Congress May Overturn DC Marijuana Legalization

[ro4eva]

The U.S. isn't a democracy, never has been. It's a Democratic Republic.

I swear I'm not trying to act like a smartass, but are you sure you didn't mean to write "Constitutional Republic" instead of "Democratic Republic?"

I've heard it called a "Constitutional Republic" and/or a "Representative Democracy," as well as an "Indirect Democracy" and even a "Presidential Republic," but never a "Democratic Republic."

Is it called a "Democratic Republic" in the Bill of Rights? I haven't read through it in its entirety.

If I'm just pissing you off, then I sincerely apologize as it's not my intention, and you don't have to answer - I'll respectfully understand either way. Hope there's no hard feelings.

There are three branches of government: executive, legislature, and the courts. Any one of them can weigh in and nullify something, and yet another branch can decide that the nullification wasn't right. It was designed this way to prevent mob rule. If all it took was a majority vote on something, then the public could go after minorities, or the stupid could be manipulated by someone powerful to vote away their own rights.

While this system of government may indeed protect - for example - the 1% of 'American elites' from the will of the 99% of 'ordinary Americans,' unfortunately, everyone can be bought for the right price. And politicians as well as their law enforcing bureaucratic lackeys are certainly no exception.

In order words, the establishment wanted to protect vulnerable minorities from being treated unfairly, but it appears that a minority group with a lot of money to offer under the table are not only protected, but also treated like their opinions are a time-sensitive priority.

Bottom line: Money has got to be taken out of American politics once and for all. And it should be considered a felonious crime to line a politician's pockets with cash in order for him or her to clandestinely assume the short and/or long term role of a politicking corporate puppet.

If congress nullifies the cannabis vote, then it will end up in the courts and likely the courts will side with the voters since there's precedent in other states for cannabis decriminalization.

In the interest of a just society, all non-violent, otherwise law-abiding American citizens of voting age - who are not obligated by law and/or binding agreement to remain sober for reasons of safety to him/her and others (e.g. employment, designated driver) - should have the absolute right to intoxicate themselves with any properly obtained (e.g. bought) mind altering substance(s), should they wish to do so (in private at the very least).

Furthermore, a qualified medical professional-led, harm reduction oriented, federal level regulatory system should be implemented in order to facilitate a significant reduction of risks commonly associated with the clandestine consumption of controlled substances in this present era of the war on (certain) drugs (e.g. clean/free needles, OTC naloxone, access to non-biased medical attention for anyone trying to stop his or her drug(s) of choice, and so forth).

This would be a promising reform, I believe anyways.