Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Congratulations to our presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden!
Democratic Primaries
In reply to the discussion: BERNIE SANDERS SAYS HE WOULD LEGALIZE MARIJUANA BY EXECUTIVE ORDER [View all]Autumn
(45,138 posts)35. I'm sure like many of us, he has no fucks to give if the right blows up.
They will blow up at anything any Dems does anyway so, fuck em. Also an EO is a directive issued by the president of the United States that manages operations of the federal government and has the force of law. Trump has made extensive use of EO's and not a lot of push back. The linked article is from April but it seems to say Trump could do it.
In the meantime, however, cannabis advocates became aware of the power of the STATES Act to unify their coalition and drive the vote on Election Day with the introduction of a variety of related ballot initiatives in crucial swing states.
Essentially, in formally opening the federal legality gateway for states to decide their own paths on pot legalization, the STATES Act greatly incentivizes state ballot initiatives to further liberalize, or clarify, state cannabis regulations. Already, Democratic strategists have initiatives ready to roll in Florida, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin, with more to follow in other key presidential swing states to drive overwhelmingly Democratic pro-legalization voters to the polls. If that happens, Trump could be cooked, even presuming a continued strong economy and no major foreign policy reversals.
But if they play their cards right, the president and his strategists have the chance to pull the rug out from under this ingenious plot, and turn the issue to the disadvantage of his Democratic opponents. By signing an executive order or presidential memorandum redirecting current administrative and prosecutorial resources for the Controlled Substances Act away from state-legal marijuana businesses and towards international trafficking and opioid and fentanyl trafficking, Trump would take the wind out of the sails of 2020 state ballot initiatives, depress Democratic turnout, and score a potentially bipartisan win on the crucial issue of opioid abuse in one fell swoop.
In signing the executive order (preferably with Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) standing behind him), Trump could commit to comprehensive federal marijuana reform in his second term, with the aim of allowing veterans and patients access to medical cannabis products across state lines as permitted under state law. Potential federal preemption of state laws in the promised second-term reform bill would undermine the rationale for state initiatives, and make potential opponents such as Sen. Warren look ineffective. The STATES Act would become inoperative, and pot advocates would redirect efforts away from the state level and instead look towards new potential action in the second term.
Coupled with encouragement of GOP state legislators in swing states to pass regulations neutralizing the need for ballot initiatives, this strategy could allow Trump to dodge this electoral bullet and avoid the fate plotted for him by shrewd Democratic operatives who are running circles around their GOP counterparts on the politics of pot legalization. But this will require savvy strategic thinking and good political advice from those close to the president and right now, it is not clear who is in a position to provide that precious commodity.
Essentially, in formally opening the federal legality gateway for states to decide their own paths on pot legalization, the STATES Act greatly incentivizes state ballot initiatives to further liberalize, or clarify, state cannabis regulations. Already, Democratic strategists have initiatives ready to roll in Florida, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin, with more to follow in other key presidential swing states to drive overwhelmingly Democratic pro-legalization voters to the polls. If that happens, Trump could be cooked, even presuming a continued strong economy and no major foreign policy reversals.
But if they play their cards right, the president and his strategists have the chance to pull the rug out from under this ingenious plot, and turn the issue to the disadvantage of his Democratic opponents. By signing an executive order or presidential memorandum redirecting current administrative and prosecutorial resources for the Controlled Substances Act away from state-legal marijuana businesses and towards international trafficking and opioid and fentanyl trafficking, Trump would take the wind out of the sails of 2020 state ballot initiatives, depress Democratic turnout, and score a potentially bipartisan win on the crucial issue of opioid abuse in one fell swoop.
In signing the executive order (preferably with Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) standing behind him), Trump could commit to comprehensive federal marijuana reform in his second term, with the aim of allowing veterans and patients access to medical cannabis products across state lines as permitted under state law. Potential federal preemption of state laws in the promised second-term reform bill would undermine the rationale for state initiatives, and make potential opponents such as Sen. Warren look ineffective. The STATES Act would become inoperative, and pot advocates would redirect efforts away from the state level and instead look towards new potential action in the second term.
Coupled with encouragement of GOP state legislators in swing states to pass regulations neutralizing the need for ballot initiatives, this strategy could allow Trump to dodge this electoral bullet and avoid the fate plotted for him by shrewd Democratic operatives who are running circles around their GOP counterparts on the politics of pot legalization. But this will require savvy strategic thinking and good political advice from those close to the president and right now, it is not clear who is in a position to provide that precious commodity.
https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/437825-how-trump-could-take-pot-legalization-away-from-dems-in-2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
158 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
The United States is party to three UN Treaties that ban recreational marijuana....
George II
Aug 2019
#3
No it's not Canada. If it was, we would have healthcare, only 15 mass shooting since 1885
Autumn
Aug 2019
#47
We're not Canada. In many, many, many ways. And adopting federally legalized weed like Canada
ehrnst
Aug 2019
#101
No it isn't, no it isn't, and no I don't. Please don't try to read my mind. Thanks.
George II
Aug 2019
#60
I would hope that when we elected a Democratic president he/she will have....
George II
Aug 2019
#59
Indeed - reparing the damage done by DT breaking treaties would be far more productive
ehrnst
Aug 2019
#114
There has to be a reason why there are only two countries in the entire world....
George II
Aug 2019
#141
Only two countries have legalized it outright. It's "legal" in South Africa only....
George II
Aug 2019
#147
41 million speeding tickets are issued in the US each year, we should legalize speeding.
George II
Aug 2019
#151
All the ones I have noticed in all caps are because the headline is in all caps.
Autumn
Aug 2019
#13
If you simply copy and paste the Newsweek headline, it does NOT show up in all caps.
highplainsdem
Aug 2019
#15
Start an OP and you'll see when you copy and paste in the thread title, it copies in all caps.
Autumn
Aug 2019
#19
You didn't start an OP, every article from Newsweek that I've copied and pasted
Uncle Joe
Aug 2019
#154
Maybe it's you browser. I just tried to post your headline in a thread title and it was all caps. nt
Autumn
Aug 2019
#20
It serves it's purpose. Something to talk about instead of the substance of the article.
Autumn
Aug 2019
#22
It is called vote pandering. While most of our candidates have been speaking out against racism and
still_one
Aug 2019
#21
I pay attention to Bernie and I follow him on social media platforms and try to catch his
Autumn
Aug 2019
#24
More temporary than actual law, because it can be nullified the minute another POTUS takes office.
ehrnst
Aug 2019
#108
That isn't even the very useful and sensible medicinal marijuana, it's recreational marijuana.
George II
Aug 2019
#63
Marijuana prohibition isn't constitutional so that might work in it's favor in the courts if it's
Autumn
Aug 2019
#29
However, he's there. And has to be factored into any legal strategy that involves the courts. (nt)
ehrnst
Aug 2019
#112
so you are admitting biden/harris decrimalizing approach will still lead to peops in prison at the
questionseverything
Aug 2019
#46
So again, you disagree with the SCOTUS decision that brought LGBTQ equality into constitutional law.
Voltaire2
Aug 2019
#115
Most people sentenced to county drug treatment court got into legal trouble for DWIs
Rhiannon12866
Aug 2019
#93
So because we've done it in the past it gives us justification for doing it in the future?
George II
Aug 2019
#64
Yes it does, when it come to this one. What's good enough for Canada is good enough for US. nt
Autumn
Aug 2019
#65
I disagree, I'm fine with this one joining the list of the many treaties the US has broken. I have
Autumn
Aug 2019
#71
Check out all the treaties the US has broken then we can talk the value of the US "word of honor".
Autumn
Aug 2019
#73