Holder vows to enforce pot laws in California if voters legalize marijuana

[FourScore]

Holder vows to enforce pot laws in California if voters legalize marijuana
By Michael O'Brien - 10/15/10 01:55 PM ET

Attorney General Eric Holder vowed to continue enforcing federal laws against marijuana in California even if the state's voters legalize the drug.

Holder, in a letter to former administrators of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), officially stated opposition to Proposition 19, the state ballot initiative on which Californians will vote that would legalize, tax and regulate marijuana.

"We will vigorously enforce the against those individuals and organizations that possess, manufacture or distribute marijuana for recreational use, even if such activities are permitted under state law," Holder wrote in the letter, which was reported on by The Associated Press.

The letter sets up the prospect of a showdown between the Obama administration and California over pot if voters approve the ballot initiative.

Polls have suggested that such an outcome is, at the very least, a possibility. Fifty percent of registered California voters said in a late September Field Poll that they favored Prop. 19, with a net 46 opposed to it in varying degrees. A Reuters/Ipsos poll released in early October, however, suggested broad opposition to the measure, with 43 percent of Californians in favor of legalization and 53 percent opposed.

President Obama himself has been on record as opposing the legalization of marijuana, though his administration has generally left alone facilities in states with medical marijuana laws...

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/124447-holder-vows-to-enforce-pot-laws-in-california-if-voters-legalize-marijuana

[thunder rising]

1. That's not going to make any friends .... Hey Holder, just look forward buddy.

[krispos42]

2. And how is the DEA going to police 37 million people?

Without state, county, or city help?

my guess is very badly!

[napi21]

3. I asked that question back when I first heard MJ was going to be on the ballot.

Here on DU I was told ahhh, the feds said they wren't going to prosecute medical mj so they won't bother with this either. Hmmmm....it ssounds like my concerns were right.

[elocs]

4. Discussed here this afternoon with 89 responses, 35 Recs:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=9325404&mesg_id=9325404

[sabrina 1]

5. Does he have any plans to enforce our human rights laws, anti-torture

laws eg? Violations of our Constitution laws? If he can find time to go after pot smokers, he must have a lot of time on his hands, so how about going after some real criminals?

I know, we are supposed to look forward ... which is why the criminals never stop committing crimes and more of them keep signing on to the very lucrative crime business that the U.S. has decided is okay if you are rich and powerful.

I feel so much safer now ~ :eyes:

[Hotler]

6. Hey Holder what about those fuckers on Wall St. ?????

The banksters have ripped us off for trillions of dollars and are still walking around free plus they got bonuses for fucking us.

[avaistheone1]

7. Or otherwise called "how not to get re-elected"

Holder and Obama bring crap upon themselves. They only have themselves to blame.

[Rex]

8. The Feds just have to be dicks, it is in their Charter. D or R, citizens

can't have recreational drugs besides a weak poison and a substance more addictive then heroin! Feds = dumb asses with zero priority skillz!