Attorney General Holder Promises To "Vigorously Enforce" Federal Drug Laws On Marijuana If California Voters Legalize Pot In Prop 19

The Wall Street Journal reports that "Attorney General Eric Holder said the Obama administration 'strongly opposes' a California ballot measure to legalize marijuana, warning that federal drug-enforcement efforts would be 'greatly complicated' if the measure passes. Recent polls indicate voters narrowly favor passing the Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act, also known as Proposition 19, in next month's election. If passed, the measure would only affect state law, leaving intact the federal law that classifies marijuana as a controlled substance alongside cocaine and other drugs. Mr. Holder said in a letter Wednesday to nine former Drug Enforcement Administration chiefs that the administration would continue to enforce federal law if California legalizes marijuana. The DEA chiefs had urged him to speak out on the matter. The ballot measure would block state police officers from seizing marijuana that complies with state law. That would be a 'significant impediment' for federal agents, Mr. Holder wrote, because the federal government typically works with local law enforcement when carrying out marijuana and other drug busts... Joseph McNamara, a retired San Jose police chief and supporter of Proposition 19, said in response to Mr. Holder's letter that efforts to block marijuana use 'waste billions of dollars' and are the wrong priority "in the midst of a sagging economic recovery."" Tweet