Legalized Marijuana

[Lemur]

Well then, the logical response is to either abolish the agency, or rebuild it. The current Republican policy of crippling it bit-by-bit, denying it a director for years, and underfunding it massively, doesn't appear to address any problem anywhere. I don't see how a zombie agency is better than either no agency or a fixed agency.

[Fisherking]

And how is it a Republican policy?

It is part of DOJ. The executive branch names a prospective head, does it not?

Then it is up to the Senate to give its advice and consent in naming the head, right?

I thought that the Democrats controlled the upper house of Congress…

You know some things actually cross party lines.

But of course you are right. They should fix it or get rid of it, but that is also an executive decision, isn’t it?

[Lemur]

And how is it a Republican policy?

Oh, I dunno, that's just a baseless assertion, I guess. Oh, wait, it isn't. There's a persistent pattern of crippling, blocking, and generally making the ATF into the toothless eunuch of the executive branch.

You also may want to familiarize yourself with the Tihart Amendment. Just, you know, for giggles.

It is part of DOJ. The executive branch names a prospective head, does it not?

ATF was separated from the DOJ eight years ago. Also, the President cannot name a single acting head without 60+ votes in the Senate, as you doubtless know.

I thought that the Democrats controlled the upper house of Congress…

Google "filibuster" and have your head explode.

[drone]

ATF was separated from the DOJ eight years ago. Also, the President cannot name a single acting head without 60+ votes in the Senate, as you doubtless know.

Actually, the ATF was separated from the Treasury Dept in 2002(?), and moved to DoJ. In 2006, confirmation for the director spot became a requirement. This was the real neutering, as the GOP and any NRA-bought Dems could and have stopped confirmation hearings for any potential appointees. And I think you mean permanent head, acting directors is all the ATF has had since the confirmation requirement was levied.

Adding more responsibility to the ATF at this point is foolish, pot enforcement would lead to epic comedic episodes (where comedy = tragedy + time). Send all remaining booze & baccy tasks (plus pot) to the TTB and rename the Bureau the BFE, which describes the political location of it's leaders quite well.

[Lemur]

Thanks for the corrections, drone, they are much appreciated.

[Fisherking]

The article also go a fact or two wrong. It was the President who moved the agency from Treasury to the DOJ after 9-11. Congress had nothing to do with it. The reason for Congress putting the director on the conformation list was because under the previous administration it had been used more as a political tool than as an enforcement agency.

I don’t know how you feel about that but I find it a good idea to limit the use of any agency to push the agenda of any political party.

[TinCow]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...it-poll-shows/

High points:

A majority of Americans now say marijuana should be made legal, with far fewer viewing it as a gateway to harder drugs or as morally wrong, according to a poll released Thursday by the Pew Research Center.

By 52 to 45 percent more say marijuana should be made legal than not, with support for legalization jumping seven points in two years and 20 points since the 2002 General Social Survey. Last November, a Washington Post-ABC News poll found the public split 48 to 50 percent on whether to legalize small amounts of marijuana for personal use. And 51 percent of registered voters supported legalization in a December Quinnipiac University poll.

The rapid change matches an increase in usage – in the new poll, nearly half of Americans report trying marijuana at some point in their lifetime (48 percent), up eight points since 2010 and also a record high.

The overall shift in support is driven by younger Americans who overwhelmingly support legalization, with nearly two-thirds of people born since 1980 (between ages 18 and 32) saying marijuana should be legal (65 percent). Baby Boomers and Generation Xers have become far more supportive than in the early 1990s, with at least half of each now supporting legalization.

Far fewer people see marijuana leading to harder drugs today (38 percent) than in the 1970s (60 percent), and only one in three say smoking marijuana is morally wrong (32 percent), down 18 points from 2006.

The day is coming. And on that day, I will smoke so much goddamn weed my head will explode.