2 states defy the federal governement...

[RedGrant]

http://www.thenewamer...arijuana-legalization
How do they resolve this?

[Gromit]

The get the other 48 states to follow their common sense.

[RedGrant]

Sorry, I suppose I should have made the question clearer, the subject matter is largely irrelevant to my question. What I was asking is what actually happens when one of the states does something illegal federally. How do they resolve it?

[sandyRoe]

The last time didn't Lincoln order his troops south?

[237SJ]

I would have thought the government will keep their heads down and not upset anyone at the moment considering 20 states have filed petitions to secede from the Union altogether.

[Graham-W]

Don't each of the States have a certain level of independence?
For example, I know in some States it's illegal to ride a motorcycle without a helmet but others have no such legislation.

[sandyRoe]

And some have the death penalty for murder while others don't.

[RedGrant]

yes that's true graham but there are federal statutes that apply everywhere. It's a bit like the UK, Wales and Scotland have some autonomy but there are things they cannot do.

[Gromit]

// Separately, Massachusetts became the 18th state to nullify federal marijuana statutes by legalizing cannabis for medical purposes. Voters overwhelmingly supported the measure with 63 percent in favor.... Polls show that since at least last year, most Americans now support legalizing marijuana. //

It seems the Federal Government is out of step with the people. Obama needs to look at these results and change policy. Or ascede drug powers to the individual states

[jake-the-peg]

It sounds as if the argument is that federal prohibition is not constitutional without a constitutional ammendment like the alcohol prohibition one.

I guess it depends if the Obama administration wants to fight the issue and get a test case to the supreme court or just hope it all goes quiet.

[jno]

the story says the drug statutes are unconstitutional. I don't know who's ruled on this, so it's hard to say what happens next. Presumably if they are unconstitutional as they stand, Congress coud try to pass some constitutional ones.

[FredPuli43]

The Supreme Court interprets the Constitution and will rule whether any law, whether local or national, is unconstitutional.

[LazyGun]

I thought I had read somewhere that these initiatives would not come into force until they had been rationalised early next year in 2013 at a Federal level - but I have no proper understanding about how these things work in the US.

It seems clear that many within the US are deciding that the idea of prohibition and consequent enforcement of that ban are now futile, and would rather amend the law accordingly.

[rockyracoon]

Lol, did you read the comment at the bottom by Donald

"Obviously, those who supported this are not very observant when it comes to discerning peoples spirits. Marijuana leads to both homosexuality and laziness. And I doubt that the Obama administration will put up much of a fight against a liberal ideal, no they will also tax it."

What an idiot.

[Gromit]

Rocky raccoon,

Donald is obviously too lazy to educate himself. He's probably in the closet too.