State/Federal showdown nearing?

[fieldsofgreen]

I think this will interest all cannabis activists: Feds not changing marijuana policy, even if 3 states legalize it, US official says - U.S. News

What do you guys think will happen, if Colorado, Washington state and Oregon legalize "state-sanctioned recreational pot"? If/when this does occur, how would the federal government handle three states going against "their" federal laws?

If/when this does happen and the federal government stupidly tries to fight three states. Then I think they will fail miserably OR it's another empty threat made to scare law makers and citizens in those three states. I know there could be different outcomes so let me know what you think will go down if it's legalized recreationally.

 

[MadMike]

Where the states have become crypto-agencies of the Feds (California is an example),federal law enforcement shouldn't be able to suppress the 10th Amendment rights of State citizens. It's all about our Constitution, or it should be. Here's an interesting article I saw today:
Ryan: Don't interfere with legalized medical pot - Yahoo! News
DENVER (AP) — Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan says the federal government shouldn't interfere with states that have legalized medical marijuana.

The Wisconsin congressman tells KRDO-TV in Colorado Springs that he personally doesn't approve of medical marijuana laws. But he says that states should have the right to choose whether to legalize the drug for medical purposes.

In response to a reporter's question, Ryan said: "It's up to Coloradans to decide."

 

[fieldsofgreen]

It's all about our Constitution, or it should be.

Great point right there!

 

[biohazard]

Hey everyone in WA state needs to vote no on I-502 if it passes you will no longer be able to grow your own meds

 

[MadMike]

Hey everyone in WA state needs to vote no on I-502 if it passes you will no longer be able to grow your own meds

That's exactly what government wants: your dependence. I just want to be able to grow my own medication God willed for me and to the world. Possessing Cannabis should be decriminalized. Treat irresponsible use lawfully like irresponsible alcohol use and motor vehicles. We don't want government controlling it or imposing excessive taxes on it. In the original post, that's why I was so perturbed at that news report. Irresponsible examples are used by government so they have more excuses to dominate and control us. I just want to be left alone.

 

[biohazard]

Hey mike if 502 passes am i correct in thinking that we will no longer be able to sell meds back to the collectives

 

[biohazard]

Sorry donate back my bad

 

[MadMike]

Hey mike if 502 passes am i correct in thinking that we will no longer be able to sell meds back to the collectives

The Washington Secretary of State office says:
"This measure would remove state-law prohibitions against producing, processing, and selling marijuana, subject to licensing and regulation by the liquor control board; allow limited possession of marijuana by persons aged twenty-one and over; and impose 25% excise taxes on wholesale and retail sales of marijuana, earmarking revenue for purposes that include substance-abuse prevention, research, education, and healthcare. Laws prohibiting driving under the influence would be amended to include maximum thresholds for THC blood concentration."
According to what's listed on Wikipedia:
"The initiative would legalize use of marijuana products purchased from state authorized sources for adults 21 and over. Unlicensed cannabis will still be illegal, including personal "grows" in one's own home, except for medical cannabis as regulated under RCW 69.51A. "

The bureaucratic laws of oppression by RCW 69.51A can be viewed here:
Chapter 69.51A RCW: MEDICAL CANNABIS(Formerly Medical marijuana)

Government thievery of your rights as State lackeys errand for the crooks in DC. Vote out all your incumbents when you can!

 

[buddhasmoke7]

this topic always gets me going for the proving facts of mmj releaving many symptoms as compared to what is legal i think people have lost their minds thinking its a narcotic 74 percent of america agree with me in a recent poll. We all now know for sure washington and colorado passed and is now legalized. this excites me becuse it is baby steps towards reform im also very moved obama was re-elected i beleive for some reason he would not face the issue before today because it would effect the election but who knows well see

 

[Keith Lake]

Congratulations Colorado and Washington

I personally believe this is the beginning of the end of prohibition.

The Feds don't have the resources to play neighborhood small ball and the rest of the nation is going to get to see that reefer madness was just propaganda. This is how alcohol prohibition ended, as state laws legalized there became just too many leaks in the dykes with enough fingers.

I've already starting hearing the argument about how Federal law trumps state law so these new laws being passed wont change anything. Don't buy into that fallacious argument. There is no conflict here. The states aren't saying the Feds don't have the right to keep Cannabis illegal on a Federal basis. They are saying they have a right to not have state laws prohibiting it.

The Fed, if they wish to pursue, will need to have a full on highly expensive ground game to chase around recreational consumers. This destroys their narrative, consumes resources, and further alienates the population.

Last night was the beginning of the end of these unjust laws!

 

[Weed420]

Yep I think its good news for the movement to end prohibition. This will be another test of the 1oth Amendment in Washington and Colorado. The one here in Washington is going to end up a mess I think just like the last one did. It required the state being involved in the regulating and taxing of the industry and I'm sure the feds are going to step in and try to stop that part of the initiative.

 

[kliptrip]

Reviving a dead thread but Amendment 64 was something I followed closely. As of 12/6 the gov. of colorado has signed the amendment into law making up to an ounce on one's person, possession of marijuana paraphernalia, four plants per person (2 flowering, 2 vegging,) all legal. laws and infrastructure for commercial cultivation and sale are being worked on and expected in the next year or two.

Meanwhile in D.C. Obama has recently announced that the official federal position on the matter is, let the populations of Colorado and Washington enjoy it, the people spoke and the feds have "bigger fish to fry." - that's not to say the DEA might not stir up trouble on their own down the line, but I'm hopeful that this will spark a repeal of prohibition across the US.

 

[hilux30]

President Obama will never interfere with neither the state's choice to legalize OR the current Federal Laws. No matter how much good he's done to the country so far (in many sectors not enough but that's another debate) he is still labeled as a "socialist" by the very conservative far right. He leaves this issue up to the states because as he implied so many times: he's got other shit to do. The deep South is still not OK with legalizing pot...
Two or three states is not a majority as a nation so it will remain federally illegal 'till most states speak....

 

[ZenSound]

Legalization seems like an increasing issue for the GOP ticket. I wonder if Obama's recent position is nothing more than bipartisan pressure from the democrats just so they can distinguish themselves from all these God forsaken hippie Republicans

But I guess it doesn't even boil down to whether legalization is finally prudent or even possible. It comes down to state's rights (which has been a huge issue since this country's birth) I wonder what will happen?

 

[joshm]

I am surprised to find that there aren't more recent posts on this thread. We have now seen the legalization in several states, and the governments stand hasn't changed drastically since the original post. I do believe that the momentum has already started and eventually the federal government will have to change its stance. I think that hemp has been a huge savior and cash crop in the past, and we are going to see its cousin cannabis do the same for the American economy in the modern world. There are only going to be more states that follow and legalize cannabis, and the rest of the country will have to eventually follow along.