The Glade 4.0

Hop... Its 2012.

Since 2008, the administration has unleashed an interagency cannabis crackdown that goes beyond anything seen under the Bush administration, with more than 100 raids, primarily on California pot dispensaries, many of them operating in full compliance with state laws. Since October 2009, the Justice Department has conducted more than 170 aggressive SWAT-style raids in 9 medical marijuana states, resulting in at least 61 federal indictments, according to data compiled by Americans for Safe Access, an advocacy group.

Speaking with Rolling Stone, the president tried to explain his original comments, claiming that the recent pressure on dispensaries and providers was in line with his intent.

"What I specifically said was that we were not going to prioritize prosecutions of persons who are using medical marijuana," Obama said. "I never made a commitment that somehow we were going to give carte blanche to large-scale producers and operators of marijuana -- and the reason is, because it's against federal law."

The president continued: "I can't nullify congressional law. I can't ask the Justice Department to say, 'Ignore completely a federal law that's on the books.' What I can say is, 'Use your prosecutorial discretion and properly prioritize your resources to go after things that are really doing folks damage.' As a consequence, there haven't been prosecutions of users of marijuana for medical purposes."

In comic strips the person on the left always speaks first. - George Carlin

Washington's new pot law does not protect many workers from company drug laws.

At U.S. HealthWorks Medical Clinic in Seattle, nearly a dozen people filled the lobby waiting to be drug tested as part of their application for employment.

Their urine is collected, poured into a vial and labeled. A quick test shows if the main ingredient in marijuana, THC, may be present.

"I think that because its voted in that its OK for them to smoke it." says Yolanda Morgan, clinic manager. "They need to check with who ever they're applying to and if the policy states no drug tolerance, its no drug tolerance."

Several Washington companies tell KING 5 News that Washington's new pot law will not change the way they do business.

Boeing, which has federal contracts, says, "Use of marijuana by Boeing employees is prohibited regardless of state law."

Costco reports, "Drug testing is a requirement to be hired. Nothing will change. Marijuana is illegal under federal law."

Employment attorney Mike Subit, who argued an important medical marijuana case before the Washington Supreme Court, warns pot smoking workers.
"They're not protected from federal prosecution and they're not protected from being fired," he said.

It may be different in the public sector. The Seattle Police Department's Sgt. Sean Whitcomb said,
"We have to look at our hiring practices and policies for existing employees and work with the feds, so these relations are intact."

So before you light up with excitement, consider the possible employment risks.