DOJ Says OK To CO and WA Legal Weed

GregS

Well-Known Member
Federal shared dollars are 44% of Michigan's $25.7M total forfeiture proceeds, ca. 2011-the most recent year for which we have those numbers. LEO is getting butthurt bad.

Tee hee.

Now all we hafta do is our civic duty and insist that our elected officials act proactively to defund police departments because of the reduced enforcement load. Multi jurisdictional task forces should be the first to go.
 

djwimbo

Well-Known Member
I took a pay cut this year, but not in the millions... :lol:

Oh-bomb-uh got a joint letter from more than half a dozen large coalitions of officers stating exactly how pissed they are. I lol'd.
 

ozzrokk

Well-Known Member
I took a pay cut this year, but not in the millions... :lol:

Oh-bomb-uh got a joint letter from more than half a dozen large coalitions of officers stating exactly how pissed they are. I lol'd.

This time them fucks have to write the letters...... For once.
 

GregS

Well-Known Member
I took a pay cut this year, but not in the millions... :lol:

Oh-bomb-uh got a joint letter from more than half a dozen large coalitions of officers stating exactly how pissed they are. I lol'd.
The whining has begun. It will get louder as these goons become more desperate in trying to hold on to their sick and twisted ways. Taking their money away gets them where they live.
 

Rrog

Well-Known Member
Just received this from the White House petition sight:

Note: You're receiving this update because you've previously signed a We the People petition on the issue of marijuana.

Last week, the Department of Justice released their guidance in light of ballot initiatives in Colorado and Washington -- we thought you'd want to see the news:

Justice Department Announces Update to Marijuana Enforcement Policy

Today, the U.S. Department of Justice announced an update to its federal marijuana enforcement policy in light of recent state ballot initiatives that legalize, under state law, the possession of small amounts of marijuana and provide for the regulation of marijuana production, processing, and sale.

In a new memorandum outlining the policy, the Department makes clear that marijuana remains an illegal drug under the Controlled Substances Act and that federal prosecutors will continue to aggressively enforce this statute. To this end, the Department identifies eight (8) enforcement areas that federal prosecutors should prioritize. These are the same enforcement priorities that have traditionally driven the Department¹s efforts in this area.

Outside of these enforcement priorities, however, the federal government has traditionally relied on state and local authorizes to address marijuana activity through enforcement of their own narcotics laws. This guidance continues that policy.

For states such as Colorado and Washington that have enacted laws to authorize the production, distribution and possession of marijuana, the Department expects these states to establish strict regulatory schemes that protect the eight federal interests identified in the Department¹s guidance. These schemes must be tough in practice, not just on paper, and include strong, state-based enforcement efforts, backed by adequate funding. Based on assurances that those states will impose an appropriately strict regulatory system, the Department has informed the governors of both states that it is deferring its right to challenge their legalization laws at this time. But if any of the stated harms do materialize -- either despite a strict regulatory scheme or because of the lack of one -- federal prosecutors will act aggressively to bring individual prosecutions focused on federal enforcement priorities and the Department may challenge the regulatory scheme themselves in these states.
 

goblyn

Well-Known Member
Never trust the government, no matter what they say. (D) or (R), it doesn't matter. They know they could change their mind at any given moment and nobody could stop them.

I agree this sounds good and could possibly be a stepping stone, but they made sure to remind you that in their sights weed is in the same boat as heroin and punishable by federal law any time they want, didn't they? ;-)
 

Rrog

Well-Known Member
Well, it's not a bad thing, so I look at it as a good stepping stone. One of many needed. It's a linear move. No going back now, so I'd disagree on that part, I guess.
 

Rrog

Well-Known Member
Today: Historic U.S. Senate Hearing on Marijuana Legalization

http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/2013/...a-legalization

Tomorrow: Historic U.S. Senate Hearing on Marijuana Legalization
Share:
Majority of Americans Now Support Legalizing and Regulating Marijuana like Alcohol

Senator John McCain: “I Respect the Will of the People”

On Tuesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a first-ever Senate hearing on the issue of marijuana legalization and the tension between state and federal marijuana laws. Last November, Colorado and Washington became the first political jurisdictions in the world to approve the legal regulation of marijuana. Twenty states and the District of Columbia have also approved the medical use of marijuana. On August 29, the Department of Justice issued a directive to federal prosecutors instructing them not to interfere with state marijuana laws – as long as a number of stipulations are adhered to, such as preventing distribution to minors.

“On the one hand, it’s hard to fathom why the Senate had to wait until twenty states had legalized marijuana for medical purposes, and two more had legalized it more broadly, before taking up this issue for the first time,’ said Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance. “But, that said, Senator Leahy’s leadership on this issue is highly welcome, and suggests that the Senate at last is acknowledging the remarkable shift in public opinion and state laws involving marijuana.”

More than 750,000 people were arrested for marijuana in the U.S. in 2011, the last year for which data is available. Of those arrests, 87% were for mere possession. Polls show that a majority of Americans support legalizing and regulating marijuana like alcohol, and support is rising across the political spectrum. It is likely that more states will legalize marijuana between now and November 2016.

Support is increasing in Congress for changing federal marijuana policies. Last week, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) made headlines when he said, “Maybe we should legalize [marijuana]. We're certainly moving that way as far as marijuana is concerned. I respect the will of the people.” Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) has said the federal government “ought to respect” states that legalize and regulate marijuana. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) has suggested decriminalizing all drug users, including marijuana users. A number of senators voted to prohibit the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) from spending any money undermining state medical marijuana laws when they were members of the U.S. House – Senators Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Christopher Murphy (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI).

Meanwhile, in the House, nine bipartisan marijuana law reform bills have been introduced, including two bills that would end federal marijuana prohibition. 163 Representatives voted last year to prohibit the DEA from undermining state medical marijuana laws, including 28 Republicans. Earlier this year 225 House members approved a successful amendment allowing colleges and universities to grow industrial hemp for research purposes, if it’s legal under state law.

In late August, Attorney General Eric Holder announced that he informed the governors of Washington and Colorado that the Department of Justice will allow the states to implement their ballot initiatives that legalized the production, distribution, and sale of marijuana for adults. Deputy Attorney General James Cole also issued a memo to U.S. attorneys across the country outlining priorities for federal prosecutors enforcing marijuana laws. In a surprising twist, the memo notes that state regulation may further federal interests by reducing organized crime and making marijuana less available to youth.

“Legalizing marijuana and shrinking the number of people behind bars in the U.S. is an issue the left and right can join together on,” said Bill Piper, director of national affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance. “Like the repeal of alcohol prohibition, the repeal of marijuana prohibition will save taxpayer money, put organized crime syndicates out of business, and protect the safety of young people.”
 
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