Legal Status of Marijuana

[CARLHAYDEN]

I know that this can be more of a state and municipal issue rather than a federal one.

Sadly, it is a federal issue, whether we like it or not.  Your state could make the hippie lettuce completely legal, and your municipality could then set up a community hemp farm and hash bar...

...and the FBI/DEA/ATF would swoop in, automatic weapons a-blazin', and take everyone into federal custody.  And probably have the state and municipal goverments executed for treason.

Hooray for states' rights!

You are quite correct.

The voters in my state TWICE voted to reduce penalties on possession of small amounts of marijuana, and voted for medical marijuana, but the feds are blocking the will of the people.

[CARLHAYDEN]

I know that this can be more of a state and municipal issue rather than a federal one.

Sadly, it is a federal issue, whether we like it or not.  Your state could make the hippie lettuce completely legal, and your municipality could then set up a community hemp farm and hash bar...

...and the FBI/DEA/ATF would swoop in, automatic weapons a-blazin', and take everyone into federal custody.  And probably have the state and municipal goverments executed for treason.

Hooray for states' rights!

You are quite correct.

The voters in my state TWICE voted to reduce penalties on possession of small amounts of marijuana, and voted for medical marijuana, but the feds are blocking the will of the people.

Dumb question: How is this Constitutional?  I mean, I know a lot of the Federal drug laws were derived from the Commerce Clause, but how can Jimmy Stoner growing ditchweed for himself on his back porch have anything to do with interstate commerce?  What gives the federal government the power to make and enforce drug laws?

For more on Commerce Clause abuse: http://www.townhall.com/columnists/walterwilliams/ww20031105.shtml

You're right.

The 'commerce clause' has been referred to as the 'elastic clause' as it has been abused as the pretext for federal intervention in areas where the feds have no legitimate standing.