With Senate confirmation hearings for Eric Holder, Prez Elect-Barack Obama’s pick for U.S. Attorney General, slated to begin on Thursday (Jan. 15), NORML is calling on supporters to get involved to ensure that Holder will uphold Obama’s campaign promise to leave medi-pot patients alone.
Obama said repeatedly that he felt fed narcos should not be raiding or prosecuting medi-pot patients who use the drug in compliance with state law. Meanwhile, however, while a U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C. in the 1990s, Holder actually suggested upping penalties associated with pot possession.
As such, NORML is now asking pot reform proponents to call or write Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, who chairs the Judiciary Committee, where Holder’s confirmation hearing will be held, to insist that Leahy ask Holder directly whether he would uphold Obama’s campaign promise.
Below the fold find Leahy’s office number and NORML’s suggestion for what to tell the senator’s staff.
Write or call Senator Leahy’s office at
(202) 224-4242 and say:
“Hi, my name is ___________ and I am calling about the Attorney General confirmation hearings. President-elect Obama said numerous times during his campaign that DEA raids on individuals legally qualified to use medical cannabis in their states are a waste of resources and that he would end that policy.
72 million Americans live in the 13 states with medical cannabis laws.
Please ask Eric Holder if he will uphold Obama’s promise and end DEA raids on legal medical cannabis patients.”
This article appears in January 9 • 2009.