Sorry, my bad, that was a bit of fantasy that the Federal government, which sued Arizona over their illegal immigration bill using the “Supremacy Clause,” would follow suit
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) Thursday signed into law a bill that decriminalizes the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana. The bill reduces simple possession from a misdemeanor to an infraction.
Under the bill signed today, SB 1449, by Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), pot possession will be treated like a traffic ticket. The fine will remain at $100, and there will be no arrest record.
Well, isn’t that a fine how do ya do. Interestingly, Arnold stated that he disagreed with the legislation. Yet, he went and signed it. So, will Obama and Holder follow federal law and sue California?
….the federal law does not qualify possession by amount.  Possession of any amount of marijuana (even a single marijuana cigarette) is punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine of $1,000 on the first offense. The second offense carries a 15-day mandatory sentence, and can be extended for as long as two years in prison. Any possession after that gets a 90-day to three year prison term, and a $5,000 fine. (It should also be noted that distribution of a small amount of marijuana for no money is usually treated as simple possession).
California is obviously not following federal law on this. Ca. and 13 other states allow medical marijuana. Cities around the country fail to follow federal immigration law, proclaiming them sanctuary cities. Come on, DOJ, follow the law! But, then, the Obama administration doesn’t want to enforce civil rights violations against whites, so, why should we think they would care about enforcing the law in a “justice is blind” kind of way?
PS: just to reiterate what I have written before, I could really care less whether pot is legal or not. I don’t smoke it myself, and don’t plan on it. It is much less a dangerous drug than alcohol, and, not only could it be an interesting revenue source (with proper controls), minor possession charges are a drain on our criminal justice system. I actually think the law Arnold signed is a decent intermediary one. I’m just pointing to the blatant hypocrisy of our government. Also, any marijuana laws about usage should be left to the states.
social conservatives are all having their usual hissy fits What would Ronnie Reagan think of this ?
I still don’t see how making marijuana legal and provided by the government or dispensed by authorized dealers (which deflates the idea of “legal”) will work.
Do people really think that all of these gangs the world over will just give up a major revenue source?
If so, do you really want these gangs working for and being paid by our government to dispense what they can now do legally? (Subsidizing their illegal organization and other illegal activities)
Do people really think that the gangs who controls the flow of the drugs will just sit by and let that revenue source be taken away? They are fighting and killing for it now!! Do people really think they will just go away now that the gov’t is going to get into the biz?
The only things that this will do is 1) legitimize gangs and subsidize their illegal activities, and 2) decrease the cost of pot due to competition.
If you ask me, this is the true reason for all this move. If people’s minds are altered, they are more easily controlled. Hello California.
Doesn’t it seem strange that as the Socialism and increasing debt increased in CA, the move to expand pot use also increased?
What would Ronnie Reagan think of this ?
Reagan was against the legalization of marijuana and actually pushed for minimum sentences for users.
Once again, none of this will matter to you because you just don’t care about the truth or any meaningful discussion.
[…] Pirate’s Cove: Schwarzenegger Signs Marijuana Decriminalization Bill, Holder Immediately Sues California […]
When I started into medicine 40 years ago, I was very much in favor of tight controls on drugs. Then I saw the results of the tight controls. The fact is that legalization of drugs would not significantly increase the number of addicts. Drugs were legal before 1913, then they passed laws to regulate them and the percent of addicts has not changed. Currently it would be easier to get an illegal drug in my neighborhood than a regulated one.
Many doctors have this same feeling. They do not understand why we surrender this freedom to the government. We should be able to go to Walgreen’s and purchase anything we desire. Pain pill, antibiotics, the works. If you want to get hooked, that is your problem. No one else sould be involved in the process.
Here is what legalization would mean:
1. No money going to gangs, organized crime or terrorist.
2. Better quality drugs going to addicts than current and less hospitalization for the side effects.
3. Massive increase in taxes.
4. Massive reduction in the size, influence and cost of government.
5. Reduction in prison population by half.
6. Reduction in AIDS and hep-c and bacterial endocarditis.
7. Less demand for medical service, thus less medical cost, fewer doctors, etc.
There is no logical argument to support government regulation of our desires, needs, wants.
By the way, I don’t use drugs, don’t want to and don’t plan to.