Eric Holder Tells The Truth About Cannabis

From: Eric Holder Admits to Putting Politics Ahead of Science on Medical Marijuana.

I think that given what we have done in dealing with the whole Smart on Crime initiative and the executive actions that we have taken, that when it comes to rescheduling, I think this is something that should come from Congress,” Holder said. “We’d be willing to work with Congress if there is a desire on the part of Congress to think about rescheduling. But I think I’d want to hear, get a sense from them about where they’d like to be.

A commenter there thinks this is a set up for an “October surprise”. He claims the TEAs will be destroyed. I’d say the Rand Paul faction will not be disturbed. The rest of them “God boys” can go to Hell.

And one other point. Holder doesn’t have to wait for Congress. From a comment at the site:

PART B – AUTHORITY TO CONTROL; STANDARDS AND SCHEDULES

§ 811. Authority and criteria for classification of substances.

(a) Rules and regulations of Attorney General; hearing

The Attorney General shall apply the provisions of this subchapter to the controlled substances listed in the schedules established by section 812 of this title and to any other drug or other substance added to such schedules under this subchapter. Except as provided in subsections (d) and (e) of this section, the Attorney General may by rule –

(1) add to such a schedule or transfer between such schedules any drug or other substance if he –
(A) finds that such drug or other substance has a potential for abuse, and
(B) makes with respect to such drug or other substance the findings prescribed by subsection (b) of section 812 of this title for the schedule in which such drug is to be placed; or
(2) remove any drug or other substance from the schedules if he finds that the drug or other substance does not meet the requirements for inclusion in any schedule.

But in any case the whole thing is a sham. The Federal government has no authority in that area. I never noticed a Drug Prohibition Amendment. Did you?


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4 responses to “Eric Holder Tells The Truth About Cannabis”

  1. Randy Avatar
    Randy

    I will admit that Congressional approval for re-scheduling would make the move more legitimate, as Congress supposedly represents the will of the people. It could be that Obama is reluctant to move unilaterally as he thinks legislative support for re-scheduling better serves the drug reform movement that’s been successfully taking place at the state level the last 20 years. The reactionary prohib forces would most certainly cry foul if Obama acted on his own. Even though it would be legal for Obama re-schedule cannabis without Congressional approval, the reactionary prohibs would try to de-legitimize the action, claiming it was done for partisan political gain. That could slow down the momentum the reform movement has experienced as of late.

    Perhaps Obama should use his bully pulpit and come out publicly for re-scheduling but state he hopes to do so with the support of Congress. That would throw the ball into Congress’ court and force Congress to consider the issue. Given the widespread support for MMJ, you’d think they would approve a re-schedule just to save their own asses.

  2. Simon Avatar

    The reactionaries (Republicans mostly) are holding on for dear life.

    I had one tell me recently that pot was not medicine and all the stuff we have seen anecdotally is placebo effect.

    So I asked him how the placebo effect works in petri dishes. No response to that so far.

  3. c andrew Avatar
    c andrew

    Because petri dishes are people too?

  4. Randy Avatar
    Randy

    Placebo effect! A little girl in Colorado who began receiving MMJ goes from 300+ epileptic seizures a month to 3-4 seizures a MONTH and he would say that this is a placebo effect? Jeez Louise! And Republicans wonder why people describe them as heartless.

    The Republicans are in a real bind these days and in the foreseeable future. They’ve locked up the Luddite religious authoritarian vote, unfortunately for the Republicans, there are fewer and fewer of those voters around. Republicans have sucked up to religious know-nothings for several decades now and in the process have alienated the social liberals, a label which applies to a majority of Americans IMO.

    Republicans wonder why they are portrayed and perceived as having no compassion for others or as religious simpletons. Let me show why this is:

    1) Abortion – Republicans wouldn’t include an abortion safe harbor for women who become pregnant from incest or rape.

    2) SSM – Their stance against SSM seems to be driven more by a dislike of gays than anything else.

    3) Drug War – Republicans are for it. Somebody has to take out the trash. Duh! Placebo effect. Duh!

    4) Creationism – “All that stuff I was taught about evolution and embryology and the Big Bang Theory, all that is lies straight from the pit of Hell. And it’s lies to try to keep me and all the folks who were taught that from understanding that they need a savior.” – Congressman Paul Broun R-GA from 2012 – He sits on a science committee – He’s running for the Senate.

    Need a say more?

    Because the Republican socon rank and file think of themselves as on a Mission from God (like the Blues Brothers HA!), they are pretty much incapable of modifying their position on these social and educational issues. They are like the Redlegs Colonel in The Outlaw Josie Wales who says “Doin’ right ain’t got no end.” when someone reminds him the war is over. The moral authoritarians have lost the political battle to the social liberals over the last several years. Republicans need to deal with this fact and (forgive me) Move On.