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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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Why do be still believe?

This is one more example of the "government" BS. After 35 years of a totally failed "war on drugs", the main stream media still publish this crap without doing even basic research. Have any of them done any research to prove or disprove the "official line"? Apparently not, and we don't call them or the official mouthpieces on the lies. Take the potentcy of canabis, according to their figures, we should be buying at least 41%. How do I come to that figure? For the past thirty five years, we get a new warning about the "new" more potent pot, almost every year. In addition, how many times have we heard, "We are winning the war on drugs"? I don't think so. And maybe just as important, how much does it cost just in dollars, to carry out these raids? I know a few years ago it cost over $3500 per hour just to fly a chopper, wonder what that costs now? But every day we see examples of this hogwash, and I still wonder, why do we still believe? Oh thats right, I don't.

Keep pluggin away

[email protected],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.

Marinol is no answer

Because Marinol DOES NOT have the same effect and is too strong for most people.

You have to take a pill which takes a long time to enter the bloodstream.

Also, it's synthetic I think.

Public is evolving

And evolution does at times require revolution. Big newspaper editorials (NY LA) have proclaimed "the drug war failure".Worry not, the end of tyranny is close at hand. Bring on the trials...

Note to the Deputy Drug Czar

Amendment 10 - Powers of the States and People. Ratified 12/15/1791

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Amendment 10

With 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.

marinol

doesn't work the same as marijuana as it lacks the other compounds which have great medicinal value when combined with thc. it also is very hard to get a prescription. i think it works well at giving an appetite but that's about it.

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