Lawmakers: DOJ should respect Wash., Colo. pot votes
SEATTLE (AP) - A group of lawmakers on Friday urged the Justice Department to respect recent votes in Colorado and Washington state allowing the recreational use of marijuana, and some introduced a bill to ensure that happens.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette of Colorado said her bill would bar the federal government from blocking state marijuana laws. Several other lawmakers have signed on, including Republican Rep. Mike Coffman of Colorado.
"I voted against Amendment 64 and I strongly oppose the legalization of marijuana, but I also have an obligation to respect the will of the voters," Coffman said in a statement. "I feel obligated to support this legislation."
Voters this month made Washington and Colorado the first states to allow adults over 21 to possess up to an ounce of marijuana, and to set up state licensing schemes for pot growers, processors and retail stores. Taxes could bring the states tens or hundreds of millions of dollars a year, financial analysts say.
But marijuana remains illegal under federal law. States are not required to enforce the federal prohibition, meaning they can make marijuana crimes legal under state law, but whether they can set up licensing schemes to promote violations of federal law is another story.
Many constitutional lawyers don't think so: In general, state laws that "frustrate the purpose" of federal laws can be blocked.
But the DOJ hasn't said whether it plans to sue to block the licensing schemes from taking effect. Seventeen Democratic representatives signed a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder and Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Michele Leonhart urging the DOJ to let the states proceed with regulating pot and to refrain from prosecuting people who comply with the state laws.
"These states have chosen to move from a drug policy that spends millions of dollars turning ordinary Americans into criminals toward one that will tightly regulate the use of marijuana while raising tax revenue to support cash-strapped state and local governments," the letter said. "We believe this approach embraces the goals of existing federal marijuana law: to stop international trafficking, deter domestic organized criminal organizations, stop violence associated with the drug trade and protect children."
Proponents of the marijuana measures welcomed the letter and DeGette's legislation, which would amend the Controlled Substances Act to clarify that it shall not pre-empt state marijuana laws.
"It's fantastic to see congressional representatives move decisively to respect the will of the voters and facilitate the fundamental reformation of our marijuana laws at the state level," said Alison Holcomb, campaign manager for Washington's Initiative 502.
So far, no Washington lawmakers have signed onto DeGette's legislation.
___
Johnson can be reached at https://twitter.com/GeneAPseattle
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
Washington voters don't want to respect Federal laws! Just why should the feds respect Washington laws?
Maybe because Washington Voters can see that a Federal Law is Stupid and the DOJ is supposed to Work For the People not against them.
Â
swede760Â Â Then work to change federal law legally! It is possible. It is the state voters that are displaying their stupidity thinking that they can change state law and everything will be OK. Federal law still stands making the use or production of pot illegal. Those that choose to break the law should take responsibility for their decision when they get caught.
The DOJ shouldn't pick and choose which laws they want to uphold or not. If they don't like a law, it's not up to them to choose. They can lobby Congress to get the law changed, but as long as it's a law they are required to enforce it. The DOJ is a part of the Executive branch of the government which is controlled by the President. In the Constitution it says: The President must "take care that the laws be faithfully executed." It doesn't say where/when he chooses. The executive branch not enforcing a law usurps the separations of power and invalidates the powers granted to Congress under the Constitution.Â
What I find odd is the rhetoric used throughout this post, mostly by those opposed to the new MJ laws. For instance, several opponents have discussed "facts" about the dangers of smoking MJ. It is not really surprising that inhaling anything can increase your chance of cancer, or other harmful diseases. However, most of you stating this fail to also mention that inhaling any sort of combustible will do the same thing; rather, you phrase your statements to look as though something in MJ itself causes all of this, when this "300-400%" increase disappears with vaporizing or ingesting THC, rather than inhaling it. Another aspect I find funny about this argument is that you opponents are also talking about how us "hippie supporters" ignore the facts and need to do research. Yet, in the same posts you throw out examples of "stoners" found in movies, and the small percentage of people who mimic those in the movies (mostly teenagers). What is funny here is calling out for supporters to do research, while you fail to do the same. Your average MJ user looks and acts just like you--albeit, they smile more and are more open to individual freedom, but still the same overall behavior. I cannot remember the year, it was recent, where a poll found that an estimated 45%-50% of the American population has tried MJ. Consider those numbers...it hints that someone near to you, that you respect as a friend, probably habitually uses MJ and yet they don't act like Cheech and Chong. Not every user is a brain-dead idiot. Not every user sits all day playing video games. Not every user smells bad and identifies as a "hippie." Making these generalizations is the same as if I were to say: Every person, every time who takes a drink of alcohol will commit a violent crime.
Â
Simply not true. Is it sometimes true? Of course, but not always.
 @Jared That is one of the most common sense posts I have read yet on this issue. I am a card holder and Mj saved my life. I nearly died from Rx Morphine shutting my body down after 9 years of it to try to control my back pain. Now I have control of my pain for the most part and have a life though under current law I am still not allowed to work a regular job because the Medical Mj and my pre-existing back conditions. I am well respected in my community for the short time I have been back. I have many friends and a good social life. I am politicaly acticve on the Local, State and National level. I volunteer at a local Rock Climbing Gym and work with Kids and Adults, I work with a friend of mine who owns a recycling business and I play Bass Guitar in a Band and with a group of beginners. I do not own a TV, do not play video games except Hearts once in a while and I live on my Sailboat. Life is pretty good but it could be better if Society accepted my medication.
"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." Â Constitution Amendment 10
Â
I've read the Supreme Law of the Land several times and never did I see powers granted for anyone to control what is being put into our bodies (Amendment 18 was overturned).  The legislation that was in place for prosecution of these "crimes" is unconstitutional at best.  I agree with any reform that restores inalienable rights granted by the constitution, and freedom to control you own destiny.
Â
Lets be honest, ALMOST all of the people that are mad over legalized pot also voted for Romney - now they have lost big time, not just once but twice. There def isn't anything they can do to change who was elected President so they are attempting to try and get their two cents in on an issue that they can get away with complaining about, for now... I bet a lot of these people don't even live in WA or CO (I do live in WA) so get over it, if you don't smoke pot it probably isn't gonna effect you at all anyway, duh!!!!!
It is in violation of Federal law! It doesn't matter what the states decide to do by themselves, state laws do not trump Federal law! Anyone that uses or grows pot is taking a chance on being arrested for the violation by Federal law enforcement! Federal criminals face much stronger punishments that state or local violations.
Â
I don't care if you choose to violate the laws, but I have no sympathy for anyone that does and gets busted for it. They have it coming.
Typical liberal mentality. If the liberals feel that the law is in their favor, then of course they are all for it. but if they think that the law doesn't favor their special interests then it must be wrong, and it should be fought. As a perfect example, Oregon voters made a decision in the recent election concerning PERS benefits and government workers. But naturally, the liberal elites don't feel the new rules favor them, so they will fight it. Liberal hypocrisy, in plain language: dope for our voting bloc=good, and cutting our state employee fat cat benefits=bad.
Uh,PERS was in a Contract with the Employees. The Employees had to give up years worth of cost of living increses for those benefits which at the time cost less than the pay raises. Then the cost goes up through no fault of the employees and the State Renigs on a Legal Contract. The fact is that now because the State has Squandered the rest of the Tax Base it operates on it wants to steal from it's employees to cover it's own bad choices.
Lawmakers: States should respect federal Law!
@Freedom1267 Typical conservative hypocricy.Conervatives loooove big government when it comes to the private lives of their neighbors."Freedom for me but not for thee" You people are all about state's rights except for (fill in the blank)
 @noneofyourbizzness  @Freedom1267 If it's NOT enumerated in the constitution, the feds should stay hands-off.Â
Â
BUT, since when did this administration respect the law OR the constitution.
Â
Irony indeed.
I just want to be able to smoke regular normal tobacco cigarettes again where and when I want. Why is smoking MJ different? Â
Washington and Colorado can also atttempt to secede from the USA! LOL
People who have a pot addiction should seek rehab.
Once again Marijuana is not in any way Physically Addictive! If you become Psychologically Addicted to it you have bigger Mental Health problems than smoking weed.
@sortbait People who have a alchohol addiction should seek rehab.
The feds will continue sending out the DEA no matter what the states want unless the states finally put their foot/feet down.. which of course I don't see happening either, therefore nothing will change.
Who cares? The whole issue seems to be a huge waste of tax money!
 @Freedom1267 That is a large part of why this bill passed, because criminalizing pot is a huge waste of money.  This is a step toward reasonableness.Â
This is the time that were the "People", make a clear show of "Will" to our Deaf previously elected officials through JURY NULLIFICATION. We the majority of citizens can and will throw out Marijuana cases as empty rhetoric of unfounded accusations and fears with a corrupt political system having an interest in keeping it illegal and the Prohibitionists who profit from this shameless, morally bankrupt policy.
Â
The legalization of recreational marijuana approved by voters in Washington and Colorado could sap power from vicious smuggling gangs, and undermine the Mexican government's rationale for pressing on with the drug war, some analysts say.
Unless states act to regulate, control and decriminalize most uses of marijuana, Congress will continue to ignore the law enforcement danger and assert federal criminal laws that ill serve the public.
Also, Patients deserve respect and protection under the law, as well as a bill of rights to ensure a consistent, quality controlled, and affordable supply of medical cannabis. A patient bill of rights, among other assurances, would also ensure access to physicians willing to recommend medical cannabis and that medical records and personal information will be kept private and inaccessible to law enforcement.
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
As a Patient who is alive today because of Medical Mj, thanks for your ideas, they are great. There is one way we can do this though. We have to put it in final form and circulate it as a petition for a National Referendum for the Public to Vote on.
What I find so Ironic is that everyone is so against cigarettes and there has to be some way to stop them. But marijuana, SELL it all over the place, I need a constitutional amendment!!! For the record, both are bad and should be illegal.
 @dkgiovenco Should everything that is "bad" be illegal?  Who decides what bad is?  How about the majority of the population effected?  Kinda like, I don't know, democracy?
@dkgiovenco Cigarettes illegal? You must be another conservative who is opposed to personal freedom and liberties for others but keep big government out of your personal life.
 @dkgiovenco Right you are. Pot advocates will tell you how innocuous pot is. Disregard the fact that you are inhaling more chemicals that can cause problems than with tobacco. Disregard the three recent, independent, studies that have found a 300% to 400% greater risk of testicular cancer in pot smokers. But, then again, maybe this is the good news. Start smoking marijuana early and eliminate the ability to reproduce.
 @Nobody  @dkgiovenco links?
@Nobody @dkgiovenco I eat it as opposed to smoking it.There are alternatives.
Another time, I was at a dorm party. Took some hits off this bong which looked like bottle of Mrs. Butterworth. Smoked some big time hash. That was some righteous stuff. Was so far gone, was seeing plaid patterns in my head, later to find out I had walked to Plaid Pantry for some chili cheese fries. Would just like to take time out to thank the Governor & that broad Patty Murray...Maria Cantwell, come join us, I bet you could Can-Well.Â
Couple fraternity brothers came over, we got baked big time. Somehow got stupid, outta all things to do,  we started playing inside volleyball & dodgeball . Amazing what can be done with an extra piece of garden netting & couple beach balls. Had to simmer down before the girlfriends got there. Busted out John Madden football, Led Zeppelin Album #2 (wires me when stoned), bag of Doritos, 2-liter Sprite.Â
A whole state filled with people eating chips and playing video games. Â What a waste smoking pot is.
@sortbait I eat chips occasionally with or without weed.Not interested in video games.It helps me sleep and my all around disposition.I'm more than able to function normally after injesting it.
 @sortbait You must hate music...most western music (blues/rock) you hear is a byproduct of people inspired through the use of it...or inspired by others who inhaled.Â
Â
...btw, pot could disappear from the face of the earth, and you would still have a whole state filled with people eating chips and playing video games.Â
Â
It would probably help if you took a couple of puffs now and then, it might add a little spice to the same boring tripe you seem to love to serve...more salt, please.
@sortbait  You are free to do what you want. I prefer you allow pot smokers the ability to do what they want. It doesnt harm you.
As pissy as people get over cigarette smoking, I find it amazing how many people are behind legalizing marijuana.
@Thebigboot  Cigarette smokers are rude and smoke in MY breathing space. I would never smoke pot in public and blow the smoke at people who do not want it.Â
 @Thebigboot It still would be illegal to smoke in public... just like it is illegal to drink booze in public. Â
 @Thebigboot The want to make possession legal. Nobody said anything about smoking it.
I think the states should respect federal law...
@bacana  Even the Federal Government doesnt respect Federal Law. If they did, the illegal immigant issue wouldnt be an issue.
 @bacanaÂ
I think the FEDS should respect Federal law!
Lock up thieving, lying banksters and the DoJ officials who run guns into Mexico!!
 @alohan  @bacana You mean like Federal immigration laws? I don't think the Feds know how to enforce those kinds of laws. You know, the ones that they skirt for their own benefit.....
 @bacana So how do you think prohibition was repealed?  States started to make booze legal again...Â
I need a dime bag of Monkey Paw, when is it legal? Need a quote for some Cincy or White Widow, great stocking stuffer presents. Â
20,000 Oregon school children are HOMELESS and THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO MONEY TO HOUSE THEM, but the state has UNLIMITED MILLION$ & MILLION$ to destroy people's lives & throw them in cages for smoking/growing an ABSOLUTELY harmless plant.
 @August100 To what plant are you referring? Certainly not marijuana. MJ is at least as toxic as cigarettes (probably more so since no filter is used). Risk of some cancers has been found to be significantly higher for pot smokers (testicular being one of the worst).Â
@Nobody @August100 So it's the role of government to dictate what you can or cannot put in your body? BTW eating marijuana is a safe alternative to smoking it.
 @Nobody  @August100 Links, or it didn't happen.