Pubdate: Wed, 04 Sep 2013
Source: USA Today (US)
Copyright: 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc
Contact: http://mapinc.org/url/625HdBMl
Website: http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/index.htm
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/466
Author: Donna Leinwand Leger
Page: 3A

NEW FEDERAL GUIDELINES BOOST MARIJUANA MOVEMENT

Advocates for Legalization Predict Progress in States

Marijuana movements already simmering across the country could get a
big boost from the Obama Administration's announcement that it would
take a laid-back approach to states with softer laws on marijuana.

"This is one of the most significant milestones in the movement toward
ending marijuana prohibition," says Mason Tvert, spokesman for the
Marijuana Policy Project, which advocates marijuana legalization and
regulation. The group has led several ballot initiatives across the
USA. "The federal government for the first time ever has sent a clear
signal to states that they can adopt their own marijuana policies if
they do them in a responsible manner."

Two states, Colorado and Washington, have legalized marijuana, and 20
states have approved marijuana for medical use. Until Attorney General
Eric Holder's announcement Thursday, marijuana users in those states
could face federal prosecution even if they adhered to state laws and
local regulations.

Under the new guidelines, the Justice Department will not challenge
state laws and prosecutors may not bring cases against individual
users unless they violate eight federal priorities, including
marijuana distribution to minors or as a cover for drug-trafficking
operations.

Political opponents of marijuana legalization can no longer cite the
federal government as a reason to squelch reform, Tvert said.

Advocates of marijuana legalization are geared up for 2014 and 2016
elections with ballot initiatives in a number of states, including
Alaska, California, Maine, Nevada and Oregon, says Stephen Gutwillig,
deputy executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, which advocates
a public-health approach to drug use.

Tvert said he expects to see legalization measures by 2016 in Arizona,
California, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana and Nevada.

"The victories in Colorado and Washington were already so significant
that a number of activists in a number of states were already planning
similar campaigns," Gutwillig said. "The announcement, if anything,
will embolden those campaigns and potentially inspire activists and
elected officials elsewhere who were waiting to see the official
federal response."

Drug-abuse prevention groups say they will work to derail the
movement. Arthur Dean, CEO of the Community Anti-Drug Coalition, said
he had expected the Justice Department to "reaffirm federal law and
slow down this freight train."

"Instead, this decision sends a message to our citizens, youth,
communities, states, and the international community at large that the
enforcement of federal law related to marijuana is not a priority,"
Dean said. "We remain gravely concerned that we as a nation are
turning a blind eye to the serious public health and public safety
threats associated with widespread marijuana use."

Gutwillig sees the greatest potential for the movement among state
legislators who may have feared tangling with the Justice Department
if they passed laws in conflict with federal statutes. The new federal
guidelines tell states that robust state regulation of pot will likely
meet federal drug-control goals if they keep drugs from kids and criminals.

The Drug Police Alliances expects to see bills introduced on the whole
range of marijuana laws, Gutwillig said. Legislators in New Jersey,
New York and Pennsylvania have said they would advance bills in
upcoming legislative sessions, he said.
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