Senator Tries To Block Mj In State.

[greenbuddha]

US ID: Senator Tries To Block Pot In State

 

• Get Active
  
• Subscribe
  
• Support Us
  

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n085/a07.html

Newshawk: Kirk

Votes: 0

Webpage: http://www.mtexpress.com/vu_breaking_story.php?bid=98877

Pubdate: Tue, 19 Feb 2013

Source: Idaho Mountain Express (ID)

Copyright: 2013 Express Publishing, Inc

Contact: letters@mtexpress.com

Website: http://www.mtexpress.com/

Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2296

Author: Katherine Wutz

 

 

SENATOR TRIES TO BLOCK POT IN STATE

 

A Republican senator has brought forward two motions to oppose legalizing marijuana in the Idaho legislature, a move that could put the kibosh on local efforts pushing for Idaho to follow Washington and Colorado.

 

Sen. Chuck Winder, R-Boise, brought forward two pieces of legislation that will be heard before the Senate State Affairs Committee at 8 a.m. on Feb. 20. Public testimony will be taken, though testimony may be limited to three minutes per person depending on the number of people who sign up to testify.

 

The first is a joint memorial, SJM 101, which "seeks to respectfully notify" the U.S. Department of Justice, the United States Congress and Idaho's congressional delegation that the state's legislature opposes legalizing marijuana. It also asks the President of the United States and Congress to enforce federal anti-marijuana laws in all 50 states.

 

The second is a concurrent resolution. While it does not have the force of law, the resolution simply states that the Idaho Legislature, as a body, opposes the legalization for marijuana "for any purpose" in the state.

 

Staff in Winder's Boise office stated the senator was not available for comment before press time on Tuesday. However, Winder told the Associated Press on Feb. 8 that he is concerned about neighboring states Washington and Colorado, which have approved initiatives to legalize pot last fall.

 

"It's kind of like the immigration issue," Winder told the Associated Press. "If [the federal government is] not enforcing the immigration issue, then it's left to the states to do it. All we're saying is, [marijuana] is causing problems to the cities and jurisdictions, so please enforce federal law as it comes to transportation of illegal drugs."

 

Sen. Michelle Stennett, D-Ketchum, a member of the State Affairs committee, said she could see both sides of the argument-marijuana is still illegal under federal law, and she understands the desire to ensure that young people don't begin using the drug.

 

"I understand the effort to be conscientious about being drug-free for our children, but this is a small portion of the greater problem," she said. "These bills will make a statement, but they won't change the problems we have."

 

For more on this story, see the Wednesday, Feb. 20, print edition of the Idaho Mountain Express.

MAP posted-by: Matt

[pic book]

a republican repressing commerce for the sake of what?