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Showing Original Post only (View all)Stupid - "Administration Weighs Legal Action Against States That Legalized Marijuana Use" [View all]
"Even as marijuana legalization supporters are celebrating their victories in the two states, the Obama administration has been holding high-level meetings since the election to debate the response of federal law enforcement agencies to the decriminalization efforts.
Marijuana use in both states continues to be illegal under the federal Controlled Substances Act. One option is to sue the states on the grounds that any effort to regulate marijuana is pre-empted by federal law. Should the Justice Department prevail, it would raise the possibility of striking down the entire initiatives on the theory that voters would not have approved legalizing the drug without tight regulations and licensing similar to controls on hard alcohol.
Some law enforcement officials, alarmed at the prospect that marijuana users in both states could get used to flouting federal law openly, are said to be pushing for a stern response. But such a response would raise political complications for President Obama because marijuana legalization is popular among liberal Democrats who just turned out to re-elect him.
Its a sticky wicket for Obama, said Bruce Buchanan, a political science professor at the University of Texas at Austin, saying any aggressive move on such a high-profile question would be seen as a slap in the face to his base right after theyve just handed him a chance to realize his presidential dreams.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/07/us/marijuana-initiatives-in-2-states-set-federal-officials-scrambling.html?_r=0 - NYT
Marijuana use in both states continues to be illegal under the federal Controlled Substances Act. One option is to sue the states on the grounds that any effort to regulate marijuana is pre-empted by federal law. Should the Justice Department prevail, it would raise the possibility of striking down the entire initiatives on the theory that voters would not have approved legalizing the drug without tight regulations and licensing similar to controls on hard alcohol.
Some law enforcement officials, alarmed at the prospect that marijuana users in both states could get used to flouting federal law openly, are said to be pushing for a stern response. But such a response would raise political complications for President Obama because marijuana legalization is popular among liberal Democrats who just turned out to re-elect him.
Its a sticky wicket for Obama, said Bruce Buchanan, a political science professor at the University of Texas at Austin, saying any aggressive move on such a high-profile question would be seen as a slap in the face to his base right after theyve just handed him a chance to realize his presidential dreams.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/07/us/marijuana-initiatives-in-2-states-set-federal-officials-scrambling.html?_r=0 - NYT
Let's face it, Cannabis advocates are some of the most tenacious, ambitious, and successful political advocates in our party.
It's not possible for the administration to be so stupid as to deliver millions of liberal Dem votes into the hands of Libertarian wing of the Republican party, is it?
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Stupid - "Administration Weighs Legal Action Against States That Legalized Marijuana Use" [View all]
grahamhgreen
Dec 2012
OP
I agree. If Obama goes through with fighting Colorado and Washington, that will be
bluestate10
Dec 2012
#29
For God's sake, the Admin failed to prosecute torture, Bush crimes and Banksters.
grahamhgreen
Dec 2012
#23
Obama can leash the DEA and have them just focus on state borders and work with states that
bluestate10
Dec 2012
#30
I would think that they could all get together and discuss this ....
socialindependocrat
Dec 2012
#2
Exactly. And this group of voters is highly motivated, dedicated, and effective advocates
grahamhgreen
Dec 2012
#4
Those were not the only presidents to do so . Check out George Washington, et al.
AnotherMcIntosh
Dec 2012
#7
Stupid? I don't agree. We've been told that Obama is very smart. And he is.
AnotherMcIntosh
Dec 2012
#5
The surprise is that a move against decrim could cost us multiple elections,
grahamhgreen
Dec 2012
#11
That is one reason why I can't believe that the White House is that fucking blind.
bluestate10
Dec 2012
#28
It is absoulutely anti-democratic. The people have spoken, now he should support democracy; or
grahamhgreen
Dec 2012
#36