Drug Enforcement Administration, the Controlled Substances Act, and the War on Drugs all show that drug prohibition has been framed as a federal issue. Recent state-by-state legalization of cannabis (marijuana) has challenged and undermined the efficacy of federal drug laws and anti-drug policies. Almost half the states have now legalized marijuana for either medical or recreational use (Hill, 2015). The state-by-state legalization scheme creates legal and ethical conundrums. For example, Hill points out that federal anti-drug legislation prohibits legal marijuana businesses operating in states like Colorado to use national financial institutions for banking. Without access to the usual range of financing options, cannabis dispensaries and other related businesses are driven to a cash-only business which can "attract thieves and tax cheats," (Hill, 2015, p. 597). Other problems include the inability of Americans to legally transport cannabis over state lines, even between two states that both legalized the drug. Canada recently announced that it would be eliminating drug prohibition nationwide (Government of Canada, 2017). Almost all border states in the USA have legalized cannabis on some level, but it is illegal to transport one's personal supply of marijuana across what is the longest land border in the world. Cannabis and drug prohibition are areas that highlight the conflict between states' rights and federalism that has characterized political culture and discourse in the United States...
Republicans have been consistently inconsistent in what should be state versus federal jurisdiction. For example, some religious conservatives vie for federally illegal abortions or restrictions on civil rights like the proposed Defense of Marriage Act. The War on Drugs was started by a Republican President, Nixon, and strengthened by Republican President Ronald Reagan. As Adler (2014) points out, "So many Republicans who believe it's federal overreach when federal law regulates health insurance or power plant emissions think its just fine when the federal government prohibits the possession of a plant, even where authorized under state law," (p. 1). The federal government has not fully clarified its position on the clash between states' rights and federalism regarding cannabis laws. However, the federal government has affirmed that it would defer to state law enforcement except in situations in which the drug is being transported for sale in another state (Baude, et al., 2014). In 2014, the House of Representatives voted to disallow DEA spending for raiding medical marijuana dispensaries in states where medical marijuana is legal (Adler, 2014). Republican lawmakers have gradually begun to show support for states' rights when it comes to cannabis.
Australia Have a Bill of Rights? Australia is the last remaining Common Law country without a Bill or Rights or Human Rights Bill. It is important to note that the Australian variant of liberalism differs from the Anglo-American model in two important ways. First, the establishment of Australia as a series of British colonies under authoritarian governors and the absence of any political revolution has meant a lesser stress on
Understanding of the Legal Framework in the United StatesPublic safety officials have a fundamental responsibility to develop a comprehensive understanding of the legal framework that is in place in the United States in order to fulfill their mission and facilitate their responses to threats to public safety. To this end, the purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the scholarly literature to explain the concept of federalism
"You could say that anything that makes you feel better," Bock says, "whether chocolate or sex or invigorating exercise or a relaxing evening (depending on one's condition or circumstances), is good for you and could be viewed as medicine. Indeed, most Americans use the term 'good medicine' metaphorically and sometimes almost literally to describe some function or activity that promotes a sense of well-being" (131). Certainly, crack addicts would maintain
S. directly. Evidently, the long-term objectives indirectly face the smooth running of the U.S. government. Priority should be given to those aspects that will pull the resources of the country to extreme levels. The U.S. As a super-power is privileged when tackling issues affecting other nations; it is mandated to help developing long-term solutions. Long-term also implies that the impacts and effects need to be widespread in order to maintain balance
NFIB vs. The Affordable Care Act The Affordable Care Act brought to the Supreme Court by 26 states of the United States to determine its constitutionality, was confirmed by the courts as was expected by many people. The case was between National Federations of Independent Business v. Sebelius (NFIB). The Supreme Court upheld the ACA and its expansion in a fragmented and complicated opinion that saw it also limit the ability
For much of the movie, Robert Wakefield is the main antagonist. Wakefield represents the American government's complicity in perpetuating an outmoded political policy. Thus, Traffic portrays the American government's War on Drugs as being antithetical to American values. Wakefield is initially blind to his daughter's plight, and is depicted as being too career-driven and closed-minded to notice that the War on Drugs is a war on his family and
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