Tell Obama to Respect Medical Marijuana Patients' Rights

We, the undersigned, are members of the sick and tired medical cannabis community. We are suffering from chronic and debilitating conditions and we are weary of false promises that do nothing to protect our rights as patients.

This community has done its part to educate legislatures and voters across the country about the therapeutic and palliative benefits cannabis provides. As a result, sixteen states and the District of Columbia have shown compassion by recognizing the legitimate need for cannabis as medicine in their respective communities. It is time for you to do the same.

We implore you to uphold the promises you made to this community with policies that legitimize and protect this community from further marginalization, rather than continue to provide us with the false sense of security provided by the October 2009 Department of Justice memo. Instead of improving conditions for this community, your administration has launched new tactics and constructed new roadblocks for patients including issues related to patient privacy, access, banking, taxation, and threats of filing suit against state employees who participate in upholding state law. These new tactics are in addition to the already hostile environment created by the division between state and federal law. We are sick and we are tired but we are doing our part. It is time for you to do yours.

Now is the time to end federal interference in medical cannabis states and recognize the medicinal benefits of cannabis so that all citizens suffering from chronic and debilitating conditions may find relief without fear of criminal penalties and discrimination.

Thank you.