Monday, December 29, 2014

2 states sue Colorado over marijuana legalization

Nebraska, Oklahoma sue Colorado over legal marijuana - LA Times - Kurtis Lee:

December 18, 2014 - "A pair of states on Thursday filed a lawsuit with the U.S. Supreme Court in an effort to strike down Colorado's laws that legalize recreational marijuana.

"Citing federal antidrug laws, particularly interstate drug trafficking, Nebraska and Oklahoma said in the lawsuit that Colorado's marijuana laws have "created a dangerous gap in the federal drug-control system enacted by the United States Congress."

"In 2012, Coloradans voted in support of Amendment 64, which legalized the recreational sale and use of up to an ounce of marijuana for any resident over the age of 21. Moreover, under Amendment 64, Coloradans can grow up to six marijuana plants for personal use.

"The result of increased Colorado-sourced marijuana being trafficked in [Nebraska and Oklahoma] due to the passage and implementation of Colorado Amendment 64 has been the diversion of a significant amount of the personnel time, budget, and resources" of those states, wrote Nebraska Atty. Gen. Jon Bruning and Oklahoma Atty. Gen. E. Scott Pruitt in the court filing....

"Colorado Atty. Gen. John Suthers, who leaves office next month, vowed on Thursday to defend the state's legal recreational marijuana laws....

"Suthers, a Republican who opposed Amendment 64, added that 'it appears the plaintiffs’ primary grievance stems from non-enforcement of federal laws regarding marijuana, as opposed to choices made by the voters of Colorado.

"'We believe this suit is without merit and we will vigorously defend against it in the U.S. Supreme Court,' Suthers said.

"Marijuana remains illegal under federal law, but several states including Washington, Oregon and Alaska have passed laws legalizing recreational marijuana sales."

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-marijuana-lawsuit-colorado-20141218-story.html
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