Pubdate: Thu, 20 Jun 2013
Source: Rockford Register Star (IL)
Copyright: 2013 GateHouse Media, Inc.
Contact: http://www.rrstar.com/contact
Website: http://www.rrstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/370
Author: Matt Slade

LEGAL MARIJUANA LAWS ARE A STATE'S CHOICE

At the U.S. Conference of Mayors annual meeting this month, Loves Park
Mayor Darryl Lindberg will have the opportunity to make a powerful
statement on behalf of our city's taxpayers.

Among the resolutions being considered at the conference, Resolution
32 would call for an end to federal interference in state and local
marijuana laws.

States like Colorado and Washington have recently legalized marijuana,
almost 20 states permit medical marijuana and countless jurisdictions
have decriminalized marijuana and focused law enforcement resources on
preventing dangerous and violent crime. Yet the federal government
continues to waste taxpayer money circumventing these local laws by
prosecuting and intimidating citizens as part of the failed war on
drugs.

Regardless of one's beliefs on the wisdom of legalizing or
decriminalizing marijuana, most can agree that these decisions should
be left up to states and cities who understand how to prioritize law
enforcement in their communities. In fact, opinion polling shows
exactly this: Gallup found that 64 percent of Americans want the
federal government to stop harassing people who abide by state
marijuana laws.

Mayor Lindberg should support this bipartisan resolution and tell the
federal government to stop wasting resources arresting people who
abide by state and local laws.

- - Matt Slade, Loves Park
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt