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News & ArtsSaturday, March 14, 2009
Drugs Winning the War on Drugs
Posted by Dominic Holden on Sat, Mar 14, 2009 at 4:02 PM
Armed DEA agents raided Charlie Lynch's home looking for marijuana; now he's facing up to 100 years in prison. Here is John Stossel last night on 20/20's "Bailouts & Bull":
I recommend you watch it.
1
Marijuana is not "legal" in those states. It is not prohibited under state law in certain states. It is illegal under federal law. There are many things that are prohibited under federal law that are not covered under state law.
I am not saying that I agree with Federal drug law. However, saying that marijuana is "perfectly legal" in a particular state is disingenuous.
I am not saying that I agree with Federal drug law. However, saying that marijuana is "perfectly legal" in a particular state is disingenuous.
2
How many times did John Stossel report on the absurdity of Marijuana policy during the Bush Administration?
3
Where's convicted drug felon R. Limbaugh on all this freedom stuff? This shit continues because it's a multibillion-dollar industry harassing, capturing, processing, and incarcerating perpetrators of victimless crime. Not to mention all the violent crime resulting from this bullshit prohibitionist reign of terror.
6
I'm not willing to comb the 20/20 archives, Chirs, but Stossel has taken very public libertarian (not conservative) stances, including opposition to drug laws, for a very long time.
Xyzzy is right on. There are tons of things prohibited by federal but not state laws, such as racketeering, selling arms to enemy states, and transporting kidnapped children across state lines, that we don't expect state and local officials to treat as perfectly legitimate, legal businesses.
The idea that, when we don't agree with a law, the right way to proceed is to create a sort of low-grade civil war in which different levels of government work against each other and treat the mattter entirely differently, is not helpful. (If the matter were a different one, one in which liberals regarded the federal position as the correct one, they would dismiss a "states' rights" argument out of hand.) Don't like a federal law? Lobby to change it at the federal level!
Xyzzy is right on. There are tons of things prohibited by federal but not state laws, such as racketeering, selling arms to enemy states, and transporting kidnapped children across state lines, that we don't expect state and local officials to treat as perfectly legitimate, legal businesses.
The idea that, when we don't agree with a law, the right way to proceed is to create a sort of low-grade civil war in which different levels of government work against each other and treat the mattter entirely differently, is not helpful. (If the matter were a different one, one in which liberals regarded the federal position as the correct one, they would dismiss a "states' rights" argument out of hand.) Don't like a federal law? Lobby to change it at the federal level!
8
I'd sleep with John Stossel, but then he'd probably report on it.
This case is bullshit, plain and simple.
This case is bullshit, plain and simple.
10
One post here in SLOG talks about gang warfare in LA between Bloods and Crips (I think they're fighting over "drug" stuff and paying for love). Then we see this clip where the FEDS storm in on some guy that is doing what his state allows, but the FEDS don't.
Both situations the FEDS find evil. BUT who do they barrel down on? Who do the come at with all guns blazing? That's right, the guy without the guns to fire back.
Both situations the FEDS find evil. BUT who do they barrel down on? Who do the come at with all guns blazing? That's right, the guy without the guns to fire back.
11
@5: This is not a "states rights" issue. We have a federal system in with Congress sets federal law. States can do what they like, but that is always subordinate to federal law.
States can do what they choose to either criminalize or not criminalize drugs. However, what they do is irrelevant under federal law. They shouldn't act surprised when the federal agencies start enforcing federal law. This is what the Civil War was about.
I agree with 6. The current laws are absurd and need to be changed at the federal level. However, the argument that medical marijuana is "legal" in California is just facile.
States can do what they choose to either criminalize or not criminalize drugs. However, what they do is irrelevant under federal law. They shouldn't act surprised when the federal agencies start enforcing federal law. This is what the Civil War was about.
I agree with 6. The current laws are absurd and need to be changed at the federal level. However, the argument that medical marijuana is "legal" in California is just facile.
14
This is outrageous! The DEA Law Enforcement Industrial Complex is fucking out of control.
Here's hoping Czar Kerlikowske can inject some sanity & some humanity into our draconian drug laws.
Here's hoping Czar Kerlikowske can inject some sanity & some humanity into our draconian drug laws.
15
Unfortunately #11 is right. Does anyone know how we change federal drug law for marijuana? Is this something that the house and senate have to change? Or a cabinet decision? Either way, I don't think the federal government will change the national drug laws until at least progressive states like Washington (and others on the west coast and northeast) decriminalize marijuana at the state level. That can take a long time, so the faster we act at a state level in WA, the better.
16
Dominic, why are you actually posting this? Do you intend to advocate for all pharmaceuticals that encounter legal question? Are you a pharmacist? Are you concerned about the sick? Let's look at your record, and a good google search. What is your intent?
Me? I just enjoy getting baked. I'm not gonna lie, and I'm a little tired of all y'all that do.
Me? I just enjoy getting baked. I'm not gonna lie, and I'm a little tired of all y'all that do.
17
@ 11 - I'll admit that, because of how our country has evolved, "states' rights" is no longer a valid legal stance. But, because it was such a vigorous debate until the Civil War, I think it still deserves consideration. The Jeffersonian model for the federal govt. (which I've always favored) vs. the Hamiltonian model, has never really stopped being an issue for debate by political scientists, and many issues (public education, for example) are, at their base, states' rights issues. It's just that today, the feds always win. Always.
@ 13 - THAT was the real point of my first comment.
@ 13 - THAT was the real point of my first comment.
18
@16, not all of us enjoy 'being baked'. If I want to get high I can take morphine - legally. My chronic pain is that bad. I just want to feel like a human being again, so I smoke - when I can get it, which isn't very often.
It's funny - I've been a big supporter of medical marijuana since the '80s, when I saw my aunt die - not from cancer, which she had, but from starvation caused by the cancer & its treatment [it's on her death certificate]. I just never thought I'd be in a position to need it too.
So, yeah, there are perfectly healthy people out there that want marijuana legalized, not for recreational use, but for medical purposes.
It's funny - I've been a big supporter of medical marijuana since the '80s, when I saw my aunt die - not from cancer, which she had, but from starvation caused by the cancer & its treatment [it's on her death certificate]. I just never thought I'd be in a position to need it too.
So, yeah, there are perfectly healthy people out there that want marijuana legalized, not for recreational use, but for medical purposes.
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