Congress quietly ends federal government's ban on medical marijuana

WOW!

LA Times

Tucked deep inside the 1,603-page federal spending measure is a provision that effectively ends the federal government's prohibition on medical marijuana and signals a major shift in drug policy.

The bill's passage over the weekend marks the first time Congress has approved nationally significant legislation backed by legalization advocates. It brings almost to a close two decades of tension between the states and Washington over medical use of marijuana.

Under the provision, states where medical pot is legal would no longer need to worry about federal drug agents raiding retail operations. Agents would be prohibited from doing so.

The Obama administration has largely followed that rule since last year as a matter of policy. But the measure approved as part of the spending bill, which President Obama plans to sign this week, will codify it as a matter of law.

I'm too shocked to say much at the moment. This is freaking huge news for chronic pain sufferers, PTSD/Anxiety sufferers cancer and glaucoma patients and the doctors that prescribe medical MJ and the dispensaries. WOW! Progress!

Individual liberty wins a small victory.

Small steps lead to bigger things.

originally posted by: Kali74
WOW!

LA Times

Tucked deep inside the 1,603-page federal spending measure is a provision that effectively ends the federal government's prohibition on medical marijuana and signals a major shift in drug policy.

The bill's passage over the weekend marks the first time Congress has approved nationally significant legislation backed by legalization advocates. It brings almost to a close two decades of tension between the states and Washington over medical use of marijuana.

Under the provision, states where medical pot is legal would no longer need to worry about federal drug agents raiding retail operations. Agents would be prohibited from doing so.

The Obama administration has largely followed that rule since last year as a matter of policy. But the measure approved as part of the spending bill, which President Obama plans to sign this week, will codify it as a matter of law.

I'm too shocked to say much at the moment. This is freaking huge news for chronic pain sufferers, PTSD/Anxiety sufferers cancer and glaucoma patients and the doctors that prescribe medical MJ and the dispensaries. WOW! Progress!

Christie must be ****** bricks about now. Just blew away one of his campaign talking points.

I never thought I see this during my life time. Will MJ now be taken off schedule 1?

originally posted by: olaru12

originally posted by: Kali74
WOW!

LA Times

Tucked deep inside the 1,603-page federal spending measure is a provision that effectively ends the federal government's prohibition on medical marijuana and signals a major shift in drug policy.

The bill's passage over the weekend marks the first time Congress has approved nationally significant legislation backed by legalization advocates. It brings almost to a close two decades of tension between the states and Washington over medical use of marijuana.

Under the provision, states where medical pot is legal would no longer need to worry about federal drug agents raiding retail operations. Agents would be prohibited from doing so.

The Obama administration has largely followed that rule since last year as a matter of policy. But the measure approved as part of the spending bill, which President Obama plans to sign this week, will codify it as a matter of law.

I'm too shocked to say much at the moment. This is freaking huge news for chronic pain sufferers, PTSD/Anxiety sufferers cancer and glaucoma patients and the doctors that prescribe medical MJ and the dispensaries. WOW! Progress!

Christie must be ****** bricks about now. Just blew away one of his campaign talking points.

I never thought I see this during my life time. Will MJ now be taken off schedule 12?

This is unbelievable...

For the first time I am speechless...lets burn some dried flowers in Celebration.

originally posted by: whyamIhere

originally posted by: olaru12

originally posted by: Kali74
WOW!

LA Times

Tucked deep inside the 1,603-page federal spending measure is a provision that effectively ends the federal government's prohibition on medical marijuana and signals a major shift in drug policy.

The bill's passage over the weekend marks the first time Congress has approved nationally significant legislation backed by legalization advocates. It brings almost to a close two decades of tension between the states and Washington over medical use of marijuana.

Under the provision, states where medical pot is legal would no longer need to worry about federal drug agents raiding retail operations. Agents would be prohibited from doing so.

The Obama administration has largely followed that rule since last year as a matter of policy. But the measure approved as part of the spending bill, which President Obama plans to sign this week, will codify it as a matter of law.

I'm too shocked to say much at the moment. This is freaking huge news for chronic pain sufferers, PTSD/Anxiety sufferers cancer and glaucoma patients and the doctors that prescribe medical MJ and the dispensaries. WOW! Progress!

Christie must be ****** bricks about now. Just blew away one of his campaign talking points.

I never thought I see this during my life time. Will MJ now be taken off schedule 12?

This is unbelievable...

For the first time I am speechless...lets burn some dried flowers in Celebration.

Don't inhale!

I want to cry tears of happiness this is so inspiring. I...I don't know what to say. There is no witty punch line here just awesomeness. Was never previously an Obama fan nor hater for that matter but I must now say that I love that man.

I just told my stepfather about the news just to kinda be a richard because he has always adamantly hated it and incorrectly referred to it as dope. He made a sour face and said I don't care, some people just hate change it seems and I can't wait for them to go away so that those with common sense can start running things.

a reply to: Kali74

Im starting to like Obama a lot more.. Wow now all we have to do is let the guys in prison out.

Baby steps!

Too bad my state will be the last one in the union to allow medical pot. If ever.

We're not a grown-up state.

a reply to: Kali74

Very nice, I am glad to see social progress continuing on it's inevitable end. This is a small victory but a victory none the less. For those who stand in the way of progress you will be pushed out of the way progress is an unwavering inevitability, and has time on it's side. As Dylan says the times they are a changing

a reply to: Kali74

Excellent news!

I hope this helps those in need.

a reply to: Kali74

hopefully this gets the ball rolling for other states to legalize medical.
this might be the step we needed.
50 state legal medical
then
50 state legal
yeah baby

Wow, not to be the obvious buzz-kill here but things must be real really F'ed up for them to pull this one out….

Otherwise:

Party on folks!

Can anyone explain to me what this exactly means.

I live in California, so if I am doing a legal grow does that mean I can't be harassed by the feds.

If local LEO harass me, does it mean it can go all the way to the SCOTUS now?

Much thanks.

Think I'll pack it in extra deep tonight.
Gonna have space dreams later...

a reply to: Kali74

This is great news! Now if they will only remove marijuana's schedule 1 classification and finally taking their heads out of their collective asses because everyone knows pot is not more dangerous than coke or heroin and clearly has medical uses!

a reply to: Swills

All drugs should be legal to a certain extent, penalizing and criminalizing what one does with ones own body is the last hurtle of the civil rights movement and this like gay marriage is a civil rights issue.

People have been celebrating this since the article was published ....

December 16, 2014

Tucked deep inside the 1,603-page federal spending measure is a provision that effectively ends the federal government's prohibition on medical marijuana and signals a major shift in drug policy.

I know high hopes take time to sink in sometimes

a reply to: notmyrealname

not really, I just think that the business model has been made with Med MJ... and the folks with the $$$ are already in position to move in and capitalize on this move...

Same pattern will follow with full blown legalization... Once a successful business model is perfected in the legal states, you will see the same on the national level...

They have to get their cash lined up in the right place to be sure to make more $$$ when that happens...

OH, and the lawmakers need to make sure to get the legislation in place to tax that so the gov't get's their slice...

same old same old...

a reply to: bananashooter

it means the dispensaries and such can not longer be raided and shut down by the feds.
medical was legal at the state level which is why the feds could still come in and toss them.
not anymore

i dont know what a legal grow is in california.
im thinking if you have a medical card you are probably allowed to grow x amount.
couldnt say for sure though.

check norml.
all the laws are there

Does the new law also allow the banking industry to accept medical marijuana money into checking and savings accounts? I think this is one of the main reasons it was passed, lots of marijuana money floating around the states where it's legal, and the banks feel left out of the process and want the cash flow.