Dear Sirs, Please be advised that President Obama has said in an interview with Barbara Walters the following when it comes to legalized marijuana. “We’ve got bigger fish to fry... It would not make sense for us to see a top priority as going after recreational uses in states that have determined that it’s legal.”
So Mr. Montgomery and Mr Horne, we all know you both have a disdain for medical marijuana and the current president. So why can’t you just let this go? Clearly, the president doesn’t see it as a priority, so why do you both continue to waste taxpayer dollars? Instead, take the tax revenue and fight real crimes. The voters and legislatures in 18-plus states and D.C. have made their choices and we, the voters, demand that you stop chasing ghosts and stop the charades. Let adults make their own choices.
Court after court in Arizona has sided against the state time and time again when it comes to Proposition 202. It’s time for the full law to go into effect. As a medical cannabis patient, and a U.S. Navy Gulf War-era veteran, stop harassing us!
Jason Llewellyn
CHANDLER
Accuracy posted at 5:14 pm on Sat, Dec 15, 2012.
Jason Llewellyn,
It is President Barack Obama who has waged the federal government’s war on medical marijuana . . . NOT — Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery and Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne.
The federal government regulates drugs through the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) (21 U.S.C. § 811). The federal government claims that marijuana is not medicine and in Gonzales v. Raich (2005), the United States Supreme Court held that the federal government has the constitutional authority to prohibit marijuana for all purposes.
livinisez posted at 6:14 pm on Sat, Dec 15, 2012.
And the fact that Obama says they won't target "recreational users" doesn't mean that the Feds won't still bust distributors, state run or not. That is the tactic they have used against voter approved medical initiatives in the past. Although I am all for legalization his comments were not very heartening. A better stance would be to call for changes in the draconian federal laws.
phxvato1202 posted at 11:53 pm on Sat, Dec 15, 2012.
Jason Llewelynn
You could not have said it any better, those two politicians who could care less about the will of the people use the federal government requirements when it's something that benefits their beliefs. These arizona politicians use the constitution according to what they want. As much as i hate the smell of marijuana cause to me it stinks is nothing in comparrison to these two who stink worse and could care less about what the voters have voted for.
Masterrogue666 posted at 5:21 am on Sun, Dec 16, 2012.
Jason: First off, thank you for your service. We both know the oaths we take when we enter the service. I'm guessing that the two men you mentioned probably take a similar oath for their office. Yes, Obama did make that statement. However, Obama's only going to be around for 4 years. What will the NEXT POTUS do? Like it or not, there's a Federal law against it right now, and that should be changed first. It's kind of similar to SB1070. The State claims it has the right, and the Federal government doesn't. But you're right, Obama's not too concern about enforcing Federal laws....
mikedurham posted at 9:31 am on Sun, Dec 16, 2012.
Jason,
Last year Mr. Montgomery promised that an effort in his office would be made to focus on cold homicide cases. Nothing. Last year Mr. Montgomery and the director of ADES led the Child Safety Task Force on CPS. Laws were passed but the Oversight Committee was never implemented ... a rule of law for them not us issue. It does not surprise me that a bait and switch issue such as medical marijuana is taking up their time. The words "red herring" comes to mind.
downtownresident posted at 10:10 am on Sun, Dec 16, 2012.
They are just pandering to their base. It's more popular with the richie rich ultra conservative east valley and other backward and Mormon factions that contribute to them. Oh, and since much of their money comes from out-of-state (Remember Russell Pearce's last contributor's break dowm. MOST of that money came from out of state) they've ogt nothing to lose.
Arizona Willie posted at 9:09 am on Mon, Dec 17, 2012.
What the Feds do or don't do in the future is irrelevant to the ABUSE OF AUTHORITY by the Gang of Three ( Brewer, Horne(y), and Montgomery ).
All three of them have abused their authority by telling state employees to refuse to do their duty under the valid state mmj law and their abuse of authority has caused financial damage to the owners of dispensary permits by keeping them from operating their lawful businesses under the laws of the State of Arizona.
Because they PERSONALLY disagree with the law they have spent millions of dollars in taxpayer funds on lawsuits trying to overturn the law.
Nowhere in the State Constitution does it give them the authority to tell employees to refuse to do their duty nor does it give them the right to spend state money on lawsuits for their PERSONAL agenda.
If they wanted to pay for the lawsuits out of their own pocket that would be another story. But they abused their authority by spending state money on personal beliefs.
Would you put up with them spending state money to take themselves and their families on a trip to China for a vacation?
I dont' think so and this is basically the same thing.
The money is being spent for their personal gratification not in furtherance of taxpayer wishes -- in fact it is in opposition to the expressed will of the taxpayers at the ballot box.
The Gang of Three should be prosecuted.
VofReason posted at 3:44 pm on Tue, Dec 18, 2012.
Let me start by saying that I couldn't care less if you smoke MJ or not and for medical reasons or not. That said, I wish someone would really just be honest in AZ about it and say that they want to use MJ for recreational use and that people who get benefits medically will also gain advantage. They need to quit hiding behind the fact that cancer patients are driving the bus. Be honest, if you have cancer, you could quitely get as much as you need and use it in your house without anyone hassling you. Heck there are plenty of people who have done so long before a law was inacted. Then go back and learn the onstitution and the structure of Government. The President doesn't get to decide which laws are enforceable or not.