June 29, 2013

NYT editorial: "Mr. Holder’s dithering helps no one."

The issue? Telling Colorado and Washington how the feds will respond to their vote to legalize marijuana.
The status quo is chaotic and untenable. If you live in Denver or Seattle and you are thinking of applying for a license to sell marijuana, you have a right to know whether federal prosecutors will move to seize your property and jail you.
Holder's had more than 7 months to come up with an answer. And he did say he would answer. So it's not as though the answer is (deliberately) no answer — that is, the feds intend to say to these states: Go ahead and bumble along in the shadow of the federal law, knowing that, anytime we want, we might spring.

The NYT also repeats the argument that enforcing the anti-marijuana laws is "racially biased, with African-Americans far more likely than Caucasians to be arrested for possession despite similar rates of use across ethnic groups."

21 comments:

DEEBEE said...

Shouldn't the states that allow the sales and put their citizens in jeopardy have already worked this out with the Feds. Or is the vote capturing too lucrative?

Roger J. said...

While I have no problem with marijuana, and regard it as similar to alcohol regulation, I am curious if large tobacco companies have plans for marijuana production. Having been in Seattle recently, the local pot folks are concerned that big tobacco will take over the market.

ddh said...

Yes, it must have been the African Americans in Boulder that provided the winning votes for legalizing marijuana. That's because for the NYT women and minorities are always the hardest hit.

ddh said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Legalize everything. Make people responsible for what they put in their bodies. Stop trying to "save" them. let the process of natural selection proceed on course.

Leland said...

he did say he would answer. So it's not as though the answer is (deliberately) no answer

Holy cow, you still believe the words of anyone in this Administration? What was just described looks exactly like a deliberate no answer. WA and CO have found a new source of taxation. Don't expect this Administration to stand in the way of something like that.

Bob Ellison said...

He's playing for time, knowing he'll have to resign eventually anyway.

Michael said...

RogerJ. Of course they do! And the best hippie growers and botanists will be working for them, wearing ties and raking in current and long term compensation. Surely the hippies didnt think their commercial skills were unique.

Fernandinande said...

Holder is a prevaricating - and racist - piece of shit.

Roger J. said...

Michael--my thought exactly--it was quite amusing to listen to the local pot folks rail against "big tobacco." At least the potheads will be toking on better looking and smoking joints :)

FleetUSA said...

Leave it to the NYT and MSM to try and put a racial hook on everything. I think it is racist to view everything from a racial angle.

Levi Starks said...

Since when has it ever been the goal of the federal government to help anyone but itself?

traditionalguy said...

The reason for Holder's hold is easy to figure out. The economy needs a jobs plan from King Obama far more than the citizens need an old fashioned normal way of life.

To Obama and the Dems poobahs the concept of Jobs means one thing only: Government law enforcement teams of paramilitary hit squads.

Somebody order 4 billion more rounds of 40 cal anti personnel wad cutter rounds. Jobs come first in Fed fantasy land.

n.n said...

The NYT is either ignorant or incompetent. They conveniently forgot that Holder is busy explaining the sale of arms to a drug cartel which were used to slaughter several thousand Mexicans and at least one American.

edutcher said...

Don't bust my homie Eric's chops.

He's got crackas to scare, a job to hold onto.

khesanh0802 said...

Trying to be serious: The more we devolve to the states at this point the better. Take anything and everything out of the hands of the Feds. Wasn't concentration of power in a central government one of the concerns of the Founders?

khesanh0802 said...

Trying to be serious: The more we devolve to the states at this point the better. Take anything and everything out of the hands of the Feds. Wasn't concentration of power in a central government one of the concerns of the Founders?

edutcher said...

It's why we have Amendments in the Constitution.

YoungHegelian said...

One can change just the name in Mayor Barry's famous put-down of Jesse Jackson, and it applies to our present DoJ:

Holder don't wanna run nuthin' but his mouth.

gk1 said...

This administration gets to pick and choose which laws it wants to enforce. Why should this be any different? I presume the delay is because they are figuring some political angle to play, not because they give two shits about the rule of law.

Iconochasm said...

Roger J. said...
While I have no problem with marijuana, and regard it as similar to alcohol regulation, I am curious if large tobacco companies have plans for marijuana production. Having been in Seattle recently, the local pot folks are concerned that big tobacco will take over the market.


I have heard that they do, in fact, have contingency plans, and have for decades.