Pubdate: Sat, 17 Nov 2012
Source: Herald, The (Everett, WA)
Copyright: 2012 Associated Press
Contact:  http://www.heraldnet.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/190
Author: Gene Johnson, Associated Press

FEDS SHOULD RESPECT POT VOTES, STATE SAYS

SEATTLE - A group of lawmakers on Friday urged the Justice Department 
to respect recent votes in Colorado and Washington state allowing the 
recreational use of marijuana, and some introduced a bill to ensure 
that happens.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette of Colorado said her bill would 
bar the federal government from blocking state marijuana laws. 
Several other lawmakers have signed on, including Republican Rep. 
Mike Coffman of Colorado.

"I voted against Amendment 64 and I strongly oppose the legalization 
of marijuana, but I also have an obligation to respect the will of 
the voters," Coffman said in a statement. "I feel obligated to 
support this legislation."

Voters this month made Washington and Colorado the first states to 
allow adults over 21 to possess up to an ounce of marijuana, and to 
set up state licensing schemes for pot growers, processors and retail 
stores. Taxes could bring the states tens or hundreds of millions of 
dollars a year, financial analysts say.

But marijuana remains illegal under federal law. States are not 
required to enforce the federal prohibition, meaning they can make 
marijuana crimes legal under state law, but whether they can set up 
licensing schemes to promote violations of federal law is another story.

Many constitutional lawyers don't think so: In general, state laws 
that "frustrate the purpose" of federal laws can be blocked.

But the DOJ hasn't said whether it plans to sue to block the 
licensing schemes from taking effect. Seventeen Democratic 
representatives signed a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder and 
Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Michele Leonhart urging 
the DOJ to let the states proceed with regulating pot and to refrain 
from prosecuting people who comply with the state laws.

"These states have chosen to move from a drug policy that spends 
millions of dollars turning ordinary Americans into criminals toward 
one that will tightly regulate the use of marijuana while raising tax 
revenue to support cash-strapped state and local governments," the 
letter said. "We believe this approach embraces the goals of existing 
federal marijuana law: to stop international trafficking, deter 
domestic organized criminal organizations, stop violence associated 
with the drug children."

Proponents of the marijuana measures welcomed the letter and 
DeGette's legislation, which would amend the Controlled Substances 
Act to clarify that it shall not preempt state marijuana laws.

"It's fantastic to see congressional representatives move decisively 
to respect the will of the voters and facilitate the fundamental 
reformation of our marijuana laws at the state level," said Alison 
Holcomb, campaign manager for Washington's Initiative 502.

So far, no Washington lawmakers have signed onto DeGette's legislation.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom