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14 Comments
- Frankyfan3, on 04/22/2009, -1/+22Favorite comment from the site:
Well, there's a lot of reasons, but one of them is you lot are doing a craptastic job of advocating change of marijuana policy. I'm referring to the vast bulk of the comment posters on this page.
STOP griping, restating the problem, bashing politicians, or going off on long ranting tangents. START analyzing individual situations, organizing effective responses, and discussing possible strategies, arguments and responses. When you write a communication about the drug war, think about my 60 year old republican aunt in Baton Rouge LA. You should be thinking "that's my audience, that's who I want on my side". We need to convince the uninformed and ignorant masses of the errors of drug prohibition and the way to do that is by appearing calmer, cooler, and more rational than the ranting raving drug warriors.
FOR EXAMPLE, I note that in one of the above given links, you can find the email addresses of individuals at the DOJ who had a hand in this decision. They are:david.kowal@usdoj.gov and rasha.gerges@usdoj.gov. Note also that you can contact the office of the DOJ at: AskDOJ@usdoj.gov. Why not take a few minutes, and formulate a calm, rational, and compelling as possible response to these events, and let your government know how you feel. Contact all your sympathetic friends and family, and try to get them to write a response as well. Write your local newspaper or televisions station while you are at it. It may or may not help, but it will certainly do a lot more good than the above ranting and raving.
Here is what I wrote the DOJ. If you have a better response, share it with others.:
Greetings.
I am writing to express my extreme dissatisfaction with your offices recent decision regarding Charles Lynch. I was given to understand, by public statements made by president Obama, as well as by public statements made by Attorney General Holder, that the DOJ would no longer be going after Medical Marijuana Dispensaries operating within the bounds of their states laws.
Charles Lynch has never been charged or tried by the state of California. From what I understand, his lawyers were prevented from arguing that his activities were legal in California, because he was being prosecuted under federal law. Everything I have read about the case indicates that mr. Lynch's cooperation with local authorities, including the city council and chamber of commerce, has been thorough and well documented.
In my eyes, and indeed in the eyes of millions of Americans, you are prosecuting a guiltless man who helped the sick and dying in his community
Please keep your promises to the American people, and rethink your decision in this case.
Yours,
Glen Stark
*****
Just sent my email to the DOJ - tagonist, on 04/22/2009, -0/+14I am writing to express my extreme dissatisfaction with your office's recent decision regarding Charles Lynch. According to public statements made by President Obama and Attorney General Holder, the DOJ would no longer be going after Medical Marijuana Dispensaries operating within the bounds of their states laws.
Charles Lynch has never been charged or tried by the state of California. From what I understand, his lawyers were prevented from arguing that his activities were legal in California, because he was being prosecuted under federal law. Everything I have read about the case indicates that Mr. Lynch's cooperation with local authorities, including the city council and chamber of commerce, has been thorough and well documented.
In my eyes, and indeed in the eyes of millions of Americans, you are prosecuting a guiltless man who helped the sick and dying in his community
Please keep your promises to the American people, and rethink your decision in this case.
Yours,
Ronnie Bryan - Frankyfan3, on 04/22/2009, -0/+13Which is why you should email the DOJ, not Obama.
They focused on him because he & AG Holder both stated in public that they would only support prosecution of people who violated BOTH state & federal law.
Lynch has not be tried for any state laws, only charged under federal statutes.
The prosecution has not presented any evidence of violating state law & the defense was barred from presenting evidence that they were abiding by state law.
(Innocent until proven guilty ringing a bell?)
So, the public claims put forward by Obama & Holder have been contradicted by this recommendation to sentence Lynch for at least 5 years.
But you are correct, it is primarily the DOJ who is responsible for this specific instance of political prohibition policy taking precedence over justice. - neonsurfer, on 04/22/2009, -0/+10Dear DOJ,
In regards to Charlie Lynch can't we just waterboard him and let him go?
Yours in kindness love and understanding
NeoN D. SuRFeR
*****
Just sent my email to the DOJ - Frankyfan3, on 04/22/2009, -0/+10I wish you would give the article a chance before blind burying it.
With all due respect, the connection to Obama is strenuous at best in regards to this specific instance with Charles Lynch.... however, his AG Holder has stated the Obama Administration's policy on marijuana would only involve prosecution of those people who violate both state & federal law.
Obviously, this is not what is being put forward by the DOJ's memo on this matter, but why bury this piece simply because it gets wishy-washy in the scope of blame, turning the headline on the boss of the memo writer, rather than the memo writer themselves.
Holder does work for Obama, and as much as I'd hate to admit because I did vote for him, this level of injustice is not completely disconnected from his "war on drugs" continuation policies.
"What does that say about the online community?"
"It's time to crack down on the distribution and use of drugs in our own country"
I shouted it because it mainly because of the comment I re-posted here, and I encourage you to contact the DOJ as well.
I think Obama is on our side, but can't publicly do or say anything to indicate that until we have more reformers telling or representatives that the support is there. - angeladtao, on 04/23/2009, -0/+9The President sets the tone for his administration. If he had said that he would be tough on drug crimes of all types, you can bet the DOJ would have issued different guidance. Therefore, it is appropriate to include Obama's name in the title. It's his administration, his
policy. If he doesn't know about it by now, we should be emailing him as well as the DOJ. - TheJimid, on 04/22/2009, -1/+9I guess Obama just said it to keep Granite Staters for Medical Marijuana off his back on the primary trail, sadly a lot of us took him for his word.
- neonsurfer, on 04/22/2009, -0/+6http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjZeW2fcQHM What he said during the campaign is now american policy, or is it? Love your avatar!
- gigi52, on 04/23/2009, -1/+4This direction that the DOJ is taking would not be happening without Obama's blessing. Did you really expect any better from him?
- z3rged, on 04/23/2009, -0/+2Or have Charles Lynch waterboard someone else and then they can let him go.
- neonsurfer, on 04/24/2009, -0/+1Latest: Charles Lynch was scheduled to be sentenced today but the judge has delayed a decision until June 11 in federal court in Los Angeles
- BrownieMix, on 04/23/2009, -6/+2I don't see how this relates to Obama.
- novakaine, on 04/22/2009, -8/+4Why does this article blame Obama when there is no evidence that this even crossed his desk?
Seems more like the DOJ is at fault here. - Shiloah, on 04/22/2009, -8/+1Misleading title. There's no Obama connection here. Buried.
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