We are in a weird situation when it comes to marijuana laws. At the Federal level it’s still illegal. The laws in different states vary a lot. Some are in line with the Feds. Many have exemptions for medical reasons. More and more states have legalized recreational use. Even among those states there’s a lot of variety. Some states only allow people to grow a few plants for personal use. Other states have approved stores.
My own state of NH is in a weird spot. Across all our borders recreational use is legal: Maine, Massachusets, Vermont and Canada. Recreational use in New Hampshire is not legal. However, medical use is legal and possession of small amounts has been decriminalized. I’m sure a lot of NH residents cross state borders for legal weed only to bring it into New Hampshire where it suddenly becomes illegal.
Being illegal on the Federal level makes things weird. A doctor might think a patient may benefit from medical use, but if the Dr. is getting paid though a Federal program he can’t make the recommendation.
Crossing the Canadian border is even weirder. Say you bought bought some legal weed in Canada. You want to cross into Vermont where it’s also legal. You’d think that wouldn’t be a problem but it is. The border station is Federal so Canadian weed would get you into trouble.
Our weed laws are just one example where the Federal government drops the ball. We see the same thing with everything from reproductive rights to gun control. Federal law is supposed to supersede state laws, but the Feds can’t seem to do anything on a national level.
Don’t even get me started on how Federal law is enforced or not enforced on a state by state level.
This could be part of a long disintegration period. Power will move down to a more local level. Now, and more so in the future, it matters where in the US you live.
-Sixbears
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