Quote:
Originally Posted by gunk
I doubt any president will legalize it nationally but I guess we can still work towards legalizing it state by state.
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HE IS the biggest issue stopping states, along with a Republican party that has been forgetting that it is supposed to be a party that favors smaller Gov interference in States rights in these kinds of matters, from being able to legalize.
As a matter of FACT, 13+ states HAVE LEGALIZED IT in one form or another. The problem is that our current White House policy is to FIGHT THE WAR, no matter what war you are talking about, so the DEA (a FEDERAL agency) has raided numerous Dispensary locations that were set up as best as can be set up to "State Law" including paying State/Fed Taxes on both the 'sales tax' and 'employee taxes' and were operating very openly including getting permissions and or permits from local authority including in some cases from the local sheriff that had no intention of enforcing Federal Law since having mandates from its citizens to allow for the operation of these facilities within it's city/county limits within restrictions (look at LA). The Pres can change it's policy on enforcement with respect to State Laws. This would be a start.
After this type of policy is in place, States would be able to have more confidence that IF they pass a law they will be able to enforce that law without Federal interference. This could help some of the guys that are sitting on the fence, like Gov Swartz who vetoed a Bill that would allow the production of Hemp (THC levels would be tested and maintained below something stupid like 1% so it won't get you high) in the state because he felt that he would be putting farmers at risk of Fed raids that would be trying to follow a State law that violates a Fed Law, if that makes sense.
Bush COULD ask that policy change and have Cannabis reclassified to a schedule much like tobacco and booze and allow for State regulation as to it's use and tax. But unfortunately that ain't gonna happen.
BTW - Hi all this is my first post!
and I hope nobody takes offense to my rant that is all it is, this is such a frustrating issue