Federalism should extend to marijuana raids

The Politico ^ | September 11, 2007 | Radley Balko

[ari-freedom]

In other news, Obama's future cabinet picks:

[ari-freedom]

here’s the idea. Lose your mind on drugs and let government take care of you.

[picard]

Though polls show most Americans support medical marijuana

I would go farther and say that most Americans are apathetic to or actually support the legalization of marijuana outright.

[ClearCase_guy]

Obama is NOT doing this on the principle of federalism.

Bingo.

[AwesomePossum]

Liberal and Libertarian credibility is at issue here.........hey feds, leave my #+%@!&?* illegal drugs alone, but do what you wish about abortion, homosexuality, etc., etc...........

[zencat]

Obama is NOT doing this on the principle of federalism.
Bingo.

Oh, undeniably so. And attempting to pull over some of the Ron Paul supporters that normally wouldn't consider a Republican, except for Paul's vocal stance against the War on Drugs.

[ClearCase_guy]

I'm fully convinced that Ron Paul's support in recent polls comes from a broad spectrum of voters:

5% of his support comes from conservatives who care about the Constitution.
95% of his support comes from moonbats who hate the GOP and plan to vote for Hillary.

[Berlin_Freeper]

I am all for tougher drug laws, including stronger penalties against illegal drug users.

I would be “The Party Is Over - Party”
Dopers would know me as “Tommy The Hammer” and curse my name for a hundred years. ;)

[TKDietz]

And you would accomplish nothing except for further overburdening our prisons.

[JamesP81]

You can be a federalist, or you can be an ardent drug warrior. But you can’t be both.

This is one of those facts that some find inconvenient.

[beltfed308]

He’ll be here soon to tell us why the Federal Gov’t has an obligation and right to chase down dopers.

Actually I would like to see the state constitution arguement made that he's always promoting. Afterall your state constitution protects rights according to him.

Courtesy ping.

[JamesP81]

Seems to me that the issue of abortion is the same thing.

No, it isn't the same. The government exists to secure individual rights from infringement. If someone chooses to grow weed and then use it, he's not infringing upon anyone else's rights by doing so. Killing an unborn child definitely infringes on that child's right to life.

So really, they aren't even remotely similar.

[JamesP81]

And you would accomplish nothing except for further overburdening our prisons.

Not to mention the inevitable and rampant violations of due process.

[RachelFaith]

They might look the same to someone who is stoned...

[JamesP81]

They might look the same to someone who is stoned...

Yeah, but if they're stoned they'll probably forget to vote anyway, so maybe it doesn't matter how they see it.

[rhombus]

They are with respect to federalism. If you are a federalist you want to overturn RvW and let the states decide. If you want abortion outlawed by any means possible then you are the same as the Democrats who want it legal by any means possible.

[MrB]

When they had a federal ban on alcohol, they recognized that the federal government did not have the constitutional authority to do so without an Amendment.

Where’s the “marijuana prohibition” amendment?

I’m not in favor of legalized marijuana or any other elicit drugs, but it is NOT in the powers of the federal gov’t to have a say in it.

[American_Centurion]

This is one of those facts that some find inconvenient.

What if I could care less what goes on in California, but I'm support strict drug laws for the State of Tennessee, where I live?

[CharlesWayneCT]

No way. You know that if they catch you, you’ll never get to stand in court and articulate your rights.

Instead, they will confiscate your house, and never end up prosecuting you. If you want to STOP them from confiscating your house, you will have to go to a different court where you will be required to PROVE that you were obeying the law. Arguing that you had a right to disobey the law isn’t going to work there.

[FreedomFromGov]

here’s the idea. Lose your mind on drugs and let government take care of you.

Well, if you're going to give the decision to the states, you have to give the whole obligation to the states, as well, i.e., the states will have to handle the care of those who mess themeselves up.