Under Mr. Obama, Drug Law Enforcement Lapses

Townhall.com ^ | September 21, 2015 | Ken Blackwell

[Kaslin]

Editor's Note: This column was coauthored by Bob Morrison.

Like too many politicians of his generation, President Obama seems to think that proper enforcement of our nation’s drug laws would be hypocritical. We know from David Maraniss’ highly acclaimed biography, Barack Obama: The Story, that the marijuana-smoking “Choom Gang” was all too much a part of the young Obama’s days at Hawaii’s exclusive Punahou prep school.

Last year, the President asserted that smoking marijuana is little different than smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol. He’s wrong: As FRC has documented, today’s pot is far more potent and thus far more likely to cause grave harm to young people than the marijuana of 30 and 40 years ago.

Family Research Council’s Marriage and Religion Research Institute (www.marri.us) has shown how children raised in fragile families are at heightened risk of using drugs. Such use often begins with the supposedly “benign” use of marijuana, as the National Institute on Drug Abuse argues. As the federal Department of Justice has documented, as drug use increases, so does crime.

The inspiring story of Dr. Ben Carson is one of avoidance of drugs and escape from the mean streets of Detroit’s inner city. We are not permitted to endorse candidates, but we can certainly endorse the story of hope, discipline, and success his life represents.

Bill Bennett is the former Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. His new book, co-authored with former Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. White, makes a strong case for proper law enforcement on drugs. In Going to Pot: Why the Rush to Legalize Marijuana is Harming America,these authors provide startling evidence of the dangers of increased marijuana use, especially to youth. Government data shows that whereas 6.7% of 12-17 year olds report having used marijuana in the past month in other states, in those states that have legalized so-called medical marijuana, the figure jumps to 9.4%. Clearly, the argument that it will still be unavailable to underage users does not stand up.

Bennett and White also provide illustrations of marijuana marketed to youth in attractive packaging, made to look like popular candies and cookies (e.g. Kit-Kat, Oreo, and Nestle’s Crunch.) Alarmingly, Bennett and White show an advertisement targeted to skiers inviting them to buy a $1 joint by presenting their ski passes. Does anyone imagine that skiing is made safer by having impaired people on the slopes?

There is a serious constitutional issue here, as well. Although even some Republicans argue that drug legalization is properly a Tenth Amendment issue and should be left to the states, the reality is we have a federal drug law on the books.

The federal law on marijuana was duly enacted by the Congress and signed by the president. Colorado and Washington State passed referendums that violate this federal law on the sale and use of marijuana. How can they be permitted to flout federal law?

The Framers of the Constitution made it explicit that “this Constitution, and the laws of the United States that shall be made in pursuance thereof…shall be the Supreme law of the land.” Art. VI, Sec. 2 of the Constitution makes this clear. It is this provision that President Obama is failing to defend. It is this federal law that he is not taking care to be “faithfully executed.”

It used to be the case in many states and localities that saloons were required to close on Election Day. The assumption was that rounding up voters among the inebriated was not conducive to good government.

That famous anti-slavery Founder, Ben Franklin, provided wise counsel at the dawn of our nation. Asked what kind of government he and his fellow Framers had given the people, he said: “A republic, if you can keep it.” Legalizing harmful drugs that cause both physical and psychological damage and that impair citizens’ capacity for reflection and choice is surely no way to keep a republic.

[joethedrummer]

I wonder how Barry would feel about someone turning his daughters onto some “harmless” pot smoking??

Just don’t be giving them a Twinkie, or there’d be hell to pay! - ehh Moochelle???

[ifinnegan]

Pot turns people in to liberals.

It’s like the strategy of bringing in lots of immigrants who will vote Dem.

[fr_freak]

God's Word also calls Christians to submit to the governing authorities (Romans 13:1-7). Whatever laws are changed or modified at the state level, "It is important to recognize that these state marijuana laws do not change the fact that using marijuana continues to be an offense under federal law. Nor do these state laws change the criteria or process for [Food and Drug Administration] approval of safe and effective medications."[6]

If, then, Christians are to follow the dictates of the law insofar as they are consistent with God's Word, they should avoid practices that violate statutes established by the authorities set over us by God. This includes obedience to drug laws.

This line of thinking always forgets that the American system of government sets the people at the top of the food chain. The government does not rule over us - the government is there to represent us. When our consent has been removed from the government, and when that government is at odds with what the people want, the government no longer has rightful authority. Additionally, the federal government was never given the power to regulate drug use under the Constitution, so its attempt to do so is a usurpation of power. If your state has legalized marijuana, there is no logical basis for believing that you are violating the Biblical principle of submitting to legitimate authority.

[fr_freak]

Pot turns people in to liberals.

No, it doesn't. A lot of left-wingers smoke pot, but I have seen that a big part of the thrill is the feeling that they are rebelling against what they view as the oppressive conservative church ladies. Most left-wingers also drink alcohol.

Abstaining from, or limiting oneself to moderate use of, drugs and alcohol IS a conservative value, because it emphasizes personal responsibility and respect for oneself (and family), but government regulation of personal behavior IS NOT a conservative value, and representing it is as such is what, in part, provides a basis for the Left to seduce otherwise reasonable people to their side.

[LouAvul]

The imposter-in-chief hasn't begun to give America the finger. Wait till he hits the final months in office. We haven't seen anything yet.

And America's home grown commie pigs won't even notice. That's how obtuse they really are.

[ctdonath2]

Quite a change from the Supreme Court ruling in _Raich_ where the feds argued for and got a nearly totalitarian authority to prosecute drug offenses.

[RIghtwardHo]

The Feds absolutely need to stay out of marijuana enforcement where the States have legalized it.

[ConservingFreedom]

The federal law on marijuana was duly enacted by the Congress and signed by the president. Colorado and Washington State passed referendums that violate this federal law on the sale and use of marijuana. How can they be permitted to flout federal law?

Ted Cruz has agreed that under the Constitution it's a matter for the states. And I agree with him.

[gdani]

Bill Bennett is the former Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. His new book, co-authored with former Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. White, makes a strong case for proper law enforcement on drugs.

Ah, yes. The same Bill Bennett who chain smokes, drinks and gambles but lectures others on vices.

[ConservingFreedom]

ping

[Paleo Pete]

Pot turns people into liberals? HUH? Do I look like a liberal?

I lit up my first one in 1973. Never stopped since although I haven’t been able to indulge in a couple of years, don’t know anyone around here and I’m not about to go looking on the street.

I’m far from a liberal. I’ve known several others over the years as well, although quite a number certainly do lean that direction.

I do however, think legalizing anything else would be pure insanity. If I were to have it my way, I would crack down on dealers selling hard drugs, and send everyday users into some sort of rehab assistance, rather than jail. Pot would be decriminalized,rather than outright legalized, and the insane taxes and fees Colorado implemented would be discouraged. That does not discourage the black market, which is where a lot of the associated violence originates. When they originally legalized it, retail prices were 4X what local Louisiana street prices were.

Anyone who thinks kids won’t find a way to get their hands on some is delusional. You think I didn’t manage to get booze when I was 16? I quit booze in 1978...after several years of way too much of it...quit everything else too, I tried out a lot of stuff...

Except pot. Not addicting, I would have known many years ago. No withdrawals whatsoever and I’ve quit many times if I couldn’t find or afford it. Never affected my job, I’ve usually had a reputation as the best in the shop. I’ve learned to be a carpenter, machinist, mechanic, computer repair tech, photographer...and as a machinist I also learned TIG welding, brazing, calibration of measuring instruments, drew my own blueprints, tool grinding, drill and end mill sharpening, many aspects of machinist work most never have to even think about. My IQ is still around 145, contrary to claims it reduces your IQ, I’ve continued studying and learning since leaving high school in 1973, still do. If you exercise your brain it’s just like your muscles, it stays in good shape.

And I’m nowhere near a liberal and don’t agree with the insinuation that pot causes liberalism, I don’t think it does. Much more likely the indoctrination going on in our schools is responsible for that. Most of the liberal pot smokers in the country right now were probably already liberals before they knew what pot is.

[ConservingFreedom]

As FRC has documented, today’s pot is far more potent and thus far more likely to cause grave harm to young people than the marijuana of 30 and 40 years ago.

The link "documents" none of these claims. And increased potency means less harmful smoke is required to get the same high - so it seems likeliest that more potent pot means LESS harm.

[Parmy]

“choom gang”

[ConservingFreedom]

As the federal Department of Justice has documented, as drug use increases, so does crime.

Nothing at that link supports the claim that as drug use increases, so does crime. Apparently gross innumeracy is a family value.

[Wolfie]

I don’t think we can have adults making these kinds of decisions for themselves. We need the strong hand of the Nanny State to look out for us.

[Vaduz]

Obama, Drug Law Enforcement Lapses
Cartels send thank you card loaded with what who knows.

[ConservingFreedom]

Legalizing harmful drugs that cause both physical and psychological damage and that impair citizens’ capacity for reflection and choice is surely no way to keep a republic.

So the FRC supports a return to alcohol Prohibition. What do they know that the supermajority of Americans which, after having seen its effects firsthand, repealed it didn't know?

[ConservingFreedom]

Although even some Republicans argue that drug legalization is properly a Tenth Amendment issue and should be left to the states, the reality is we have a federal drug law on the books. [...] The Framers of the Constitution made it explicit that “this Constitution, and the laws of the United States that shall be made in pursuance thereof…shall be the Supreme law of the land.” Art. VI, Sec. 2 of the Constitution makes this clear.

So Art. VI, Sec. 2 effectively overrides all Constitutional limits on federal power and Congress can pass any law they please. The liberals will love this conclusion - but what is this bilge doing on a pro-Constitution web site?

[ConservingFreedom]

It used to be the case in many states and localities that saloons were required to close on Election Day.

And therefore pot should be banned every day? Blackwell should be embarrassed to put his name to such a dog's breakfast of an illogical article.