POT POLITICS

Feds Haven't Decided Whether To Crack Down on Colorado Marijuana Legalization

Governor says issue is "a challenge for everybody"

Feb 25, 2013 by David Mark

Editor-in-Chief t

Image: AP.

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper opposed the 2012 ballot measure to legalize marijuana in his state. No matter, since it passed easily he's got to live with it.

Hickenlooper and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Democrats both, are working to establish a legal framework for the Colorado measure, BuzzFeed reports. Although federal law still prohibits marijuana, Colorado is now one of two states - Washington state voters passed a similar law last fall - to have legalized limited possession and distribution of the drug.

Despite the federal Controlled Substances Act, which classifies marijuana as a controlled substance, Gov. Hickenlooper signed a proclamation in December that placed the marijuana ballot measure into state law. And Hickenlooper said Holder was in fact open to finding a federal framework under which Colorado could maintain the newly passed state law.

Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington (D) has held similar meetings with Holder about his own state's marijuana law, according to Buzzfeed. "We're both in the same boat," said Hickenlooper.

Via BuzzFeed.

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?	Should federal authorities crack down on Colorado and Washington over legalized marijuana?

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Yes, federal law still makes it illegal

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No, the people have spoken and want it

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I have mixed feelings here

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Comments (view in Forum)

Feb '13

PNWest

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For God's sake with all of the real problems we have in this country why do we need the Federal government dealing with victimless crime that isn't even a crime in the states they are talking about sticking there noses into?
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Feb '13

scotta

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Because ALL the ass clowns in D.C. are using this and other state decisions to keep us from realizing they haven't done anything in about 400 days. No budget. You know little things that really don't matter in the big picture of things.
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Feb '13

g4me

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@scotta Actually, its been 528 days, not that I am counting or anything.
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Feb '13

Rocker

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Dude!! This reminds me of the 60s phrase about the 'Heads' of State, Department 'Heads', etc. and the context of what a 'Head' was at that time - as in pot head.
The Justice Department Heads and the Drug Administration Heads don't want to legalize pot..........Say What'???
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Feb '13

scotta

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@g4me sorry I used new math
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Feb '13

g4me

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@scotta Lol, actually, the only reason I knew precisely was from an article I read earlier today.
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Feb '13

Jet_Silverman

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Come on. Legalize the weed already. Can you name another drug that has never killed anybody in all of recorded history?
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Feb '13

AceLuby

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Water has a higher death toll...
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Feb '13

Jet_Silverman

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@AceLuby Exactly, people have drunk enough water to kill themselves, but nobody has smoked enough pot. Have you read the dihydrogen monoxide warnings?:) http://dhmo.org/facts.html
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Feb '13

RealityOne

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@Jet_Silverman Ive heard that in order to die from marijuana you would need to smoke 1500 joints within 15 minutes. I'd probably puke by #2 from coughing.
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Feb '13

Jet_Silverman

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@RealityOne no wonder nobody has died from it! It's pretty much legal in CA. You go to a "pot doc", pay around $50, and get a note that makes it legal for you to use medical pot. The problem can be anything, including "stress".:) And there are more pot shops in Los Angeles than there are Starbucks. Crime is going down. A lot! http://www.potlocator.com/
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Feb '13

RealityOne

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@Jet_Silverman I rather smoke a natural plant to fight my insomnia than take dangerous drugs like Ambien or even OTC pills.
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Feb '13

jessejaymes

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Eric Holder should be in prison for ":Fast and Furious". This is not someone I would want deciding anything concerning the law.
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Feb '13

BossTweed

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You said it Bro!! Fast and Furious was another Benghazi.
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Feb '13

jessejaymes

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@BossTweed No it wasn't. It was worse. Benghazi was a series of stupid mistakes including that of the Ambassador. Fast and Furious was a calculated from the top allowing criminals to have a large number of lethal weapons without proper tracking assurances. Fast and Furious was criminal. Benghazi was incompetence.
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Post @jessejaymes
Feb '13

DerivePI

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@jessejaymes - instead of clearly addressing the US and telling them that we need to make a decision about legalizing, he is getting paid to obfuscate and ignore the law. "Find a Federal Framework", yeah, I can tell you where he's going to find that!
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Post @DerivePI
Feb '13

jessejaymes

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@DerivePI Look, I'm a moderate. I'm really not interested in party line bullshit. Eric Holder is the latest in a long long line of Corrupt Attorney Generals. ON BOTH SIDES. That's all I have to say about it. Have you gone dumb dumb and blind? Ashcroft? John Mitchell? It's not "one side". The office has not had an honest man in it since RFK and I'm not that convinced about him.
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Feb '13

DerivePI

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@jessejaymes - How dare you disparage St. John Ashcroft and St. John Mitchell you heathen! Who was talking about them anyhow? You are making me laugh!

How about this - How can you tell an honest AG from the rest?- by the bullet hole. Ok, not that funny. How about - why do they bury AGs 6 feet under when they die?- Because deep down they're good people.
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Feb '13

Litdes

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The federal government lacks the constitutional authority to do so. It's basic 10th Amendment.
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Feb '13

RealityOne

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We spend 87 billion of our worthless dollars each year in this country on enforcing archaic marijuana laws, Now that CO legalized it we have at least saved SOME money.

When the federal government is telling you what to do with your own body then it has overstepped its bounds. If it invades a state and ignores the will of the voters of that state, then we no longer have a democracy. If the American People sit on their butts and do nothing about it all, then America and all her values and liberty no longer exist.
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Feb '13

g4me

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This is just SO stupid.
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Feb '13

scotta

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The state over rides the federal laws. Check out the constution.
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Feb '13

Rocker

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You might want to check in a little further with that. Although I agree that states should have the option to enforce or not enforce, some fed laws are not options.
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Feb '13

Zazziness

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Unfortunately, the feds can override state law. Check out The Civil War.
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Feb '13

RealityOne

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@Rocker The Constitution trumps all, and the Constitution does not authorize the Federal government to regulate personal behaviors such as what you ingest. In fact the Constitution does not authorize a great deal of our government's actions.
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Feb '13

jessejaymes

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@Rocker the only problem with legalizing pot is that the American people will all be stoned while the ultra rich and their bought and paid for politicians continue to rape and loot this country of every dime anyone has and nobody is going to get their ass kicked for it because everyone is too lethargic to get off the couch.
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Feb '13

Rocker

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@RealityOne - Regardless of what the IBC (International Building Code) and others have to say about accessibility, The federal guidelines of ADA-ADAAG (Americans with Disability Act) of 2010 overrides any state identified accessibility as long as the specifics are spelled out in the local state or state department rules or regulations.
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Feb '13

AceLuby

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Talk about an EASY place to have govt cuts. Let states handle cannabis the way they see fit and let the DEA handle what's left. That would cut about 80 billion a year from the budget right there.
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Feb '13

DogLady_1

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Well said... the taxpayers spend $600 per second busting pot heads. "There is no worse tyranny than to force a man to pay for what he does not want merely because you think it would be good for him." – Robert Heinlein
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Post @DogLady_1
Feb '13

Arumizy

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I am not against the legalization of Marijuana, but i think employers should still have a right to test for it and fire employees caught smoking at, before, during work.
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Feb '13

Quantummist

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While I think a company should be able to fire anyone at anytime for any reason since all testing looks for the Metabolites of THC and not the actual THC then should those companies also test for the Metabolites of Alcohol instead of the Alcoholic beverages? If I can use such tests to fire you for something you did a month ago when it comes to pot should I not be able to fire you for drinking a few beers a month ago? And Yes I can test for the metabolites formed from those beers you drank just as i can test for the metabolites formed from the pot you smoked.... If you test for Actual THC it's gone from the body Faster than Alcohol....
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Feb '13

jessejaymes

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@Quantummist It's a frigging miracle. We actually agree on something. Well done.
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Feb '13

Emerald1

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@Quantummist Totally agree. This is one example of what happens when yellow journalism and government work together. There is no earthly reason for marijuana to be illegal...none!
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Feb '13

Quantummist

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@jessejaymes .. That's because I make my opinions based on rational, logical thoughts on the subjects at hand without consideration of Dogma and Party so my views will coincide with some on the left, some on the right and some in the middle...

For example I am a Pro Life, Anti Death Penalty, Atheist that thinks that the Constitution does Not say there is Separation of Church and State and that States can indeed set up state funded religions by majority vote.... I am a Pro Private Gun ownership kinda guy that thinks the States are absolutely allowed to Ban Guns.... Anti Racist that thinks Private Companies and Individuals can indeed hire, fire, allow access to anyone for any reason including race..... I am in favor of helping thy fellow man but think if they are able bodied and fail screw em....

And I am a Pro Law Enforcement Anti Drug Law kinda guy ... I come from the view that as a Individual you should be able to drink draino, shoot smack, snort enough coke to kill a cow if you so choose but the Instant you do harm or take actions that can cause harm to another then be held totally Personally Responsible for your actions....
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Feb '13

Quantummist

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@Emerald1 .. I don't see a reason to make anything you choose to put in your body be made illegal.... I really don't care if little Johnny wants to cook up and shoot enough meth to kill a horse... I do care if little Johnny gets in a car while doing it... I do care if he breaks in my house, or anyone house, to get his money to cook it up...

At No Point in human History has Banning Anything stopped people that want it from getting it.....
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Feb '13

DaQuietOne

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I'm thinking the feds haven't pounced yet for a good reason. They are still evaluating what the public reaction will be. Not to mention they have no jurisdiction within the state.
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Feb '13

jessejaymes

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I don't recall which of the two states said it, but one of them said they would no longer work with federal law enforcement in regard to pot arrests/seizures. Kind of makes it tough to bring in the national guard to bust pot growers when the state LEO's are on a coffee break. Won't be long before the wires start buzzing "STATE IS ON A BREAK. BUST COMING!" and every gets low. LOL . The feds can't win this one and they know it. It's a just a matter of time.
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Feb '13

ErnestPayne

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Good grief. The "war on drugs" has been an expensive catastrophic failure. Just "declare victory" and go home. It "worked" elsewhere.
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Feb '13

RealityOne

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OMG thats brilliant LOL
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Feb '13

jessejaymes

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Sounds right to me. Maybe we can have a victory parade or something?
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Feb '13

g4me

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@jessejaymes Only if I can lead the parade.
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Feb '13

jessejaymes

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@g4me Oh for Zeus's sake. You not going to have a full beard and be wearing fishnets and a thong are you?
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Feb '13

g4me

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@jessejaymes Of course not, I'm a lady! I may have a bit of a 5 o'clock shadow, but that cant be helped.
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Feb '13

Medicinebow

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Don't worry, Colorado is trying to make us all safer with legal pot and magazine limits.
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Feb '13

DogLady_1

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"The prestige of government has undoubtedly been lowered considerably by the prohibition law. For nothing is more destructive of respect for the government and the law of the land than passing laws which cannot be enforced. It is an open secret that the dangerous increase of crime in this country is closely connected with this." -Albert Einstein
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Feb '13

harold_lloyd

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Rating our current set of problems on a scale from 1, most important, to 10, this rates as about 11.3
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Feb '13

AceLuby

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Kind of surprised you rate liberty so low...
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Feb '13

harold_lloyd

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@AceLuby
You must have misunderstood.
The feds have no need to intervene.
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Feb '13

AceLuby

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@harold_lloyd Yeah, the wording is a bit ambiguous. I thought you were saying that legalization shouldn't be talked about because it's not important.
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Feb '13

Chromalord

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It would be a pointless waste of resources for the feds to actively pursue this.
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Feb '13

PayThatCEO

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Colorado at least has sense enough to do something to help themselves economically, yet the Feds want to destroy that. I think the government wants to keep the majority of people in this country broke and struggling. Every time there's a possible solution to a problem the government screws it up.
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Feb '13

DARSB

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If marijuana prohibition were ended nationwide it would bring in $8.7 billion in tax revenues. - 2010 Cato Institute study
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Feb '13

stepped_in_it

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Lest not to forget to mention the 13.7 billion savings by stopping the enforcement of existing marijuana laws.........
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Feb '13

AceLuby

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@stepped_in_it More like 50-80 billion... It would be hard to justify a DEA w/out pot.
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Feb '13

norezen

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Then add the savings for prison and jail expenses.
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Feb '13

norezen

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Oh and then add in the savings in human suffering when police stop profiling pot smokers and concentrate on crimes that actually have victims.
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Feb '13

Thegrif

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Ain't there enough stuff for Feds to do without messing with a State that doesn't have a problem.
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Feb '13

hertz_doughnut

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The Hemp and Marijuana industries taxes would replace borrowing from China. Of course that would conflict with the global agenda.
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Feb '13

DARSB

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Lots of pot stories today. Must be something ion the air.

Oregon Democrat unveils legislation to legalize medical marijuana

More than 150 advocates from around the country joined Oregon Democrat Earl Blumenauer on Monday as he put forth his legislation allowing states to legalize medical marijuana in an effort to end the confusion surrounding federal pot policy.

Let's face it. The drug war was an abysmal failure. If there's something medically to be gained from marijuana, then we should garner the rewards. My thought is that if Big Pharma suffers after bleeding the American populace dry, then all the better.

"Blumeanuer’s legislation, which has 13 co-sponsors — including GOP Rep. Dana Rohrabacher of California — would create a framework for the FDA to eventually legalize medicinal marijuana. It would also block the feds from interfering in any of the 19 states where medical marijuana is legal."
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Politix

Should federal authorities crack down on Colorado and Washington over legalized marijuana?

Should federal authorities crack down on Colorado and Washington over legalized marijuana?