Posted on 10/17/2010 8:27:40 PM PDT by bornred
Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca said Friday his deputies’ marijuana enforcement would not change even if Proposition 19, which would legalize the drug in California, passes Nov. 2.
“Proposition 19 is not going to pass, even if it passes,” Baca said in a news conference Friday at sheriff's headquarters in Monterey Park.
Baca, whose department polices three-fourths of the county, was bolstered Friday by an announcement from the Obama administration that federal officials would continue to “vigorously enforce” marijuana laws in California, even if state voters pass the measure.
Baca said the proposition was superseded by federal law and if passed, would be found unconstitutional.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimesblogs.latimes.com ...
Obviously the sheriffs are already picking what laws they enforce and what laws they don’t.
My question was rhetorical in nature...But thanks for the reply.
The net impact to existing commerce would be zero. It certainly would impact future. Of course it would have to be legal in more than one state to qualify as interstate commerce.
Yes, but that was a FEDERAL allowed amount; and the FEDERAL allowed amount of MJ is ZERO, so it could still be twisted to apply. EVERYTHING (Just ask Nancey!) is “Interstate Commerce”. Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk!
I don’t think that pot is any better or worse than any other intoxicant, but the real problem is how do you determine if someone is “under the influence” in an accident (traffic, industrial, etc.). I don’t think that there is any standard, and THC can stay in a system for a long time.
I would not care to travel in California should this pass.
On the other hand, how much trouble can you get into going four miles an hour?
It gets better: The "liberal" in this case is a RINO.
I have absolutely no doubt Holder would attempt that same argument. LOL!!!
One Sheriff—In The Know—intends to use the “Bully Pulpit” before the vote takes place.
Yeah, the law is the law and this Sheriff can’t pick and chose which laws to enforce.
Baca has ignored for years federal immigration law and allowed illegal immigrant criminals to escape punishment and commit more crimes.
The real reason he would continue to enforce federal MJ laws is MONEY.
His department would lose federal grants and training which supplement his budget.
A couple of ideas:
1) He thinks it will get him noticed and serve as a path to higher political office.
2) He loves the asset forfeiture goodies and wants them to keep on coming.
Both are used to get high, and both can be harmful in excessive quantities. We sell every kind of liquor from wine coolers to everclear and in whatever quantities wanted to anyone over 21, yet an ounce of pot will get you thrown in jail.
I've been around a LOT of people drunk and a lot of people high, and from everything I've witnessed the people high on pot are a lot less aggressive and dangerous than those drunk from liquor.
Actually, no. A sheriff has a special place in law as the locally ELECTED LEO. There are instances in which county sheriffs have thrown out Federal bureaucrats and the cases have stood. You'd best be damned thankful for that too.
What's funny about this situation is that Baca is citing one Federal law on drugs, while he systematically ignores another on illegal immigration.
mj will be legal.Not FDA approved yes he can.
Baca will send the illegal aliens to ICE and send the dopers to the DEA.
LAT:
“The L.A. Sheriff’s Department wants to extend a joint project with federal immigration officials to identify illegal immigrants in the L.A. jail system.”
“The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday will consider a request by L.A. Sheriff Lee Baca for his department to continue working with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on the effort to track illegal-immigrant criminals.”
“L.A. County was a pioneer in working with the federal officials on screening inmates, and more than 11,000 have been referred to ICE for possible deportation, according to a Times report.”
Wrong.
He can pick and choose which laws to enforce, but LEOs shouldn’t be arresting or harassing people for something that was made explicitly legal by statute. He is a state LEO and his primary obligation is to enforce state law.
Sheriff Baca doesn’t get to make his own laws, whether they be for drugs, guns, highway speed limits, or anything else he doesn’t like.
It does seem like an awful lot of this boils down to money and control.
Well my point was they are suppose to enforce all laws, clearly sometimes they don’t as you point out. But that only screws up the system more. If you guys want to smoke it up, fine CHANGE THE LAW or get a court to say the feds have overstepped. Until that happens I hope you get a small fine and can never get a good job for the rest of your life because of a drug convictions. I’m kidding but still, change the law.
Is this a joke?
What about federal laws regarding illegal aliens? The county alone probably has 2 million illegals running through the streets...Upwards of 30 million nationally.
Ya got millions running around that have violated federal law and entered the country illegally during wartime, but you expect the cops take time to enforce federal law regarding pot?
Well my point was they are suppose to enforce all laws, clearly sometimes they don’t as you point out.
Sometimes they don't? Ya think?
Did you ever ask yourself why?
Boy, you're really perceptive
We've got upwards of 30 million in this country illegally, millions more entering illegally every year, during war time, while your federal government forces Americans to pay for this insanity to the tune of hundreds of billions, while they choke off our heath care, hospitals, schools, jails, and social services, undermining and compromising our entire electoral process, etc.
And you make the drunken comment, "Sometimes the Feds don't enforce certain laws"
Ya think this is all an accident?
lol...
Are you even paying attention? JUST BECAUSE THEY DON’T ENFORCE ALL THE LAWS, THEY SHOULD! Can I make myself any clearer for you? I think they should enforce all laws, including federal drug laws. If you want to smoke up, change the law. Stop trying to go back door with medical marijuana or state laws. By your @#$!’ed up logic we should stop enforcing all laws because we don’t enforce immigration all the time. You are stupid, put down the pipe.
Bacca is a Dem.
Just because Baca is trying to get ICE to cover some of his jail costs does not mean he is enforcing Federal Immigration law, particularly because Los Angeles is a "sanctuary city."
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.