Will California finally challange Federal Law?

[Dredly]

Cali is set to vote on whether they will make Marijuana legal and taxed. If they approve this it will be a huge blow to the "War on Drugs". Its also expected to increase their state tax revenue by 1,000,000,000 / year.

I am finally in support of something Cali does, not because it involves weed, but because it finally stands up against the fed, who should have NO say in this at all. If it is grown in Cali and used in Cali how the hell should the fed have anything to say about it?

Lets hope it passes and starts a trend among states of shrugging off the federal laws that should not apply anyway.

[billamj]

What you do not seem to understand is that a law like that will definitely make for new Federal legislation that will, in essence, turn marijuana into the equivalent of tobacco. That means that there will be Federal standards, Federal taxes and new Federal departments to ensure that the new laws are followed because the feds will say that they need to ensure that no drugs from out of the state, or country, are being used by people in Cali, etc., etc.. While, generally speaking, this could be a bad thing, with the way the Federal government like to usurp power it could only turn bad.

[LorDiego01]

Leave it to politicians, to go from "Marijuana is the root of all evil", to "hey, we are running out of money! lets give it to the people and tax it!".

[Dredly]

What you do not seem to understand is that a law like that will definitely make for new Federal legislation that will, in essence, turn marijuana into the equivalent of tobacco. That means that there will be Federal standards, Federal taxes and new Federal departments to ensure that the new laws are followed because the feds will say that they need to ensure that no drugs from out of the state, or country, are being used by people in Cali, etc., etc.. While, generally speaking, this could be a bad thing, with the way the Federal government like to usurp power it could only turn bad.

Nope I understand that, but I also understand that the Fed isn't supposed to be making laws that apply to intrastate, and that the states are supposed to do that however the war on drugs is federal law being forced on states.

it will be interesting to see what happens.

[scotty2hotty89]

I am finally in support of something Cali does, not because it involves weed, but because it finally stands up against the fed, who should have NO say in this at all. If it is grown in Cali and used in Cali how the hell should the fed have anything to say about it?

Im in support because they are standing up to the fed and because it involves weed. Good for them.

[Ten*K]

Legislation of morality is for Fascists. Legalize it, tax it, and stop ruining the lives of people who use it (ex. charging someone with 3 joints in their pocket with "possession with intent to distribute" and locking them up for 3 years).

I could buy 15 cases of tequila and 10 cartons of cigarettes and no one will say a word to me. Not everyone is going to go out and start toking a fatty if it were legalized... but what we can do is start creating American jobs, save taxpayer money, and stop funds from illicit sales from going across the boarder to fuel the Cartel's war on Mexico.

[1861]

Leave it to politicians, to go from "Marijuana is the root of all evil", to "hey, we are running out of money! lets give it to the people and tax it!".

Yep , I,m old enough to remember when they did that with gambling . They saw the catholic church making money of Bingo and wasn't long till states got into lotteries & casinos.

[crakkajakka15]

Good they need to legalize it...marijuana isnt a drug anyway. As or taxing it maybe it will help pay off some of the massive debt that we have


easy way to sum it up

[dlclarkii]

I heard the tax will be $50 per oz. Speaking about wacky weed, did anyone hear about the rapper who had 500# of pot on his tour bus in the news?!?

[DaveM55]

Thirteen states have laws permitting medicinal use of marijuana. Medicinal marijuana is already allowed by the state law in California.

There was a recent documentary on TV about it. They showed growers who pay state and federal income tax based on their production of marijuana. There was one town in California that is famous for growing the weed.

Personally I would like to see it decriminalized. That would cut down on a lot of crime and violence. Of course the low-lifes would just find other crimes to commit.

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http://www.canorml.org/news/holder.html

Attorney General Holder Says Medical Marijuana Raids Will End

February 25, 2009 - Speaking at a press conference with DEA administrator Michelle Leonhart, Attorney General Eric Holder declared that ending medical marijuana raids "is now American policy."

A reporter asked, "shortly after the inauguration there were raids on California medical marijuana dispensaries...do you expect these to continue?", noting that the President had promised to end the raids in the campaign.

Holder responded, "What the President said during the campaign...is consistent with what we will be doing here in law enforcement. He was my boss in the campaign....He is my boss now. What he said in the campaign is now American policy."

Obama repeatedly said during his campaign that he would end the DEA raids, and that he supported medical marijuana "with the same controls as other drugs prescribed by doctors." A NORML-sponsored Zogby poll said 72% of voters think President Obama should honor his campaign pledge to end the raids.