posted by ernest_t_bass

If states decide legalization, then you have to decriminalize at the federal level, in my opinion.  You can't do something 100% legal in one state, and be deemed a criminal in another state for participating in the exact same thing.

Agreed. Our current system, which I am 100% onboard with because it's better than nothing, is not ideal because federal prohibition is still a barrier to things like banking. 

posted by ernest_t_bass

You can't do something 100% legal in one state, and be deemed a criminal in another state for participating in the exact same thing.

But that's exactly the point of state rights.  If the people of Ohio don't want legal meth, then they alone should be able to decide that for Ohio.  I know it's kind of pointless and confusing if right over the line in IN they have legal meth, but it wouldn't be completely ineffective.

IMO, the country is too diverse for a one-size-fits-all solution on healthcare, drugs, etc.  Such federal mandates will almost certainly be sub-optimal for most states.

posted by gut

But that's exactly the point of state rights.  If the people of Ohio don't want legal meth, then they alone should be able to decide that for Ohio.  I know it's kind of pointless and confusing if right over the line in IN they have legal meth, but it wouldn't be completely ineffective.

IMO, the country is too diverse for a one-size-fits-all solution on healthcare, drugs, etc.  Such federal mandates will almost certainly be sub-optimal for most states.

I said decriminalize.  Let the states legalize whatever they want individually.  But if you allow a state to legalize something (red weed), don't allow criminalization in another state (federal level).

Like ETB said, the fact that it's illegal federally makes it a no-go for a lot of people. I disagree with them, but it's true. Decrim federally and states can do what they want, and things like banking for grey-area businesses will be a lot easier. As it stands now, or at least it was recently, it was tough for legal weed businesses to get banking access because the fed just says no.

posted by ernest_t_bass

I said decriminalize.  Let the states legalize whatever they want individually.  But if you allow a state to legalize something (red weed), don't allow criminalization in another state (federal level).

I'm not sure how that would work, though, because the statutes are separate.  States can and have been able to decriminalize any time they wanted.  As Justin said, federal decriminalization would really just allow banking.  Otherwise, federal decriminalization probably wouldn't do anything to existing state law.

But if Ohio wants to keep heroine illegal, I'm not sure there's anything the federal govt can do to stop them.  Maybe under the commerce clause, but I'm not sure.

They can and have decriminalized, but there is nothing stopping the feds from deciding to step in and crack down on them for running afoul of federal law. Luckily Sessions never got his way, because he wanted to do just that, if I recall correctly. It's certainly a bad look these days, with public opinion turning rapidly, but as such it would be an easy win for the feds to, at the very least, drop cannabis from schedule 1.

Legalize all of it and let adults be adults: They can choose what they'd like, but they have to accept the life consequences for it.

Basically, treat it like booze.