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Delta · 08-13-2007, 06:58 AM

This is a question I've been meaning to ask/discuss for a while. What if an elected president wanted to legalize cannabis? How much power would they have to make that happen? Now I admit I'm not as educated on US politics as I should be, but from what I understand a bill would still have to go through congress, and the only thing guaranteed would be that the president would pass the law.

vern · 08-13-2007, 07:04 AM

I thought this explained it well:

Quote:

Most people view the President as the most powerful and influential person in the United States government. While he does wield a great deal of political might, his effect on the law-making process is limited. Only Congress can write legislation; the President may only recommend it. If he does so, then a member of Congress may introduce the bill for consideration. Whereas only Congress may create legislation, it is difficult for them to pass a bill without the President’s approval. When Congress passes a bill, they send it to the White House. The President then has three options: sign the bill into law, veto the bill, or do nothing.

When the President signs a bill into law, it immediately goes into effect. At this point, only the Supreme Court can remove the law from the books by declaring it unconstitutional.

When the President vetoes a bill, it does not go into effect. The President vetoes a bill by returning it to Congress unsigned. In most cases, he will also send them an explanation of why he rejected the legislation. Congress can override a presidential veto, but to do so, two-thirds of each chamber must vote in favor of the bill. However, an override does not occur very often.

If the President chooses the third option, doing nothing with the bill, one of two things will occur. If Congress is in session ten business days after the President receives the bill, the legislation will become a law without the President’s signature. However, if Congress adjourns within ten business days of giving the bill to the President, the bill dies. When the President kills a bill in this fashion, it is known as a pocket veto. In this case, Congress can do nothing to override his decision.

Ben's Guide (9-12): Branches of Government -- Executive Branch -- Legislative Powers of the President

tekkenlaw · 08-13-2007, 07:08 AM

Pocket vetoes rule.

Delta · 08-13-2007, 07:21 AM

Ah, thanks Vern, that's what I thought. This raises the question though: What is the possibility that cannabis will become legal under a pro-legalization president? They might be able to get a bill in the works, but it's really not that likely that it'll make it through congress. The recent failed bill that proposed the ending of federal prosecution of medical marijuana patients in states with medical marijuana laws shows that congress right now doesn't seem to be ready for reform.

**Broliette** · 08-13-2007, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tekkenlaw

Pocket vetoes rule.

No you mean Hot Pockets; Hot Pockets rule.....

rondane · 08-13-2007, 09:40 AM

Its a system of Checks and balances. You need the whole shebang to think its a good Idea or it just wont happen.

Jake · 08-13-2007, 07:37 PM

Well, we had a president who made the following quote, and marijuana is still illegal:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmy Carter

Penalties against possession of a drug should not be more damaging to an individual than the use of the drug itself; and where they are, they should be changed. Nowhere is this more clear than in the laws against possession of marihuana in private for personal use... Therefore, I support legislation amending Federal law to eliminate all Federal criminal penalties for the possession of up to one ounce of marihuana.

**fight4theright** · 08-13-2007, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake

Well, we had a president who made the following quote, and marijuana is still illegal:

Jimmy Carter posted on MJ.com?!

Even with a pot friendly leader and chief, progress wouldn't be made right away...checks and balances of the president's power are in place (as others said...) Certainly wouldn't hurt any though, especially if they were elected whilst the public knew about the presidents view on MJ, now that would be a huge step for the legalization movement.

**sterbo** · 08-13-2007, 09:32 PM

The legal process and/or constraints vis-a-vie our Constitution and subsequent laws are what they are.

The President's real power lies in the "Bully Pulpit".
Therefore a pro legalization President would have significant opportunity to further the cause...
.

Buzzby · 08-14-2007, 01:25 AM

First he'd have to get elected. In order to do that, you'd have to convince the electorate that it was OK to have a pro-legalization President. If a majority of Americans would do that, they would first have elected a whole bunch of pro-marijuana Senators and Congressmen, because that position varies widely by region.

What I'm trying to say, poorly, is that electing a pro-legalization President wouldn't be an isolated occurrence. It would only happen after public attitude towards marijuana had changed dramatically from where it is today. We'd have a pro-legalization President and a good part of Congress favoring legalization. With the President's direct ability to influence Congress and his ability to inform the electorate through the bully pulpit, we would probably get marijuana removed from The Controlled Substances Act pretty quickly.

08-13-2007, 06:58 AM	#1
Delta Jr. Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 122 Grams: 2,960.25 Groans: 2 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts Thanks: 134 Thanked 51 Times in 24 Posts Stock Portfolio Total Value: 0.000 Gain/Loss: 0.000%	What if a pro-legalization president was elected? This is a question I've been meaning to ask/discuss for a while. What if an elected president wanted to legalize cannabis? How much power would they have to make that happen? Now I admit I'm not as educated on US politics as I should be, but from what I understand a bill would still have to go through congress, and the only thing guaranteed would be that the president would pass the law.

08-13-2007, 07:08 AM	#3
tekkenlaw Sr. Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 890 Grams: 3,994.39 Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts Thanks: 22 Thanked 58 Times in 41 Posts Stock Portfolio Total Value: 0.000 Gain/Loss: 0.000%	Pocket vetoes rule. __________________ "Penalties against possession of a drug should not be more damaging to an individual than the use of the drug itself." -- Jimmy Carter RIP 420.marijuana.com RIP overgrow.com

08-13-2007, 09:40 AM	#6
rondane Jr. Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 139 Grams: 2,047.65 Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Stock Portfolio Total Value: 0.000 Gain/Loss: 0.000%	Yep Its a system of Checks and balances. You need the whole shebang to think its a good Idea or it just wont happen.

08-13-2007, 09:32 PM	#9
sterbo sailor dog... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 5,728 Grams: 19,139.62 Groans: 28 Groaned at 20 Times in 15 Posts Thanks: 2,753 Thanked 3,316 Times in 1,444 Posts Stock Portfolio Total Value: 0.000 Gain/Loss: -1.000%	The legal process and/or constraints vis-a-vie our Constitution and subsequent laws are what they are. The President's real power lies in the "Bully Pulpit". Therefore a pro legalization President would have significant opportunity to further the cause... . __________________

08-14-2007, 01:25 AM	#10
Buzzby Buddhist Curmudgeon Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 14,413 Grams: 47,631.68 Groans: 36 Groaned at 49 Times in 41 Posts Thanks: 519 Thanked 3,852 Times in 1,912 Posts Stock Portfolio Total Value: 0.000 Gain/Loss: 0.000%	First he'd have to get elected. In order to do that, you'd have to convince the electorate that it was OK to have a pro-legalization President. If a majority of Americans would do that, they would first have elected a whole bunch of pro-marijuana Senators and Congressmen, because that position varies widely by region. What I'm trying to say, poorly, is that electing a pro-legalization President wouldn't be an isolated occurrence. It would only happen after public attitude towards marijuana had changed dramatically from where it is today. We'd have a pro-legalization President and a good part of Congress favoring legalization. With the President's direct ability to influence Congress and his ability to inform the electorate through the bully pulpit, we would probably get marijuana removed from The Controlled Substances Act pretty quickly. __________________ 60% of the people of America now say we are heading toward a depression. Not a recession, a depression. We are in desperate need of profitable industries that we can tax. Um... Now can we legalize pot? ~ Bill Maher Theocracy Watch

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08-13-2007, 07:21 AM	#4
Delta Jr. Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 122 Grams: 2,960.25 Groans: 2 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts Thanks: 134 Thanked 51 Times in 24 Posts Stock Portfolio Total Value: 0.000 Gain/Loss: 0.000%	Ah, thanks Vern, that's what I thought. This raises the question though: What is the possibility that cannabis will become legal under a pro-legalization president? They might be able to get a bill in the works, but it's really not that likely that it'll make it through congress. The recent failed bill that proposed the ending of federal prosecution of medical marijuana patients in states with medical marijuana laws shows that congress right now doesn't seem to be ready for reform.

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