Will the real Jan Brewer please stand up?
The governor has come far since she made her name globally by signing Arizona's divisive immigration law. Criticized at first for riding SB 1070's coattails into office for a full term as governor, she earned our respect for supporting the Proposition 100 temporary sales tax increase for education funding, and standing up to the more radical local elements of the Republican Party.
But she's also made a name for herself with partisan squawking and knee-jerk reactions to slights, both real and perceived, from Washington. Now it's getting out of hand - and it's getting old.
Brewer has ordered Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne to seek a federal judge's ruling on the legality of the state's own medical marijuana law, which voters approved in November. She says it's because a memo from the federal prosecutor assigned to Arizona points out the drug's sale and use remains illegal under federal law, which she interprets to be a threat to the state employees charged with carrying out the law.
But U.S. Attorney Dennis Burke's letter never mentioned state workers, and in an interview with Capitol Media Services reporter Howard Fischer described the lawsuit and the press conference held by Brewer and Horne as political grandstanding.
"I believe in the will of the people,'' said Brewer, who personally opposed Proposition 203 in November. "Unfortunately, with this piece of legislation, there are some pretty serious consequences if we don't get them resolved. And I, as governor, am not willing to put those people at risk.''
Horne, for his part, said this is different from his fight with the feds over SB 1070 because the goals of the state and federal statutes are in clear conflict in this case, making it inappropriate for him to defend it as vigorously.
Even Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery is involved, advising county leaders to halt the permitting process until the matter is cleared up.
All of this appears to be based on a distortion - mistaken or willful - of the risk of federal prosecution.
Call us cynical, but could the real issue here be that medical marijuana is simply less popular with the Republican officials' base than the immigration crackdown?
Prop. 203 was the third time Arizona residents have said at the ballot box that they want a legal way for the very ill to have access to medical marijuana. Perhaps one problem is the governor is looking at the matter as, in her own word, "legislation," rather than the initiative of voters to amend state law. Initiatives are one of the cornerstones of Arizona politics, a defining element of our independent Western nature that venerates public sovereignty. And the actions of Arizona lawmakers and governors have long displayed an utter disdain for this power of the people.
Medical marijuana is no panacea, and it's not without its problems - ask our neighbors in California and Colorado about that. But the people have spoken, and Brewer and Horne - who are so quick to hiss at Washington when they feel oppressed by the feds - should be defending the will of the voters of this state, while at the same time properly educating themselves on its ramifications. It's their job.
Our top state officials have gone from thumbing their noses at the federal government every chance they get to inexplicably thumbing their noses, instead, at us.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 8:06 am on Sun, May 29, 2011.
Governor Jan Brewer is doing exactly what Arizonians elected her to do. Be the Chief Executive of Arizona.
As Chief Executive, she must safeguard the careers and legal status of the "employees of the State of Arizona". When the United States Attorney for the State of Arizona on one hand says he says.........."we have NO INTEREST of targeting or going after people" who are using "MEDICAL MARIJUANA". Then out of the other side of his mouth he says....."At the same time, they (the Medical Marijuana Users) can't be under the impression that they have IMMUNITY, and a SAFE HAVEN".
Dear Mr. Editor............WHAT'S A GIRL TO DO ???
Jan Brewer is being told two (2) very different scenarios but the Obuma Administraion.......IT'S OK......but at the same time............IT'S NOT OK.
The Governor doesn't know if Washington is going to invoke the .....SUPREMACY CLAUSE OF THE US CONSTITUTION....ruling that the Federal Controlled Substances (Marijuana) Act.........supercedes.........the Arizona Medical Marijuana Law..........OR DOESN'T.
We had the same problem here in Mesa a couple of years ago when Mayor Scott Smith and his City Council voted to give the Mesa Police Chief at the time ...George Gascon (who was nudged out for fibbing about where the money for his hotel, food and air fare came from to testify against SB 1070 to Congress [the money came from local and California Hispanic Rights Groups...[wink]]...lol)......"Don't ask...Don't tell) directions to the Mesa Police officers and make Mesa a "DE FACTO SANCTUARY CITY"......thanks goodness those..."Kalifornia days" are over for Mesa.
The bottom line is that the US Attorney for Arizona representing the Obuma Administration has to make up it's mind...........IT CAN'T GO TO THE SUPREME COURT AND INVOKE THE "SUPREMACY CLAUSE" AGAINST SB 1070.........AND THEN TURN AROUND AND SAY THAT THE FEDERAL CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT TAKES A ...........BACK SEAT TO THE ARIZONA MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAW.
Folks, this is America (sometimes you wonder if the Obuma Administration realizes that ! ! !)...............WE DON'T ....."CHERRY-PICK" ....THE LAW.
Our great Governor Jan Brewer was elected to "PROTECT" the citizens and employees of Arizona.............and that is EXACTLY...what she is doing in asking a Federal Court to make a determination on whether to proceed or not in implementing the Arizona Medical Marijuana Law that clearly is in opposition to the Federal Controlled Substances Act.
Dale Whiting posted at 8:36 am on Sun, May 29, 2011.
Can't fault Brewer for asking Horne to get a court opinion. If there is no clear exception to federal law for medicinal usage, then going full steam ahead with MMJ seems foolish. With this one exception, it would appear to me that the editors have raised valid points. Wish we had elected Buzz Mills instead of Brewer. Oh, well!
truthcommonsense posted at 1:50 pm on Sun, May 29, 2011.
What it all boils down to is the the Federal Govenment has WAY TOO MUCH POWER! They need to get out of the state's business and let them decide what is good for their state. I am against legalizing marijuana, and I do believe she is right on this one.
Of couse we know that the Feds are picky on the laws they force the states to enforce/or not......they will probably ignore us on this one ---- the more stoned the public is the more this administration can get away with creating their dictatorship.
Tigere posted at 2:05 pm on Sun, May 29, 2011.
According to their little poll here - stoned is standard sop in Mesa as well as the anonymous no by-line author too. First the feds have not dealt forthrightly with "legalized marijauna" you can google NPR which had a comprehensive article as well as Colorado, California where articles abound about the confusion created with medical marijuana sales and supplies - obviously the author, probably posting this article from the "Dunnoshit Saloon"in east Mesa has bothered to read any of them at all - outsatnding journalism - outstanding !!
Cerulean posted at 9:39 pm on Sun, May 29, 2011.
U.S. Attorney Dennis Burke said his office would not go after people who use medical marijuana "in clear and unambiguous compliance" with state law.
Horne said. " We are simply bringing it to court and asking the court to decide."
Burke said “. . . there has been no policy change,” he later added , "We have no intention of targeting or going after people who are implementing or who are in compliance with state law,"
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v11/n343/a12.html?397
So why are Brewer and Horne so concerned? They know that neither California nor Colorado have had state employees prosecuted for implementing this type of law.
Thank- you East Valley Tribune for a fair editorial.
Accuracy posted at 12:15 pm on Mon, May 30, 2011.
California was the first state to legalize medicinal marijuana in 1996 – Marijuana's medical use is now accepted by 16 states including: Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.
And despite state laws allowing the use of medical marijuana, the U.S. Justice Department has created a cloud of confusion for the states that have authorized the use of marijuana for certain conditions, including glaucoma and the side effects of cancer treatment.
So, Gov. Jan Brewer is looking at clearing up the uncomfortable contradiction with federal drug laws.
ConservativeChristian posted at 9:41 am on Tue, May 31, 2011.
Jesus said to do unto others as we would have them to do unto us. None of us would want our child thrown in jail with the sexual predators for using a little marijuana. None of us would want to see an older family member’s home confiscated and sold by the police for growing a couple of marijuana plants to ease their aches and pains. It's time to stop putting our own families in jail. It's time to let ordinary Americans grow a little marijuana in their own back yards; how about $100 per year for an annual permit to grow a dozen plants? This will go a long way toward putting the criminal drug gangs out of business for good! Also, check out http://www.northpoint.org/ if you’d like to see some more very positive material about Jesus at work in people’s lives.
VofReason posted at 1:46 pm on Wed, Jun 1, 2011.
In all of this, I haven't heard of the people who have the legitamate need for MM speaking up. Only the people who want to make money on it and the "chronic pain" crowd. Anyone really want to know what this is about, take a trip to CA and see what you see. Legalized pushers with walk by persciption houses. Is that what you really want here? Let the people who really need it have it, but all this is just a way to get the camel's nose in the tent for the legalization crowd.
DaveKAz posted at 2:01 pm on Wed, Jun 1, 2011.
Are you aware the DEA just licensed 55 pharmaceutical companies to grow pot? MSN money is running a story ("Could legal pot give Big Pharma a much-needed high?") that,
"Just last week, the Drug Enforcement Administration said 55 unnamed companies have been granted licenses to grow cannabis in the United States. Observers say the pharmaceutical companies need the pot farms to cultivate weed so they can produce a generic version of the THC pill Marinol, which is marketed by Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (WPI ), and at least one other cannabis-based pill for a wide variety of new uses.
But to grow pot and put organic THC and CBD in pills, the DEA to would need to move organic THC down from Schedule I to the far less restrictive Schedule III, where synthetic THC Marinol currently resides. That’s exactly what drug companies have requested. And by all indications, their wish is likely to be granted."
In other words, if big corporations grow dope with the government and put it in a pill, it's medicine. But if you grow it at home or at a dispensary and then put it in a vaporizer, it's a felony. If they suspect you, they break down your door shoot you 22 times and accuse you of being a drug dealer as happened to a Marine veteran in Tucson recently.
http://money.msn.com/top-stocks/post.aspx?post=44407b1b-e13c-43f3-8ac4-1b01edebbea5
Arizona Willie posted at 11:31 am on Fri, Jun 3, 2011.
The Federal Government has NEVER arrested a State employee for selling Medical Marijuana.
The law was legally and duly passed and is in effect.
She has NO AUTHORITY to set the law aside.
She should be sued and recalled.
I am not a medical marijuana user, but I believe those who need it should have it.
If she has the authority to set aside the State Law on Medical Marijuana ... she could also set aside the State laws against illegal immigrant or any other state law.
SHE IS CLEARLY ABUSING HER AUTHORITY.
chatmandu002 posted at 9:46 am on Sun, Jun 5, 2011.
Stop MMJ.