Cannabis
Related: About this forumThe Rohrabacher-Blumenauer Amendment...
If the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer Amendment is renewed in the upcoming budget, what will its effect be on Sessions' policy shift?
My understanding is that the amendment (previously known as the Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment) restricts the DOJ from using federal funds to prosecute cannabis violations.
I have heard rumblings that Sessions is considering offering local law enforcement a substantial cut of anything seized under asset forfeiture if they will assist the DOJ in going after cannabis. Is that accurate? Is it Constitutional? Law enforcement tends to tack conservative, but I understanding that many local authorities feel that cannabis prosecution is a waste of limited resources in the face of other priorities.
question everything
(48,813 posts)Read a WSJ editorial against Sessions
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10028406138
and an ACLU opinion
https://www.aclu.org/issues/criminal-law-reform/reforming-police-practices/asset-forfeiture-abuse
Police abuse of civil asset forfeiture laws has shaken our nations conscience. Civil forfeiture allows police to seize and then keep or sell any property they allege is involved in a crime. Owners need not ever be arrested or convicted of a crime for their cash, cars, or even real estate to be taken away permanently by the government.
Forfeiture was originally presented as a way to cripple large-scale criminal enterprises by diverting their resources. But today, aided by deeply flawed federal and state laws, many police departments use forfeiture to benefit their bottom lines, making seizures motivated by profit rather than crime-fighting. For people whose property has been seized through civil asset forfeiture, legally regaining such property is notoriously
Adsos Letter
(19,459 posts)Anon-C
(3,438 posts)Pure, unadulterated fascism. Many police departments, especially sheriffs departments in California where I live are highly-politicized, disproportionately white, and very networked in the right wing.
SHRED
(28,136 posts)...potential dealings by Sessions with local law enforcement if you have a link.
Adsos Letter
(19,459 posts)Ill be happy to look it up this evening. I think it was a NY Times article, but Im just guessing.
Adsos Letter
(19,459 posts)Last edited Mon Jan 8, 2018, 11:13 AM - Edit history (1)
Several states have other types of restrictions -- some ban the use of forfeited assets for law enforcement services and reroute the money to other public services, thereby eliminating the profit motive some say leads to abuse of the practice. (For a specific list of individual state policies, visit the Institute of Justices interactive map.)
But Sessions' order gives officers a way to bypass state restrictions.
It revives a program called Equitable Sharing or adoptive forfeiture, which allows local law enforcement to process forfeiture cases under federal statute and share the assets with federal authorities. In practice, the federal government sends up to 80 percent of the assets right back to local departments, effectively allowing them to get around stricter state laws, says Rulli. (emphasis added) Eric Holder, Obama's attorney general, eliminated adoptive forfeiture except in rare cases.
Sessions is calling [adoptive forfeiture] a partnership between the federal government and states, says Rulli, but in fact, its an attack on federalism and the ability of states to decide for themselves how they should handle this [issue].
http://www.governing.com/topics/public-justice-safety/gov-civil-asset-forfeiture-directive-jeff-sessions-police.html
GReedDiamond
(5,371 posts)...but pro-trumputin and all other repuke/fascist party policies dating back to when he was the speechwriter and "Special Assistant" to Preznit Reagan from 1981 to 1988.
A case of the broken clock being correct, but only once a day - or decade or three.
Plus, I have to assume he has some kind of investment(s) in legal cannabis, esp in the state of CA.
BigmanPigman
(52,265 posts)yet pro pot because he is also a libertarian and believes in states' rights like Rand Paul.
SHRED
(28,136 posts)...it's deeper than Libertarian with him.
He actually advocates cannabis as medicine.