President: No Changes Likely for Marijuana at Federal Level

Not surprising, I think, given his general lack of enthusiasm on the topic . . . .  Obama Still Taking It Slow on Marijuana.  Here's a sample quote:

    There’s then the second issue of legalizing marijuana, whether it’s medical marijuana or recreational use.  There are two states in the United States that have embarked on an experiment to decriminalize or legalize marijuana — Colorado and Washington State.  And we will see how that experiment works its way through the process.

    Right now, that is not federal policy, and I do not foresee anytime soon Congress changing the law at a national basis.  But I do think that if there are states that show that they are not suddenly a magnet for additional crime, that they have a strong enough public health infrastructure to push against the potential of increased addiction, then it’s conceivable that that will spur on a national debate.  But that is going to be some time off.

The striking thing is that in areas like immigration and foreign treaties, the Administration has claimed vast powers to ignore Congress.  But on marijuana, where Congress specifically gave power to the executive branch to reschedule marijuana (18 USC § 811), the President suggests he needs to wait for Congress.  That's a pretty good indicator that despite the rhetoric he's not really interested in doing anything.