{"id":2072,"date":"2013-08-14T02:31:13","date_gmt":"2013-08-14T02:31:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.marijuana.net\/?p=21197"},"modified":"2013-08-14T02:31:13","modified_gmt":"2013-08-14T02:31:13","slug":"eric-holder-tries-patchwork-fix-for-federal-drug-sentencing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/eric-holder-tries-patchwork-fix-for-federal-drug-sentencing\/","title":{"rendered":"Eric Holder Tries Patchwork Fix For Federal Drug Sentencing"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"wp_fb_like_button\" style=\"margin:5px 0 5px 5px;float:right;height:100px;\"><script src=\"http:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/all.js#xfbml=1\"><\/script><fb:like href=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/eric-holder-tries-patchwork-fix-for-federal-drug-sentencing\/\" send=\"true\" layout=\"standard\" width=\"450\" show_faces=\"false\" font=\"arial\" action=\"like\" colorscheme=\"light\"><\/fb:like><\/div><p><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"276\" height=\"183\" src=\"http:\/\/www.marijuana.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/eric-holder.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"eric holder\" title=\"eric holder\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"ajy\"><img id=\":ok\" class=\"ajz\" src=\"https:\/\/mail.google.com\/mail\/u\/0\/images\/cleardot.gif\" alt=\"\" \/><\/div>\n<p> <a rel=\"attachment wp-att-21198\" href=\"http:\/\/www.marijuana.net\/uncategorized\/eric-holder-tries-patchwork-fix-for-federal-drug-sentencing\/attachment\/eric-holder-2\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-21198\" title=\"eric holder\" src=\"http:\/\/www.marijuana.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/eric-holder-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/a>Many of us have heard the outrageous examples of rapists and murderers serving less time in prison than low level marijuana and drug offenders. \u00a0To some, \u00a0this is just an odd quirk or a glitch in federal policy, a conversation that will soon find it&#8217;s way to back of our minds, \u00a0buried deep in the abyss of our sub consciousness, well below the layer our daily stresses. \u00a0To others, this is a broken family, this is children growing up without a father, this is the realization that your teen&#8217;s mistake in college could ruin the rest of his or her life.<\/p>\n<p> The Obama Administration had initially vowed to fix the broken state of drug laws. \u00a0He and now <a href=\"http:\/\/www.justice.gov\/ag\/\" target=\"_blank\">Attorney General, \u00a0Eric Holder<\/a> signaled an end to the War On Drugs, \u00a0or at least a drastically different approach. \u00a0The two indicated that going after the medical marijuana industry would not be an effective use of federal resources. \u00a0Apparently, what they meant was that we were not spending enough on attacking medical marijuana patients.\u00a0 Less than one year through his second term, \u00a0President Obama enjoys the unique status of pursuing legal action against far more collectives than the Bush and Clinton years combined.<\/p>\n<p> Perhaps feeling the sting of broken vows, an over saturated corrections system, \u00a0and an economy that remains barely in gear, has finally led to policy change. \u00a0Yesterday Mr. Holder announced a change in sentencing on a federal level for low level drug charges and that he wishes to circumvent &#8220;draconian mandatory minimum sentences.&#8221; Small cases that accompany mandatory federal sentences will be shifted to the states. \u00a0In regards to the states handling more of the cases, \u00a0Mr. Holder said &#8220;Some issues are best handled at the state or local level&#8230;And that\u2019s why I have directed the United States Attorney community to develop specific, locally-tailored guidelines \u2013 consistent with our national priorities \u2013 for determining when federal charges should be filed, and when they should not.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p> The change is certainly welcomed but it may be comparable to placing a Flintstones band aid over a large fatal wound. \u00a0Mr. Holder and federal authorities are basically conceding that federal drug laws are out of control and is not in line with the majority of American&#8217;s wishes.\u00a0 Specifically, a large portion of the public wants marijuana to be taken off as a schedule 1 substance. \u00a0Instead of fixing the issue and reclassifying, \u00a0Mr. Holder will run from the laws he oversees. \u00a0Additionally, \u00a0shifting the responsibilities to the states only works if they do not operate under similar &#8221; draconian law&#8221;. \u00a0Otherwise, those states could require additional funding.\u00a0 Will this deadlocked Congress, that initially decline Storm Sandy victim relief be willing to designate additional funds to state level drug cases?<\/p>\n<p> There may some optimism to take out of Mr. Holder&#8217;s actions. \u00a0This is the first time in quite a bit that the federal government is making a significant policy change in low level drug offenses. \u00a0Could this be setting up for future maneuvers and a reconciliation of state vs. federal laws?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"276\" height=\"183\" src=\"http:\/\/www.marijuana.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/eric-holder.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"eric holder\" title=\"eric holder\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"ajy\"><img id=\":ok\" class=\"ajz\" src=\"https:\/\/mail.google.com\/mail\/u\/0\/images\/cleardot.gif\" alt=\"\" \/><\/div>\n<p> <a rel=\"attachment wp-att-21198\" href=\"http:\/\/www.marijuana.net\/uncategorized\/eric-holder-tries-patchwork-fix-for-federal-drug-sentencing\/attachment\/eric-holder-2\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-21198\" title=\"eric holder\" src=\"http:\/\/www.marijuana.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/eric-holder-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/a>Many of us have heard the outrageous examples of rapists and murderers serving less time in prison than low level marijuana and drug offenders. \u00a0To some, \u00a0this is just an odd quirk or a glitch in federal policy, a conversation that will soon find it&#8217;s way to back of our minds, \u00a0buried deep in the abyss of our sub consciousness, well below the layer our daily stresses. \u00a0To others, this is a broken family, this is children growing up without a father, this is the realization that your teen&#8217;s mistake in college could ruin the rest of his or her life.<\/p>\n<p> The Obama Administration had initially vowed to fix the broken state of drug laws. \u00a0He and now <a href=\"http:\/\/www.justice.gov\/ag\/\" target=\"_blank\">Attorney General, \u00a0Eric Holder<\/a> signaled an end to the War On Drugs, \u00a0or at least a drastically different approach. \u00a0The two indicated that going after the medical marijuana industry would not be an effective use of federal resources. \u00a0Apparently, what they meant was that we were not spending enough on attacking medical marijuana patients.\u00a0 Less than one year through his second term, \u00a0President Obama enjoys the unique status of pursuing legal action against far more collectives than the Bush and Clinton years combined.<\/p>\n<p> Perhaps feeling the sting of broken vows, an over saturated corrections system, \u00a0and an economy that remains barely in gear, has finally led to policy change. \u00a0Yesterday Mr. Holder announced a change in sentencing on a federal level for low level drug charges and that he wishes to circumvent &#8220;draconian mandatory minimum sentences.&#8221; Small cases that accompany mandatory federal sentences will be shifted to the states. \u00a0In regards to the states handling more of the cases, \u00a0Mr. Holder said &#8220;Some issues are best handled at the state or local level&#8230;And that\u2019s why I have directed the United States Attorney community to develop specific, locally-tailored guidelines \u2013 consistent with our national priorities \u2013 for determining when federal charges should be filed, and when they should not.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p> The change is certainly welcomed but it may be comparable to placing a Flintstones band aid over a large fatal wound. \u00a0Mr. Holder and federal authorities are basically conceding that federal drug laws are out of control and is not in line with the majority of American&#8217;s wishes.\u00a0 Specifically, a large portion of the public wants marijuana to be taken off as a schedule 1 substance. \u00a0Instead of fixing the issue and reclassifying, \u00a0Mr. Holder will run from the laws he oversees. \u00a0Additionally, \u00a0shifting the responsibilities to the states only works if they do not operate under similar &#8221; draconian law&#8221;. \u00a0Otherwise, those states could require additional funding.\u00a0 Will this deadlocked Congress, that initially decline Storm Sandy victim relief be willing to designate additional funds to state level drug cases?<\/p>\n<p> There may some optimism to take out of Mr. Holder&#8217;s actions. \u00a0This is the first time in quite a bit that the federal government is making a significant policy change in low level drug offenses. \u00a0Could this be setting up for future maneuvers and a reconciliation of state vs. federal laws?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[492,52,65,56,9,70,106,1,3,738,74,61],"tags":[3066,2632,2644,2636,5,2684,3311,2652,6],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2072"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2072"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2072\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2072"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2072"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2072"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}