Pubdate: Sat, 15 Dec 2012
Source: Daily Freeman (Kingston, NY)
Copyright: 2012 Associated Press
Contact:  http://www.dailyfreeman.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3269
Page: B2

POT PROPONENTS OPTIMISTIC

Obama Says Pursuing Recreational Drug Users Not 'Top Priority'

SEATTLE (AP) - Backers of new laws that legalized marijuana in 
Washington and Colorado were cautiously optimistic after President 
Barack Obama said Uncle Sam wouldn't pursue pot users in those states.

Following the November votes in Washington and Colorado the Justice 
Department reiterated that marijuana remains illegal under federal 
law, but had been vague about what its specific response would be.

In a Barbara Walters interview that was slated to air Friday on ABC, 
President Barack Obama said: "It does not make sense from a 
prioritization point of view" to focus on drug use in states where it 
is now legal.

Marijuana activists were relieved at Obama's comments, but still had 
questions about how regulation will work. They said even if 
individual users aren't charged with crimes, marijuana producers and 
sellers could be subject to prosecution, civil forfeiture and other 
legal roadblocks.

And the president didn't specifically address how the federal 
government would respond to state officials in Washington and 
Colorado, who under the new laws are now tasked with coming up with 
regulations for commercial pot sales.

Obama simply told Walters that going after "recreational users" would 
not be a "top priority."

"There's some signal of hope," Alison Holcomb, who led Washington's 
legalization drive, said of Obama's statements. "I think it's correct 
that we ultimately we need a legislative resolution."

But Tom Angell of the group Marijuana Majority said Obama's comment 
don't add anything new. He said the federal government rarely goes 
after users and Obama can do more besides passing the responsibility 
to Congress. Angell said Obama can use executive power to reclassify 
marijuana as a legal drug.

Federal prosecutors haven't targeted users in the 18 states and 
Washington, D.C. that allow people to use marijuana for medical 
reasons. However, federal agents have still cracked down on dozens of 
dispensaries in some of those states.

Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., said Obama's statements weren't 
definitive but were encouraging.

"I think the president's comments are a good sign that the federal 
government might be willing to work with our state as we work to 
develop a new regulatory model for marijuana," she said. "There is a 
conflict between federal law and state law on this issue, we need to 
continue to work through that."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom