Posted on 01/05/2018 10:21:51 PM PST by Oshkalaboomboom
The major problem is federal law, so change it
Having abandoned much of the Reagan way — the sunny disposition, free trade, the unshakeable commitment to America’s global leadership — the Trump administration has now embraced the worst of the Reagan legacy: deficits, for one thing, and the so-called war on drugs, which Attorney General Jeff Sessions means to fight with atavistic rigor.
In the 22 years since the editors of this magazine declared “The War on Drugs Is Lost,” the United States has lurched, spasmodically, toward a new settlement on drugs, especially on marijuana. Republicans, ranging from libertarian-leaning figures such as Senator Rand Paul to more traditional conservatives such as former Texas governor Rick Perry, have come around to the wisdom of full or partial decriminalization, drug courts, emphasizing treatment and rehabilitation over incarceration, and other humane reforms. It took our so-called liberals a little longer: Recall that when William F. Buckley Jr. took the libertarian position on drugs in that famous debate, his opponent was the Reverend Jesse Jackson. Many Democrats have since concluded that the war on drugs has done at least as much damage to the cities and their populations as the drugs themselves. More joy in Heaven and all that.
One of those Democrats was Barack Obama, who put those views into play in the fashion characteristic of the Obama administration: through executive overreach that undermined the rule of law. The Obama administration, under the guidance of Attorney General Eric Holder, adopted a series of memos in an attempt to harmonize federal practice with state practice: Marijuana is illegal under federal law but is available for both medicinal and recreational use in many states, California having just joined their ranks. One of those was the Cole memo, which directed the DOJ to forgo prosecuting marijuana providers in states where their businesses are legal, focusing its resources instead on organized crime and international trafficking — problems that are of a more obviously federal nature than practices contained entirely within the borders of Colorado.
Sessions has a point, or a piece of a point, when he argues that the Obama-era memos did not merely clarify DOJ practices but in effect changed federal law over the heads of Congress. It would be better if Congress changed federal law to better accommodate states in which marijuana is legal; it would be even better if Congress did not have to do so, the federal jurisdiction being confined to its proper role in these matters, which is interstate and international. John Paul Stevens will forgive me for suggesting that the Supreme Court erred in its decision in Gonzales v. Raich, which enshrined the federal power to regulate marijuana consumption within the borders of a single state under its interstate commerce powers, a nonsensical conclusion but one not entirely inconsistent with precedent regarding the interstate-commerce clause, the elasticity of which apparently is infinite.
But Sessions is not merely concerned with Obama-era overreach. He is a declared drug warrior in search of opportunities to open new fronts, an intelligent man who nonetheless maintains that marijuana use is only slightly less destructive than heroin addiction, a patently ridiculous contention. Sessions is here acting in accord with the wishes of the White House and the president, whose tough-on-crime posturing has put his administration at odds with the best conservative thinking on drugs and criminal-justice reform. In Trump’s mind, it’s always 1983. What comes after 1983 is 1984 and its invasive surveillance state, which is one of the many unhappy innovations associated with the war on drugs.
Senator Cory Gardner, Republican of Colorado, where the marijuana business is thriving (but not without externalities), has announced that he intends to oppose the Trump administration beak and talon on this issue, up to and including the obstruction of Department of Justice appointees. Someone should remind Mr. Gardner that not only is he a senator but he is a senator whose party is, for the moment, in the majority.
If Gardner and other Republicans wish to see federal marijuana law reformed — and they should wish it — then they might consider the radical step of introducing and passing legislation to that effect. They’ll have Democratic support if they do so, and Republicans looking for an opportunity to differentiate themselves from the Trump administration could do worse than to dare him to veto such a needful reform, one that is likely to prove popular as well. The lawmakers ought to do their jobs and make some law.
Drugs are a scourge. The war on drugs is a worse scourge. The former can be mitigated through careful policy reform, and the latter could — and should — be discontinued almost entirely, tomorrow if we so desired. Perhaps Senator Gardner will distinguish himself by taking up the cause rather than demanding that the attorney general do his work for him. Jeff Sessions is devoted first and foremost to the law. Change the law, and he’ll change with it, even if he doesn’t much enjoy it.
I have been highly critical of sessions for obvious reasons but on this he is to be applauded.Marijuana is a gateway to hell. It is just a banned natrcotic. People that use it are dopeheads. There is no more medicinal value in this crap than there is in multi malt, plastic bottle scotch. People that buy into that are stupid people that need dr. Jesus not some pot smoking quack justifying his illegal conduct. States cannot preempt federal law EVER and if you are running a colorado pot shop you need a lawyer. Now!!
Sessions is correct to enforce the law as it is written. We don't need any more administrations ignoring laws they don't like. But if states want to keep pot legal, it is up to them to assert their tenth amendment rights, and have the federal government step out of it, except where federal law should apply, like interstate commerce, and bring drugs from outside the country.
Not really.
U.S. Attorney for Colorado: No changes on marijuana enforcement
I think you should not be allowed to drink coffee or beer or wine or fast food or whatever it is that you do that is none of my business.
“People that use it are dopeheads. There is no more medicinal value in this crap than there is in multi malt, plastic bottle scotch.”
Absolutely right !
When I ask the advocates of “medical marijuana” what “dose” they recommend for the various medical conditions that dope apparently “cures”, they are never able to answer.
“Toke up until you feel good!” How is that any kind of legitimate medical treatment ?
Kevin Wiliamson...
Isn’t he the assh^t promoting “Small White towns deserve to die” ?
“’Toke up until you feel good!’ How is that any kind of legitimate medical treatment?”
_____________________
Might ask Mrs Roy Moore =>
‘Old folks they can’t afford medication. This damn Obamacare’s a joke but if it will help you with your sickness I say fire it up and take a toke,’
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5195043/Kayla-Moore-dedicates-Pissed-Rednecks-song-Roy.html
Trump made a campaign promise that he would leave marihuana to the states.
Right... because all those people undergoing cancer treatment and a lot of other ailments like insomnia never got any relief from this natural and readily available holistic drug. Not.
It’s really small-minded to believe good people everywhere don’t get some help by using marijuana products.
I personally don’t like it or use it but I know for a fact there a lot of people who do benefit from it even if that benefit is relieving depression so they can forget about their health or financial or whatever problems in their lives at the moment or to shut their mind down so they can get some sleep without resorting to harsh pharma drugs that leave them groggy and dull-witted all the next day.
Is there potential to abuse it? Yep; just like alcohol but Prohibition has never worked long-term. No reason to think it would now with pot.
At the bare minimum; the feds should legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes. This may in fact be what Trump and Sessions is trying to motivate the congress to do. There does need to be clear cut laws and guidelines from the feds because one by one each state is legalizing it putting the states and the feds on completely different paths legally. Fix it now; at least medicinally. It’s not like people are going to stop using those products anyway but some lives will be ruined due to overly harsh laws.
Legalize medicinal pot and decriminalize it for everyone else. Not meth, heroin, crack or other street drugs; just pot.
Kevin D. Williamson is a Soros tool.
This garbage is an accumulation of Soros drug pushing talking points.
Now marijuana is a “holistic” drug.
That’s a winner.
“When I ask the advocates of “medical marijuana” what “dose” they recommend for the various medical conditions that dope apparently “cures”, they are never able to answer.”
You didn’t ask me, but I will tell you anyway. I am a medical marijuana patient here in Florida. I use 20 milligrams of THC per doctor’s orders in late afternoon & 20 milligrams at bedtime. This successfully treats my chronic depression & anxiety.
Also, we don’t get to “toke up till we feel good” here in Florida. My doctor prescribes x number of milligrams you can use over a 70 period. If I were foolish enough to use up those milligrams before the end of the 70 days I would be unable to purchase more medicine till the next 70 day period begins. Also, there is no smokeable flower allowed. I use vape cartridges & sublingual drops & I am so very thankful to have access to them.
As someone who used to live with crippling depression & anxiety for 20+ years I thank my Heavenly Father daily for this wonderful medicine.
“This garbage is an accumulation of Soros drug pushing talking points.”
That you have never proven to be true, Marvin :)
Congrats to you on your sobriety!
Genesis 1:29
Glad you think so. I wasn’t sure it was the right word for it until you confirmed it was. Thanks!
I was going to go with simply “natural” but it does seem to be a bit more. Almost like a gift from nature really; at least for some people. Not me personally; but for some.
“Legal marijuana will be a tax collecting windfall like governments haven’t seen in ages.”
No doubt that INITIALLY Pot sales will generate much tax revenue.
But, given that pot is as easy to grow as a tomato plant, that 1 plant grown to maturity will supply several smokers for a year, & that commercial prices are ridiculously high as are the taxes applied, many pot smokers will choose to grow their own & avoid these taxes.
If someone is willing to grow their own vegetables to avoid the few dollars they pay for them at the grocery store, imagine how many people will grow their own pot to avoid paying hundreds of dollars for commercial pot.
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