijuana Policy Project lobbyists and patient advocates watch SB 17 signed into law. (Image courtesy MPP)

Vermont Becomes Eighth Medical Marijuana Dispensary State

Vermont's Democratic governor has stood up to threats from the US attorney, signing into law the state's medical marijuana dispensary bill.
Attorney General Holder says yes to retroactivity only for some federal crack prisoners. (Image courtesy DOJ)
Attorney General Holder says yes to retroactivity only for some federal crack prisoners. (Image courtesy DOJ)

AG Holder Backs Early Release for Crack Cocaine Prisoners

The Fair Sentencing Act, which reduced disparities between crack and powder cocaine sentences, could be about to get even fairer. The US Sentencing Commission is pondering making it retroactive, and Attorney General Holder agrees.
The CHA wants you to pass a drug test if you live in the Kenmore or any other CHA properties. (Image courtesy CHA)
The CHA wants you to pass a drug test if you live in the Kenmore or any other CHA properties. (Image courtesy CHA)

Chicago Housing Authority Wants to Drug Test Residents

Drug testing mania has arrived at the Chicago Housing Authority, which is now proposing to require drug tests of all adult residents, with evictions if they fail.
Dispensaries remain in legal limbo in Washington state. (Image via Wikimedia.org)
Dispensaries remain in legal limbo in Washington state. (Image via Wikimedia.org)

Washington Medical Marijuana Dispensary Bill Dies

First, the feds scared the governor into vetoing most of a successful dispensary and patient registry bill. Now, time has run out on later efforts to get something out of the legislature in Olympia this year.
Those scary US Attorneys get to another governor. (Image via Wikimedia.org)
Those scary US Attorneys get to another governor. (Image via Wikimedia.org)

Arizona Governor Moves to Block Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

Citing yet another threatening letter from a US Attorney, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer is seeking clarity in the federal courts and is poised to put the kibosh on dispensary licensing, at least for now.
The DEA has had more than enough time to issue a ruling on a marijuana rescheduling petition. (Image via Wikimedia.org)
The DEA has had more than enough time to issue a ruling on a marijuana rescheduling petition. (Image via Wikimedia.org)

Groups Sue Feds Over Marijuana Rescheduling Petition Delay

The federal government has been sitting on a marijuana rescheduling petition for almost nine years. Now, advocates are seeking to force the DEA to act on it.

War on Drugs, or a War on Cancer Patients? (Action Alert)

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Tell the Obama Administration to keep its word and stop threatening medical marijuana programs.

Take Action!

Write Attorney General Holder now!

Dear friends,

Medical marijuana patients across the country are under attack!

Despite the Obama Administration's promise to respect state laws, lawyers in the federal government are now threatening to arrest and prosecute people who are legally licensed to grow medical marijuana under state law.

These ideologues are trying to block sensible regulation – and they've already succeeded in Washington State.

We must stop them from erasing all the progress we've made and from leaving patients out in the cold.

Write U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder today to demand that the federal government keep its promise to respect state medical marijuana laws.

Back in 2009, the Obama Administration said they wouldn't use "justice department resources to circumvent state laws" on medical marijuana. They've kept their promise for the past two years, even issuing a memo that made this hands-off approach official policy.

But now, federal government lawyers are intimidating states with new medical marijuana programs in an attempt to end these programs before they even get started. It's already happened in Washington State, where the governor vetoed a promising medical marijuana bill. And if these threats continue, they could jeopardize our efforts in every state where medical marijuana legislation is on the table.

These lawyers are playing politics with the lives of patients who need medical marijuana to cope with debilitating pain and nausea. Take action now and ask the Attorney General to keep the Administration's promise to leave state medical marijuana programs alone.

To put a stop to these scare tactics, we don't need any laws changed – we just need the Attorney General to tell the handful of people sending the threats to stop.

Write Attorney General Holder today and ask him to keep his word by respecting patients' needs.

Then please spread the word – everything we've worked so hard to achieve is at risk!

Thank you again for your help.

Sincerely,

Ethan Nadelmann
Executive Director
Drug Policy Alliance

Rally in Sacramento Monday for Dr. Mollie Fry and Dale Schafer. (Image courtesy ASA)
Rally in Sacramento Monday for Dr. Mollie Fry and Dale Schafer. (Image courtesy ASA)

Feds on New Medical Marijuana Offensive [FEATURE]

Federal prosecutors are threatening elected officials in states considering regulating medical marijuana dispensaries. It's working, so far.