Brief Observation Concerning Marijuana

Several states take their marijuana very seriously, expanding its allowable usage or even legalizing all usage. The problem, as usual, is the federal government, which presumes the ability to regulate this substance and to prosecute anyone who cultivates, transacts, or possesses it.

While I'm not a fan of burners or of anyone else who uses narcotics in a recreational manner, the federal government's behavior flies in the face of the Tenth Amendment: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." This simple language means that anything the states may do, the federal government may not, and vice versa. There can be no overlap in state or federal power, which are mirror images of each other (completely opposite). The very fact that states can and do regulate marijuana means that the federal government cannot, absent a constitutional amendment.

Does anyone care about this? They used to, which is why they approved the 18th Amendment before allowing the federal government to attack alcohol. But not anymore, which is why the modern entity calling itself the federal government attacks all manner of substances without waiting for any amendments. I would wager that, if pushed, most people would oppose enforcing the Tenth Amendment because this would wipe out a tremendous number of federal programs that are near and dear to their wallets hearts. Matters of property, contracts, employment, education, health care, research and development, and family are all within the sovereignty of the states rather than the federal government, and all federal programs dealing with such matters are unconstitutional. Are you prepared to let those programs die? I didn't think so. You sold your freedom and the rule of law for thirty pieces of silver, so don't expect to toke up (or do much of anything else) so easily anymore.