Posted on 12/23/2006 1:37:38 PM PST by neverdem
Last month, President Bush declared Nov. 30 "National Methamphetamine Awareness Day."
The official statement from the White House implored, "I call upon the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate programs and activities."
There's no question that meth is a particularly nasty, vicious drug, both in how it's manufactured and in what it does to the people who use it. I think some skeptics have raised legitimate questions about the accuracy of some of the more hysterical media proclaiming we're in the midst of an "epidemic," but there's no question that the drug is widely available, and that it has some pretty terrible effects on users.
That said, the approaches the government is taking toward attacking meth don't make much sense.
As is often the case with policies aimed at curbing the drug supply, civil liberties were one of the first casualties of the meth hysteria. Several cities and states, for example, quickly made it illegal for businesses to sell customers combinations of ingredients that together, are used to make meth, but that are perfectly legal if bought separately.
Sell bhutane, cold medicine, and matches to the same customer, and an unknowing store clerk could well be arrested. These laws effectively deputized private business to begin policing the shopping habits of their customers – never a good idea.
The idea has led to some horrific outcomes.
In Northwest Georgia, for example, a meth sting ended with the arrest of 49 convenience store clerks for violating the odd new law. The problem is that 47 of the clerks were of Indian decent, and spoke only broken English. When undercover police officers tossed out drug lingo like "cooking up a hit," the clerks had no idea what they were talking about.
More troubling,...
(Excerpt) Read more at reason.com ...
You thinks that's necessary? I mean, restricting local availability of pseudoephedrine and ephedrine would hardly have an effect on imported meth.
The intent was to shut down local labs. It worked, and you just can't admit it.
Hypocrite.
Ephedra being safe and all.
100 dead and 16,000 documented cases of adverse effects, including heart palpitations, tremors, and insomnia. You think it shouldn't be regulated. Do you think any drugs should be regulated?
"In fact, the federal ban on it has been lifted by the courts"
My understanding is that the ban was lifted on 10 milligrams or less and only in the Central District of Utah. The FDA appealed and the 10th Circuit reinstated the ban in August, 2006. Unless I have old information.
Where in the US Constitution does it give the federal government the authority to regulate drugs. The interstate commerce clause?
Partly. Under the Commerce Clause, Congress has the power to regulate commerce "among the several states". Commerce includes drugs, yes.
The courts have interpreted "among the several states" to include the beginning and end points in the interstate commerce stream. It does NOT include commerce that is strictly within a state (intrastate).
If, however, some intrastate activity (it need not be commerce) has a substantial effect on the interstate commerce that Congress is constitutionally regulating, then Congress, using their power under the Necessary and Proper Clause, may write legislation to address that specific activity.
For example, the FAA has no control over private pilots flying within their state. BUT, if they fly into airspace controlled by the FAA, even though it's within their own state, they can be regulated since their flight will have a substantial effect (a possible collision) on the interstate flights that the FAA is constitutionally regulating.
And we all know that the interstate commerce clause has not been stretched and intentionally misused to basically cover everything that people do.
The courts have interpreted "among the several states" to include the beginning and end points in the interstate commerce stream. It does NOT include commerce that is strictly within a state (intrastate).
If, however, some intrastate activity (it need not be commerce) has a substantial effect on the interstate commerce that Congress is constitutionally regulating, then Congress, using their power under the Necessary and Proper Clause, may write legislation to address that specific activity.
You work for the federal government, don't you?
Dude, we have much more to fear from our overbearing and dangerous government than we do some pot-head or crack addict. The government is essentially your slave master now. An average pot head is amusing to listen to, especially when he thinks he's being profound.
It has. Recently. Twice.
And both times the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the statutes unconstitutional.
The US Supreme Court also said CFR was not unconstitutional. Sorry, but I don't use what the Supreme Court says as what is and is not constitutional or unconstitutional. I can read the document and its contemporary documents for myself and understand what it means. I don't need some black-robed priests to interpret it for me.
'Cause you're smarter!
Yeah, it's too bad I'm literate.
I like your attitude. But then, I usually do.
That is how the criminal justice system is supposed to work in this country. There, fixed it for you.
Was it a Monday? If so, I assume it was.
Christmas and New Years are cooperating this year, with the "all holidays MUST fall on a Monday" Federal approach to national holidays.
>>I vote for National Awareness of Government Drones Fooking with our Civil Liberties Without any Good Reason, uh, Day.
We already have that day. It's called July 4th.
But I fear that most of our fellow citizens have forgotten most of the things it stands for.
You can really be obtuse at times, whether genetically or trying to make a "point" I don't know. Obviously VK wants things back the way they worked, no ID AND no prescription. Did that thought not even occur to you?
Maybe April 19th, Militia Day, would work for that day.
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