Obama Administration Weighs Options In Face Of Marijuana Legalization.

The New York Times (12/7, Savage, Subscription Publication) reports, "Even as marijuana legalization supporters are celebrating their victories in the two states, the Obama administration has been holding high-level meetings since the election to debate the response of federal law enforcement agencies to the decriminalization efforts." The question of which actions the federal government will take is a complex one, with marijuana legalization being popular with Obama's base. In addition, according to federal officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, issues raised include "enforcement priorities, litigation strategy and the impact of international antidrug treaties," because marijuana is still illegal at the Federal level. Current federal policy calls for using resources to go after "large-scale trafficking organizations. The result has been more federal raids on dispensaries than many liberals had expected."

        USA Today/Gallup: Feds Should Leave Legal Marijuana In States Alone. USA Today (12/7, Page) reports that, while Americans are almost evenly divided on the legalization of marijuana "those surveyed say by almost 2-1, 63%-34%, that the federal government shouldn't take steps to enforce federal marijuana laws in states that legalize pot." USA Today adds, "Still unclear is precisely how, and how aggressively, federal law enforcement officials plan to proceed."

        Colorado Groups Ask Attorney General To Enforce Federal Marijuana Law. CNN (12/5, Duke) reports on its website that in Colorado, where marijuana use will become legal in less than a month, 20 business groups have asked Attorney General Eric Holder "to enforce federal pot laws, because of questions about how to deal with workers who are high." According to Sandra Hagen Solin, of the Northern Colorado Legislative Alliance, "There is uncertainty about our ability to terminate employees if they come to the job impaired. ... There are obligations that we have under the drug-free workplace. There are a lot of questions that have arisen."

        First New Jersey Marijuana Dispensary Opens. The New York Times (12/7, Hartocollis, Subscription Publication) reports that after being "delayed by political battles over whether it would lead to the de facto legalization of marijuana," New Jersey's first medical marijuana dispensary has opened. "Provided a doctor's prescription for a list of specified medical conditions was presented," to the owners of the store, purchasing the marijuana would be legal under state law. The Greenleaf Compassion Center is described as "like an upscale doctor's office," by one of the business partners, Julio Valentin, Jr.

        The Philadelphia Inquirer (12/6, Hefler) notes, "Five other dispensaries, including one in Egg Harbor, Atlantic County, have been preliminarily approved by the state." The New York Daily News (12/7, Brown), and NJ.com (12/7) are among the media outlets also reporting on the New Jersey dispensary.

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