Former Drug Enforcement Administration officials are calling on the Obama administration to sue Colorado and Washington to block them from issuing licenses to marijuana growers, processors and retail stores, after those states passed laws in November to make possession of up to an ounce of marijuana legal.
Marijuana remains illegal under federal law, and the former DEA chiefs say federal authorities will be in a quandary over how and whether to respond to offenses in those states. One former official even said it was “outrageous” that the administration has not yet filed a lawsuit over the issue.
Although it is ultimately up to President Obama to decide, we do think he should make a decision on this issue.
The DEA needs a clear policy on how to proceed in states like Colorado and Washington, and those states need to either move forward with the legalization or get a legal ruling that the laws need to be rescinded.
In Washington, an Associated Press article reported that many people are seeking to become licensed to sell marijuana and moving forward with plans to start their businesses. The state, however, hasn’t even figured out how it will grant licenses.
Another issue is the effect on the international drug trade and laws that govern more than just the U.S.
The International Narcotics Control Board, a U.N. agency, made its appeal in an annual drug report this week also, calling on federal officials to act to “ensure full compliance with the international drug control treaties on its entire territory,” according to the Associated Press.
Battling drug cartels in Central and South America have caused many deaths over the last few years, with photos of bodies being dumped in the streets in Mexico and reports of escalating violence as competition increase. Many of those drugs are cultivated for U.S. consumption, and will continue to be, as the substance remains illegal in the nation as a whole. These conflicting laws pose a problem for DEA agents and other law enforcement officials on what is legal and not legal and whether they will pursue action against drug-related activities.
Attorney General Eric Holder was due to appear Wednesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee and has said the Justice Department is in the final stages of deciding whether to sue to block the legalization measures. State laws can be trumped if they “frustrate the purpose” of federal law, according to a recent AP report.
We hope the meeting sheds some light on the Justice Department’s intent and leads to a decision from the Obama administration on how to handle this issue.
Ӣ Ӣ Ӣ
Today’s editorial was written by City Editor Robyn Burnham on behalf of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski by calling 282-1535, Ext. 322, or via email at kristenm@journaltribune.com.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
