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To: Conservative til I die
I dont agree that they should be illegal, I am just saying that the federal government has no authority to make it illegal, there is nothing in the Constitution to give the federal government the power to make any substance or object illegal.

On the other hand, all powers not specified in the Constitution are reserved to the states, like it or not.

Thus, the states can make things illegal, as long as it does not violate the Constitution or the Bill of Rights. The states can make alcohol illegal if they want to , but not guns, machine guns, assault weapons, etc. because that would conflict with the the Second Amendment.

By reserving the power to the states, yes, you can move, and still be an american, and states would compete with each other on how much "freer" each state would be.

158 posted on 01/05/2004 7:27:07 PM PST by waterstraat
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To: waterstraat
I dont agree that they should be illegal, I am just saying that the federal government has no authority to make it illegal, there is nothing in the Constitution to give the federal government the power to make any substance or object illegal.

I look at the whole issue of drug policy on a three-step basis. First, *CAN* the federal government regulate drug policy? By and large, no. Second, *CAN* the states and cities regulate drug policy? Yes. Third, knowing the answer to the first two questions, *SHOULD* the government regulate drugs and how much? Well, that's up for debate.

My personal belief is that pretty much all drugs should be legal. How legal? Well, it depends on the drug and the issues around it.

There's a difference in my mind between regulation and legality. But I accept that something must be legal for it to be effectively regulated.

Thus, the states can make things illegal, as long as it does not violate the Constitution or the Bill of Rights. The states can make alcohol illegal if they want to , but not guns, machine guns, assault weapons, etc. because that would conflict with the the Second Amendment.

By reserving the power to the states, yes, you can move, and still be an american, and states would compete with each other on how much "freer" each state would be.


I think you and I are essentially in agreement. I think devolving issues to the states, cities (and by extension, the individual) leads to much more freedom and flexibility than a rigid (and of course, UnConstitutional) system of a monolithic, federal policy of legislation.
162 posted on 01/05/2004 7:48:28 PM PST by Conservative til I die
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