<p>The U.S. Justice Department has officially instructed federal prosecutors around the country to stop going after medical <a href="http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/tag/marijuana/" title="">marijuana</a> users who are complying with state laws. A total of 14 states now have some provisions for medical marijuana use. A memo from Deputy Attorney General David Ogden </p><div class="vert-display-toggle collapsible relative flex flex-col items-center "><div class="vert-unit mt-4 mb-3 top-20"><div ad-type="mobile-desktop" class="ad-wrapper vert min-h-boombox flex items-start justify-center" data-ad-mapping="inline" data-ad-slot="Discover/inline-ad" id="div-inline-ad-0"></div></div><span aria-label="Advertisement" class="text-ad mt-1 text-[11px] uppercase">Advertisement</span></div><p>said it was "unlikely to be an efficient use of limited federal resources" to prosecute "individuals with cancer or other serious illnesses who use marijuana as part of a recommended treatment regimen" [<a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125595221988793895.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsSecond" title=""><em>The Wall Street Journal</em></a>]</p><p>. The memo emphasized, however, that prosecutors should continue to target drug traffickers and distributors who use state laws as a cover for illegal activity. Supporters of the policy change say it represents a new </p><div data-embedid="9b6b7608-0101-4c26-8de9-6aad26a6d2b9" id="insticator-embed-temp"></div><p>emphasis on violent crime and the sale of illicit drugs to children…. But some local police and Republican lawmakers criticized the change, saying it could exacerbate the flow of drug money to Mexican cartels, whose violence has spilled over the Southwestern border [<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/19/AR2009101903638.html" title=""><em>Washington Post</em></a>].</p><p> Related Content: 80beats: <a href="/health/medical-pot-clubs-get-a-reprieve-from-raids-under-obama" title="">Medical Pot Clubs Get a Reprieve From Raids Under Obama</a> 80beats: <a href="/health/a-toke-a-day-might-keep-alzheimers-away" title="">A Toke a Day Might Keep Alzheimer’s Away</a> Image: flickr / <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/neeta_lind/3326238955/" title="">Neeta Lind</a></p>

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The U.S. Justice Department shifts focus, easing medical marijuana use prosecutions for those complying with state laws.

Health

Uncle Sam Promises to Lay Off Medical Marijuana Users

Article

News

Eliza Strickland

Science

The U.S. Justice Department has officially instructed federal prosecutors around the country to stop going after medical marijuana users who are complying with state laws. A total of 14 states now have some provisions for medical marijuana use. A memo from Deputy Attorney General David Ogden said it was "unlikely to be an efficient use of limited federal resources" to prosecute "individuals with cancer or other serious illnesses who use marijuana as part of a recommended treatment regimen" [The Wall Street Journal] . The memo emphasized, however, that prosecutors should continue to target drug traffickers and distributors who use state laws as a cover for illegal activity. Supporters of the policy change say it represents a new emphasis on violent crime and the sale of illicit drugs to children…. But some local police and Republican lawmakers criticized the change, saying it could exacerbate the flow of drug money to Mexican cartels, whose violence has spilled over the Southwestern border [Washington Post]. Related Content: 80beats: Medical Pot Clubs Get a Reprieve From Raids Under Obama 80beats: A Toke a Day Might Keep Alzheimer’s Away Image: flickr / Neeta Lind

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