Sheriffs from 3 states, including Nebraska, sue over Colorado pot law

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Omaha World Herald-AP

DENVER (AP) — Ten sheriffs from three different states sued Colorado Thursday for decriminalizing marijuana joining a handful of recent legal challenges urging courts to strike down the state's legalization of recreational pot.

The sheriffs from Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska say that Colorado's 2012 marijuana legalization vote violates federal law.

"A state may not establish its own policy that is directly counter to federal policy against trafficking in controlled substance," the sheriffs argue in the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Denver.

The lawsuit is the latest legal challenge to legal weed. Nebraska and Oklahoma have appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down marijuana legalization in Colorado. The Supreme

FULL story at link.



THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
A customer shops for recreational marijuana inside the Evergreen Apothecary in Denver, Colorado.


Read more: http://www.omaha.com/news/nation/sheriffs-from-states-including-nebraska-sue-over-colorado-pot-law/article_7871ca20-c359-11e4-a93d-63df63b8518d.html

[Archae]

1. Why do I get the feeling...

These guys think "Reefer Madness" is a documentary?

[immoderate]

2. Not good. They have standing. The law is on their side.

But I have good vibes...

--imm

[Xipe Totec]

3. The Feds have argued the states have no business stepping into federal jurisdiction.

The state merely has to state this is a federal issue not a state issue.

Feds can go ahead and do the fed thing.

(ETA)

The Feds have argued the states have no jurisdiction in immigration issues because it's a federal law.

[christx30]

4. "We can't stop the DEA from coming in here,

but we will not allow our police forces to assist in busting pot users or growers."

[Xipe Totec]

6. There you go! nt

[Angleae]

13. Nor can the feds force the state to assist them in doing so.

[christx30]

15. If the governor really wanted to stick it in the feds craw

he could announce a blanket pardon of all nonviolent marijuana offenders. and he could also say that the feds want to prosecute, it's their dime, and no longer his problem.

[android fan]

10. They don't have standing.

They can't override the voters intent.

Guess that they have to find other people to bust, and I really strongly advise meth labs to clean up.

[immoderate]

11. The Supreme Court might disagree with you. And they would win.

--imm

[christx30]

18. Can citizens of one state

sue another state for laws they don't like?
I drove through Illinois one year on a trip from Texas to Michigan. The speed limit in Illinois was 55 through most of the state. It was extremely annoying.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

19. If it violates federal law, they rightly can.

And the supreme court would be correct in upholding their suit. The feds need to take it off the controlled substance list and stop this nonsense.

[christx30]

21. But you know they never will.

There's too much money to be made in locking up otherwise innocent people. Too much taxpayer money to be squandered in fighting against this plant.
You're always good to see people fight against legalization, because they know their wallet is about to get lighter. It's up to the states legalizing it despite what the federal government says. I know about the supremacy clause. I also know that a just government requires consent of the governed. So we need to get out state legislators to withdraw that consent.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

22. I don't think it works that way, but whatever.

[christx30]

25. If enough states stuck it to the feds

by passing decriminalization laws, it would send a powerful message to Washington. "We're sick of the insanity of prohibition, and we aren't going to participate any more."

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

34. We both agree on that. I hope it happens. n/t

[RKP5637]

28. Yep there's BIG money to be made in fighting wars with countries and drug wars. It's all about

$$$$$'s. Those in the enforcement and prison arena want $$$$$'s. It has little to do with what's good for "we the people." It's all about the money to be made in fighting these stupid wars.

[Jim Lane]

33. I don't see it as a violation of federal law.

Even if there's a federal law that criminalizes marijuana possession, there's no federal law that criminalizes a state's decision not to criminalize it.

And even if there were such a federal law, it would be unconstitutional. Consider the first SCOTUS decision on Obamacare. The law was upheld except for one part -- the provision requiring the states to expand Medicaid. SCOTUS said that each state had the right to refuse. That's why we have people in red states falling into the gap. The subsidies kick in at the new (higher) income limit for Medicaid, because it was assumed that everyone with a lower income would be on Medicaid. People whose income is above the old (lower) Medicaid limit but below the new one, and whose state governments have chosen not to go along with the expansion, get screwed.

No state government would be allowed to interfere with federal enforcement of federal drug laws, but merely declining to join in the witch-hunt doesn't put them in violation.

[Adrahil]

31. Based on what?

Colorado is not nullifying Federal law, it's just not making this a STATE crime.

Federal authorities can still enforce Federal law if they wish.

States won't arrest you for Federal tax evasion either. Or for espionage.

[BlueJazz]

5. I knew it. Some people can't stand to see other people happy.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

20. I used to wish I could put my fist throught the phone or TV.

Using the internet would be very liberating!

[williesgirl]

7. Tell them to get over themselves and go after real criminals and real crimes,

Not just these easy arrests that boost their statistics. They're afraid their own states will legalize it and there goes all those federal $s and toys.

[RKP5637]

30. That, is exactly what is going on. n/t

[2naSalit]

32. Indeed.

And they might actually catch a glimpse of themselves in the cosmic mirror and end up having to do something about themselves and their corruption... can't have that.

I think they are just jealous at the state revenue Colorado now enjoys. If it's that easy, there will be no need for much of the elaborate efforts they employ to keep the "war on drugs" supplying them with $$ and what one retired cop once told me... "We get to Rock 'n' Roll and get paid for it." Meaning they get to bash heads and get paid by us to do so, and apparently, many of them enjoy that activity.

[WDIM]

8. Freedom haters.

Leave the peaceful citizens and their plants and herbs alone. Go after the real criminals.

[Populist_Prole]

9. Why? Are they afraid their "business" will suffer?

Their "business" being arrests?.

Maybe they can float the idea of lowering the speed limit to 21 and raising the drinking age to 55: That'll bring a shitload of new business for them.

Authoritarian thugs........

[asiliveandbreathe]

17. speed limit 21 - now that is funny

drinking age 55 - that is even funnier...lots of new business...LMAO....

Will share...TGIF

[Quantess]

12. Jerks. (no text)

[armed_and_liberal]

14. States Rights Goddamn It!

The right wing nuts should be all over this. Federal Government being asked to intervene in the right of Colorado to make laws!

[asiliveandbreathe]

16. Voter intent...other states sue CO

and the question of standing..this could very well tie into the SCOTUS decision regarding redistricting - believe it or not..AZ state v AZ voter initiative re Independent redistricting voter approved commission - according to constitution and definition of "Legislature" - at least that is how I read the SCOTUS review yesterday..correct me if I'm wrong - I know you will!

I know - wonky -

BTW - me thinks this train has left the station - re: CO and their voter initiative...(these days - it seems - only lawyers are makin' out like bandits!)

TGIF

[valerief]

23. Why don't they just build a border wall around Colorado? These types of people

love their border walls.

[Sunlei]

24. I want President Obama to mandate out the stupid Federal prohibition now

Next elections will turn out the D voters

[samsingh]

26. they are stupid

[workinclasszero]

27. WTF hypocrite republicans!!?

STATES RIGHTS...STATES RIGHTS....STATES RIGHTS!!!!!!!!!@!@!!@@!

Ain't that the bagger motto??

FUCKING HYPOCRITES!!!

[workinclasszero]

29. New Study Shows Marijuana Is 114 Times Safer Than the Deadliest Legal Drug in the U.S. Gregory Krieg

New Study Shows Marijuana Is 114 Times Safer Than the Deadliest Legal Drug in the U.S.

By Gregory Krieg February 23, 2015

The deadliest drug in America is legal in all 50 states, and it's significantly more dangerous than a range of illegal substances much more heavily regulated and policed.

According to research recently published in Scientific Reports and spotted by the Washington Post, alcohol is approximately 114 times more dangerous than marijuana, which remains the only federally controlled substance that has never caused a death by overdose.


http://mic.com/articles/111142/new-study-shows-marijuana-is-114-times-safer-than-the-deadliest-legal-drug-in-the-u-s

Your elected officials at work people!!! Protecting us from the harmless and promoting the most deadly drug of all!!AHHHHHGRRRRR!!!!

[tabasco]

35. Waaaaah! We love to bust evil pot smokers and get lots of money!

Our buddies the prison guards, probation officers, drug counselors, etc. need jobs!!!