O Governo Americano Não Reprimirá O Consumo De Maconha Para Uso Médico Nos Estados Do País Nos Quais Ele É Permitido

Bas · October 19, 2009

O Governo americano não reprimirá o consumo de maconha para uso médico nos estados do país nos quais ele é permitido

O Governo americano não reprimirá o consumo de maconha para uso médico nos estados do país nos quais ele é permitido, diz um memorando enviado hoje pelo procurador-geral dos Estados Unidos, Eric Holder, mudando a política da Administração anterior.

No documento, Holder pede aos procuradores para que não usem recursos federais contra "indivíduos cujas ações estão em cumprimento claro e inequívoco das leis estaduais existentes relacionadas ao uso médico da maconha".

Os Governos de Alasca, Califórnia, Colorado, Havaí, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, Novo México, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont e Washington autorizam seu consumo nestes casos.

As novas diretrizes representam uma mudança em relação à política do ex-presidente George W. Bush, que insistiu em manter as leis federais contra a maconha sem levar em conta a normativa de cada estado sobre seu uso.

O Departamento de Justiça americano deixou claro que não processará pessoas que cumpram a legislação dos estados que permitem a maconha para uso médico, mas não permitirá que a lei seja violada.

"Não será prioridade usar recursos do Estado para reprimir legalmente pacientes com doenças graves ou seus cuidadores se estiverem cumprindo as leis dos estados sobre a maconha", disse Holder.

O procurador-geral deixou claro que a Polícia e os procuradores continuarão trabalhando para punir os que usarem das leis destes estados para usar drogas ilegais ou traficar drogas.

"Não vamos tolerar os traficantes de drogas que se esconderem por trás das leis estaduais para mascarar atividades que são claramente ilegais", ressaltou.

O documento foi enviado hoje aos procuradores dos 14 estados nos quais o uso da maconha com fins médicos é permitido, assim como ao alto escalão do FBI (polícia federal americana) e da agência antidrogas dos EUA.

Para o porta-voz da Casa Branca, Robert Gibbs, a declaração de Holder "não é nada surpreendente, porque é a política posta em prática pelo Governo desde o início".

Fonte: Terra Notícias

Artigo original

Feds to issue new medical marijuana policy

WASHINGTON (AP) -- 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.

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."

At the same time, 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.

Medical marijuana advocates have been anxious to see exactly how the administration would implement candidate Barack Obama's repeated promises to change the policy in situations in which state laws allow the use of medical marijuana.

Soon after Obama took office, DEA agents raided four dispensaries in Los Angeles, prompting confusion about the government's plans.

Fonte: Associated Press

Canadense · October 19, 2009

ESSE NEGAO TA SAINDO MELHOR Q A ENCOMENDA!!!!

ShaggyZ · October 19, 2009

Ta + fácil entender a noticia em ingles do que essa tradução ae... hehehe e como disse o colega Canadense "Esse negão ta saindo melhor que encomenda..."

Politicaída do Brasa vamos abrir o olho!

sano · October 19, 2009

October 19,2009

MEMORANDUM FOR SELECTED UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS

FROM: David W. Ogden, Deputy Attorney General

SUBJECT: Investigations and Prosecutions in States Authorizing the Medical Use of Marijuana

This memorandum provides clarification and guidance to federal prosecutors in States that have enacted laws authorizing the medical use of marijuana. These laws vary in their substantive provisions and in the extent of state regulatory oversight, both among the enacting States and among local jurisdictions within those States. Rather than developing different guidelines for every possible variant of state and local law, this memorandum provides uniform guidance to focus federal investigations and prosecutions in these States on core federal enforcement priorities.

The Department of Justice is committed to the enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act in all States. Congress has determined that marijuana is a dangerous drug, and the illegal distribution and sale of marijuana is a serious crime and provides a significant source of revenue to large-scale criminal enterprises, gangs, and cartels. One timely example underscores the importance of our efforts to prosecute significant marijuana traffickers: marijuana distribution in the United States remains the single largest source of revenue for the Mexican cartels.

The Department is also committed to making efficient and rational use of its limited investigative and prosecutorial resources. In general, United States Attorneys are vested with “plenary authority with regard to federal criminal matters” within their districts. USAM 9-2.001. In exercising this authority, United States Attorneys are “invested by statute and delegation from the Attorney General with the broadest discretion in the exercise of such authority.” Id. This authority should, of course, be exercised consistent with Department priorities and guidance.

The prosecution of significant traffickers of illegal drugs, including marijuana, and the disruption of illegal drug manufacturing and trafficking networks continues to be a core priority in the Department’s efforts against narcotics and dangerous drugs, and the Department’s investigative and prosecutorial resources should be directed towards these objectives. As a general matter, pursuit of these priorities 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. For example, prosecution of individuals with cancer or other serious illnesses who use marijuana as part of a recommended treatment regimen consistent with applicable state law, or those caregivers in clear and unambiguous compliance with existing state law who provide such individuals with marijuana, is unlikely to be an efficient use of limited federal resources. On the other hand, prosecution of commercial enterprises that unlawfully market and sell marijuana for profit continues to be an enforcement priority of the Department. To be sure, claims of compliance with state or local law may mask operations inconsistent with the terms, conditions, or purposes of those laws, and federal law enforcement should not be deterred by such assertions when otherwise pursuing the Department’s core enforcement priorities.

Typically, when any of the following characteristics is present, the conduct will not be in clear and unambiguous compliance with applicable state law and may indicate illegal drug trafficking activity of potential federal interest:

*
unlawful possession or unlawful use of firearms;
*
violence;
*
sales to minors;
*
financial and marketing activities inconsistent with the terms, conditions, or purposes of state law, including evidence of money laundering activity and/or financial gains or excessive amounts of cash inconsistent with purported compliance with state or local law;
*
amounts of marijuana inconsistent with purported compliance with state or local law;
*
illegal possession or sale of other controlled substances; or
*
ties to other criminal enterprises.

Of course, no State can authorize violations of federal law, and the list of factors above is not intended to describe exhaustively when a federal prosecution may be warranted. Accordingly, in prosecutions under the Controlled Substances Act, federal prosecutors are not expected to charge, prove, or otherwise establish any state law violations. Indeed, this memorandum does not alter in any way the Department’s authority to enforce federal law, including laws prohibiting the manufacture, production, distribution, possession, or use of marijuana on federal property. This guidance regarding resource allocation does not “legalize” marijuana or provide a legal defense to a violation of federal law, nor is it intended to create any privileges, benefits, or rights, substantive or procedural, enforceable by any individual, party or witness in any administrative, civil, or criminal matter. Nor does clear and unambiguous compliance with state law or the absence of one or all of the above factors create a legal defense to a violation of the Controlled Substances Act. Rather, this memorandum is intended solely as a guide to the exercise of investigative and prosecutorial discretion.

Finally, nothing herein precludes investigation or prosecution where there is a reasonable basis to believe that compliance with state law is being invoked as a pretext for the production or distribution of marijuana for purposes not authorized by state law. Nor does this guidance preclude investigation or prosecution, even when there is clear and unambiguous compliance with existing state law, in particular circumstances where investigation or prosecution otherwise serves important federal interests.

Your offices should continue to review marijuana cases for prosecution on a case-by-case basis, consistent with the guidance on resource allocation and federal priorities set forth herein, the consideration of requests for federal assistance from state and local law enforcement authorities, and the Principles of Federal Prosecution.

cc: All United States Attorneys

Lanny A. Breuer
Assistant Attorney General Criminal Division

B. Todd Jones
United States Attorney
District of Minnesota
Chair, Attorney General’s Advisory Committee

Michele M. Leonhart
Acting Administrator
Drug Enforcement Administration

H. Marshall Jarrett
Director
Executive Office for United States Attorneys

Kevin L. Perkins
Assistant Director
Criminal Investigative Division
Federal Bureau of Investigation

http://blogs.usdoj.gov/blog/archives/192

http://www.justice.gov/opa/documents/medical-marijuana.pdf

bWd · October 19, 2009

Tem que respeitar, o Negao manda muito! kkkk

So o fato dele mandar essa, foi o que muito maconheiro queria ouvir (eu que votei nele por essa promessa especificamente!), muitos pacientes que sofrem com repressao Federal mesmo que legal nos estados medicinais. Na verdade foi um "Memo" que o governo mandou para os orgaos do Governo e dos Estados informando que dar a dura em paciente nao eh uma boa utilizacao de dinheiro publico. Mas disse que vao continuar investigando carteis e traficantes. Pra mim so o fato do governo Americano reconhecer que Cannabis tem valor medicinal ja DIZ MUITO AO MUINDO TODO SOBRE A IMPORTANCIA DE NOSSA ERVA !!!!

O movimento que gerou isso foi a da Cannabis Medicinal, porque afinal eh uma erva que pode ser usada para tratar varias coisas. Mesmo que um foi so um passo a caminho da legalizacao, a legalizacao eh justamente isso, um processo e nao um evento!

QUe segunda feira linda! Acende um ai galera!

Chronic420 · October 19, 2009