Justice Clarence Thomas Is the Unlikely Cannabis Supporter on the Supreme Court

Rolling Stone via Yahoo ^ | June 30th, 2021 | David S. Cohen

[Mariner]

Marijuana legalization has an interesting advocate at the Supreme Court: Justice Clarence Thomas. Today, once again, Justice Thomas indicated his support for cutting back federal laws that criminalize pot. You might think this is good news since Justice Thomas is one of the most conservative Justices on the Court, therefore surely more liberal Justices would agree. But, unfortunately for the movement, his zeal to rethink how this country criminalizes weed has, so far, no other supporters on the Court.

The case today involved a medical marijuana dispensary in Colorado that, even though it was operating completely legally within the state of Colorado, could not take advantage of federal tax breaks for businesses because the federal government considers it to run an illegal drug business. The dispensary challenged the tax provision, claiming that the federal government cannot prohibit medical marijuana in a state, like Colorado, that makes it legal.

[Mariner]

It's simply not possible to be rational AND support existing Federal law and policy.

That's why Thomas is opposed.

The war on pot is over. The advocates of legalization won.

Get over it.

[Fido969]

“He got weed! He got weed!”

[cdcdawg]

Justice Thomas isn’t a “cannabis supporter.” He is just reading the Constitution and not finding support for the current legal regime when it comes to pot. He’s actually principled.

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

rational being the operative word

[Mariner]

“Justice Thomas isn’t a “cannabis supporter.” He is just reading the Constitution and not finding support for the current legal regime when it comes to pot. He’s actually principled.”

Agreed.

He’s an enemy of legal hypocrisy.

He basically says either enforce the law or change it.

[allendale]

Sorry but people who use marijuana regularly are dope addicts. Foolish to trust them in any matter of importance.

[cdcdawg]

He writes opinions that make sense. Obviously, legal scholars don’t care for him.

[Mariner]

What does that have to do with Thomas and his principled position?

Are you emoting again?

[Jeff Chandler]

"Dude!"

[Outlaw76]

I agree with you in principle, however, isn’t it better to have it out in the open so you can more easily identify those to whom you withhold your trust?

[throwthebumsout]

As someone who is not a fan of recreational drug (or alcohol) use, I agree 100% with Thomas on this issue.

[The Louiswu]

I know you’d be surprised by the number of actual conservatives who smoke a little weed from time to time.

[allendale]

Emoting? No. Just posting an opinion. After all this is an opinion board and one that is not suitable for snowflakes.

[Mariner]

“As someone who is not a fan of recreational drug (or alcohol) use, I agree 100% with Thomas on this issue.”

Same here.

I don’t use either and haven’t smoked pot in over 30 years.

And I am a strong advocate for legalization at all levels. Every citizen should be able to grow as much as they want.

[Mariner]

You’re right, my comment was uncalled for.

[House Atreides]

“Justice Thomas isn’t a “cannabis supporter.” He is just reading the Constitution and not finding support for the current legal regime when it comes to pot. He’s actually principled.”
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Yep, Justice Thomas is among the current minority who believe that the US Constitution should still be supreme.

[ccmay]

Sorry but people who use marijuana regularly are dope addicts. Foolish to trust them in any matter of importance.

The same is true of drunkards, but we don’t turn Constitutional law upside down to show our performative disapproval for their failings.

The fact is that just as with terrorism after 9/11, the Deep State seized on the so-called War on Drugs primarily to amass power and revenue, and deprive us of our constitutional rights. Both issues served to expand the surveillance state, gun control, public corruption, and general aggrandizement of government to the detriment of the People who created it and sustain it.

[Menehune56]

[allendale]

Well aware of that fact. Also aware of the common phenomena of red blooded, patriotic, productive Americans devolving into something other than admirable due to habitual drug use of different sorts. That includes marijuana.

[liberalh8ter]

I recently watched a documentary about Humboldt County, Ca where growing pot has been the tradition since the 70’s. It's an interesting birds-eye view of the whole situation. The government prohibits it, loses the revenue from it, depletes the tax base, can't afford law enforcement, the area becomes the Wild West and can't continue in such form. Legalization comes along, government picks the winners and losers (losers refuse to conform and stay in the shadows) so government uses its newly found revenue to go after those who haven't conformed. It all could have been avoided had it not been prohibited but as a bonus, the outlaws (some) are now happy to pay the tax so they can come out of the shadows.

I did find it interesting that back in the 70’s, the growers formed a sort-of co-op and used the proceeds for infrastructure within their little hippy community.

I'm not a user of the product but I do feel it shouldn't be illegal. It's another example of government creating the problem then fixing the problem in a way that churns them a profit.