You might have noticed this past week that the Department of Justice has seemingly declared war on Medical Marijuana dispensaries. The first salvo was probably at the end of September when the ATF issued a statement that it is illegal for medical marijuana users to use firearms. Since then, the four California US Attorneys have declared that California Medical Marijuana dispensaries have to close within 45 days:

The DEA has no problem with chemo patients weakened by hunger. Ignore science. Just say no to marijuana to alleviate nausea at the mere thought of food.

A lot of state legislators are wastes of space. But there are a few who aren’t. Neil Haugerud, my buddy, was a very good one.

Just as US Attorney General Eric Holder announces that he will shortly “clarify Department policy” on marijuana dispensaries in states where laws allow them (Rhode Island in particular), United States Attorney Dwight Holton rounded up all but two of the District Attorneys in Oregon to sign a letter about the Feds’ zero tolerance policy.

While President Obama told Law Enforcement Against Prohibition member MacKenzie Allen, a retired deputy sheriff during an interview with the organization:

We have to think more about drugs as a public health problem

his comments on the new federal drug new budget show things in a different light.

In last night’s episode of CBS’s legal drama The Good Wife, Just Say Now was briefly featured in the episode’s plot. Peter Florrick, the character played by Chris Noth, is the main character’s husband making a run for his old seat as the State’s Attorney after being imprisoned for corruption. Peter seeks to make a political comeback by turning out the youth vote on the wave of a medical marijuana initiative in the state.

The show briefly featured a big board featuring the Just Say Now logo, and in a mock-web video, shows Peter speaking with students at a meeting of the fictional “Cook State College” Just Say Now chapter. Below are two screen captures of Just Say Now on The Good Wife.

Just Say Now activists wrote over 1,200 letters to representatives in New York and Illinois in support of these measures in just a few, short hours yesterday. That’s a remarkable show of support, and Just Say Now will continue to pressure lawmakers to make a compassionate choice for patients. Bills are expected to be brought up again for a vote in NY and IL soon.

Nelson said in an email to CelebStoner.com:

There’s the Tea Party. How about the Teapot Party? Our motto: We lean a little to the left. Tax it, regulate it and legalize it. And stop the border wars over drugs. Why should the drug lords make all the money? Thousands of lives will be saved.

Right on the heels of our push to write New York state senators in support of medical marijuana, we have just learned that the Illinois House of Representatives is scheduled to vote TOMORROW on SB. 1381 — a bill to legalize medical marijuana for patients in that state.

Illinois is contemplating a slightly different bill from the one in New York, in that state-licensed ‘Compassion Centers’ would be set up to provide prescribed medical marijuana to card-carrying patients in the state. SB. 1381 is an important bill that would improve the quality of life of seriously ill patients in Illinois, and we want to make sure state representatives know they should support it.

Today could be our last chance to bring medical marijuana to New York for another year, and many patients across the state just can’t wait that long.

If you live in New York state, click here to write a letter to the state senate to pass S. 8427.