I keep racking my brain to try and figure out the WHY. It is a fact that the Feds do not want any legal pot above a certain size level. They are going against the will of the people on this. There is a bunch of money to be made by someone by keeping it illegal for now. I used to think it was just the War on Drugs money. Well, they have had their budget hacked too. If there was ever a time to do away with an un popular policy, it is NOW. Yet, the Feds aren't even considering it. Why? The money is either made by leaving things like they are, or by legalizing at the right time...when certain people are ready. Theories?
This is incredibly insightful and sadly true. Though unlike your attorney I do not believe it is one simple thing. I think it is part of a complex system of reasons. I think the changes we are seeing in Cannabis legislation in Amsterdam and Canada et. al. is all part of this. I do not believe they are coincidental or simple synchronicities.
Because of our communication systems, the internet, and increased transportation efficiency the borders in this world are blurring. Nationalistic feelings are no longer as important as they used to be and the world is becoming a more cohesive unit. Business, especially big business, to survive must be multinational and so addressing the cannabis issue will require a world wide coordinated effort. Of course big business realizes this and is attempting to corner the cannabis market.
Next how do you do a 180 degree turn from the previous legal structure? Especially when it threatens the support of the government? Most of the remaining 'business' of the US is jailing the other 1/2 of the US (that is an exaggeration but not far off). We have a gigantic prison industry, police, public health, probation etc..... These are probably the majority of, what is left of, the middle class in America.
To move to legalization will not be clean, easy or quick. I think California was/is a test and is a slow move in the de-criminalization direction. I think this is why the DEA/HHS chose not to de-schedule Marijuana. I think they are very close and as soon as big business gets it's ducks in a row we will see what it has planned for us. Then we will see the CSA (controlled substances act), changed and Marijuana re-scheduled. Until THAT happens Marijuana is an illegal drug for all intents and purposes in the US.
So the current schizophrenia between state legal and fed illegal is a perfect way to test and try things with the ability at anytime to step in and quash anybody who gets too successful so they might be able to, financially, challenge a DuPont, Dow or Monsanto. Further as long as Marijuana remains schedule 1 you can't really get the type of controlled, peer reviewed, scientific studies that prove precisely what Marijuana can do so this type of supression is necessary for those wishing to successfully sustain their financial positions while moving t consolidate their hold on the future of this drug.
So whenever any public positive trending threatens to turn into positive accurate scientific data the DEA steps in and quashes it. It's a balance to keep the current system stable.
As for the campaign promises of President Obama it is important to remember that the US is a triumvirate form of government. There is a legislative branch and an executive branch and the judicial branch. They are essentially a balancing act to keep any one person or group from having to much power. Therefore it is counterproductive to believe any one person/parties 'promises'. It also makes steering this ocean liner of a government something that can not turn on a dime.
So to simply sum up my thoughts big business will make sure that pot is legalized only when it is in their best financial interest to do so and it will be a long and complex journey to get to that point.
That's just my opinion and I sincerely hope I am very very wrong,
Annie
If you aren't one of the afflicted then you buy what big pharma and it's government shills peddle.
