Obama nominates medical marijuana obstructionist Michelle Leonhart to become Administrator of the DEA
from : maps.org
Sadly, President Obama has nominated Michelle Leonhart, Acting Deputy Administrator of the DEA, to become the permanent Administrator.
This is a deep disappointment to MAPS and our allies in the medical marijuana movement.
President Bush originally appointed Leonhart. She signed the Final Order that rejected the DEA Administrative Law Judge’s (ALJ) recommended ruling that it would be in the public’s interest for Professor Lyle Craker to be licensed to grow marijuana at a MAPS-sponsored facility at UMass Amherst.
Leonhart’s rejection of the recommended ruling shows that she is more concerned with enforcing punitive prohibitionist policies than supporting scientific research into the safety and efficacy of marijuana as a medicine. This is contrary to Obama’s stance on science over politics.
MAPS is working with the Drug Policy Alliance, the Marijuana Policy Project, the American Civil Liberties Union, Americans for Safe Access, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, and Students for Sensible Drug Policy to try to find Senators on the Judiciary committee that reviews Leonhart’s appointment to question her about medical marijuana issues. We are hopeful that such a line of questioning will influence her to reverse her current obstructionist approach to medical marijuana. If the DEA does not license Craker in a timely fashion, MAPS will be forced to sue the DEA in the U.S. Federal Court of Appeals.
This is a last resort, since it will take years and DEA’s strategy of delay will have been successful yet again.
Sadly, President Obama has nominated Michelle Leonhart, Acting Deputy Administrator of the DEA, to become the permanent Administrator.
This is a deep disappointment to MAPS and our allies in the medical marijuana movement.
President Bush originally appointed Leonhart. She signed the Final Order that rejected the DEA Administrative Law Judge’s (ALJ) recommended ruling that it would be in the public’s interest for Professor Lyle Craker to be licensed to grow marijuana at a MAPS-sponsored facility at UMass Amherst.
Leonhart’s rejection of the recommended ruling shows that she is more concerned with enforcing punitive prohibitionist policies than supporting scientific research into the safety and efficacy of marijuana as a medicine. This is contrary to Obama’s stance on science over politics.
MAPS is working with the Drug Policy Alliance, the Marijuana Policy Project, the American Civil Liberties Union, Americans for Safe Access, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, and Students for Sensible Drug Policy to try to find Senators on the Judiciary committee that reviews Leonhart’s appointment to question her about medical marijuana issues. We are hopeful that such a line of questioning will influence her to reverse her current obstructionist approach to medical marijuana. If the DEA does not license Craker in a timely fashion, MAPS will be forced to sue the DEA in the U.S. Federal Court of Appeals.
This is a last resort, since it will take years and DEA’s strategy of delay will have been successful yet again.
Do you think that Leonhart should be blocked from beoming Administrator of the DEA? If so, visit Change.org, and ask the senate to block the anti-medical marijuana DEA leader.