Obama & the Embeds (DEA edition)

Tell me again why it's called the "Obama administration"?

Last October (almost a year ago, if you're counting) Eric Holder called a halt to DEA raids on medical marijuana patients and facilities (my emphasis):

Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. directed federal prosecutors Monday to back away from pursuing cases against medical marijuana patients, signaling a broad policy shift that drug reform advocates interpret as the first step toward legalization of the drug.

The government's top lawyer said that in 14 states with some provisions for medical marijuana use, federal prosecutors should focus only on cases involving higher-level drug traffickers, money launderers or people who use the state laws as a cover. . . .

In a statement, Holder asserted that drug traffickers and people who use firearms will continue to be direct targets of federal prosecutors, but that, on his watch, "it will not be a priority to use federal resources to prosecute patients with serious illnesses or their caregivers who are complying with state laws on medical marijuana."

Seems clear enough. So why is the DEA raiding legal California marijuana facilities? Steve Elliott at Alternet (h/t Michael Whitney):

The federal Drug Enforcement Administration has flouted Mendocino County, California’s newly enacted medical marijuana ordinance by raiding the first collective that had applied to the sheriff’s cultivation permit program.

A multi-agency federal task force descended on the property of Joy Greenfield, the first Mendo patient to pay the $1,050 application fee under the ordinance, which allows collectives to grow up to 99 plants provided they comply with certain regulations.

July 2010 raids were also conducted in San Diego county.

Sounds like an Embed. Let's see. DEA, Acting Administrator, Michele Leonhart. Bingo — Bush-nominated as Deputy Administrator of the DEA in 2003, confirmed in 2004. Bush-nominated as DEA head in 2008, but never confirmed. Re-nominated by Obama in February 2010.

And it seems Ms. Leonhart doesn't much like medical marijuana. Alternet again (all you need is the headline, though click if you like):

Obama Wants a Bush Crony Appointed as a Top Drug Enforcer

Jeez. Come on, Mr. President. If you can post up Reggie Love, you can block this nomination — all by yourself.


The Marijuana Policy Project has a petition, if you're so inclined. Jane Hamsher has some thoughts as well.

GP