WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and co-chairman of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, today made the following comment on what Reuters described as the Obama Administration’s “giving U.S. states wide leeway to experiment with pot legalization.”
“Time and again we have seen the Obama Administration decline to enforce laws that it finds inconvenient, or that it simply doesn’t like. Today’s announcement is the latest example. The Administration is now effectively instructing law enforcement not to prioritize the prosecution of the large-scale distribution and sale of marijuana in certain states. This sends the wrong message to both law enforcement and violators of federal law. Apprehending and prosecuting illegal drug traffickers should always be a priority for the Department of Justice.”
Chuck seems a little overboard here but when isn’t he when it comes to the present administration. It seems to be, as Steel Panther says, a matter of states rights usurping federal law and the Republicans are for the concept, but not the idea. That is confusing. But, the point might be that the Obama administration feels the federal prison system can use a little cleaning and the best area to do that in is getting rid of the people who are imprisoned for a victimless crime. The amount of money saved on all levels would be substantial. Maybe that money could be used for something productive and proactive.
It’s not marijuana, that’s a slang term to link the plant with Mexicans back in the 1920’s. It’s silly and wrong. The plant is called cannabis and it is your friend and has always been your friend and will be your friend again. All the hate in the world couldn’t stop it from helping you live longer even if it means possibly curing you of cancer.
The plant is attempting to keep you alive for it’s survival similar to the same way flowers keep bees alive and healthy to insure their survival. Who really works for who? This has been going on for millions of years.
@Peter L.-If there are Federal laws on the books against this then it is NOT constitutional to by pass them just because it is popular to do so. If you don’t like the laws then change them but do NOT violate them. It send the wrong message to everyone. We have a process for change and should follow it.
@Peter L. Just because you use the word occasionally does not make it right.
Peter if you say voting is a civil rights issue.
Then my civil rights are violated every time I get asked to prove who I am? Checks, police, applications for jobs etc.
If that is the case that states should hold the power in this case, then why is the federal government have legal action against Texas for their law of voter ID. Obama is going against his own words on POT because it is popular (supposedly). Why would he infringe on Texas rights to make its own voter ID law??? Maybe the illegal aliens wont be able to vote?
voter ID is the only thing that is keeping his party out of power.
Chuck – your WRONG ON THIS ONE ! Let the states decide !
This proves that ranking republicans are NOT for states rights. They are not truly conservative. They want big brother all up in your toilet when you’re trying to take a dump.
This just proves how out of touch Grassley is. Has he not heard that the majority of Americans want to legalize the possession of small amounts (up to an ounce) of marijuana? Grassley is for Grassley, not for his constituents.