From a strictly technical and/or legal standpoint, what would have to happen for marijuana to become legal in the US?
Let’s say Senator So-and-So wants to introduce such a bill, and he has promises of a veto-proof majority in both houses and a promise from the POTUS to sign it. What wording would have to be in the bill? Would a repeal of the Tax Stamp Act of 1937 be enough?
Would this leave the states to set their own laws? Also- theoretically: in the absence of federal involvement, would the states be expected to give up on prohibition on their own, or would the people of each of the 50 states still have to advocate for legalization on a state-by-state basis?
“44 U.S.C. 2105 as created by public law 54-40 is hereby repealed.” That’s all it needs. (I made up the numbers because I don’t know what the actual code section nor law number is). The new law doesn’t even have to specify what the drugs are because the law that made them illegal is now repealed. Or possibly: “44 U.S.C. 2105 is hereby amended by striking the word ‘marijuana,’ from the text”
But this would not change any state or local laws relating to marijuana. Off the top of my head, I can’t think of any legislation that has pre-empted existing state and local criminal laws, so I would strongly suspect that states would also have to enact changes to their own laws. Maybe someone else can think of examples of the Federal government eliminating a state criminal law?
You make no sense monsieur. Are you suggesting that baby boomers are prone to vote for marijuana legalization? The fact that there are so many old people, and old people vote way more often than young people, was my whole point.
It’s also worth noting that the sitting President could order the DEA (part of the Department of Justice, part of the Executive Branch) to stop all criminal investigation/prosecution tomorrow, if he wanted. The law would still be in-place, but without Federal enforcement it would be up to each State to decide whether or not to enforce it.
Now obviously it’s not a good idea to have a criminal statute on the books that’s not being enforced at all, but it’s just a thought.
You get my point, but you don’t seem to accept it. Marijuana usage has been increasing in the over 50 segment, while decreasing in the teenage segment for several years now. There are lots of places to verify this, here’s just an example: http://www.society-csa.com/NewStory.aspx?id=35
So, you see, today’s “old people” are much different from your stereotyped idea of old people.
I suspect his point was that recreational marijuana use was much more common and acceptable among the baby boomers than with previous generations, and thus old baby boomers may be inclined to vote for legalization even though the old people who preceded them would not be.
ETA: Should have previewed – I see dataguy addressed this.
No we are not!:mad: :eek: :mad: I don’t even have an AARP membership nor do I get a Senior Discount . . yet. Soon enough, but not yet. But they do keep sending me invitations. Early fifties does not equate to Senior Citizen; Seniors are at retirement age.
If I had a cane I’d shake it at you. Now quit Bogarting that joint or get off my lawn.
The youth vote is pretty important but there are lots of other ways to procure it… especially if current laws aren’t really stopping anyone who wants to from smoking responsibly.
The other factor to me is that the Boomers are all going to be dying off in droves very soon, leaving behind Generation X and Y to take over, both of which have a far more casual and tolerant attitude towards marijuana than the Boomers or their predecessors ever did.
Huh? Boomers created casual attitudes towards marijuana use; most people in there fifties don’t care if someone tokes up or not. We also invented Friday Night.
“…and then, on live national television, I unilaterally pardoned everyone currently serving a federal sentence for merely using, possessing, and/or distributing marijuana.”
Early fifties does not equate to Senior Citizen; Seniors are at retirement age.
Boomers created casual attitudes towards marijuana use; most people in there fifties don’t care if someone tokes up or not. We also invented Friday Night.