Congress to DOJ: Enforce the laws we wrote, not the laws you wish we wrote

Congress to DOJ: Enforce the laws we wrote, not the laws you wish we wrote

I was taught that all laws must be obeyed. If the law was a bad one, you worked to change it. Sometimes that work included an act of civil disobedience that often carried a penalty. And that was the price of change.

Apparently, if you are one of the nation's top law enforcers, you can simply twist a law you don't like until it becomes one you are willing to enforce. At least that appears to be the attitude of the Department of Justice with regard to the congressional ban on spending tax dollars to prosecute individuals for participating in the medical marijuana trade in those states where it is legal.

In 2009, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced formal guidelines for prosecutions of medical marijuana users, caregivers and dispensaries:

"It will not be a priority to use federal resources to prosecute patients with serious illnesses or their caregivers who are complying with state laws on medical marijuana, but we will not tolerate drug traffickers who hide behind claims of compliance with state law to mask activities that are clearly illegal," Holder said. "This balanced policy formalizes a sensible approach that the Department has been following since January: effectively focus our resources on serious drug traffickers while taking into account state and local laws."

That was six years ago, and the Drug Enforcement Administration continues to prosecute medical marijuana users and providers in clear violation of DOJ guidelines. So Congress decided to become involved. What has happened since is explored below......