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Obama Admin will still enforce drug laws even if CA legalizes weed, says Eric Holder


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SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. government will "vigorously enforce" federal laws against marijuana even if voters next month make California the first state to legalize pot, Attorney General Eric Holder says.

 

Holder's warning, contained in a letter to ex-federal drug enforcement chiefs, was his most direct statement yet against Proposition 19, and it sets up another showdown with California over marijuana if the measure passes.

 

With Prop 19 leading in the polls, the letter also raised questions about the extent to which federal drug agents would go into communities across the state to catch small-time users and dealers, or whether they even had the resources to do it.

 

If the ballot measure passes, the state would regulate recreational pot use. Adults could possess up to one ounce of the drug and grow small gardens on private property. Local governments would decide whether to allow and tax sales of the drug.

 

But Holder stressed that the Justice Department remains committed to enforcing the Controlled Substances Act in all states.

 

"We will vigorously enforce the CSA against those individuals and organizations that possess, manufacture or distribute marijuana for recreational use, even if such activities are permitted under state law," he wrote.

 

The letter was dated Wednesday and was obtained by The Associated Press.

 

Medical marijuana users and experts were skeptical, saying there was little the federal government could do to slow the march to legalization.

 

 

http://news.yahoo.co...ization_justice

 

Blame Bush?

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Holder is the attorney general of the US, thus a part of the Obama administration...

Okay? So...you take a statement from one person and claim that the entire Obama administration is to blame, then you bring Bush into it, taking a shot at Obama supporters?

 

Who should speak for the entire administration? Just curious.

 

Should Obama duct tape his mouth shut? Does Obama have a remote control for Holder?

 

Are you one of those Super Republicans? We have some of those flying around our town...the ones that blame Obama for the oil leak, 9/11 and WW2.

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Okay? So...you take a statement from one person and claim that the entire Obama administration is to blame, then you bring Bush into it, taking a shot at Obama supporters?

 

Who should speak for the entire administration? Just curious.

 

Should Obama duct tape his mouth shut? Does Obama have a remote control for Holder?

 

Are you one of those Super Republicans? We have some of those flying around our town...the ones that blame Obama for the oil leak, 9/11 and WW2.

 

He's a part of the administration is he not? It was their decision to continue to enforce the laws even though Cali will most likely legalize weed. No matter who said it I would've posted the same thing because its the administration who is going to make the decision.

 

Yes, the Bush thing was a tiny jab, forgive me.

 

 

Obama isn't to blame for the oil leak but the response to it could have been better and I think both sides can agree on that.

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Holder did, but the decision came from the Obama administration not Holder himself.

For one, it's a federal law. Read this...

 

When Californians approved their first-in-the-nation medical marijuana law in 1996, Clinton administration officials vowed a harsh crackdown.

And this...

 

During the Bush administration, retail pot dispensaries across the state faced regular raids from federal anti-drug agents. Their owners were sometimes sentenced to decades in prison for drug trafficking. Yet the medical marijuana industry still grew.

Doesn't matter who is running the country.

 

So, now my question is, why even point it out? The administration will still enforce a federal law? Yeah, I bet it's because it's a federal law.

 

It's not difficult to figure out what you were trying to accomplish with the topic. Obama bash-fest. How do I know? History, and because you mentioned Bush (which you should probably realize that the "great Bush Administration" was enforcing drug laws as well, because...it was a federal law).

 

Basically, Holder is stating the obvious. Obama didn't necessarily run and tell him to say it. Nobody else had to notify him of the plans. Holder made a statement that they will enforce drug laws, and, hell, maybe because it's a federal law.

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If California passes prop 19 to legalize and tax marijuana, why should the federal government even care? That's the entire point of this thread. Don't you think we have bigger problems than some guy is California who wants to smoke a J in his living room? If the state decides to legalize marijuana then that should be their decision. The federal government shouldn't even bother caring.

 

This video really says it all for me:

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsfCWl9Bk4k

 

Basically, Holder is stating the obvious. Obama didn't necessarily run and tell him to say it. Nobody else had to notify him of the plans. Holder made a statement that they will enforce drug laws, and, hell, maybe because it's a federal law.

 

Again you're failing to see that I never pointed out Obama in general, rather the entire administration. Its fine to love Obama, that's cool if you really believe he's doing a good job but he and his administration made this decision to go after California.

 

It's not difficult to figure out what you were trying to accomplish with the topic. Obama bash-fest. How do I know? History, and because you mentioned Bush (which you should probably realize that the "great Bush Administration" was enforcing drug laws as well, because...it was a federal law).

 

Did I ever single out Obama? No. Rather the entire administration. I also don't believe prop 19 was around during the Bush admin. and if it did I don't know if it had quite the backing it does now.

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You're attacking Obama, or the administration, same thing isn't it? Didn't you say that yourself?

 

He's a part of the administration is he not?

If your title stated that Obama was going to continue enforcing the drug law, it would be even more inaccurate...and because you had to throw him under the bus somehow (which you were looking to do, or else you wouldn't have added the Bush comment), you decided to state that it was the "Obama Admin" and not Holder saying this.

 

But, I do like this quote from you...

 

Its fine to love Obama, that's cool if you really believe he's doing a good job but he and his administration made this decision to go after California.

I never stated I love Obama, never stated he's doing a good job (and maybe I think he is). I just don't dropkick a President halfway through his first term when he was gift-wrapped a major recession.

 

Aside from that, you say above that they made the decision to go after California? LOL...you must mean they decided to continue enforcing a law. They aren't targeting California. If anything, they are disregarding it because, by federal law, marijuana will still be illegal. Until that's changed, what else are they expected to say or do?

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