Marijuana opponents using racketeering law to fight industry

Associated Press ^ | Jul 13, 2015 4:20 PM EDT | Kristen Wyatt

[Olog-hai]

A federal law crafted to fight the mob is giving marijuana opponents a new strategy in their battle to stop the expanding industry: racketeering lawsuits.

A Colorado pot shop recently closed after a Washington-based group opposed to legal marijuana sued not just the pot shop but a laundry list of firms doing business with it—from its landlord and accountant to the Iowa bonding company guaranteeing its tax payments. One by one, many of the plaintiffs agreed to stop doing business with Medical Marijuana of the Rockies, until the mountain shop closed its doors and had to sell off its pot at fire-sale prices.

With another lawsuit pending in southern Colorado, the cases represent a new approach to fighting marijuana. If the federal government won’t stop its expansion, pot opponents say, federal racketeering lawsuits could. Marijuana may be legal under state law, but federal drug law still considers any marijuana business organized crime. …

[DiogenesLamp]

There is no functional way to make a distinction in the law between those who are susceptible and those who are not.

[ConservingFreedom]

So a free society will respect the rights of the nonsusceptible rather than suppress them to protect the susceptible from themselves.

[tacticalogic]

It is the DUTY of government to deal with dangerous threats, and drugs are a dangerous threat.

In our constitutional republic, it is the duty of the various governments to confine themselves to their designated scope of authority. Those limits are laid out in the Constitution, according to the intent and understanding of the people who wrote and ratified it. They remain unchanged unless and until they are properly modified by the process of amendment.

[ConservingFreedom]

Penumbral emanationists (whatever their pet cause) beg to differ.

[tacticalogic]

Penumbral emanationists (whatever their pet cause) beg to differ.

I'd refer them to the sign Clarence Thomas has posted in his office:

Do not emanate into the penumbra.

[DiogenesLamp]

So a free society will respect the rights of the nonsusceptible rather than suppress them to protect the susceptible from themselves.

It's not about protecting the susceptible from themselves. It's also about protecting other members of society from the susceptible. It's about protecting other susceptible from a danger of which they are unaware.

[DiogenesLamp]

In our constitutional republic, it is the duty of the various governments to confine themselves to their designated scope of authority.

Protecting the populace from a dangerous threat is within the scope of their authority.

[tacticalogic]

Protecting the populace from a dangerous threat is within the scope of their authority.

A disingenuous attempt to whitewash anti-republican federalism with mealy-mouthed platitudes.

[DiogenesLamp]

A disingenuous attempt to whitewash anti-republican federalism with mealy-mouthed platitudes.

A realistic, non childish view of the larger scope of history.

[ConservingFreedom]

It's also about protecting other members of society from the susceptible.

Although some dangerous people use marijuana, there is no sound evidence that marijuana makes people dangerous.

It's about protecting other susceptible from a danger of which they are unaware.

That can be accomplished without suppressing rights by making the unaware aware.

[ConservingFreedom]

A disingenuous attempt to whitewash anti-republican federalism with mealy-mouthed platitudes.

A realistic, non childish view of the larger scope of history.

Thanks for illustrating his point.

[ConservingFreedom]

the sign Clarence Thomas has posted in his office:

Do not emanate into the penumbra.

LOL! Outstanding. I guess poor Justice Thomas lacks a "view of the larger scope of history."

[tacticalogic]

A realistic, non childish view of the larger scope of history.

No it's not. Just for reference, here's something that is:

"It is important, likewise, that the habits of thinking in a free country should inspire caution in those entrusted with its administration, to confine themselves within their respective constitutional spheres, avoiding in the exercise of the powers of one department to encroach upon another. The spirit of encroachment tends to consolidate the powers of all the departments in one, and thus to create, whatever the form of government, a real despotism. A just estimate of that love of power, and proneness to abuse it, which predominates in the human heart, is sufficient to satisfy us of the truth of this position. The necessity of reciprocal checks in the exercise of political power, by dividing and distributing it into different depositaries, and constituting each the guardian of the public weal against invasions by the others, has been evinced by experiments ancient and modern; some of them in our country and under our own eyes. To preserve them must be as necessary as to institute them. If, in the opinion of the people, the distribution or modification of the constitutional powers be in any particular wrong, let it be corrected by an amendment in the way which the Constitution designates. But let there be no change by usurpation; for though this, in one instance, may be the instrument of good, it is the customary weapon by which free governments are destroyed. The precedent must always greatly overbalance in permanent evil any partial or transient benefit, which the use can at any time yield."

From George Washington's Farewell Address

[DiogenesLamp]

I know you wish to believe that, but your childish indulgence is a “license” not a “freedom.”

[tacticalogic]

I know you wish to believe that, but your childish indulgence is a “license” not a “freedom.”

It's not my indulgence. I did not write the Constitution, I only recognize a duty to abide by it, according to it's original intent.

[ConservingFreedom]

"It is important, likewise, that the habits of thinking in a free country should inspire caution in those entrusted with its administration, to confine themselves within their respective constitutional spheres, avoiding in the exercise of the powers of one department to encroach upon another. The spirit of encroachment tends to consolidate the powers of all the departments in one, and thus to create, whatever the form of government, a real despotism. A just estimate of that love of power, and proneness to abuse it, which predominates in the human heart, is sufficient to satisfy us of the truth of this position. The necessity of reciprocal checks in the exercise of political power, by dividing and distributing it into different depositaries, and constituting each the guardian of the public weal against invasions by the others, has been evinced by experiments ancient and modern; some of them in our country and under our own eyes. To preserve them must be as necessary as to institute them. If, in the opinion of the people, the distribution or modification of the constitutional powers be in any particular wrong, let it be corrected by an amendment in the way which the Constitution designates. But let there be no change by usurpation; for though this, in one instance, may be the instrument of good, it is the customary weapon by which free governments are destroyed. The precedent must always greatly overbalance in permanent evil any partial or transient benefit, which the use can at any time yield."

From George Washington's Farewell Address

I know you wish to believe that, but your childish indulgence is a “license” not a “freedom.”

Looks like the DioBot posted this screaming irrelevancy because it triggered on the occurrence of the string "free". How embarrassing. When is v0.2 being released?