Pubdate: Tue, 30 Oct 2012
Source: Star-Ledger (Newark, NJ)
Copyright: 2012 Newark Morning Ledger Co
Contact:  http://www.nj.com/starledger/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/424
Author: Eric Hafner

ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA, STATE LAWS MATTER

State Sen. Robert Singer (R-Ocean) seemed misinformed in a recent news
release regarding medical marijuana.

In the release, Singer argued that because President Obama long ago
broke his promise to stop federal Drug Enforcement Administration
raids on state authorized medical cannabis providers, New Jersey may
need to reconsider implementation of a medical marijuana program.

Ninety-nine percent of all marijuana arrests occur under state (not
federal) law, and state governments have no obligation to enforce
federal law, even if it is in conflict with state law.

Because the statute already anticipated and dealt with this issue, the
program should move forward, regardless of what the federal government
may think of it.

If anything, New Jersey voters should be asking why our congressmen
and senators are not making moves to correct the flawed federal law
that incorrectly puts medical marijuana in the same category as
harmful substances, when science has proved that marijuana is a safe
medicine

The people of New Jersey can easily block federal enforcement efforts
when called as federal jurors by simply finding those charged with
federal marijuana offenses not guilty, regardless of the evidence.
State medical marijuana laws are prohibited from being discussed in
federal court, so as a juror you would likely be unaware that the
defendant was complying with state law. Remember: Prosecutors can
indict, but only jurors can convict.

Eric Hafner, Toms River
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