Marijuana, Federal Power & the States

By Jonathan H. Adler September 11

States appear increasingly unhappy with federal marijuana policy. Two dozen states allow medical marijuana under state law, over a dozen states have largely decriminalized marijuana possession, and two states — Colorado and Washington — have legalized marijuana possession, use and sale under state law. This fall, two more states — Oregon and Alaska — may opt to legalize marijuana and additional states are considering authorizing medical marijuana, including Florida. This week, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate in Ohio, Ed Fitzgerald, also came out in support of medical marijuana (perhaps in an effort to aid his flagging campaign). Nonetheless, marijuana remains a controlled substance under federal law.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2014/09/11/marijuana-federal-power-the-states/