shockedcanadian shockedcanadian:
Legalize it, gangs market is gone, problem solved, billion upon billions saved.
Its not worth discussing with OTI, he still pretending that prohibition doesn't cause gangsterism, and he's still pretending that more enforcement means less drug use instead of more. He hasn't come up with a new argument or explanation of his position in several years.
Senate panel clears the air on marijuana laws$1:
Federal laws pose "significant obstacles" to regulation of marijuana in states where it is legal and need to be addressed, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said Tuesday in a first-ever hearing aimed at reconciling rapidly changing state marijuana laws with a federal prohibition on the drug.
"We must have a smarter approach to marijuana policy," Leahy, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said. "The absolute criminalization of personal marijuana use has contributed to our nation's soaring prison population and has disproportionately affected people of color."
The hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee follows a Justice Department memo outlining how it will enforce federal marijuana prohibitions in two states, Colorado and Washington, that have legalized its use, and 20 states that allow marijuana for medical use.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said he was concerned state regulations would fail to keep marijuana use in check. Colorado, which had legalized marijuana for medical use before legalizing it for recreational use in November, has done a poor job so far of preventing marijuana exports to other states where marijuana remains illegal, he said.
"Why has the Justice Department decided to trust Colorado?" Grassley said. "Colorado has become a significant exporter of marijuana."
The Justice Department reserved its right to challenge state laws if public health or safety problems emerge or if the states fail to enact strict regulations to control marijuana use and sale, Deputy Attorney General James Cole, author of the memo, told the Senate panel.
The states' regulations must be "tough in practice, not just on paper," Cole said. "It must include strong enforcement efforts, backed by adequate funding."
Colorado adopted its final rules on Monday, said Jack Finlaw, chief legal counsel to Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper. He said the 141 pagers of rules cover application and licensing for retail stores; cultivation and manufacturing; testing requirements; inventory tracking; testing and product safety; labeling; and advertising. He said the state would also take steps to limit production so marijuana won't be diverted to other states.
The Justice Department said in its Aug. 29 memo to U.S. attorneys nationwide that it would seek to prosecute people who sell marijuana to minors, use state laws as a cover for drug trafficking or who attempt to distribute marijuana in states where it is not legal.
King County, Wash., Sheriff John Urquhart said he sees little conflict between his state's marijuana laws and federal law enforcement.
"The reality is we do have complimentary goals and values," Urquhart said. "We all agree we don't want our children using marijuana. We all agree we don't want impaired drivers. We all agree we don't want to continue enriching criminals."
CKA Uber 
