Okay, I’ll back off of my criticism of the Obama administration as a do-nothing bunch of slackers. They did something. The department of justice pulled the stick from its ass and figured out that maybe the federal government shouldn’t waste its time or money chasing AIDS patients who smoke pot to relieve their symptoms.
The New York Times reports:
In a memorandum to federal prosecutors in the 14 states that make some allowance for the use of marijuana for medical purposes, the department said that it was committed to the “efficient and rational use” of its resources and that prosecuting patients and distributors who are in “clear and unambiguous compliance” with state laws did not meet that standard. (source)
And in a major about-face from the last dipshit laden administration:
“It will not be a priority to use federal resources to prosecute patients with serious illnesses or their caregivers who are complying with state laws on medical marijuana,” Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. said in a statement accompanying the memo, “but we will not tolerate drug traffickers who hide behind claims of compliance with state law to mask activities that are clearly illegal.” (source)
Okay, I can dig that.
But, this event does get us a recipient of the asshat award! Dumbass Representative Lamar Smith of Texas.
The federal government has decided to defer to the individual states on this issue. If a state is willing to tolerate medical marijuana, then the federal government isn’t going to impose its will on that state. You know what that is called? “STATES’ RIGHTS”
However, “conservatives” only like “states rights” when it has to do with carrying a gun or discriminating against gays and minorities. When you tell Mississippi that it has to give full human rights to negroes, then you’re imposing on states’ rights. When you might tell Flori-duh that the Constitution’s Equal Protection clause means… well, gays and lesbians are entitled to “equal” treatment, then you’re imposing on states’ rights.
Lamar Smith, a “conservative,” called the WAAAAMBULANCE….
“By directing federal law enforcement officers to ignore federal drug laws, the administration is tacitly condoning the use of marijuana in the United States,” said Mr. Smith, the senior Republican on the House Judiciary Committee. “If we want to win the war on drugs, federal prosecutors have a responsibility to investigate and prosecute all medical marijuana dispensaries and not just those that are merely fronts for illegal marijuana distribution.” (source)
I’m really not in the mood to be witty. I’ll just say that Lamar Smith — you’re the asshat of the day.
