ricksfolly
DP Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2009
- Messages
- 2,236
- Reaction score
- 232
- Location
- Grand Junction, CO 81506
- Gender
- Male
- Political Leaning
- Independent
Back in 2005 the Supreme Court ruled 6 to 3 that people who smoke marijuana because doctors recommended it to ease pain could be prosecuted for violating the Fed Drug laws, and now states are allowing thousands of people to grow and sell it in designated areas.
Are the states defying fed law, or has the Supreme Court reconsidered?
ricksfolly
Back in 2005 the Supreme Court ruled 6 to 3 that people who smoke marijuana because doctors recommended it to ease pain could be prosecuted for violating the Fed Drug laws, and now states are allowing thousands of people to grow and sell it in designated areas.
Are the states defying fed law, or has the Supreme Court reconsidered?
ricksfolly
Technically, yes I think the States are defying federal law, but I also think there's an understanding between the Fed and the States that there are benefits to some people who can and do benefit from medical marijuana. The Fed sometimes cannot tell the difference between a sick person with a script and a person growing and selling. It's all a gray area and depending on the information available, some people who have a need are arrested. I think either government should own it (nationalize) and be the only provider (State by State) or it should be illegal. However, those who grow it for their own use and do not distribute - well big brother will never know about it if it's done properly. The amount of people who use it recreationally for themselves is probably far greater than anyone really knows.
Wait. You want socialized marijuana? Maybe you should change that political slant tag, you freaking hippie!
I know... I know... but I have an alterior motive so hear me out. The government can sell and take the profits and actually use that money to reduce the tax burden or put it towards the deficit (long shot I know, but I can dream). A government agency that would actually CREATE revenue instead of taxing for it... the alternative would be to control it through the private sector, but that would then require a large bureacracy to control and oversee the private sector as well as a multitude of new laws, regulations, etc... which would probably COST more than the government could bring in with the sale of medical marijuana. That wouldn't be good.
Of course the alternative is to just legalize growing, posession and use up to a certain amount - say no more than 3 ounces / 2 plants per household --- and triple the fines / jail time for distribution. But I'm too cynical to think most people could handle such a responsibility. Portugal seems to be okay with it, but I'm not sure the U.S. would handle it as well.
So what do you think --- I need to change to Slightly Conservative given this view or am sick with full blown Liberalism? Tell me straight... I can take it!!
They already are making a killing off of the most addictive drug there is, nicotine.
They already are making a killing off of the most addictive drug there is, nicotine.
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