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**Brewman_Jax** · 05-08-2012, 09:55 AM

http://www.alternet.org/drugs/155313/5_w...war_raids/

From the article:

Quote:Drugs have always been part of the collective human experience, and they forever will be. But bungled drug raids that terrorize citizens for no good reason should end up in the dustbin of history.

Is there another takeaway from the harrowing story of University of California San Diego student Daniel Chong, who drank his own urine to survive a subhuman five-day abandonment in a holding cell? Chong was awaiting release after a Drug Enforcement Agency raid on his apartment complex -- on 4/20, for that extra kick in the crotch. Notwithstanding the DEA's inevitable apology to Chong, who also had to survive three days in intensive care thanks to his careless jailers, the incident will only fuel the drug war's perennial public-relations nightmare.

But added value will surely arrive in the form of other increasingly high-profile rebukes. Like the statement from House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi -- released after news of Chong's drug-war torture went viral -- that openly criticizes the Obama administration's dangerous federal disregard of state medical marijuana laws. The 200 (and counting) cannabis facility raids launched since Obama took office now exceed those of his predecessor, George W. Bush.

"I have strong concerns about the recent actions by the federal government that threaten the safe access of medicinal marijuana to alleviate the suffering of patients in California, and undermine a policy that has been in place under which the federal government did not pursue individuals whose actions complied with state laws providing for medicinal marijuana," Pelosi wrote. Her core query to Washington from the Left Coast seemed clear: Why are you high on drug raids?

...

The 5 drug raids cited are relatively recent, but the same results--SSDD. Rolleyes

**sandnsea** · 05-08-2012, 01:37 PM

I can tell you that in Oregon the FBI is targeting people with medicinal cards who are dealing. I only know what I know through the grapevine so I don't have any testimony - to any lurking fbi - but I personally think Pelosi is getting bad info and the FBI is doing what they should, under current federal law. The FBI making these raids actually encourages the medicinal people to keep their shit together and creates the kind of environment most of us want. I know what it is to have half your city high, believe me. Even the old people! Even AA's!! Seriously!!!

You're not going to get more states to pass medical marijuana if the ones that have it aren't policing it properly. And you're not going to get legal marijuana in any form if the people pushing for full legalization Can't Respect The Laws that exist.

**Brewman_Jax** · 05-08-2012, 01:46 PM

(05-08-2012 01:37 PM)sandnsea Wrote: I can tell you that in Oregon the FBI is targeting people with medicinal cards who are dealing. I only know what I know through the grapevine so I don't have any testimony - to any lurking fbi - but I personally think Pelosi is getting bad info and the FBI is doing what they should, under current federal law. The FBI making these raids actually encourages the medicinal people to keep their shit together and creates the kind of environment most of us want. I know what it is to have half your city high, believe me. Even the old people! Even AA's!! Seriously!!!

You're not going to get more states to pass medical marijuana if the ones that have it aren't policing it properly. And you're not going to get legal marijuana in any form if the people pushing for full legalization Can't Respect The Laws that exist.

We're talking about poorly-planned/poorly-executed raids and illegal actions by law-enforcement on a "war on drugs" that has little to do with war or drugs.

**sandnsea** · 05-08-2012, 02:16 PM

(05-08-2012 01:46 PM)Brewman_Jax Wrote:
(05-08-2012 01:37 PM)sandnsea Wrote: I can tell you that in Oregon the FBI is targeting people with medicinal cards who are dealing. I only know what I know through the grapevine so I don't have any testimony - to any lurking fbi - but I personally think Pelosi is getting bad info and the FBI is doing what they should, under current federal law. The FBI making these raids actually encourages the medicinal people to keep their shit together and creates the kind of environment most of us want. I know what it is to have half your city high, believe me. Even the old people! Even AA's!! Seriously!!!

You're not going to get more states to pass medical marijuana if the ones that have it aren't policing it properly. And you're not going to get legal marijuana in any form if the people pushing for full legalization Can't Respect The Laws that exist.

We're talking about poorly-planned/poorly-executed raids and illegal actions by law-enforcement on a "war on drugs" that has little to do with war or drugs.

"I have strong concerns about the recent actions by the federal government that threaten the safe access of medicinal marijuana."

Based on personal knowledge of *some* growers of medical marijuana in Oregon, I fundamentally disagree that the federal government is threatening anything. They could be worse in California, but I haven't seen anything to indicate that it's any different than the complaints by the Oregon pot growers. I have nothing against legalization. I have a lot against people lying to make a political point. To date, I think they're lying.