Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and the Justice Department have enough problems and challenges on their hands without trying to undo sensible federal policy regarding marijuana laws approved in 29 states.
Furthermore, asking Congress to repeal the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment, passed in 2014, would cause confusion, invite litigation from more than half of the U.S. states and, contrary to Sessions' thinking, divert the Justice Department's attention from the grave threats posed by trafficking in heroin, fentanyl and other deadly opioids.
The amendment – named for its sponsors from California, Dana Rohrabacher, a Republican, and Democrat Sam Farr – was a response to the growing, state-by-state movement to legalize marijuana for at least medicinal purposes. (Eight of the 29 states where pot is legal in some form also allow its use for recreational purposes.)
In short, the much-needed amendment prevented the Justice Department from expending federal funds on efforts to stop states "from implementing their own state laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession or cultivation of medical marijuana."
The bipartisan amendment was a recognition of federalism, in which states have significant latitude to enact nondiscriminatory laws, the reality of the public's acceptance of marijuana, and the conflicts that would occur if federal agents attempted to arrest people and close businesses that comply with state laws.
In May, President Donald Trump signed a wide-ranging bill that included a one-year extension of the amendment, which had been scheduled to expire.
Yet, this month, Attorney General Sessions stated in a letter to Congress that he intended to "renew the Department of Justice's opposition to the inclusion of language in the appropriations legislation that would prohibit the use of Department of Justice funds or in any way inhibit its authority to enforce the Controlled Substances Act (CSA)." (It should be noted that the Obama administration also endeavored to undermine the amendment.)
Public comments by Sessions made it clear that he believes that the laws in 29 states are "encouraging" Americans to use drugs, a risky proposition, he said, in light of a "historic drug epidemic." In his letter, he asserted that the amendment prevents the Justice Department from combating "transnational drug organizations and dangerous drug traffickers who threaten American lives."
But, as the process of legalizing medical marijuana in Florida has demonstrated, growing, distributing and dispensing the drug is highly regulated. The idea is to ensure that legitimate businesses, not transnational drug organizations, will provide medical marijuana – as well as recreational pot in eight other states.
Furthermore, Sessions' attempt to link marijuana to the opioid epidemic doesn't hold water. Virtually all the evidence points to prescription opioids, which have been the target of a nationwide crackdown, as the most common gateway to heroin and fentanyl. The latter drugs have caused record numbers of overdoses and deaths, and uncommon social strife. And emerging evidence indicates that opiate-caused ODs and fatalities decrease in states with legal medical marijuana.
The best response from Congress to Sessions would be: Thank you for the input, but the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment was proper legislation when it was passed and it will remain in place.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Editorial: Let states control medical marijuana - Opinion - Sarasota Herald-Tribune - Sarasota, FL
Contact: Sarasota, FL - Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Photo Credit: REUTERS
Website: Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Local & World News, Sports & Entertainment in Sarasota, FL
Furthermore, asking Congress to repeal the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment, passed in 2014, would cause confusion, invite litigation from more than half of the U.S. states and, contrary to Sessions' thinking, divert the Justice Department's attention from the grave threats posed by trafficking in heroin, fentanyl and other deadly opioids.
The amendment – named for its sponsors from California, Dana Rohrabacher, a Republican, and Democrat Sam Farr – was a response to the growing, state-by-state movement to legalize marijuana for at least medicinal purposes. (Eight of the 29 states where pot is legal in some form also allow its use for recreational purposes.)
In short, the much-needed amendment prevented the Justice Department from expending federal funds on efforts to stop states "from implementing their own state laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession or cultivation of medical marijuana."
The bipartisan amendment was a recognition of federalism, in which states have significant latitude to enact nondiscriminatory laws, the reality of the public's acceptance of marijuana, and the conflicts that would occur if federal agents attempted to arrest people and close businesses that comply with state laws.
In May, President Donald Trump signed a wide-ranging bill that included a one-year extension of the amendment, which had been scheduled to expire.
Yet, this month, Attorney General Sessions stated in a letter to Congress that he intended to "renew the Department of Justice's opposition to the inclusion of language in the appropriations legislation that would prohibit the use of Department of Justice funds or in any way inhibit its authority to enforce the Controlled Substances Act (CSA)." (It should be noted that the Obama administration also endeavored to undermine the amendment.)
Public comments by Sessions made it clear that he believes that the laws in 29 states are "encouraging" Americans to use drugs, a risky proposition, he said, in light of a "historic drug epidemic." In his letter, he asserted that the amendment prevents the Justice Department from combating "transnational drug organizations and dangerous drug traffickers who threaten American lives."
But, as the process of legalizing medical marijuana in Florida has demonstrated, growing, distributing and dispensing the drug is highly regulated. The idea is to ensure that legitimate businesses, not transnational drug organizations, will provide medical marijuana – as well as recreational pot in eight other states.
Furthermore, Sessions' attempt to link marijuana to the opioid epidemic doesn't hold water. Virtually all the evidence points to prescription opioids, which have been the target of a nationwide crackdown, as the most common gateway to heroin and fentanyl. The latter drugs have caused record numbers of overdoses and deaths, and uncommon social strife. And emerging evidence indicates that opiate-caused ODs and fatalities decrease in states with legal medical marijuana.
The best response from Congress to Sessions would be: Thank you for the input, but the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment was proper legislation when it was passed and it will remain in place.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Editorial: Let states control medical marijuana - Opinion - Sarasota Herald-Tribune - Sarasota, FL
Contact: Sarasota, FL - Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Photo Credit: REUTERS
Website: Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Local & World News, Sports & Entertainment in Sarasota, FL
