Posted on 12/17/2014 4:45:39 PM PST by Steelfish
Congress Quietly Ends Federal Government's Ban On Medical Marijuana
Under a provision in the spending bill passed by Congress over the weekend, states where medical marijuana is legal would no longer need to worry about federal drug agents raiding retail operations. Agents would be prohibited from doing so. By EVAN HALPER
Tucked deep inside the 1,603-page federal spending measure is a provision that effectively ends the federal government's prohibition on medical marijuana and signals a major shift in drug policy.
The bill's passage over the weekend marks the first time Congress has approved nationally significant legislation backed by legalization advocates. It brings almost to a close two decades of tension between the states and Washington over medical use of marijuana.
Under the provision, states where medical pot is legal would no longer need to worry about federal drug agents raiding retail operations. Agents would be prohibited from doing so.
Should the U.S. legalize marijuana? Bloomberg's Olivia Sterns reports on the New York Times' advocacy of the legalization of marijuana. The Obama administration has largely followed that rule since last year as a matter of policy. But the measure approved as part of the spending bill, which President Obama plans to sign this week, will codify it as a matter of law.
Pot advocates had lobbied Congress to embrace the administration's policy, which they warned was vulnerable to revision under a less tolerant future administration.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
A tenth amendment victory buried in a bad bill.
Yes. It is a 10th Amendment victory. We don’t need the federal government to stick its beak in here. Let the states decide; if it’s a bad policy they can reverse it or people can move to a state with better laws.
We should be giving more power to the states, not less. Anything we can take away from Washington is good for the nation.
This is the way the country is supposed to work.
Congressional treachery at its best.
About bloody time regardless of the how it happened.
Now that's what I call a low-info comment.
Nonsense. When congress deliberately hides what they are doing from the public they are being treacherous. Congress hides what they do from the public because the public would not allow them to get away with what they are doing. In doing so they are guilty of both deception and betrayal. If you think not we will just have to agree to disagree. Have a Merry Christmas FReper.
This was not hidden. It was front page news last May when the amendment was passed. There was even a thread on FR from May 31, 2014 =>
In a historic vote, Congress voted to support states on legalized medicinal marijuana. The measure will not allow the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to spend federal funds to interfere with states that have legalized medicinal marijuana.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3162133/posts
_______________________________________________________________
Have a Merry Christmas FReper.
And to you and yours as well.
Did not know that. Caught me flat footed.
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.