Pubdate: Thu, 12 Sep 2013
Source: Wall Street Journal (US)
Copyright: 2013 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.wsj.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/487
Author: Tim Lynch
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n455/a04.html

FEDERALISM, THE CONSTITUTION AND A DOJ BLOWING SMOKE

If the president wants to decriminalize marijuana, he should push 
Congress to change the law.

Last November, voters in Colorado and Washington approved referenda 
that essentially repealed their state criminal statutes pertaining to 
marijuana possession. Since federal law is unaffected by that, the 
doctrine of federal supremacy is not in play.

There is a historical precedent for all this. The misguided policy of 
alcohol prohibition did not unravel all at once. It began when states 
like New York repealed their criminal bans. In a few more years, most 
states will regulate marijuana like liquor and the federal law will 
eventually follow.

Tim Lynch

Cato Institute

Washington
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom