White House's Response to Colorado and Washington's Cannabis Legalization (cocaine, drugs, marijuana)

[abqpsychlist]

Has anybody heard any updates on this issue or any predictions?

[abqpsychlist]

Washington Post Calls on Obama to Leave Colorado and Washington Marijuana Laws Alone

The Washington Post is the largest paper in the Washington D.C. area and is read by many federal officials and politicians. It is often viewed as the embodiment of centrist conventional Washington thinking. It asking the federal government to leave Colorado and Washington State alone shows how significantly the election changes the politics surrounding marijuana.

[abqpsychlist]

This guy made a good point in the comments section of this article:

I wish someone in the media would just point-blank as Obama if he wishes he’d gone to jail and prison for his cocaine and marijuana use as a youth, if he thinks he should’ve lost his college education (because a drug arrest often/typically results in suspension or dismissal, loss of any student loans and grants, etc), and should’ve had his entire future lost over his admitted drug use. He got away with it, though, and never faced the harsh penalties he now as president endorses and allows to continue against other young people every single day, ruining futures and lives. He’d never have become president, of course, if his cocaine and marijuana use had resulted in the same penalties he endorses and enforces against other people.

[mateo45]

What's the point as long as CO and WA each have what they want and no one's bothering them? That approach would more likely invite other states to do the same and pass their own laws... rather than continually courting a full-on battle with the feds, who may be sympathetic now, but are just trying to avoid the political heat.

[no1brownsfan]

Originally Posted by mateo45

What's the point as long as CO and WA each have what they want and no one's bothering them? That approach would more likely invite other states to do the same and pass their own laws... rather than continually courting a full-on battle with the feds, who may be sympathetic now, but are just trying to avoid the political heat.

I believe that is how the prohibition of alcohol ended. A few states decided to Hell with it, and the rest followed suit. I hope what the folks in Colorado and Washington have done is the beginning of the end of the federal prohibition of marijuana.

[GregW]

I believe all currently prohibited drugs should be legalized and sold, after suitable quality control, through state owned stores as is done with high proof alcohol in hyper conservative New Hampshire.

[mateo45]

BTW, an interesting thing about the history of Prohibition is that the 18th amendment was 'champeened' primarily by the southern bible belt and the KKK.... chronic 'social conservatives', while always the biggest fans of ''states rights''!

[Roadking2003]

Originally Posted by mateo45

What's the point as long as CO and WA each have what they want and no one's bothering them?

The point is that the Feds, under Obama's leadership, are not leaving them alone. Federal marijuana raids have INCREASED under Obama.

But, that fit's his character; Hypocrite.

He's a social conservative and fiscal liberal.

[Roadking2003]

Originally Posted by GregW

I believe all currently prohibited drugs should be legalized and sold, after suitable quality control, through state owned stores as is done with high proof alcohol in hyper conservative New Hampshire.

I agree except we don't need the state to sell us anything. Keep it private.

[no1brownsfan]

Originally Posted by Roadking2003

The point is that the Feds, under Obama's leadership, are not leaving them alone. Federal marijuana raids have INCREASED under Obama.

But, that fit's his character; Hypocrite.

He's a social conservative and fiscal liberal.

So what happens when more states, let's say a half a dozen more decide enough is enough, and pass their own legislation fully legalizing it? Eventually as with prohibition, the Feds are going to have to cave. No?