At long last, the new Democrats in the Oval Office are getting up to speed on the DEA raids issue.
Thick-headed agents at the Law Enforcement Agency have been flies in the ointment for the past six months or so - in spite of the fact Court Rulings in favor of the compassionate use of Medical Marijuana in the State of California - have gone forward in leaps and bounds.
Although all legal challenges on court calendars around the State were resolved - after all, the last ruling handed down by the California Supreme Court set a precedent which dictates that the compassionate use of Medical Marijuana is now legal in California - the DEA continued to terrorize pot dispensaries - and likewise - harass medical marijuana patients in violation of the State Law.
An aggressive campaign to inform the President about the heinous acts of the DEA - and a bold-faced attempt by supporters of Medical Marijuana to urge Barack Obama to take a stand publicly regarding the illegal para-military-style DEA raids in recent weeks - finally paid off.
At a press conference last week, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder told reporters that it is now American policy not to intefere with State medical cannabis laws or allow any DEA raids on dispensaries spearheaded by overjealous agents.
Americans for Safe Access, a non-profit organization that has been tirelessly working on behalf of the legal rights of medical marijuana patients in recent years, was one of the leading organizations in the country pushing for an end to this interference.
In the final analysis - telephone calls to the White House and heartfelt letters to the President - garnered the positive outcome which unfolded last week in Washington, D.C.
Seventy-two million Americans live in states where medical cannabis is legal, but federal law prohibits its use under any circumstances.
And, more than 100 Americans are currently facing prosecution, sentencing, or serving time in prison for medical cannabis offenses right now, according to ASA spokesperson George Pappas.
ASA hopes the emerging change in federal policy will signal an end to prosecutions and bring those already serving time for medical cannabis offenses home to their families.
"There has been a lot of collateral damage in the federal campaign against medical marijuana patients," said Steph Sherer, Executive Director of Americans for Safe Access.
ASA provided recommendations for a new national medical cannabis policy to President Obama and the 111th Congress earlier this year.
The staff at ASA pray that because a U.S. President was willing to listen to science and take seriously the suffering of medical marijuana patients, that on the heels of the announcement by Holder, that there will now be an increase in state level action around the country.
Ailments alleviated by Medical Marijuana
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