Pubdate: Thu, 18 Oct 2012
Source: Altoona Mirror (PA)
Copyright: 2012 Altoona Mirror
Contact:  http://www.altoonamirror.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1729

SILENCE ON POT TELLING

Attorney General Eric Holder is being urged by some of the nation's
top law enforcement officials to speak out against ballot initiatives
to legalize marijuana in Colorado, Oregon and Washington.

Holder should discuss the dangers of legalizing marijuana, said Peter
Bensinger, former head of the Drug Enforcement Administration. He
joined others in the law enforcement community, including some former
directors of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

No way, reacted the Justice Department. Spokeswoman Allison Price said
Holder will not "speculate" on the ballot initiatives.

Obviously, Holder and his boss, President Barack Obama, hope that will
be taken as a declaration of federal neutrality concerning states'
affairs.

But it will be recalled both Holder and Obama have been publicly
critical of other state initiatives, including some that were attempts
to curb illegal immigration.

Clearly, Holder and Obama have no problem condemning state actions
with which they disagree.

Their refusal to speak out on the marijuana issue, then, speaks
volumes about how they feel concerning legalization at the state
level, regardless of the fact marijuana remains banned by federal law.
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MAP posted-by: Matt