Pubdate: Mon, 02 Sep 2013
Source: Washington Post (DC)
Copyright: 2013 The Washington Post Company
Contact: http://mapinc.org/url/mUgeOPdZ
Website: http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/491
Author: Paul Krumhaus
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n444/a01.html

THE RETURN OF NULLIFICATION

Reading the Aug. 30 news article "Justice Dept. won't challenge 
marijuana laws," on Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr.'s decision to 
largely refrain from enforcing part of the Controlled Substances Act, 
I thought of a pre-Civil War analogy.

Were he alive today, former vice president John C. Calhoun would be 
green with envy of President Obama and Mr. Holder's practice of 
nullification by prioritization. See a law that you don't want to 
enforce and that Congress won't change? Prioritize its enforcement so 
it is below the line of what can be funded. And specify what 
enforcement action is permissible, so that some rogue U.S. attorney 
will not enforce that part of the law you wish did not exist. 
Immigration first, marijuana second, what next?

President Andrew Jackson confronted Calhoun's doctrine of 
nullification head-on. Mr. Holder does not have to worry about 
similar treatment.

Paul Krumhaus, Annandale
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom