DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Everything Else... Legalization of Weed and other drugs.

This could get interesting. A Supreme Court precedent allowing City ordinances to override state laws could cause some real complications. Mayoral and City Council candidates could run based on what laws they will override! lol

Considering that a city law or ordinance can never take precedence over a state criminal law, they may have a point. A person who refuses to enforce state law could find themselves open to prosecution themselves.

Would the state prosecute a city official for blocking enforcement of a state law? Who knows? It is possible that they could react either way.

The state laws have worked because the Obama administration has said that they will not enforce existing drug laws in those states. (up to certain levels anyway) I don't know that the state has made such a declaration in this case.

Vermont Lawmakers Threaten To Reinstate Prohibition If Pot Isn't Legalized

Vermont may well become the next state to legalize marijuana, and two state lawmakers who support legalization have a simple message for their colleagues: Give us what we want, or we'll take away your booze.

A new bill filed earlier this month by state Reps. Jean O'Sullivan and Christopher Pearson would effectively reinstate alcohol prohibition in Vermont. If passed, House Bill 502 would outlaw consumption of alcohol, with penalties mirroring those currently in place for marijuana possession. Those found with small amounts of alcohol would be subject to fines of up to $500, and anyone involved in the sale and distribution stream could face up to 30 years in prison and $1 million in penalties.

O'Sullivan herself acknowledges that even she doesn't support the substance of the bill. Rather, "the object was to basically embarrass leadership to say that we have [marijuana legalization bills] in front of us, and they're going absolutely nowhere," she told The Huffington Post.

The lawmakers hope to give momentum to legalization in Vermont by raising awareness about the broad scientific consensus that marijuana is the least dangerous recreational drug on the market. A study published in February found that pot had the lowest risk of mortality when compared with nine other commonly used drugs, including alcohol and tobacco.

"We're certainly not going to ban alcohol, but when you say you'll let a drug like that be legalized and then you have a drug like marijuana that's far safer that's still banned, it's completely ironic," O'Sullivan said.

Another bill, H.277, sponsored by Pearson and O'Sullivan and currently in committee, proposes the legal sale and regulation of marijuana in Vermont. Senate Bill 95, which would also legalize the drug, was introduced earlier this year in the legislature's upper chamber.

A Rand Corporation study released this year estimates that Vermonters spent between $125 to $225 million a year on marijuana in 2014. The report projects that tax revenue from a legal marijuana market in the state could amount to between $20 million and $70 million annually.

O'Sullivan notes that taxing marijuana would go a long way to bridge the state's massive budget deficit.

"Consider it a gauntlet thrown down," O'Sullivan said of H.277. "When you're looking at a $113 million budget deficit, it looks really bloody attractive."

Beyond the financial incentives, evidence shows that there's something to the lawmakers' argument: Not a single person has ever been killed from a marijuana overdose. By contrast, around 88,000 Americans die each year due to excessive alcohol consumption, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/16...kushpmg00000013

I'm not sure what a person who refuses to enforce law would be prosecuted for exactly. "aid and abet" would be the closest, but typically you have to have a direct hand in the criminal action. I'm not sure simply not enforcing it would meet that threshold.

Based on the article, I don't see the City as over riding state law. Rather, it appears to me that the City is looking to create its own ordnances in regards to pot. What makes this interesting is that if I'm the cop there and I come across someone with a joint, I would be directed to charge the offender according to the city ordnance INSTEAD of charging them with the state statute.

Basically enforcement is done on behalf of the city and not the state.

I find this an interesting concept but not necessarily without precedent. I mean, the Federal gov't has laws against the possession and sale of marijuana, but most cases are prosecuted according to state laws. Why not city laws instead of state???

Also, what I find interesting is that cops are certified by the State, yet employed by the City. I'm wondering if they would threaten to revoke an officer's certification if he enforced city law over state??

jc

Too many high employees prompts company to leave Colorado

Yep hard to imagine that artist would work while being high...

So get new employees who will agree not to come to work high, just like you agree not to come to work drunk.

Sounds to me like the guy needed a reason to move.

But what if they're high when they agree to that only to later forget about it after a burrito?

i get more creative when fried.

Honestly, my take on it.

First and foremost, I do not do any drugs whatsoever. None zip. I do not smoke week nor do I drink that often.

I am completely behind legalizing weed. Not one person can argue that it is more dangerous than alcohol.

At least you think that.

https://www.yahoo.com/music/s/texas-top-officer-snoop-dogg-dope-smoking-cop-001018001.html

Texas' top officer: Snoop Dogg a 'dope smoking cop hater'

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas' chief law enforcement official called Snoop Dogg a "dope smoking cop hater" before reprimanding a state trooper who posed for a picture with the rapper, according to emails made public Wednesday.

Snoop Dogg posted a photo to Instagram with Department of Public Safety Trooper Billy Spears in March with the comment "Me n my deputy dogg." It was taken during the South by Southwest music festival, where Spears was working off-duty as extra security.

Spears is now suing DPS after being disciplined for taking a picture with a public figure who has a several convictions for drug possession.

Emails obtained by Spears' attorney through open records laws show that the incident went all the way to DPS Director Steve McCraw, who is best known for overseeing the state's expansive border security operations.

"Apparently he would rather work the convention while on a week's vacation to earn additional money rather than take an additional tour on the border," McCraw wrote. "He must not understand that he was being lampooned by a dope smoking cop hater which reflects very poorly on the department."

DPS spokesman Tom Vinger confirmed the authenticity of the email but did not comment on its content. He referred to the agency previously saying that DPS holds employees to high standards of conduct and judgment.

The emails include a DPS supervisor explaining that Spears and other troopers have routinely taken pictures with other celebrities at SXSW. He mentions actor Robert Duvall, former NBA star Shaquille O'Neal and musicians Cee Lo Green and Rob Zombie.

Spears is seeking unspecified damages in a Travis County court. He claims his discipline was retaliation for filing a complaint several weeks earlier against a superior.

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cops are literally doing this to themselves. We need more images of cops willing to take pictures with the community, and Snoop is a huge public figure.

you can't think like this and expect people to respect or trust you.

I'm in the same boat. I've never had a sip of alcohol, a puff of a cigarette, or consumption of any other drug. But, I support legalizing marijuana. Anybody who acts like it's more harmful than alcohol or supports alcohol being legal and weed illegal is either a hypocrite or doesn't fully understand the effects of marijuana. Legalize weed, tax it, and move on.

Marijuana made me stupid, gave me low self esteem/depression and I've never felt better about life since I quit smoking it.

With that said I have no problem with it, it never made me steal to get it or anything like that.

sorry that the MJ experience didn't work for you bro. glad you quit and got it together.

I am not so much for legalization as decriminalizing the stuff.

Fines and rehab are ok with me. Jail and the felon label are not.