Ah, Sweet Federalism

On Wednesday the Los Angeles City Council put a moratorium on medical marijuana facilities to examine what sort of success they were having. Less than 15 minutes later the FBI raided 10 of those facilities.

City Councilman Dennis Zine said the temporary ban was designed to protect patients' rights while drawing up rules to protect communities where dispensaries are located. He also suggested that the DEA raid on the Hollywood dispensary was intended as a statement.

"I think the DEA is doing it out of spite, which I think is sad," said Zine, who is a reserve LAPD officer.

Several dozen medical marijuana activists attended the council meeting to support the temporary ban. No one spoke against it.

And posts about law enforcement stupidity in Los Angeles are best accompanied by a link to this video.

Comments

[Randolph Carter]

national guard federalism showdown! I wish so much it would happen.

[Episiarch]

Did Vic Mackey assist?

[D. Greene]

DEA = corrupt, violent fanatics.

[joe]

Sounds like someone really wants to squash the medicinal marijuana movement.

Good thing there's a United States Attorney in office who's down with the agenda.

[Warren]

RC,
Are you mad? Why would you wish civil war upon us? It's terrible when it happens and it can't end well.

The administrations commitment to fucking this country is beyond my comprehension. They must be insane because they keep doing the same thing over and over, expecting this time it will work. What's even more depressing is the notion that they're happy with the results they're getting and want more of the same.

The second Bush administration is what's going to push this country into a second Clinton administration.

Never has this country been in greater need of an infusion of libertarianism.

RON PAUL '08

[matt]

legalize it

[Randolph Carter]

Warren,
Do you think the consequence would really be civil war? What sequence of events would lead to that - national guard blocks DEA agents, DEA agents call the federal military? If a state actually stood up to this crap, it would create so much bad PR for the administration and the DEA, they'd be forced to back down.

[tarran]

Guys, we're talking about DEA agents here...

These guys are cowards. Oh, they're brave when they infiltrate drug gangs and the like, but in the end the institution is completely cowardly.

During prohibition, these guys went after alcohol production. When prhibition ended, they were too scared to go out and get real jobs, so they lobbied for and got Federal laws outlawing marijuana.

When drug gangs started getting sophisticated, they started going after doctors. Every generation they comission soem study that demonstrates conclusively that the only people who benefit from drug prohibition are succesful drug-running gangs and law enforcement. But because ending the drug war would force them to go out and chase real criminals who hurt people or even worse go out and get real jobs, they interfere with local elections, pump out propaganda, and intimidate those who threaten their welfare checks.

Every DEA agent is a traitor to the United States. I don't care how brave they were in 'Nam, how many violent murderers they nab. They help assist those violent murderers amass their wealth and power. DEA agents are robbing the american people, betraying the constitution, making the people less safe, solely for their personal gain. Bunch of Benedict arnolds, every one of them.

[tarran]

I forgot tofinish my thought...

Because they are cowards, when faced by a hostile armed force, there is no question in my mind that the DEA would back down.

[Warren]

RC,
Pardon my hyperbole.

If a state actually stood up to this crap, it would create so much bad PR for the administration and the DEA, they'd be forced to back down.

I think you're very wrong about this. I think the only possible result would be the state being forced to back down. The feds are prepared to ratchet up all the way. If the past four years have convince you of nothing else, it's that bad publicity only redoubles the commitment

[Randolph Carter]

I guess we just disagree then. The feds have very few options against a national guard force - who would they call? U.S. Marshalls? BATF and FBI swat teams? Or would they deploy some of our thinly stretched military to Humboldt County to show them what's what?

Wiretapping and torture in foreign lands is, to some, not particularly evil. Federal agents opening fire on national guard troops is (I think) universially viewed as evil.

[Robert]

I'm afraid the worst would happen. Neither side would back down, both would be reinforced, and we'd have a bloody war. Very soon everybody would forget why it started.

[Episiarch]

Or would they deploy some of our thinly stretched military to Humboldt County to show them what's what?

They can't; Posse Comitatus. National Guard wins hands down over Fed LEAs. The Feds would have to be insane to escalate it; every state in the union would go apeshit because they would know it could happen to them too.

[Randolph Carter]

I suppose that with the new and improved Military Commissions Act, Bush could declare the state of California to be in a state of emergency to sidestep the posse comitatus business. But overall, I agree with you Episiarch.

[crimethink]

As far as Federal vs State showdowns, anyone remember this minor incident?

The Feds ALWAYS win. Don't kid yourselves.

[crimethink]

The next day, Woodrow Mann, the Mayor of Little Rock, asked President Eisenhower to send federal troops to enforce integration and protect the nine students.
On September 24, the President ordered a Battle Group of the elite 101st Airborne Division of the United States Army to Little Rock, and federalized the entire 10,000 member Arkansas National Guard, taking it out of the hands of Governor Faubus. An ad hoc unit, Task Force 153rd Infantry, was hastily organized at Camp Robinson from Guardsmen drawn from units statewide. The bulk of the Arkansas Guard was quickly discharged from Federalized status, but Task Force 153rd Infantry remained, taking over the entire operation when the paratroopers left at Thanksgiving, and remaining on duty until the end of the school year.

Federalize. It's a magic word.

[Randolph Carter]

But would the mayor of LA or some other equivalent California official be willing to play patsy to the feds over medical marijuana? I think Californians see it like segregation but the other way around.

[Episiarch]

federalized the entire 10,000 member Arkansas National Guard, taking it out of the hands of Governor Faubus

Let Bush try this over an issue like medical MJ as opposed to civil rights. I'd like to see it. Can you say "impeachment proceedings"?

[Rhywun]

Fuck tha DEA

[mediageek]

Good thing there's a United States Attorney in office who's down with the agenda.

Yeah, because we all know how anti-drug-war Kerry was in his bid for the presidency.

I mean, he even, like, tried snowboard, dude.

[VM]

Media -

apparently he was better on snow than Sonny Bono was...

(although in his defense, maybe he thought the "I Got You Babe" duet with the tree actually was Cher after her botox appointment, but I digress)

[Troy]

If this republic cannot comprehend the difference between disallowing a human being to have an education because of the quantum of melanin versus allowing people to humanely try to stop from dying (or dying in a dignified manner), then this republic is truly fucked?
The former should be considered an embarrassment to the concept of a civilization, the latter is the very epitome of civiliazation, compassion for your fellow human beings. I could see Albert Schweitzer handing out weed. I could not see him pointing a gun in someone's face for wanting to reduce thier suffering.
I say bring the confrontation on and lets see what happens.

[Troy]

and I don't know why I question marked my first sentence.

[x,y]

One of the major reasons states don't fight the feds on these issues is because the states depend on *conditional* federal largesse.

[Brendan Perez]

It's always occurred to me that if the federal government can federalize the national guard, then that pretty much eviscerates the position of the gun control groups that the national guard is a state militia.

What do you think would have happened if the federal govt didn't have the ability to federalize "state" national guard units? Would they have had the army actually do battle with the state national guard?

If it truly is a state unit, why does the national guard allow itself to be federalized?

[de stijl]

If it truly is a state unit, why does the national guard allow itself to be federalized?

The Militia Act of 1903 (aka the Dick Act - really, that's the name, no foolin').

[Les]

I'd just like to thank David for the link to that video.

[John Rhoads]

If the "militia" in the 2nd amendment refers to the national guard (hint...it doesn't) then congress has the power to call it up in times of insurrection:

"To provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the union, suppress insurrections and repel invasions;"

http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.articlei.html#section8http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.articlei.html#section8

[DEA Agent]

Tarran,

I vus just following orders!

As a result, on July 1, 1973, the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (BNDD) and the Office of Drug Abuse Law Enforcement (ODALE) merged together to create the DEA.

[Scooby]

tarran,
It might be more productive to offer drug warriors job retraining and amnesty from prosecution for their crimes against humanity instead of thinly veiled threats that they'll be first up against the wall come the revolution.

Not that the scumbags deserve mercy that they deny to the terminally ill, but it may be the path of least resistance.

[TrickyVic]

"""national guard federalism showdown! I wish so much it would happen.""""

""""The feds have very few options against a national guard force - who would they call? U.S. Marshalls? BATF and FBI swat teams? Or would they deploy some of our thinly stretched military to Humboldt County to show them what's what?""""

How easy we forget history. The President would just federalize the National Guard.

http://www.centralhigh57.org

[Bee]

One of the major reasons states don't fight the feds on these issues is because the states depend on *conditional* federal largesse.

Well, since California is a net Sugar Daddy, I say F'em. If we stopped paying Uncle Sam, I guarantee you'd see the Feds parachuting into Sacramento!

We need a Secession party.

[Frank Booth]

Did someone say secession?

Join the Guns and Dope Party!

You're welcome in Freetopia when we finally win an election.

Equal Rights for Ostriches!