cannabisnews.com: Time To Take Pot Back To The Polls?










  Time To Take Pot Back To The Polls?

Posted by CN Staff on December 13, 2006 at 21:48:26 PT
By Jim Trageser, Staff Writer  
Source: North County Times  

San Diego, CA -- Democracy in action, it surely isn't.I'm not entirely clear whose interests the politicos on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors think they're representing when they file suit to overturn a law passed by the voters. In fact, it's not particularly clear that they know what they're doing.
Earlier this week, the supervisors decided to appeal a court ruling that had dismissed the county's lawsuit against a state law that legalized medicinal use of marijuana.The supes' argument, such as it is, goes like this: Since federal law still bans marijuana, the county should not be bound by state law allowing it. That, in fact, the state law should be thrown out.The judge who heard the initial round in this ridiculous bout of political posturing ---- you do all realize we're paying for the lawyers on both sides of this lawsuit? ---- ruled that since the state law doesn't prohibit or interfere with federal agents from enforcing federal law within California, that the Compassionate Use Act does not violate federal law.It simply contradicts it.While such a contradiction between state and federal law might drive a legal philosopher around the bend with its lack of consistency, the rest of us ought to be able to live with it.Particularly those we elect to carry out our wishes.And it's not as if San Diego voters disagreed with the rest of the state: The Compassionate Use Act was created by ballot measure in 1996, and some 52 percent of San Diego County voters supported it. (Statewide, the measure passed with 54 percent support.)That's still a majority, no?On the other hand, this is at least partially our own fault ---- we did, after all, elect the folks currently sitting on the Board of Supervisors and thumbing their noses at us. And spending tens of thousands of our dollars on a lawsuit that basically tells us where to stick our silly little ideas on democracy.Obviously, Bill Horn's handy re-election last summer in the face of his unwillingness to abide by voters' decisions means that the supes have little to fear in terms of backlash on this issue. Yes, we in the electorate want medicinal use of pot to be legal ---- but we're not going to get all worked up over it and throw anyone out of office for defying us.So the ongoing requests from medical use activists for the county to drop this asinine lawsuit are likely to fall on deaf (or at least hubristic) ears.Does that leave the rest of us ---- those who still believe in things like democracy and, oh, I don't know, sanity maybe? ---- with no options?Not necessarily.Perhaps another ballot measure, this one directing the Board of Supervisors to drop the lawsuit against the Compassionate Use Act and obey its provisions, could be placed before county voters.Assuming voters haven't changed their minds since the state measure was passed a decade ago, it might be that such a vote would be a clear enough message that even our local supervisors could understand it.And hopefully act on it.Source: North County Times (Escondido, CA)Author: Jim Trageser, Staff Writer Published: Wednesday, December 13, 2006Copyright: 2006 North County TimesContact: letters nctimes.comWebsite: http://www.nctimes.comRelated Articles & Web Site:Americans For Safe Accesshttp://www.safeaccessnow.org/Supes Vote To Persist With MMJ Challengehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22449.shtmlSan Diego County Board Votes To Appeal Rulinghttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22448.shtmlCourts Give Some Victories To The Peoplehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22446.shtml

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Comment #9 posted by whig on December 15, 2006 at 00:29:22 PT
Marbles
George Walker Bush has lost all his marbles.We may be measuring in days now.
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on December 14, 2006 at 18:24:31 PT

mayan
Yes, now that Saudi Arabia says we shouldn't pull out of Iraq things will only get worse. Once again we are stuck in the middle of a very big and disasterous situation that Bush started. Iran versus Saudi Arabia. That's scary just to think about. This could easily change life as we know it forever. 
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Comment #7 posted by mayan on December 14, 2006 at 18:19:23 PT

The People
They already support impeachment. I just hope there's not another false flag attack which drags us into Iran before then. Time is of the essence. 
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on December 14, 2006 at 18:07:38 PT

mayan 
I think she will do what must be done but in a time when it's what seems like the right time. I expect we will see serious activity after they get settled in and get what they have to get off the table first. There's an old saying about giving a person enough rope to hang themselves. Bush will bring it on himself but it might take a few more months. Then impeachment will have the support of most of the people even people on the right. This is a bad situation Bush has us in and he will have to be held responsible now or later for what he has done. That's how I look at it. 
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Comment #5 posted by mayan on December 14, 2006 at 17:59:32 PT

FoM
Regardless, it is Pelosi's duty to pursue articles of impeachment. 9/11? Iraq? The list goes on and on and on and on. Hello??? Bush is obviously a treasonous war criminal. How she feels she may be perceived is totally irrelevant. 
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on December 14, 2006 at 07:34:14 PT

Press Release from MPP
Lock Up Rush Limbaugh? MPP Asks Members to Vote on New Radio Adshttp://www.emediawire.com/releases/2006/12/emw491436.htm
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on December 14, 2006 at 07:25:33 PT

MikeEEEEE
Two more years of Bush will be really hard but I am already looking to 08 and that gives me hope. I really feel sorry for our soldiers because they are the ones that will possibly die for Bush's invasion of Iraq. PS: If they Impeach Bush they will have to Impeach Cheney and then Nancy Pelosi will be in charge. If I was Nancy Pelosi I wouldn't want to push real hard for Impeachment because it would seem like she would be acting like a power grabber in my opinion.
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Comment #2 posted by MikeEEEEE on December 14, 2006 at 07:12:34 PT

Off-topic
Bush approval rating at lowest level, at 34%.But 2 more years of damage unless they impeach.

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Comment #1 posted by goneposthole on December 14, 2006 at 06:33:54 PT

Who spent the money?
How much was spent to buy off the San Diego County Board of Supervisors?Who bought them? Who? The San Diego County Board of Supervisors cow tow to them. Therefore, they do not bend to the will of the people.
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