President Barack Obama’s administration will release its new medical marijuana policy on Monday, and in a big switch from the last administration, the Obama Justice Department won’t go after users or suppliers of medical marijuana who comply with state laws.
The administration says it will not look to arrest those who use and supply medical marijuana as long as they follow specific state laws.
The Justice Department’s new policy is a significant departure from the Bush Administration’s policy, which insisted it would continue to enforce federal anti-pot laws regardless of state codes.
Sellers and smokers in 14 states that allow pot to be used for medical reasons, will be able to breathe a little easier from now on.
A couple of unnamed Justice Department officials told the AP that it’s a waste for the feds to arrest pot users and their suppliers when they’re in compliance with state laws.
(Source: WPRI)
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7 Responses
So this is what Obama wants our country to become: DRUGADDICTS
It is somewhat dubious for the Federal government to ban something that is lawful under state law (American being a FEDERAL republic) and that doesn’t involve interstate commerce. The idea that the Federal government could overrule state laws in all matters was considered in the 18th century, and rejected. The Bush administration policy in this area was another example of his being a “Big government” Republican (along with running massive deficits, ignoring restrictions on the government that predate the constitution, etc.).
Obama didn’t much care about state law in IL prohibiting pot use (or cocaine use, for that matter) while he was toking and snorting in his checkered youth. This is merely an act of justification on his part, just as he can point to provisions in the Constitution allowing abortion, bailouts, takeovers of corporations, firing their CEOs, etc., etc.
This is a non-issue. There already is, in essence, medical heroin, although no one should ever need it (morphine and codeine).
Alcohol should be illegal if the criteria are harmful effects, as alcohol misuse runs the gamut in deteriorating the quality of life.
From the article, the president’s policy here sounds like the correct one. As akuperma wisely pointed out, this is a republic of states, not a fiefdom of regions. The Federal Goverment obviously has its place, too, but State law that does not violate the US Constitution has no reason to be overridden by any branch of the Federal Government.
#4 – alcohol is governed by a constitutional amendment giving control to the states, totally. When the Federal government wants to regulate something pertaining to alcohol, they do so by bribing the states (with high funds such as when the got all the states to adopt a 21 drinking age).
This the one good thing Mr. Obama has done