Current Events > Federal government's restraint from state marijuana intervention to be lifted.

(+) Yeah! (+)

Funding for the federal government is set to run out on Friday, unless Congress enacts a bill extending current spending levels before the midnight deadline. Also set to expire is a current rider that prevents the Department of Justice from interfering with state medical cannabis laws.

If lawmakers fail to enact an extension, the marijuana protections would disappear but, because drug enforcement agents are considered "excepted" from furloughs, the Justice Department would be newly empowered to enforce federal cannabis prohibition wherever it wants, regardless of state laws.

That means U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, a longtime vocal legalization opponent, would get a legal green light to direct the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and federal prosecutors crack down on medical marijuana patients and providers for the first time since he took office in February.

"All agents in DEA field organizations are excepted from furlough because they support active counternarcotics investigations, a Justice Department shutdown contingency plan says. "DEA investigations need to continue uninterrupted so that cases are not compromised and the health and safety of the American public is not placed at risk."

https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomangell/2017/12/04/government-shutdown-could-allow-sessions-to-launch-marijuana-crackdown/#16b69b116d59
---

Dopers gon dope
Fed gon get dat sweet sweet fine money

Gee, this will go well.
---

Sayoria posted...

because drug enforcement agents are considered "excepted" from furloughs,

It's awfully convenient that these shutdowns don't include the parts of government conservatives love.
---

Sayoria posted...

That means U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, a longtime vocal legalization opponent, would get a legal green light to direct the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and federal prosecutors crack down on medical marijuana patients and providers for the first time since he took office in February.

What a massive waste of money
---

I love how this administration continues to make itself a bigger and bigger villain. It's like they're purposely trying to turn the entire country against them

Axiom posted...

I love how this administration continues to make itself a bigger and bigger villain. It's like they're purposely trying to turn the entire country against them

Donald Trump is an accelerationist, lol
---

I can't see how they really could believe this is a good idea
---

DarkChozoGhost posted...

Gee, this will go well.

It might actually not be bad, as it could force the issue to actually go before the Supreme Court. Could potentially force legalization nationwide. Or at the very least, remove the roadblock of subverting federal law for more states to move toward legalization/decriminalization.

It would definitely be bad in the short term, though. Imagine little old ladies with glaucoma getting rounded up and thrown to the drug courts.
---

Antifar posted...

Sayoria posted...

because drug enforcement agents are considered "excepted" from furloughs,

It's awfully convenient that these shutdowns don't include the parts of government conservatives love.

The DEA is a Law Enforcement Agency. Or would you rather the FBI, US Marshals, ATF, DEA, and others just stop catching bad guys while mommy and daddy work their money issues out?
---

thronedfire2 posted...

I can't see how they really could believe this is a good idea

fat checks from pharma companies said so
---

MC_BatCommander posted...

thronedfire2 posted...

I can't see how they really could believe this is a good idea

fat checks from pharma companies said so

And the private prisons.
---

Do it.
Short-term suffering now is going to be worth it, when a massive overzealous raid in Denver or some medical dispensary finally causes enough of a public-opinion flip to end the prohibition entirely.

Antifar posted...

Axiom posted...

I love how this administration continues to make itself a bigger and bigger villain. It's like they're purposely trying to turn the entire country against them

Donald Trump is an accelerationist, lol

Do accelerationists have a goal of proving accelerationism doesn't happen? because that's all he's doing
---

Sessions must be excited.
---

Good luck with that. State law enforcement is under zero obligation to assist them.
---