Government Opposition To Legal Weed Seems A Bit Strange

[mudwhistle]

We've all heard these stories about how much more potent grass is these days. How grass caused homelessness to increase already in Colorado. I think some of these folks are getting kickbacks from drug trafficking.


There is no way they can say that smoking grass is causing homelessness to increase. Not this soon after it became legal. Every week we hear another story. Last week it was people charging their EBT cards for thousands of dollars in pot. This week it was homelessness. What's next.

I think the powers that be are feeling the pinch from drug cartels. The money isn't coming in like it used to. Legalized weed is cutting into their shopping trips to Europe. Pretty soon the cartels will be legit and they won't be able to charge as much.

The DOJ let out thousands of prisoners with drug convictions for what purpose? It's like we're being prepared for something. What it is one can only guess.
http://rollingout.com/news/people-using-ebt-cards-buy-marijuana-stores/

 

[mudwhistle]

Marijuana



Marijuana is a topic of significant public discourse in the United States, and while many are familiar with the discussions, it is not always easy to find the latest, research-based information on marijuana to answer to the common questions about its health effects, or the differences between Federal and state laws concerning the drug. Confusing messages being presented by popular culture, media, proponents of “medical” marijuana, and political campaigns to legalize all marijuana use perpetuate the false notion that marijuana is harmless. This significantly diminishes efforts to keep our young people drug free and hampers the struggle of those recovering from addiction.

The Administration steadfastly opposes legalization of marijuana and other drugs because legalization would increase the availability and use of illicit drugs, and pose significant health and safety risks to all Americans, particularly young people.

This Web-based resource center provides the general public, community leaders, and other interested people with the facts, knowledge, and tools to better understand and address marijuana in their communities. This resource center will be regularly updated and expanded to address emerging issues, research, and prevention tools, and highlight successful local efforts to reduce marijuana use.​

Marijuana | The White House

Links

Pros - http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/...ay/high-time-marijuana-legalization.html?_r=0

Cons - http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/def...juana_and_public_health_one_pager_-_final.pdf

 

[mudwhistle]

Somebody explain why the White House is trying to decriminalize pot, but still refuses to legalize it at the federal level.

 

[Mad Scientist]

Somebody explain why the White House is trying to decriminalize pot, but still refuses to legalize it at the federal level.

The US Government has a hand in shipping drugs into the US. Banks then launder the drug money. It's a huge racket that a lot of corrupt people get rich on.

People are delusional if the think Government is going to pass laws that shut down their own money making rackets.

Jury Nullification is the answer. Pot smokers and growers demand Trials and the Jury finds them not guilty. The system will no longer go after pot smokers when they can't get convictions.

 

[Delta4Embassy]

I've allowed for the possibility some government reistance is simple pride. Been illegal for so long and demonized by admin after admin that I wonder if some kind of political 'club' is closing ranks around whoeevr says to keep it illegal just so as not to countradict every prior administration?

 

[martybegan]

I've allowed for the possibility some government reistance is simple pride. Been illegal for so long and demonized by admin after admin that I wonder if some kind of political 'club' is closing ranks around whoeevr says to keep it illegal just so as not to countradict every prior administration?

Its harder to repeal a law than to pass a law, and that the reason why we are in so much shit nowadays. People just can't say, "hey, we fucked up!!!" and move on. They become invested in something to a point where the original purpose is meaningless, maintaining the status quo becomes the purpose in and of itself.

 

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

Law enforcement at the federal, state, and local levels all make a shit ton of money off of illegal drug laws.

 

[Delta4Embassy]

Law enforcement at the federal, state, and local levels all make a shit ton of money off of illegal drug laws.

Indeed. Maybe the commonality of cannabis as a law enforcement issue is part of why it's kept illegal? Legalize it and you can't incarcerate and fine x amount of people any more which represents a loss of revenue equalling y.

 

[Moonglow]

Many cops I've talked to think weed should be decriminalized or legal, they claim there are more things to be concerned about....

 

[JWBooth]

Law enforcement at the federal, state, and local levels all make a shit ton of money off of illegal drug laws.

It has already been noted here that a large sector of the banking sector makes some nice change over shifting drug money around.

 

[Delta4Embassy]

True. Every time a cop goes after a petty drug offense they're putting themselves in danger. I'm sure given the downside of cannabis at least, they'd just as soon not have to bother.

I'd imagine too the prison industry (much of which is now private) has something to say about what gets legalized and for the same reasons. Legalize it and they earn less locking up offenders using it. And since they're in business to make more, not less money, legalization or decriminalization of anything isn't in their financial best interest.

 

[Moonglow]

They will still make a decent retirement buck for DUI's, DWI's, violations of other laws...

 

[DriftingSand]

Somebody explain why the White House is trying to decriminalize pot, but still refuses to legalize it at the federal level.

Why does the Idiot In Chief make any number of his foolhardy decisions? Because idiots are as idiots do.

 

[MikeK]

Law enforcement at the federal, state, and local levels all make a shit ton of money off of illegal drug laws.

Indeed. Maybe the commonality of cannabis as a law enforcement issue is part of why it's kept illegal? Legalize it and you can't incarcerate and fine x amount of people any more which represents a loss of revenue equalling y.

The liquor industry, the pharmaceutical industry, and the piss-testing industry are just three of the most conspicuous major businesses whose bottom lines would be substantiajlly affected by pot legalization. Then there is the private prison industry, which is the only remaining growth industry in America. Legal pot would kill it in its crib. And there is the law enforcement establishment, which includes federal, state, and local cops, judges, court personnel, prison guards, parole and probation officers, etc., many of whom would lose their jobs.

All of the above, and more which are not so conspicuous, amount to collective billions of dollars worth of resistance to legal pot. Every significant element of government is being vigorously patronized by anti-legalization lobbyists. And that includes Obama, who admitted having smoked marijuana "frequently" when interviewed as a candidate.

That "frequently" comment clearly suggested he was friendly to the legalization movement. He didn't have to add that word. He could have simply answered, yes. But he sent a subtle message to a voter category which, when elected, he contemptuously betrayed by ignoring them and by supporting continued prohibition.

That was Obama's first major betrayal but it showed me early on just who and what he really is.

 

[MikeK]

Somebody explain why the White House is trying to decriminalize pot, but still refuses to legalize it at the federal level.

Why does the Idiot In Chief make any number of his foolhardy decisions? Because idiots are as idiots do.

That tactic is very typical of Obama's slick style. He isn't taking a firm position because decriminalization means all laws remain in effect and are subject to reactivation at any time with the stroke of a pen. H

e's playing both ends against the middle.

 

[Delta4Embassy]

In the interests of full-dsiclosure I've tried cannabis 3 or 4 times, and inhaled. As well as acid in and after college. But both before the Navy and nothing while in or afterwords.

I support total illicit drug legalization. Bans never work, it simply creates an illegal industry which then supplies the product. As happened with alcohol prohibition. And again with drug prohibition. I get there's likely much more money to be made keeping it illegal than making it legal, but keeping something illegal solely for self-interest and profit is worse than any crime involving the banned substance.

 

[DGS49]

(1) Few, if any, people are incarcerated now for using MJ.

(2) Regardless of the relative harm caused by using MJ (assume it is minimal), its distribution and sale has long been a criminal enterprise, involving a whole cornucopia of felonious activity, piled on top of the simple distribution and sale of a "recreational drug."

(3) As documented recently by Dr. Sanjay Gupta in a documentary last year, the Federal classification of marijuana as a "Schedule 1 Substance," was totally without scientific support, and should never have happened in the first place.

(4) For the Federal Government to decriminalize MJ would be tantamount to an admission of error, ruining countless lives and potentially subjecting the government to countless lawsuits.

(5) All sane Americans, regardless of their political views, have long ago concluded that MJ should be LEGALIZED, REGULATED, and TAXED like crazy. Tax revenues - found money for the Gub'mint - could be initially dedicated to studying the effects of extensive MJ use and treating those who have been harmed.

(6) The idea the the Law Enforcement community would fight legalization for some self-interested purpose is nothing but neurotic paranoia. No government worker has ever lost his job due to a lack of "work."

 

[MikeK]

(1) Few, if any, people are incarcerated now for using MJ.

While that is true it does not mitigate for the millions of lives which are ruined by the criminal record attached to anyone arrested for a marijuana offense, whether incarcerated or not. Nor does it reduce the enormous cost of arrest, prosecution, probation, of those millions who have harmed no one and have done nothing more than possess a little bit of a natural plant.

(2) Regardless of the relative harm caused by using MJ (assume it is minimal), its distribution and sale has long been a criminal enterprise, involving a whole cornucopia of felonious activity, piled on top of the simple distribution and sale of a "recreational drug."

When you refer to "relative harm" in this type of discussion it is helpful to be specific so we all know whether to agree or disagree with you. So what "harm" are you talking about? And the "cornucopia of felonious activity" you've mentioned is the result of prohibition, not the possession, use, or sale of marijuana. The simple fact is marijuana prohibition is highly profitable to many corrupt federal, state, and local government officials and it serves the interests of certain high-level sectors of the corporate shadow government.

(3) As documented recently by Dr. Sanjay Gupta in a documentary last year, the Federal classification of marijuana as a "Schedule 1 Substance," was totally without scientific support, and should never have happened in the first place.

Agreed. In fact it would be an interesting and worthwhile journalistic effort to investigate the motivation of those (surviving) individuals responsible for this senseless, Draconian legislation.

(4) For the Federal Government to decriminalize MJ would be tantamount to an admission of error, ruining countless lives and potentially subjecting the government to countless lawsuits.

That might be true for the ground-breakers but the decriminalization ground has been broken long ago. Marijuana was decriminalized in New York City throughout the 1970s and the result was entirely positive. Were it not for Ronald Reagan and his ditzy, quaalude-addicted wife it is likely marijuana would have been legalized by now.

(5)All sane Americans, regardless of their political views, have long ago concluded that MJ should be LEGALIZED, REGULATED, and TAXED like crazy. Tax revenues - found money for the Gub'mint - could be initially dedicated to studying the effects of extensive MJ use and treating those who have been harmed.

You're right -- except for the "TAXED like crazy" part, which would sabotage the otherwise productive effort by promoting underground production and trafficking. A reasonable tax will produce substantial revenue.

(6)The idea the the Law Enforcement community would fight legalization for some self-interested purpose is nothing but neurotic paranoia.

Here you are quite mistaken.

While there is an organization, L.E.A.P. (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition), consisting of (mainly retired) cops who wish to see marijuana legalized, these comparatively intelligent individuals represent a small percentage of the Nation's federal, state, and local law-enforcers. The fact is the law-enforcement community is one of the most powerful voices raised in opposition to pot legalization:
Police Groups Furiously Protest Eric Holder's Marijuana Policy Announcement

No government worker has ever lost his job due to a lack of "work."

When New York City's financial troubles in the late 1970s required layoffs of "non-essential" City workers to balance the Budget, more than a thousand cops were included in the trimming. I recall the New York Daily News reporting the sharp reduction in marijuana arrest activity enabling reduction in the police ranks. The layoffs were temporary and those cops were re-hired within a two year period to replace retirees. But the PBA raised a lot of hell about the layoffs, insisting marijuana is a "dangerous drug" which should remain illegal and be vigorously prosecuted.

The simple fact of the matter is because marijuana is by far the most widely used recreational drug it represents about 80% of all drug-law enforcement. So if marijuana is made legal there will be a lot of dead weight in the law-enforcement community at large.

In my opinion the DEA should be disbanded and all of its personnel transferred to the Border Patrol. Similar adjustments could be made at all relevant levels of law enforcement.

 

[DGS49]

When a government worker "loses his job" (as reported in the new media) it is not the same as when someone loses their job in the private sector. One way or another, the government worker never loses the paycheck, which is more important than the job itself. Sometimes they are hired back as "consultants," sometimes they are laid off with pay until they can be called back, sometimes they are given "super seniority" to find another government job and usually get a promotion out of it.

I've been there. When I was with DoD we "laid off" about a dozen people in my office, and none of them ever actually lost a dime - most found jobs at higher salaries than at the jobs they lost.