A Revealing Remark From The Deputy Drug Czar

[Johnny]

Deputy Drug Czar Scott Burns visited Arcata, CA last week to see "America’s grow house capitol" firsthand. After meeting with local authorities and accompanying police on a few marijuana raids, he said this:

…regarding enforcement, Burns seemed to offer a mixed message. While unyielding in asserting that federal law holds marijuana illegal under all circumstances and trumps all state and local medical cannabis laws, Burns nonetheless advised Arcatans to “defer 100 percent good judgment of the people who have been elected and appointed” while motioning to those present in the APD conference room. But most of them are working on guidelines under which medical marijuana may be safely cultivated and dispensed. [Arcata Eye]

I just cannot possibly point out often enough that the conflict between state and federal drug laws doesn't marginalize the value of state-level reforms. The deputy drug czar doesn’t arrive in California with a convoy of DEA super-narcs to slash and burn everything in sight. He can't do that and he knows it, as his remark clearly illustrates.

The federal war on medical marijuana is a minimalist political strategy designed to create the appearance of chaos in order to deter other states from implementing medical marijuana laws. Medical marijuana is more available than ever before, notwithstanding sporadic DEA activity in California. Yet we still hear folks suggesting that "the DEA will just swoop in and ruin everything" if we pass new marijuana reforms at the state-level. To be clear, the DEA has ruined many lives, but it has not ruined California's medical marijuana law. That should be obvious to all of us.

The DEA cannot overcome the will of voters and I'm tired of seeing the press and even some reformers helping them pretend they can.


Newshawk: JohnnyPotSmoker: http://www.420magazine.com/
Source: Drug War Chronicle, DC
Copyright: 2008 DRCNet
Contact: The Drug Reform Coordination Network
Website: Revealing Remark From The Deputy Drug Czar

[Kevpod]

"The DEA cannot overcome the will of voters and I'm tired of seeing the press and even some reformers helping them pretend they can."

What does that mean?

[Weed420]

I don't know. They're doing a pretty good job of it. Fear is there biggest asset. The fines and jail time are enormous. How many try to fight there case in federal court? Not many. Most have to plea bargain and plead guilty. A terrible thing for people in a democracy to fear its federal police force. Kinda sounds like Iraq don't it?