Just to be clear up front: If I had the power to prohibit marijuana I would do it.
But the issue of Federal authority vs. State authority is much more important than my personal views about the demon weed.
In 1917, when Congress decided it wanted to ban fermented plant products (alcohol), they realized that the Constitution granted them no such power and that an Amendment would be required in order to make the Volstead Act constitutional.
In 1970, when Congress decided it wanted to exercise legislative authority over other plant products (marijuana), they just went right ahead and did it.
If the Volstead Act would have been unconstitutional without the XVII Amendment, what makes the marijuana portions of the Controlled Substances Act constitutional?
States which are legalizing marijuana are making a serious error, in my opinion. But I have no question that they have the authority to do this.
I have serious doubts that Congress has, or had, the authority to ban it.
Do states have the right to become Sanctuary States?
Agreed! This involves the “Police Power,” which clearly was reserved to the States. (But the Prohibition Amendment was the XVIIIth.)
My personal views on marijuana differ from yours, but I absolutely, 100% agree with everything else you said. This is a Constitutional issue.
The Constitution should not be in the business to tell the People what they can/cannot do. This is the major failing of the 18th Amendment. The Constitution is in the business of telling Congress what it can/cannot do.
People tend to forget that.
Exactly the way I feel about the subject.
As long as these recreational druggies can legally drive they can stay off our streets, roads and freeways.
Many years ago there was a serious video driving test by (at the time) serious science TV channel like Science Channel or the Learning Channel;, May have even been Scientific American. I have searched for the one-hour program without success.
The participants were volunteers who all were SURE that their driving was unaffected by pot use. All ages and occupations, but also all were certain that their driving was unaffected.
Without exception, ALL participants candidly agreed that their after smoking a joint driving was compromised and not proud of their performance.
All aspects of driving were tested on a specially built track with traffic signals, emergency stops etc.