General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsA Life Sentence...for pot.
http://www.salon.com/2013/06/21/why_is_an_obama_appointee_launching_an_anti_marijuana_crusade/The growers all noted they were operating under state guidelines and following the lead of the Ogden Memo.
...A policy might not have the force of law, but I would argue that a policy is most definitely a promise, especially if it is reasonably interpreted by citizens who are looking for guidance as to how to proceed, and particularly in a case where the Attorney General states that a new set of lawsstate laws, as opposed to federal lawswill now serve as the governing code for assessing the legality of a citizens conduct. And just because the feds can prosecute, doesnt mean they should.
So, Cotter believes, against the advice of doctors and scientists, that marijuana is a dangerous drug with no medical benefits. Based upon this erroneous belief, he confiscated property of landlords, after threatening to put them in jail for 20 years. Cotter has no scientific evidence on his side - but he has drug war laws that remain on the books - even if they're not on the books in Montana (he couldn't demonstrate anyone had broken state law.)
THIS is why we cannot exist in this gray area regarding marijuana legalization... because of assholes like Cotter who will do what they can to ruin lives because of their own stupid vendettas brought on by their own reefer madness.
Obama should 86 this asshole.
jollyreaper2112
(1,941 posts)If only Obama knew, this would never be allowed to stand.
Uncle Joe
(58,355 posts)Thanks for the thread, RainDog.
RainDog
(28,784 posts)Uncle Joe
(58,355 posts)cali
(114,904 posts)Pretty ironic that a former pot head is the President under whom this shit is happening.
Downtown Hound
(12,618 posts)Anybody that criticizes the president is a racist, don'cha know?
RainDog
(28,784 posts)I have made it a point to remain as removed as possible from all the mudslinging going on. Serves no good purpose. All it does, for me, is make me less interested in reading DU.
But, the truth is that, during the Kerry campaign, the fights were really bad, too. I left DU for a couple of years because I didn't want to hate the Democratic Party because of what its defenders said in its name. Those who speak for power (and, yes, Obama is power) have a greater responsibility to speak with some sort of understanding for those who feel disenfranchised, imo.
Those who offer critiques should do so within the bounds of reality - as in, the state is not going to dissolve and one person, one president, is not going to be able to entirely alter the course of events that, themselves, are reactions to fears by those in power.
The parameters for power in the U.S. are constantly constrained by career bureaucrats. The system itself perpetuates wrongs, even when people think those wrongs are done for the right reasons.
It's good, however, to talk about these things to help people become of aware of abuses of power in order to collectively demand they stop.
The Drug War is one long-standing example of this truth, grasshopper.
Hydra
(14,459 posts)Just like his Christian justification for excluding gays.
I'm really not sure who we voted for anymore. I mean, I'm a cynic, but this is ridiculous.