Pubdate: Wed, 06 Mar 2013
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2013 Associated Press
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Author: Michael Tarm, Associated Press
Page: 19A

EX-DEA HEADS, U.N. WANT ACTION

Chicago (AP) - Eight former U.S. drug chiefs warned the federal 
government Tuesday that time is running out to nullify Colorado and 
Washington's new laws legalizing recreational marijuana use, and a 
United Nations agency also urged challenges to the measures it says 
violate international treaties.

The former Drug Enforcement Administration chiefs criticized Barack 
Obama's administration for moving too slowly to file a lawsuit that 
would force the states to rescind the legislation. Marijuana is 
illegal under federal law.

"My fear is that the Justice Department will do what they are doing 
now: do nothing and say nothing," former DEA administrator Peter 
Bensinger said. "If they don't act now, these laws will be fully 
implemented in a matter of months."

Bensinger, who lives in the Chicago area, said if the federal 
government doesn't immediately sue the states it'll risk other states 
legalizing marijuana, too.

The statement from the DEA chiefs came the same day the International 
Narcotics Control Board, a U.N. agency, made its appeal in an annual 
drug report, calling on federal officials to act to "ensure full 
compliance with the international drug control treaties on its entire 
territory."

But Brian Vicente, co-author of the Colorado pot legalization law, 
said a handful of North American countries have expressed support for 
legalization. "You have two states revolting and they're saying it 
doesn't work in their state and their community and it sends a strong 
message globally," he said.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder told a meeting of state attorneys 
general last week that he is still reviewing the laws but that his 
review is winding down.

The department could sue to block the states from issuing licenses to 
marijuana growers, processors and retail stores, on the grounds that 
doing so conflicts with federal drug law. Alternatively, Holder could 
decide not to challenge the laws.

The former DEA administrators are Bensinger, John Bartels, Robert 
Bonner, Thomas Constantine, Asa Hutchinson, John Lawn, Donnie 
Marshall and Francis Mullen. They served for bothRepublican and 
Democratic administrations.

Holder is scheduled to appear Wednesday before a U.S. Senate 
judiciary committee hearing. The former DEA chiefs want senators to 
question Holder on the legalization issue.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom