Perhaps this is more of a Great Nation-Stupid Population kind of action. In this last election both Colorado and Washington States basically removed all restrictions on marijuana. Of course it is still illegal according to Federal Law, but it is not like the Obama Administration has been big on enforcing Federal law, unless it involves not paying all your taxes. For that they will throw the book at you, unless your an illegal alien or a Democrat looking to take a Government job, or even be out Treasury Secretary. Otherwise, behold the growth of 'Free Pot' and certainly the anarchy that will come with it.
Beau Kilmer, Codirector of RAND Drug Policy Research Center and coauthor of Marijuana Legalization: What Everyone Needs to Know, told BI that what happened on Tuesday "was really groundbreaking. No modern jurisdiction has removed the prohibition on commercial production, distribution and possession of marijuana for non-medical purposes. Not even Holland." - Business Insider
Of course the Federal Government could go and crack down on growing or possessing weed. However, the greatest risk is that of local law enforcement which is no longer a threat. No word on what happens with companies that screen out employees and job applicants with drug tests. I can see how people would want to eliminate such tests as being discriminatory. But do you really want your local police officer, Airline pilot, doctor high while on the job? That might not be a good idea. Anyway, a number of drug testing rules are Federal. So if you want to keep your job.....
This law will also impact other states as those taking advantage of this law get caught in other states where these are still laws against possession of marijuana. This has already happened with traffickers from Canada getting caught in the US. I suspect once this happens enough there will be calls for other states to recognize the laws that permit this activity in the neighboring states. I am OK with that for some things, such as drivers licenses and handgun conceal carry permits. I am not however OK with cheap weed spreading around the country. As one of my ex-drug addict friends say 'The US cannot handle cheap and available drugs.'
Oddly enough, the Mexican Government is also not happy about this liberalized position concerning marijuana:
“These important modifications change somewhat the rules of the game in the relationship with the United States,” Mr. Videgaray said. “I think we have to carry out a review of our joint policies in regard to drug trafficking and security in general.
“Obviously we can’t handle a product that is illegal in Mexico, trying to stop its transfer to the United States, when in the United States, at least in part of the United States, it now has a different status,” he said.
More than 47,000 people have been killed in drug-related violence in Mexico since President Felipe Calderón began a military assault on violent drug cartels in that country in 2006.
Read more: Mexico to reconsider joint policies with U.S. amid new state marijuana laws -
Washington Times
Well Mexico needs to learn to take a joke. The US has long asked the Mexican Government to stop the flow of Mexicans across the US border. Mexico's response was a ridiculous excuse that they cannot prevent Mexican nationals from going anywhere in their country. So one bad Government decision deserves another.
Hmmm. Did Romney lose Colorado partly due to pro-pot voters going to the polls for this issue and Obama getting their vote as a bonus? I would not be surprised.
