4 ms·
Because California passed bills clearly delineating how, where, and in what quantities pot growing and selling can be done. The state issues licenses. In Ameri
by fjp 8y ago
Because California passed bills clearly delineating how, where, and in what quantities pot growing and selling can be done. The state issues licenses.
In America, this is federalism at work. States can choose to do things that the federal government explicitly does not allow, and states can choose to not do things that the federal government explicitly tells it to do. When there is enough of a conflict, it gets resolved by the courts. In this case, the federal government has just chosen not to dedicate resources to cracking down on California's pot industry. California still welcomes the DEA's efforts in CA to crack down on other things, such as pot coming in from Mexico and harder drugs being trafficked.
- masonic 8y agoStates can choose to do things that the federal government explicitly does not allow Not true at all. Take slavery, for one obvious example.
- salawat 8y agoParent post is correct. GP is incorrect. Constitutional Federal law trumps State law. See the Supremacy Clause. It's why actions at the Federal level normatively should be thought through and constructed extremely well. It obliges everyone to play by those rules once passed. In reality however, realpolitik tends to limit Federal reach.
- fjp 8y agoYeah, I meant Constitutional law trumps state law but states can also decide to keep doing it, betting that the federal government won't bother to enforce.