Pubdate: Thu, 05 Sep 2013
Source: Sacramento News & Review (CA)
Copyright: 2013 Chico Community Publishing, Inc.
Contact:  http://newsreview.com/sacto/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/540
Author: Ngaio Bealum

WHAT DOES IT MEAN NOW THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ISN'T SUING OVER
LEGAL MARIJUANA?

So, the feds aren't going after Colorado and Washington. Now what?

- -Jeff

First, the good news: On August 29, Attorney General Eric Holder made
a phone call to the governors of Colorado and Washington and told them
that the Department of Justice would allow the states to follow the
will of the people and regulate the legal, recreational use of
marijuana for adults.

This is awesome news-but let's not get too excited.

Remember when the "Ogden memo" came out shortly after President Barack
Obama was elected, and everyone started acting like weed was suddenly
legal? And then, two years later, the "Cole memo" came out, and the
Drug Enforcement Administration and Department of Justice started
shutting down cannabis clubs in California?

Cannabis is still illegal under federal law. Until that law is
changed, any memo or guideline from the feds can be changed or revoked
at any time. The federal government also stated that they are
reserving the right to sue Colorado and Washington over marijuana at a
later date.

Oh, and there is a new Cole memo. This one outlines eight priorities
for federal marijuana prosecution. It focuses on folks who distribute
marijuana to minors, use revenue from marijuana sales for criminal
enterprises, export marijuana from states where it is legal to other
states, use legal marijuana as a pretext for other illegal drug
trafficking, mix marijuana and firearms, drive drugged, grow marijuana
on public lands, and possess or use marijuana on federal property.

All in all, this is a big victory for cannabis users. This decision by
the DOJ gives states that may be considering marijuana legalization
(California, Massachusetts, Oregon, I'm looking at you) more political
cover and less fear of federal interference. Now is the time for us to
get even more active. We are so close to ending the war on cannabis.
Keep up the good work.

What are your favorite strains right now?

- -Canna-Chris

I have been on the road for a while, and one thing I have noticed is
the emergence of superlocal strains. These are small-batch strains
that haven't gone mainstream yet. My favorites right now are: Yeager,
which is a Hindu Kush variant from southern Oregon; and Blue City
Diesel, a Blueberry and Diesel cross that I found in Portland, Ore.
The Yeager is very kushy, with purple tones and a smooth indica high,
and the BCD has an incredible blueberry sweetness up front, with a
strong and lingering-and I do mean lingering-diesel-menthol finish.
What are your favorites right now?
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MAP posted-by: Matt