Pubdate: Wed, 05 Mar 2014
Source: Orlando Sentinel (FL)
Copyright: 2014 Orlando Sentinel
Contact:  http://www.orlandosentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/325
Note: Rarely prints out-of-state LTEs.
Author: Lalita Clozel, Tribune Washington Bureau

LAWMAKERS, DEA OFFICIAL WRANGLE OVER LEGAL POT

WASHINGTON - The growing national debate over legalizing marijuana 
made its way to a congressional hearing Tuesday as lawmakers sparred 
over what role the government should take in reconciling divergent 
state and federal laws on the issue.

The House Government Operations Subcommittee hearing was convened by 
the Republican chairman to address inconsistencies in federal law 
enforcement efforts and what he called "mixed signals" sent by the 
Obama administration in the wake of legalization of marijuana in 
Colorado and Washington.

But several Democratic representatives quickly seized control of the 
hearing and used it to grill Drug Enforcement Administration Deputy 
Administrator Thomas Harrigan on his agency's policies, calling his 
approach on marijuana outdated.

"You haven't kept up with society," said Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., 
citing a January CNN/Opinion Research poll that found a majority of 
Americans are now in favor of legalization. "You haven't kept up with science."

Harrigan defended his opposition to legalizing marijuana and spoke 
against reclassifying the drug, which is currently listed as a 
Schedule 1 controlled substance along with heroin and Ecstasy.

"Marijuana is dangerous," he said. It "destroys families, undermines 
our economy and insults our common values."

The push to relax marijuana laws has accelerated in recent years. 
Since California first moved to allow medical marijuana in 1996, 19 
other states and the District of Columbia have passed similar laws.

In response to November 2012 ballot initiatives, Colorado and 
Washington became the first states to legalize marijuana for 
recreational use. This directly contradicted the 1970 Controlled 
Substances Act and raised a host of issues for federal authorities 
who regularly cooperate with local law enforcement agencies to track 
down and prosecute drug traffickers.

"Their policies create some ambiguities about the true state of 
federal law," said Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., the subcommittee chairman. 
He said the differences express a "pretty foggy, hazy, almost 
marijuana-induced haze."

The Obama administration has greeted the state initiatives with a 
degree of tolerance, signaling it would not strictly enforce federal 
drug prohibitions against marijuana in states that have legalized it 
for recreational use. In February, the Treasury Department issued 
guidelines for banks dealing with money from marijuana dispensaries 
that are illegal under federal law, but allowed in their state.

But such guidelines have not changed the priorities of the DEA, Harrigan said.

"Today there has been little effect or impact on DEA's operation," he 
said, adding the agency remains focused on preventing drug 
trafficking, marijuana distribution to minors and drug-related 
violence. He warned that the new Treasury Department guidelines might 
be exploited by foreign drug traffickers.

Cohen asked Harrigan to cite a case of marijuana abuse-related death, 
which Harrigan said he could not.

Following in the footsteps of Colorado and Washington, Alaska will 
include a ballot measure to legalize marijuana in this year's primary 
election, while activists in Oregon and California are circulating 
petitions to add similar ballot measures.

[sidebar]

Georgia bill OK'd

ATLANTA - A Georgia measure that would legalize use of a liquid, 
nonintoxicating form of marijuana for patients with severe seizure 
disorders has been passed by the state House of Representatives with 
wide support. The bill, which would limit availability of medical 
marijuana to a handful of research facilities, now goes to the state 
Senate. - Reuters
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom