California Pot and Federal Law

An article appeared in the opinion pages of the WSJ today regarding California and its attempt to legalized pot.

The authors are former US DEA Administrators.

-------------------

This is an open post in response to the article.

Marijuana is ubiquitous in our society and its freely available to virtually everyone.  It is commonly used by grandmothers to reduce glaucoma, soccer moms to relax after a days work and grade school children seeking thrills or relief from boredom.  Growing up in the 60's and 70's the usage was not nearly as accepted or widespread.

In the intervening forty years the expansion of acceptance and the present widespread use has come under your collective watches.

You make the claim that federal law will trump California states rights.  But I view this statement as a righteous justification for what is left unsaid in the article: that federal marijuana law is a complete and utter failure.

The question is why and the answer is simple:  The acceptance of marijuana has followed the liberal ideals of college educated flower children from their free and easy lives in the sixties and seventies to virtually every power center in today's society including all levels of government where those in power can easily turn a blind eye and, because of their position, escape scrutiny and investigation.

If you want to eliminate drug use from our society you must start at the top, not the bottom.  Use your powers to investigate and raid federal, state and local offices in all branches of government and prosecute those you find their breaking federal drug laws.  Marijuana's ubiquitous nature, the liberal nature of those often employed by government, and the lack of enthusiastic enforcement by federal officials will guarantee your investigations and raids to be a success (that is, if no one is tipped off).

Make an example of those you find breaking the law at the very top - not some laid-off California working man taking a drag on his CA-approved and taxed joint with his buddies in his car after work. 

Righteous indignation is a symptom of the problem - not a solution.   The working man follows leadership, not rhetoric, and big speeches from the top server merely to "tip off" the offenders so they have time to hide.