California Democratic Party tells Obama to halt medical marijuana raids

The California Democratic Party approved a resolution over the weekend that called on President Barack Obama to halt federal raids on marijuana dispensaries.

The resolution, sponsored by the Brownie Marie Democratic Club of Riverside County, noted that 18 states and the District of Columbia had legalized the use of marijuana for medical purposes, while Colorado and Washington state had legalized the use of marijuana for recreational purposes.

Citing the disproportionate number of ethnic minorities jailed over marijuana, the resolution urged Obama to order the federal government to abide by state laws regarding the drug.

The resolution states:

"THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the California Democratic Party requests: President Obama to allow the newly enacted marijuana legalization laws in Colorado and Washington to go into effect with no federal interference, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the California Democratic Party asks President Obama to end the Department of Justice interference and raids by federal agencies in states with medical marijuana laws, and a comprehensive study be immediately undertaken to produce recommendations for reform of our nation's marijuana prohibition."

California became the first state to legalize medical marijuana in 1996, but state-approved marijuana dispensaries still face the threat of being raided and prosecuted by federal authorities. More than 200 medical marijuana facilities have been raided since Obama took office.

“These are now official positions of the party and add another level of mainstream approval for medical marijuana and marijuana law reform - approval that will hold us in especially good stead when speaking with Democratic elected officials and candidates,” medical marijuana activist and registered nurse Lanny Swerdlow told East Bay Express.

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