Federalism should extend to marijuana raids

The Politico ^ | September 11, 2007 | Radley Balko

[George W. Bush]

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[RWR8189]

Either you believe in federalism, or you don’t.

This is one of the issues that separates those who talk the talk from those who walk the walk.

[numberonepal]

What hangnail?

[JTN]

Why don’t you take your crazy, racist rantings elsewhere?

[gnarledmaw]

"There is going to be a lot of “sick” people."

So what? Investing in the "munchie market" and becoming a rich man while slapping down centralist authoritarianism is a bad thing?

[billbears]

So really, they aren't even remotely similar.

Actually they're exactly the same. They both deal with issues in the 'ordinary course of affairs, concern the lives, liberties, and properties of the people'. Just as there should be no law for murder at the federal level or 95% of the other things the federal government thinks is its business. This is an issue for the separate and sovereign states.

[jmc813]

By contrast, just two of the remaining GOP candidates — Rep. Ron Paul (Texas) and Rep. Tom Tancredo (Colo.) — and none of the front-runners have promised to call off the raids.

I bet Thompson would can them.

[jmc813]

Ah for the good old days... a Free Republic drug thread! Where is robertpausen when you need him?

Dane has been around the last few days too. Perhaps he'd like to join the fun.

[JamesP81]

So you’re point is that the whole concept of a federal crime is unconstitutional. A strong case could be made for that and it would work so long as it was applied uniformly.

[traviskicks]

(reason.com)




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[Sandy]

Bush said he’d leave medical marijuana as a state issue, and we see how that turned out.

That was the biggest lie he ever told. Anyone who can still--with a straight face--call Bush a conservative is hopelessly clueless.

[Sandy]

I bet Thompson would can them.

He's probably gonna be the next President, so pray you're right.

[JTN]

I bet Thompson would can them.

That would be nice, but I certainly wouldn't count on it. As the article says, "Thompson is the only candidate yet to take a public position on the raids. While he’s right to note his impressive pro-federalist voting record in the Senate, he also voted for a number of bills strengthening the federal war on drugs.

"And while Thompson’s campaign essays rightly decry the federalization of crime and the soaring U.S. prison population, they’re curiously silent on the war on drugs — a leading cause of both of these troubling trends. Thompson’s campaign did not respond to inquiries about his position on the DEA raids for this article."

[isthisnickcool]

TAKE ME OFF THESE DAMN RON PAUL LISTS!

I worked on some of Ron Paul's early campaigns. I'd never vote for him for president and I'd rather see someone like Chris Peden in his congressional seat.

[Nate505]

No kidding. Although Bush out and out lying is not shocking anymore....

[Nate505]

I thought Dopers would know you as “Tommy The Ineffectual”

[humblegunner]

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

Drugs can also make you forget to capitalize.

Are you stoned right now?

[Clinging Bitterly]

Obama is right...

Not really. He still supports enforcement of the unconstitutional federal drug laws for all except those certain individuals who have bought and paid for state permission to use marijuana.

To me that's a really convoluted position to take, entangling many different issues into a sort of conundrum from which a consistent position on federalism could never escape.

Something tells me that either Osa<-bama (dang I always get that wrong) or Roody would jump at the chance to sign a bill into federal law to override some or all states' shall issue carry permit laws.