In defiance of federal law, Rhode Island is on track to have marijuana crops legally culivated and distributed as early as next fall. New Mexico also has a state-sanctioned program for distributing marijuana to medical patients, but has yet to issue any permits since the law’s passage in 2007. California has had legislation governing medical marijuana use for the past 13 years.
The Obama administration has taken a more lenient position toward a state’s ability to pass medical marijuana legislation. Attorney General Holder indicated in February that the DEA is no longer going to target and harass state compliant medical cannabis providers in states that adopt medical cannabis laws. Also, the executive branch issued a memorandum, entitled “Pre-emption”, to all federal agency heads, in effect instructing them to no longer oppose states seeking greater autonomy to pass laws that may possibly be in conflict with federal laws, and to only oppose them if there is a positive conflict with federal laws resulting in genuine risks to national security.
Source: http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/hotline/2009/07/rhode-island-challenges-federal-ban-by.php
Tags: medical marijuana, Rhode Island
