Feds Threaten CA over Prop 19

I'm sure many of you have heard by now that officials in the Obama Administration are threatening to take the State of California to court should Prop 19 pass on November 2. I've heard some people suggesting this, and the fact Prop 19 is contrary to federal law, are reasons we should vote against Prop 19.

I strongly disagree. If anything, this is a reason for people to vote for Prop 19. The feds shouldn't be dictating law to the states and they shouldn't interfere with state laws at all, unless those state laws violate the civil rights of that, or another state's, citizens.

I say vote YES on Prop 19, if for these threats alone. Let the feds take us the court and let the battle be joined!

Libertarian Argentina?

Heard this on National Public Radio yesterday and this AP article confirms it: Argentina's Supreme Court just ruled that sending people to prison for personal possession of marijuana is unconstitutional.

"Each individual adult is responsible for making decisions freely about their desired lifestyle without state interference," their ruling said. "Private conduct is allowed unless it constitutes a real danger or causes damage to property or the rights of others."

Wow! Words like that aren't heard very often in this country anymore, except by the relative handful of libertarians. Almost brings tears to my eyes when you see other countries creeping towards freer societies while this country moves faster and faster into a totalitarian one.

Drug Czar: MJ Has No Medicinal Value

This just in from the Marijuana Policy Project:

President Obama's Drug Czar, Gil Kerlikowske, has stated marijuana has no medicinal value, according to the Fresno Bee. This contradicts the opinions of other organizations that feel it does.

I suppose this should come as no surprise since Obama has made some real goofy picks for his cabinet, but it does surprise me. I was just thinking the other day how nutty his choices for cabinet positions were- most of them, anyway. Then I remembered some of the drug reform groups- the Drug Policy Alliance being one- were hopeful that Obama's choice for drug czar might be supportive of drug law reform. I figured I should give credit where credit is due and point out Kerlikowske as one that might be a good choice.

I guess not. Looking at the Wikipedia entry on Kerlikowske, one has to wonder why anyone would pick him for any cabinet position?