Pubdate: Wed, 05 Mar 2014
Source: Tulsa World (OK)
Copyright: 2014 World Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.tulsaworld.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/463
Author: Alicia A. Caldwell, Associated Press
Page: A4

WHITE HOUSE PRESSED ON POT-USE ENFORCEMENT

The DEA's Chief Said Going Toward Legalization Is Irresponsible.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A senior U.S. drug enforcement official urged
Congress and others Tuesday not to abandon scientific concerns over
marijuana in favor of public opinion to legalize it, even as the Obama
administration takes a hands-off approach in states where voters have
made legal its sale and use.

The deputy administrator for the Drug Enforcement Administration,
Thomas Harrigan, testified Tuesday before a House oversight panel that
easing laws governing marijuana threatens U.S. institutions.

"We should not abandon science and fact in favor of public opinion,"
Harrigan said. He echoed previous testimony from James Capra, DEA's
chief of operations, who told a Senate panel in January that "going
down the path to legalization in this country is reckless and
irresponsible."

The subcommittee chairman, Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., said the country is
"in a state of conflict and chaos right now" over U.S. marijuana policy.

In an election year that could tip the balance of power in Congress,
some Republicans have accused the White House of cherrypicking which
federal laws to enforce. The administration has said it continues to
pursue dangerous criminals, but President Barack Obama himself last
month in an interview declared marijuana no more dangerous than
alcohol and contrasted it with "harder drugs" including cocaine and
methamphetamine.

Twenty-one states and the District of Columbia have legalized
marijuana for medical use. To date, only Colorado and Washington have
allowed the sale and use of marijuana for recreational use. Several
other states, including Oregon and Alaska, are expected to vote on
legalizing recreational marijuana within the next year.

Colorado's recreational pot market became legal in January. Officials
in Washington are expected to issue the first marijuana business
license Wednesday.

Federal law is unambiguous: Marijuana is among the most dangerous
drugs, it has no medicinal value and it's illegal in the United
States. It's a stance supported generally by the president's Office of
National Drug Control Policy.

But the Justice Department has made clear it won't interfere with
businesses in states where marijuana's sale or use has been made legal
so long as everyone adheres to state law and the industry is taxed and
regulated. The Treasury and Justice departments last month announced
formal guidance for banks, though the financial industry has suggested
that banks will remain wary of opening accounts for marijuana businesses.

Harrigan, the deputy DEA administrator, stopped short Tuesday of
criticizing the administration's enforcement policies. He said the
Justice Department memo issued last year by Deputy Attorney General
James Coles has had little impact on his agency's operations targeting
largescale drug trafficking organizations. He said law enforcement
remains concerned about international drug organizations exploiting
state drug laws that are more lax than the federal government.

The U.S. attorney in Colorado, John Walsh, said his office has never
targeted casual drug users for federal prosecutions, and the Cole memo
has had no impact on that.

Harrigan also told the panel that DEA's foreign counterparts have
questioned why the U.S. appears to be easing its overall oversight of
marijuana laws.
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