A Revealing Remark From the Deputy Drug Czar
Deputy Drug Czar Scott Burns visited Arcata, CA last week to see "America’s grow house capitol" firsthand. After meeting with local authorities and accompanying police on a few marijuana raids, he said this:
…regarding enforcement, Burns seemed to offer a mixed message. While unyielding in asserting that federal law holds marijuana illegal under all circumstances and trumps all state and local medical cannabis laws, Burns nonetheless advised Arcatans to “defer 100 percent good judgment of the people who have been elected and appointed” while motioning to those present in the APD conference room. But most of them are working on guidelines under which medical marijuana may be safely cultivated and dispensed. [Arcata Eye]
I just cannot possibly point out often enough that the conflict between state and federal drug laws doesn't marginalize the value of state-level reforms. The deputy drug czar doesn’t arrive in California with a convoy of DEA super-narcs to slash and burn everything in sight. He can't do that and he knows it, as his remark clearly illustrates.
The federal war on medical marijuana is a political strategy designed to create the appearance of chaos in order to deter other states from implementing medical marijuana laws. Medical marijuana is more available than ever before, notwithstanding sporadic DEA activity in California. Yet we still hear folks suggesting that "the DEA will just swoop in and ruin everything" if we pass new marijuana reforms at the state-level. To be clear, the DEA has ruined many lives, but it has not ruined California's medical marijuana law. That should be obvious to all of us.
The DEA cannot overcome the will of voters and I'm tired of seeing the press and even some reformers helping them pretend they can.
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redditAmendment 10
Comment posted by toconnor53 on Sun, 07/27/2008 - 11:42amWith all due respect to the constitution, this current administration has not honored constitutional oversights within the federal government. With this as a backdrop why would the executive branch even consider a state's right to pursue a medical cannabis policy that might violate a federal statute?
Until such time that the US congress and the US judicial branch asserts their constitutional powers against the executive branch, we will have an executive branch that will run roughshod over state’s rights.
If an “aggrieved” state wishes to pursue any action against the federal government, where do they take their case? Do you have the confidence in a legal system that is intimidated by the executive branch?
The constitution is a tremendous document if used to check the power of the central government. It is just not happening right now.
Keep pluggin away
Comment posted by sicntired on Sat, 07/26/2008 - 12:56amsicntired@mac.com,Vancouver,B.C.Canada This is the way it is and always has been.There has to be a way to demonstrate to these people(mainstream society)that using a drug doesn't make you a junkie.That,unfortunately,is the way all too many people seem to think.Read any treatment pamphlet and they always stress total abstinence.That's another issue.There has to be a way of demonstrating to people that most people use drugs like they do alcohol and with equal or less after effects.If anyone has any ideas we could all use them.Otherwise,we just keep plugin along.