Federalism and marijuana

Colorado and Washington state voted in a referendum to legalize marijuana.  Not just medical marijuana, recreational marijuana.  (Oregon defeated a similar measure.)  The problem is, the sale and possession of marijuana are still illegal according to federal law.  The states are trying to figure out what to do and how this would work.

What we have is a crisis of federalism.  Conservatives, who might normally oppose drug legalization, are in the position of championing states’ rights, while liberals, who might normally favor legalized drugs, are in the unusual position of opposing federal regulation.

At any rate, if the states can figure out how to implement that referendum, Colorado and Washington can expect all kinds of drug tourism.  That might not be a pleasant prospect.

 

See  Marijuana approval leaves states scrambling for answers – The Washington Post.

War between the states?

OK, it’s not on the scale of 1862, but since California is threatening to boycott Arizona because of its new law  evicting illegal immigrants, Arizona is threatening to cut off California’s electricity.  Los Angeles gets 25% of its power from Arizona.

via Power Play Over Immigration Law | NBC Los Angeles.