Marijuana by U.S law is classified as a Schedule I controlled
substance. I extracted the information below from the U.S. Drug
Enforcement Administration official site:
A marijuana plant awaits trimming at Great Northern Cannabis on Sept. 6, 2017. (Marc Lester / ADN archive 2017)
"The abuse rate is a determinate factor in the scheduling of the drug;
for example, Schedule I drugs have a high potential for abuse and the
potential to create severe psychological and/or physical dependence."
"Schedule I drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with
no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Some
examples of Schedule I drugs are:
heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), marijuana (cannabis),
3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy), methaqualone, and peyote"
If you live in a state that legalized medical or recreational marijuana
use, it may come as an unpleasant surprise to learn that you are still
committing a federal crime by possessing, buying, or selling marijuana.
The problem is, despite the liberalization of state laws across the
country, federal law still treats marijuana as a controlled substance,
just like cocaine or heroin. When your local assembly approves an
applicant's permit request to open a pot shop, they are putting a stamp
of approval for that vendor to violate federal law.
This conflict between state and federal law creates a situation where
you can be charged with a federal crime for activities that are allowed
by your home state. And your state laws won't be a defense in federal
court. There are also several ways that federal marijuana laws can
affect everyday life decisions, from where you bank to where you live.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions is charged by federal statutes to
enforce federal laws. That means not only those he likes but those he
may disagree with. In the 1950s and '60s some state governors rebelled
against enforcing civil rights legislation. President Eisenhower
dispatched a contingent of the 101st Airborne Division when the governor
of Arkansas defied the law.
Attorney General Sessions, unlike his predecessor, chooses to honor his
oath of office. It seems to me that attacking the attorney general for
fulfilling his duty is misplaced. It would be more appropriate to take
up the matter with those representing Alaska in the role of making
federal law. The names are Murkowski, Sullivan and Young.
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