Ex-DEA heads urge Holder oppose marijuana ballots

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Ex-DEA heads urge Holder oppose marijuana ballots

By Alex Dobuzinskis
LOS ANGELES | Fri Sep 7, 2012 9:03pm EDT

(Reuters) - Nine former heads of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration urged Attorney General Eric Holder on Friday to take a stand against possible legalization of recreational marijuana in three western states, saying silence would convey acceptance.

The former officials said in a letter sent on Friday that legalization would pose a direct conflict with federal law, indicating there would be a clash between the states and the federal government on the issue.

Voters in Colorado, Washington state and Oregon are due to decide in November whether to legalize marijuana for recreational use and to regulate and tax its sale.

"To continue to remain silent conveys to the American public and the global community a tacit acceptance of these dangerous initiatives," they said in the letter, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters. A spokeswoman for Holder declined to comment on the letter.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/08/us-usa-marijuana-holder-idUSBRE8861CI20120908

[tridim]

2. The DEA is afraid.

That is a good thing.

Prepare for downsizing DEA.

[Warren DeMontague]

3. That's ironic, since the #1 justification for the idiotic, misguided and expensive pot war shit

that we hear from the lawn order, DEA types is "It's illegal. The DEA is just enforcing the laws~ if you don't like the laws, change them"

Yes, God forbid anything should threaten the big cash funnel gravy train a dangerous, harmful, deadly substance like marijuana be legalized. Perish the thought!

[Politicalboi]

4. Assholes

I have had enough of this shit. DEA agents who have no idea the good Marijuana does. The feds barge in over Marijuana, but not to protect abortion clinics. Somehow, state laws work there. Pick and choose.

[WhoIsNumberNone]

5. "Dangerous initiatives"? Dangerous to the DEA's funding more like.

And the prison labor system too. Privatized prisons don't want to hear any talk about legalization.

[intaglio]

6. There are vested interests opposing legalisation

and they aren't jut the petroleum plastics and wood pulp paper industries.

Law enforcement will be getting a lot of money from both Government grants and confiscation of private assets; the private prisons operators also love the numbers of low violence inmates that cannabis users provide; there is also a possible input from the drugs companies who want expensive rather than cheap pharmaceuticals.

[tritsofme]

7. If only their fears were grounded...

[Uncle Joe]

8. The DEA is addicted to the Drug War, they're afraid of losing their money fix

and it makes no difference how dysfunctional or destructive their habit has become.

In this regard I believe they're insane.

Thanks for the thread, Eugene.

[mfcorey1]

9. The letter is a set up. Paul Ryan will look good calling for states to decide while the feds

representing the administration will be in opposition. It is a set up, I tell you. Just collecting my thoughts.

[movingviolation]

10. The DEA, what a bunch of un-democratic bastards.

I choose to express my thoughts & feelings with smilies!