Posted on 11/30/2017 10:49:51 AM PST by GIdget2004
Attorney General Jeff Sessions hinted Wednesday that the Justice Department may take a tougher stance on recreational marijuana in the near future, a change in policy that would have a significant impact on the five states plus the District of Columbia that already allow the drug to be used for more than medicinal purposes.
California is scheduled to join that group on Jan. 1.
Sessions and other DOJ officials previously indicated they would continue the policy laid out by the department under former President Barack Obama, which in essence allows state officials leeway in how they deal with the drug as long as they meet certain standards, like keeping cannabis out of the hands of minors, keeping it from crossing into states where it isn’t legal and preventing drugged driving.
Marijuana, however, remains illegal under federal law, and there was always the possibility the Trump administration could crack down.
“In fact, we’re looking at that very hard right now, we had a meeting yesterday and talked about it at some length,” Sessions said at a press conference Wednesday. “It’s my view that the use of marijuana is detrimental, and we should not give encouragement in any way to it, and it represents a federal violation, which is in the law and is subject to being enforced.”
“We are working our way through to a rational policy, but I don’t want to suggest in any way that this department believes that marijuana is harmless and people should not avoid it,” the attorney general added, noting that DOJ was also considering how to deal with opiods and other drugs.
Ian Prior, principal deputy director of public affairs at DOJ, declined to comment on what a new “rational policy” might look like or when it might be enforced.
(Excerpt) Read more at mcclatchydc.com ...
Oh, that was you! That is funny...
I’m a thankful medical marijuana patient here in Florida. I do appreciate you sharing as you have in this thread. I’m sorry you had bad experiences with cannabis. I’m glad you’re enjoying life again.
Just as my personal experience doesn’t mean cannabis is good for everyone. Equally so, your experience doesn’t mean cannabis is bad for everyone.
Thanks for the discussion.
Just as you understand that not everyone who takes a drug becomes addicted.
And no, interestingly enough zero physical side effects that I recall.
And that is the difference between a addiction and mental dependence. You were mentally dependent, but not physically addicted.
Actually, there are 8 states and DC that have legalized recreational pot and I don’t see anything about a crackdown.
National MJ prohibition is dead and Sessions can’t revive it.
I agree. But, getting back on the topic of this thread, drug use and abuse is a medical problem that cannot be solved by outlawing their use.
As has been said, you can't legislate social behavior.
It has been tried time and time again and it only serves to make criminals of otherwise law-abiding citizens.
I think we both can agree that there are more serious problems that Jeff Sessions needs to address rather than attempt to subvert the 10th Amendment and thwarting the wills of the voters in states that have legalized recreational pot use.
It's going to get real interesting.
The federal government will be grabbing guns from potheads.
And the states, if they have a hankering, will be passing out guns to potheads like spare kittens.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article187082303.html
I guess Clinton is too tough for him to work on. He has to attack the tenth amendment.
Pot became popular for recreational use during prohibition as it was legal. Some people prefer it as there is no hangover but don’t do it because it is illegal now.
It doesn't force them, that's ridiculous. It entices them. If it was legal where they came from they would have stayed. California has a similar problem with generous welfare.
I'm not in the liberal crap hole of Denver and I haven't really seen much troble with it.
Well, its USAToday, but I guess that it said what <1/1,000,000th% wanted to hear.
Yes
“It entices them.”
Your opinion. I disagree. It happens.
And yet making it legal condones it and makes it easier to get addicted. Legalizing it makes the problem much, Denmark is a perfect example. The death rate and crime rate sky rockets.
The only ones happier are the addicted, ant there are a lot more of them.
Pot makes people less productive, do we need more welfare cases?
Making a drug illegal doesn't make it harder to obtain or to get addicted and only gives rise to a criminal class where crime and death rate skyrockets. See: Alcohol Prohibition.
Pot is illegal in Denmark. See: Marijuana in Denmark
The only ones happier are the addicted, ant there are a lot more of them.
And if they're hurting no one but themselves, how is that anyone else's business?
Pot makes people less productive, do we need more welfare cases?
Drinking makes people less productive, too. We tried to outlaw alcohol. It didn't work.
Since when do we legislate productivity? This country was founded on the principle of self-determination. We let people decide for themselves whether they want to be productive members of society or not.
I will say this again. You cannot legislate social behavior. All that does is make criminals of otherwise law-abiding citizens.
Yet you seek to make law abiding citizen out of criminals...
Sorry, don’t think you are arguing out of anything but justification. You know full well that legalizing drugs in Denmark was a disaster of monumental proportions, and helping people kill themselves might work for Dr Kevorkian, but not for society as a whole.
Addiction is a horrendous drain on society as we burden the hard working yet again to clean up the mess on isle nine...
If you can argue to such duplicitous levels it is obvious you are part of the problem, not seeking answers.
I guess others will just have to bear the burden of your sin...
Again, Denmark has never legalized pot. It's clear you didn't read the article I linked or even do a modicum of research before posting, yet again, this falsehood.
Pot is not legal in Denmark and it never was. You can keep posting this, but it doesn't make it true.
The same justification that alcohol was bad for society was used for Prohibition. And, prohibition was repealed because it was a disastrous public policy that did more harm than good. All it accomplished was to give rise to organized crime, make criminals out of otherwise law-abiding citizens and expand the power and reach of the federal government.
Interestingly, possession and consumption of alcohol was still legal during prohibition. Prohibition only banned the manufacture, transportation and sale of alcohol.
Tell me this. Should we ban alcohol again? If not, why not?
Addiction is a horrendous drain on society as we burden the hard working yet again to clean up the mess on isle nine...
Ah, I see now. In your mind we should ban all recreational use of drugs because someone might become addicted and become a drain on society.
How about drinking? Should that be outlawed, too? Smoking?
If you can argue to such duplicitous levels it is obvious you are part of the problem, not seeking answers.
Was alcohol prohibition a good thing or a bad one?
Your answer is to ban anything and everything because you know what's best for everyone.
I guess others will just have to bear the burden of your sin...
There's no one more self-righteous than a reformed "whatever", be it smoker, drinker or doper.
You smoke now don’t you.
Denmark legalized hard drugs, it was a disaster. So, at this point we argue point of view on what is pot, hard or not.
If you think someone who has overcome addiction is hard line, try someone who cannot.
Calling my comments to you self righteous as you use it it discredit me ironic in of itself.
What percentage of alcohol consumers experience a lifestyle change due to the drugs affect vs pot?
How honest your answer tells a lot, and is the reason for the law.
But you should know that. In fact, your ability to ignore the elephant in the room, to argue mice in misdirection shows my clearly that winning the argument is more important than being correct to you. (Remember denmark?)
This places me in the position of honestly trying to convince you of a point you are willing to lie to yourself to protect.
With pot, you are a liberal, no logic will stick, it’s emotional with you.
And it is a perfect example of why pot is and should be illegal.
People loose their minds over it. Just like alcoholics do.
Problem is, I have known a thousand pot smokers in my life, and have met less than ten that were not addicted, the situation is reversed with alcohol.
A difference you will be incapable of comprehending.
Know how you can tell an acoholic? He spends a percentage of his day every day thinking about his next drink. Obtaining it, thinking about the buzz, or how much better that will be than his present circumstances.
I imagine you also drink. Compare the percentage each subject matter takes from your day.
To the level it occupies your time, you are occupied.
Now I honestly wonder about Free Republic and me...
You need to travel in better circles. My personal experience has been the contrary; and nationwide statistics show that of all those who have used marijuana, only 9% have at any time in their lives been dependent on it. (The corresponding figure for alcohol is 15%.)
BS. They've opened a handful of "drug consumption rooms;" sale and purchase remain illegal, as does use anywhere but a drug consumption room.
it was a disaster.
Based on what evidence?
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