9 Michigan Congressmen Support Federal Crackdown, Of Marijuana

[slipstar059]

by Rick Thompson/March 19, 2014

 

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Partisan politics is at play again in the nation’s capital as the US Congress is considering a resolution that would use the threat of civil action to force the President to enforce federal marijuana laws in states that have legalized the use of the medicinal herb. Every Michigan Republican in the US House voted in favor of the resolution.

 

The bill is House Resolution 4138. The bill’s long title is, ‘Executive Needs to Faithfully Observe and Respect Congressional Enactments of the Law Act of 2014,’ but is more commonly called the ‘ENFORCE The Law Act of 2014.’ The bill has 23 sponsors and co-sponsors- all are Republican, with none from Michigan.  Every Michigan Democrat in the House opposed HR 4138, with the exception of Rep. Dingell (D- Dearborn), who did not vote.

President Obama, a Democrat, and his administration have chosen to take a hands-off approach to legalized distribution of marijuana in Colorado and Washington, where voters have elected to allow responsible adult use of marijuana, and in 20 states where medicinal use is legalized. Medicinal and recreational uses of marijuana violate federal drug statutes; medical marijuana has been the law in various states since the mid-1990’s and has withstood the administrations of Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama.

 

Michigan voters elected to adopt a medical marijuana program in 2008 by a 63% margin. Since then every ballot proposal put before Michigan citizens that proposed to relax marijuana laws has been approved- most by margins that exceed the 63% benchmark.

 

HR 4138 creates an avenue whereby the US House, or both Houses of Congress if the bill is passed by the Senate, could sue the US President for creating a “formal or informal policy, practice, or procedure to refrain from enforcing, applying, following, or administering any provision of a Federal statute, rule, regulation, program, policy, or other law.” The bill was passed by the House on March 12 by a 233-181 vote.

 

A second bill is associated with HR 4138 that would require the US Attorney General to report to Congress on any policy whereby the federal government adopted a policy to not adhere to any law.  HR 3973 was co-sponsored by Michigan Rep. Kerry Bentivolio (R- Milford Township) and is called “The Faithful Execution of the Law Act of 2014.” That bill has a total of 38 sponsors and co-sponsors- all Republican. It was passed by the House on March 13 by a vote of 244-171, and was promptly laid low by a motion to reconsider. It has not yet advanced to the Senate.

 

Originally billed as a protest against the President’s position on immigration and health care laws, powerful Republicans have used HR 4138 as an opportunity to criticize Obama’s permissive approach to marijuana use. US House of Representatives Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R- VA) listed “failing to enforce federal drug laws in states that permit medical and recreational marijuana use” as one of the driving forces behind HR 4138.  Also cited by Goodlatte: “the announcement that the Justice Department will stop prosecuting low-level drug offenders under mandatory minimum sentencing laws.” Goodlatte is one of the bill’s Sponsors.

 

Senator Rand Paul, a Republican from Kentucky, told Fox News that President Obama “needs to be chastened, rebuked, and told that he needs to obey the constitution.” Paul is widely considered the Republican front runner to challenge the Democrats for the US Presidency in 2016.

 

A Congressional Committee Report lists “Non-Enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act for Medical and Recreational Marijuana” as Obama’s #1 violation of criminal law. Statements made by US Attorney General Eric Holder instructing federal prosecutors to stand down on cases with defendants who are charged with federal marijuana crimes but whose behavior was in compliance with state laws “establishes a formal, department-wide policy of selective non-enforcement of an Act of Congress,” per that report.

 

In that report’s Dissenting Views section, House Democrats said HR 4138 is “a faulty solution in search of a non-existent problem” and that the bill is “likely be unconstitutional as applied.” Dems questioned the methodology used to advance HR 4138, saying “there was almost no meaningful deliberative process surrounding the Committee’s consideration of the bill.”

 

HR 4138 was passed through Goodlatte’s House Judiciary Committee without holding a single hearing for open testimony. It was approved by a vote of 18 – 14, divided along party lines. Six Democratic attempts to amend HR 4138 in Committee were defeated, including attempts by Michigan Representative John Conyers to preserve the President’s ability to protect civil rights or fight discrimination and efforts by Reps. Jackson Lee (D-TX) and Nadler (D- NY) to protect prosecutorial discretion and Constitutional interpretation.

 

‘ENFORCE The Law’ moves on to the US Senate, where it has been assigned to the Judiciary Committee.

Edited May 14, 2015 by slipstar059

[slipstar059]

Just in case you skimmed this article and missed it...

 

"Senator Rand Paul, a Republican from Kentucky, told Fox News that President Obama “needs to be chastened, rebuked, and told that he needs to obey the constitution.” Paul is widely considered the Republican front runner to challenge the Democrats for the US Presidency in 2016."

[solabeirtan]

    I think they are trying to take advantage of the fact that MichelleLeonhart, former DEA sphinx, stepped down in the midst of revalations of agents partying with the cartels and prostitutes, etc, etc... To try to push us back into the stone age again.

 

    Everyone knows this is just a front for the pigs and their  prison industrial corporate religious mission. And the last few breaths of the sick and dying drug wart they have perpetuated for over 40 years now. 

 

    Incarceration is not a cure, we need real solutions  not prison cartels getting rich off of drug cartels. Time to break the chains of this viscous perpetual cycle of  intolerance and ignorance. 

 

    Needless to say Cannabis has absolutley no place being Schedule_1 . It's time for the  FDA, ONDCP, DHHS and NIDA to be held accountable NOW and to do their jobs regarding this matter, since DEA lost its head. There is absolutley nothing to gain from continuing  this erroneous, archaic legacy. 

[MedicatedJester]

They should be very careful.  Who knows what crazy old laws are still on the books that they would then need to begin enforcing.

[beourbud]

News Flash

 

The fknrepublicans are in controll of Both Houses of Congress.

 

It is Their Job to Bring the Bills for a vote and signature of the President.

 

It Is Their Job to Reschedule... Where are the Bills to Reschedule? They are not doing their job.

 

The fknrepublicans want it both ways, they try to destroy our good law In Michigan and at the same time blame President Obama.

 

The repubs can't lead, all they can do is campaign.

 

Take our State Back.....Michigan. GO BLUE

Edited May 15, 2015 by beourbud

[t-pain]

there is updated chart now.

 

[slipstar059]

What's the difference between legalization and decrim?  Just a fine?

[t-pain]

in that chart, legailzation is defined as no crime nor fine for possession of marijuana under 1 oz

in that chart, decriminalization is defined as no crime but a fine for possession of under 1 oz

 

why people redefine english words i have no idea.

Edited May 16, 2015 by t-pain

[Willy]

Too arms!       Too arms!   the republicans are coming

[Wild Bill]

Too arms!       Too arms!   the republicans are coming

 

[t-pain]

the republicans have two arms?

[beourbud]

This is what republican priorities look like

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/15/larry-hogan-maryland-schools_n_7293838.html