The Briefing Room
General Category => Editorial/Opinion/Blogs => Topic started by: corbe on April 20, 2019, 02:41:26 pm
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The STATES Act will expose flawed marijuana legacy
By J.J. Rich, opinion contributor — 04/20/19 10:30 AM EDT
In anticipation of inevitable marijuana legalization, Congress is introducing legislation attempting to end the futile federal prohibition of pot. Now that the vast majority of Americans support legalizing all forms of cannabis, politicians from both parties, from Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) to Rep. David Joyce (R-Ohio) now endorse the STATES Act — a bill that would legalize practically all marijuana-related activities at the federal level, at least where they are permitted by state law.
Even though this bill offers a long-awaited sign of sanity absent in the drug war debate, it still leaves much to be desired. Instead of outright legalizing marijuana at the federal level, the law instead cedes federal legality only if the behavior happens in a state that has legalized it. And marijuana will foolishly remain an entirely prohibited Schedule I narcotic under all other circumstances.
Given the STATES Act’s unusual bipartisan support, the media has speculated endlessly on the implications of its potential ratification. But the truth is that this bill is incredibly vague and will elicit many contradictions between state and federal laws, likely leading to a plethora of bureaucratic challenges.
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https://thehill.com/opinion/criminal-justice/439837-the-states-act-will-expose-flawed-marijuana-legacy (https://thehill.com/opinion/criminal-justice/439837-the-states-act-will-expose-flawed-marijuana-legacy)
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This, Ladies and Gentlemen, is what happens when you try to craft Legislation while Stoned. Have a happy 420 day, folks.
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Even though I've never used pot (apart from second hand inhalation at rock concerts decades ago), will never use pot, and will not associate with people who use pot, my stance is basically it should be up to the states to legalize it or not. And no adult should be penalized for private use of mj for whatever reason that only affects themselves.
Nevertheless, I'm not real happy about the idea that of millions of Americans can't wait for the moment when they can toke away to their heart's content and let a drug make the happiness for them that a clear, sober mind can't.
What does that say about a country where a sizable percentage want to live their lives stoned most or half of the time?
And the jury is still out on long term effects of constant pot use.
Numerous studies have established a strong correlation between heavy pot use and brain damage of younger people.
My own view is pot is highly dangerous because it leads to liberalism, the most destructive ideological force in America.
I'll bet a ton of money that far more liberals toke away the day than conservatives.