U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced a new policy that will allow states to adopt permissive marijuana policies if they do so "in a responsible manner." Under these new guidelines, "the Justice Department will not challenge state laws and prosecutors may not bring cases against individual users unless they violate eight federal priorities, including marijuana distribution to minors or as a cover for drug trafficking operations."
This is a great boost for the marijuana legalization movement and there will be pushes in many other states to legalize medical and/or recreational use of marijuana. Ballot initiatives are already planned in a number of states. From federalism and libertarian perspectives, this is a good move. Stay tuned.
I agree with AG Eric Holder's call on this one. However, like his boss, he's selectively choosing which federal laws to enforce. Where I do concur with his position is about the usage of certain drugs being controlled by the respective states. Sort of like blue laws that are secular and everyday. It's funny that Salvia divinorum isn't singled out like marijuana. We're talking about the difference between Gin and Tequila.
ReplyDeleteThis may be the first time you, I and Holder agree on anything! Thanks for the comment.Your opening comments suggests, as I think we all agree, that politicians of all stripes have no real principles (other than self, party and ideological aggrandizement) and pull out principles only when they are consistent with short-term advantage. Hypocrisy rules in D.C. and many other places.
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