(Oct. 19, 2009) One of the most crucial tenets of the American government is the fact that States have the right to govern themselves.

Fourteen states have already taken this right to heart by passing legislation that allows the growth, sale and use of medical marijuana.

Regardless of the fact that, according to state law, patients prescribed marijuana aren't doing anything illegal; dispensaries, growers and patients have been continually harassed and even arrested by agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Thanks to a memo just released by the Justice Department, however, these patients and business people are no longer to be the target of federal investigations.

"Under the policy spelled out in a three-page legal memo, federal prosecutors are being told it is not a good use of their time to arrest people who use or provide medical marijuana in strict compliance with state law.

The guidelines issued by the department do, however, make it clear that federal agents will go after people whose marijuana distribution goes beyond what is permitted under state law or use medical marijuana as a cover for other crimes" (Associated Press).