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Buzzby

Feds Couldn't Pursue Pot Cases If State Law Passes
Tough Question: If Colorado's Marijuana Law Is Changed, Will All Pot Enforcement Go Up In Smoke?
Alan Gionet | CBS4Denver | 09/21/2006

(CBS4) DENVER Law enforcement leaders in Colorado doubt that federal authorities would have time or resources to prosecute people for possessing small amounts of marijuana if Amendment 44 passes. The ballot measure would make it legal to possess an ounce or less of marijuana under state law.

CBS4 asked the tough question: If Colorado's marijuana law is changed, will all pot enforcement go up in smoke?

"Would it be legal if Denver officers ended up enforcing federal law in that regard, or are they going to have to go to the feds if that happens?" CBS4 asked Attorney General John Suthers.

"They could write somebody up, but they would have then go to the United States attorney and ask them to prosecute the case," Suthers answered. "And I'm telling you right now, the United States attorney has a threshold, I used to be the United States attorney, and I think their threshold used to be about 100 plants. They're not going to take possession of an ounce cases."

"Can a local entity enforce federal law?" CBS4 asked a local Drug Enforcement Administration agent.

"There aren't enough federal resources on the entire planet to handle ounce size marijuana possession," Jeffrey Sweetin, a DEA agent said. "Your viewers should understand if this passes, we're really legitimately legalizing an ounce of marijuana. They're not going to be prosecuted."

The U.S. attorney's office and the DEA told CBS4 resources would still go toward prosecuting bigger drug cases.

Denver police said they hadn't researched the issue. Denver officers have been prosecuting local marijuana offenders under state law since earlier in the year when a city initiative passed that made possessing an ounce or less of marijuana legal under city code.

 

carlover_36

Perhaps,and this is only my opinion,the federal police should worry more about securing our borders and controling the violent criminals wandering our streets than worrying about a somebody relaxing.

reggie_the_dog

"and controling the violent criminals wandering our streets than worrying about a somebody relaxing."

The Feds should only be concerned with violent criminals that cross state lines.

If someone suspected of a rape or a murder in Illinois leaves Illinois and goes to another state I see how feds can get involved because more than one state is involved. But if a rape or murder suspect in Illinois stays in Illinois the enforcement against this person is the responsibility of the state of Illinois (unless that person is also suspected of earlier crimes in other states of course)


just my 2 cents

carlover_36

Using your scenario,why then are the feds worried about state Marijuana laws?

dredpiratrobert

I think its because the Feds (DEA more exactly) have trained and brainwashed themselves to the point that they go around brainwashing the general public with propaganda. Beyond that the Feds realy aren't concerned with state offenses except ones that are flagrant violations.
For instance, some dudes in Santa Cruz Ca. were busted for growing medical pot by the DEA- why did the DEA step in and bust someone doing what is legal in state law? Well, the growers had way over 1,000 plants going at once-- a flagrant flaunting of 'lawlessness' in their view. Now had that grow been 50 or even 99 plants I think there is a chance we never would have heard of it in news.

ok?

DPR

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carlover_36

This is gonna be like trying to explain the theory of relativity to a a duck,but will try none the less.
The article was talking about the Marijuana laws in Colorado,and how they would affect federal officers,DEA specifically.The idea is that federal officers,and courts,don't have the time or resources to arrest people in CO for an ounce of weed.However,the "dealers"will still be sought after and prosecuted,including growers that the DEA thinks have too many plants for personnel use.
My response is that the voters of any state should have the final say in their laws.When the majority of Voters agree that possesing a certain amount of Marijuana is okay,then according to our "rights" anyone in that state should be able to have that amount.(And if they allow growing for personnel use then there is no need to worry about "dealers").
My point being that the DEA should not be allowed to ignore the opinions of the citizens of the United States of America.

Buzzby

As with most laws that involve encroaching on states' rights, the feds use the Commerce Clause in the US Constitution to justify their actions. According to Gonzales v. Raich, even the use of marijuana grown in California by medical marijuana patients and consumed in California by medical marijuana patients, without any money changing hands, somehow affects the interstate commerce in this illegal substance.

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Pompo

The Federal government has always ignored the voice of the people!! I don't know what the current statistics would be with reguards to marijuana users but I do know that they were not all born yesterday!!!! They have been ignoring a huge number of people for decades. I'm talking millions of people who have wanted the legalazation of marijuana for a long time. Lets face it, it is and always has been big business for the Feds as well as black market intrests. The number of people employed by the Feds to wage the war on marijuana is staggering. Needless to say, the Feds would freak out trying to figure out how to get their cut if it were legalized!!! Shit grows anywhere There are so many logical arguements as to why marijuana should be legalized I'm embarassed by my government!!!!! How can they claim to be an intellegent entity if they maintain the current legal status of weed in the face of all the logic that surrounds the legalization of weed. With that said I intend to continue to deny the Feds the ability to take from me that which is rightfully mine!!!! That being the right to decide for myself, to have the FREEDOM of choice!!!!!! As our forefathers had intended it to be!!!!!!! So smoke on fellow stoners I salute you!!!!!!!!! VOTE YES ON AMENDMENT 44

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Buzzby

When only 1/3 of the voters in the US want marijuana legalized, what do you expect them to do? Politicians will vote to make their constituents happy. I doubt if there is a majority of any legislator's constituents who favor legalization, so it's not going to happen until such time as we change the minds of the majority of the non-user public. The only way that's going to happen is if we educate them to counter the government propaganda and lobby their legislators to ask the right questions.

Both of these things require the application of money in the right places.

At present, around 0.25% of marijuana users have joined or contributed to the three major pro-legalization organizations. Altogether, they operate on a budget of $12 - $16 million a year, most of which is contributed by a few billionaire supporters. That’s all they have to use in an effort to both educate a nation of 300,000,000 and to lobby federal and state legislators.

If users contributed 1% of what they spend on weed and accessories, these organizations would have $400,000,000 to spend annually in the effort. We're working against the ONDCP which spends $120,000,000 a year on anti-pot TV ads and the pharmaceutical industry which distributes millions to our representatives campaign chests.

If you really want to make a difference, join and, above all, financially support, NORML, MPP, and DPA. If you're concerned about exposure (which is not a real problem), send a money order in an envelope without your return address.

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML)

Marijuana Policy Project (MPP)

Drug Policy Alliance (DPA)

carlover_36

Somehow ya'll have a tendecy of not getting the point of what is wrote.I was observing that this article was actualy explaining how federal agents would NOT be swarming Colorado when they legalize an ounce of marijuana.However,the people that want to bring huge amounts into Colorado would be the focus.

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