Tell AG Holder:
Keep Obama’s Promise,
Respect State Medical Marijuana Laws

Sign our letter telling AG Holder to honor his 2009 memo and respect state medical marijuana laws.

» Read the whole letter

Attorney General Eric Holder is set to “clarify” his department’s stance on state medical marijuana laws in light of an increasing number of raids and threats against patients, caregivers and even state employees.

Shortly after President Obama took office in 2009, Attorney General Eric Holder issued his now infamous “Ogden memo.” In this memo, Holder ordered US Attorneys General to stop federal prosecutions of patients and caregivers in states where medical marijuana has been legalized.

But in recent months, these same US AG’s have unleashed an intense campaign of violence and intimidation on patients and caregivers. It seems as though, despite Holder’s clear directive two years ago, federal prosecutors are either confused about the department’s stance or have gone completely rogue.

The stories won’t stop piling up: the 26 year old Iraq War veteran gunned down by a SWAT team in Arizona during a botched raid in which no illegal evidence was uncovered; 28 raids in under 24 hours across Montana and California, crippling businesses and putting patients’ health and well-being in danger; threats to prosecute state employees for doing their jobs and implementing state law; and on, and on, and on.

These unfortunate events have begun to have a chilling effect on marijuana reform. In Washington, Governor Chris Gregoir has vetoed a bill for medical marijuana dispensaries, and in New Jersey, Governor Chris Christie is refusing to implement his state’s medical marijuana law — all due to the kinds of threats and intimidation coming from US Attorneys General.

But Holder’s silence surrounding these events has raised some alarming questions. Does Holder lack control over his prosecutors? Or is he quietly supporting their militant campaigns from the sidelines?

Hopefully, those questions will be answered as Holder is set to “clarify” his department’s stance on state medical marijuana laws as soon as today. Rep. Barney Frank and Rep. Jared Polis have sent a letter urging the administration to respect state medical marijuana laws and stick to the language and intent of their 2009 memo.

We’re urging AG Holder to respect state law, too, with a petition that demands he honor Obama’s commitment to medical marijuana patients and put an end to federal raids and intimidation.

Click here to read the full letter and add your name.

Stay tuned for more information on AG Holder’s statement, possibly later this afternoon.

A graphic video of a botched drug raid in Utah has reignited conversations on whether our war on drugs is the right approach in tackling drug use and addiction.

The Weber-Morgan Narcotics Strike Force had a warrant to search the home of Todd Blair early in the morning, but did not find the drug dealing operation they were looking for. Instead, officers found only a small amount of marijuana and an empty vile of methamphetamine.

In the video, Sgt. Troy Burnett kicks the door down, sees Blair at the end of the hall with a golf club over his head, shoots Blair 3 times and then tells him to get on the ground. Somehow, local prosecutors have declared this to be a just killing within the confines of Utah law.

Blair’s family is launching a federal lawsuit alleging that officers had many other options at their disposal other than murdering an unarmed drug addict.

Yesterday, we sent out an urgent alert asking Just Say Now activists to write their state representatives in support of medical marijuana bills in Illinois and New York.

In New York, S. 8427 would have legalized possession of medical marijuana to prescribed patients, but failed to come up for a vote in the state senate. S. 8427 could be brought up for a vote in the next two weeks.

The Illinois House of Representatives voted on SB. 1381 — a bill that would have legalized medical marijuana in addition to creating state-licensed ‘Compassion Centers’ for card-carrying patients. Unfortunately, while SB. 1381 was believed to have at least 56 supporting votes, only 53 representatives voted ‘yes’ — 7 votes short of a majority. According to the bill’s sponsor, SB. 1381 will be getting a second chance when the IL House reconvenes in January under ‘postponed consideration.’

It’s important to note that Just Say Now activists wrote over 1,200 letters to representatives in New York and Illinois in support of these measures in just a few, short hours. That’s a remarkable show of support, and Just Say Now will continue to pressure lawmakers to make a compassionate choice for patients.

If you live in New York, click here to write a letter to your state senators in support of medical marijuana.

If you live in Illinois, click here to write a letter to your state representatives in support of medical marijuana.

Right on the heels of our push to write New York state senators in support of medical marijuana, we have just learned that the Illinois House of Representatives is scheduled to vote TOMORROW on SB. 1381 — a bill to legalize medical marijuana for patients in that state.

Illinois is contemplating a slightly different bill from the one in New York, in that state-licensed ‘Compassion Centers’ would be set up to provide prescribed medical marijuana to card-carrying patients in the state. SB. 1381 is an important bill that would improve the quality of life of seriously ill patients in Illinois, and we want to make sure state representatives know they should support it.

If you live in Illinois, click here to write your state representative in support of SB. 1381 to bring medical marijuana to patients in the state.

Today could be our last chance to bring medical marijuana to New York for another year, and many patients across the state just can’t wait that long.

Lacking only a few supporting votes in the New York State Senate, a bill known as S. 8427 would legalize the possession of prescribed medical marijuana for patients suffering from terminal and debilitating disease.

S. 8427 could be brought up for a vote during today’s special session, so we sent the email below to Just Say Now supporters, urging them to write to their state senators in support of this bill.

If you live in New York state, click here to write a letter to the state senate to pass S. 8427.

Hey -

This is really urgent — today might be our last chance to bring medical marijuana to New York patients!

We are so close to having enough votes to to legalize medical marijuana in New York State, but a few key members of the State Senate are still holding out. It’s unclear if the bill will get a vote today, but we need you to speak out for medical marijuana no matter what.

Albany needs to hear that you support medical marijuana in our state. Click here to write the State Senate an email to ask for their support of S. 8427 to bring medical marijuana to New York patients.

Today’s special session in the state legislature might be our last hope to bring relief to patients in New York for another year.

Patients in New York just can’t wait any longer for their medicine. Criminalizing treatment for our sickest fellow citizens is wrong and inhumane, and it’s up to us to push our senators to do the right thing.

We need 32 state senators to support a compassionate choice for those suffering from cancer, HIV/AIDS, MS and other, debilitating diseases in our state. But a few members are still on the fence, and need to hear from us before it’s too late if this bill comes up for a vote today.

Stand up for New York patients. Click here to write an email to the NY State Senate in support of medical marijuana.

Thanks for all you do to help end the war on marijuana.

Michael Whitney
JustSayNow.com