It’s premature to expect consistency or logic in any of this. But an overarching problem for the states will remain how to navigate around the Feds. Maybe O will find a way to moderate MJ things in DC now that the election is over.

In the meantime the best states can do would seem limited to passive resistance versus the Feds — a state would neither support, nor resist, nor participate in any Fed enforcement initiatives. The Feds could co-opt even that stance with economic penalties nonetheless.

With Med MJ there’s a new dilemma here in Mass as claimed by landlords. It may also apply in some other MJ tolerant states. Mass landlords are concerned with state allowed Med MJ due to the stringent constraints placed on what a rental lease can contain. Landlords claim that only actions contrary to state law (not Fed) can be explicitly prohibited in a lease. (I understand this constraint originally was to protect undocumented immigrants).

Also landlords have almost no discretion in chosing a tenant. So, to play devil’s advocate for a moment, a landlord now fears renting to a Med MJ user who is complying with MA law, and then having the Feds arrive to do arrests and seize the property. A landlord can’t refuse to rent, or even ask about Med MJ (or, for that matter, immigration status). That’s what they say. . .

this could be the sticky wicket inthe campaign. I honestly didnt know the states had such arcane booze laws unti I saw Rachel last nite. I thought it was just Utah that was weird with the rest of us just differing on hours of sale or if you could buy “hard liquer” at the Kroger or not.

Seemed like from her graphics about 1/2 the country has bizarre laws. Like I would never have known their were state run stores in Pennsylvania. Or that there is “bootlegging” between states. Makes no sense to me.

But I can see how many people would not want pot regulated like their state does booze.

(fun fact… my state has an arcane law that its illegal to sell “hard liquor” on christmas day. i had no idea and has a cocktail party ruined one year because I thought i would just buy supplies that day)

will be to tax and regulate equitably the entire supply chain

thats what scares. “sin” taxes are where states always go for revenue. tobacco is taxed so much that hardly anyone can afford it anymore.

and to be honest I dont see the need for any regulation. i can see setting an age to buy but other than that the state has nothing to really deal with. What if they decide to start regulating allowable THC levels or other micromanaging. Or anti smoking laws which are trying to regulate you even lightening up a cigarette in your own home.

Case in point. Even in Washington, under the current passed law, buying from a friend is illegal. you could only buy from an “official” store. No provisions for home grown or anything from a “licensed” grower. Its a plant. The govenrment shouldnt be telling people what they can and cant grow. Its like saying you cant grow tomatoes on your patio.

My fear is in the rush to legalize we are giving the state even more power than they had. I can see us in 10 years longing for the days of prohibition.

Flashback to the late 70s, when our federal govt concluded an in-depth study of cannabis but failed to find much wrong… the UC Med Center Marijuana Study (it vanished completely) disappeared…

As an American, a citizen and a human, my civil rights, including pursuit of happiness, is my inalienable right! In our ant-mound planet, many require the detachment and reverie afforded by good ganga… countless millions smoke weed and work… you’ld never know, BTW…

Alcohol is exponentially more destructive, yet legal. The challenge along the legal trail will be to tax and regulate equitably the entire supply chain, fairly and sanely enough to ensure that what happened in CA by the feds will never re-occur.

http://www.thedailychronic.net/2012/13266/four-new-england-states-to-introduce-marijuana-legalization-bills/