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the law explicitly gives the executive branch the power to change the scheduling of particular drugs without needing Congressional action. Obama can instruct the relevant agencies under him to take an honest look at the research and reschedule marijuana so it qualifies as having legitimate medical uses. The Obama administration could easily and justifiably move marijuana to, say, schedule III, which happens to be the same schedule that synthetic THC is in, making medical marijuana legal under federal law.
You know state law cannot be contrary to federal law, right? Or did you miss that in civics class?
Which is really irrelevant. Obama argued he would not pursue these laws just as he has argued the same concerning other laws that don't interest him.
The argument is not that these laws are still in conflict with federal laws. The argument was that Obama said his administration would not pursue them.
Which is really irrelevant. Obama argued he would not pursue these laws just as he has argued the same concerning other laws that don't interest him.
The argument is not that these laws are still in conflict with federal laws. The argument was that Obama said his administration would not pursue them.
Isn't that the discretion of the Executive Branch -- to decide where effort should be placed in law enforcement? The executive decides how much resources should be allocated to anti-terrorism; drug enforcement; patent infringement; etc. The Administration rightly decided that pursuing small-scale personal use of medical marijuana wasn't high on the priorities list.
Which is really irrelevant. Obama argued he would not pursue these laws just as he has argued the same concerning other laws that don't interest him.
The argument is not that these laws are still in conflict with federal laws. The argument was that Obama said his administration would not pursue them.
He's done this numerous times. Chose not to go after telecoms that wire tapped US citizens, chose not to go after the mortgage industry for mortgage fraud, chose not to prosecute war crimes committed during the War on Terror. He has chosen to go after medical marijuana because he wants to, not because the law compels him to.
Isn't that the discretion of the Executive Branch -- to decide where effort should be placed in law enforcement? The executive decides how much resources should be allocated to anti-terrorism; drug enforcement; patent infringement; etc. The Administration rightly decided that pursuing small-scale personal use of marijuana wasn't high on the priorities list.
Yes, they decide, so let's not pretend the law compels Obama to go after medical marijuana dispensaries. He wants to do that. That's his choice.
...sigh...
And real change in the drug laws (aka fully legalizing marijuana) will still have to come from Congress.
Changing marijuana to a mildly addicitive drug isn't going to do it.
The link I posted says you are wrong. Nobody was talking about "fully legalizing". The issue was his choice to put Husbands, Fathers, Sons in jail for doing something their State said was legal and for activity that's relatively harmless. You had no idea he could reclassify marijuana on his own, so stop tap dancing.
Isn't that the discretion of the Executive Branch -- to decide where effort should be placed in law enforcement? The executive decides how much resources should be allocated to anti-terrorism; drug enforcement; patent infringement; etc. The Administration rightly decided that pursuing small-scale personal use of medical marijuana wasn't high on the priorities list.
And I want to commend Obama for at least being consistent. Choosing not to go after mortgage bankers who committed fraud, choosing not go after political elites like himself who committed war crimes, choosing not to go after telecoms who broke wiretapping laws.....yet......putting 50 year old pot selling, Fathers in jail for the rest of their lives, where they then die of cancer.....really shows his respect for the owners of this country.
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