Since the passage of Colorado
Amendment 64 and Washington State Initiative 502, we have been hearing the
sound of crickets. Where is the
leadership? Drug legalizers are already
talking about the potential “domino affect” passage of the Colorado and
Washington measures could have. If the
deafening silence on the part of the federal government continues, it will send
a massage that enforcing White House policy on marijuana legalization is not a priority.
One indication that legalization is
getting a free pass, is that the president did not address the issue of the Colorado
and Washington State measures in today’s press conference. Passage of these measures however constitutes
a crisis.
It is also possible that the
President is silent because he may feel provoked by the drug legalizers as they
are bragging on the Internet that “Colorado Amendment 64 got more votes than
President Obama.”
The climate to further legalization
however, is somewhat favorable for legalizers.
In the eyes of the voters they have crime statistics and incarceration
issues on their side. While
irresponsible at best, the argument of “no one should go to jail for pot” has
been catching on. But we should not let
those arguments fool us. If we look at
some of the direct consequences of the Colorado and Washington State measures,
we can easily see that these states have just made it a whole lot easier for
drug cartels to sell pot and other hard drugs.
They have also made it a lot easier for kids to lie about where they got
their pot. We should carefully examine
how this will affect crime and victimization in those communities.
The federal government and the
Department of Justice have an obligation to respond to the American people. Even more, the feds and the DOJ owe a clear
position and strategy to parents raising children and those of us who have
fought long and hard days, months and years to defend White House policy.
With medical marijuana wreaking
havoc in our communities, we have seen enough of the abuses! Repealing the Colorado and Washington State
measures will cost millions. Taking the
measures to court to put them on hold may be the best option yet, as America
cannot afford to hear the message that legalization should continue. Too much is at stake and we are not prepared
for the social, economic and physical consequences of legalized marijuana. We need swift action and we need it now. Justice delayed is justice denied.
