Assignment 2: Managing Competing Agendas

4	The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

Assignment 1: Public Administration ‒ The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

Introduction

The purpose of this paper is to develop a brief overview of the selected issue. The paper will recommend one (1) type of public policy out of the four (4) mentioned within the text with the intention of supporting the selected issue. Furthermore, the paper will suggest two (2) policy modifications that may positively impact and two (2) policy modifications that may negatively impact the outcomes for the selected issue. Finally, the paper will suggest three (3) methods by which the Constitution—specifically the powers of Congress— addresses the role of government within business administration overall for selected issue.

White House Issue:

Marijuana is an area of substantial public discourse in the United States, and while most of the people are familiar with the discussions, it is not very easy to gain up-to-date, survey-based information on marijuana to answer to the inquiries about its health effects, or the differences between Federal and state laws relating to the drug. Baffling messages being shown by widely held culture, advocates of “medical” marijuana, media and radical campaigns to decriminalize all marijuana use continue the false belief that it is harmless. This step importantly reduces energies to keep our young people drug free and impedes the efforts of addicted ones to recover from addiction. (whitehouse)

Public Policy:

Since 1996, 20 states and Washington, DC have passed laws letting smoked marijuana to be used for a variety of remedial situations. Identifying this fact is vital that using marijuana continues to be a crime under Federal law. Also these governmental laws do not change the standards or procedure for FDA approval of safe and effective medications. There are serious differences in marijuana laws from one state, county, or city to another. Information can be viewed from the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). (whitehouse)

Being specific to one state Washington DC’s initiative 59;

According to section 2,  patients or their caretakers who acquire marijuana for remedial objectives upon the approval of a registered physician do not break the Act 1981 for District of Columbia Uniform Controlled Substances, effective August 5, 1981 as amended and in to date they obey with this act, are not entitled to illegal action.

Sec 3(b) Whoever deals in this drug cultivated, involves in distribution person not entitled to possess/dispense marijuana under this act shall be guilty of a misconduct and entitled to the punishment set forth in section 401(a)(2)(D) of the Controlled Substances Act (DC Code 33-541(a)(2)(D).

In passing the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), Congress identified that marijuana is a Schedule I controlled substance. Voters in Washington and Colorado State in 2012 also agreed on resourcefulness authorizing marijuana for adults 21 and older under state law. As per government’s medicinal marijuana laws, it is noteworthy that Congress has specified that marijuana is a hazardous drug and that its distribution and sale is a solemn offense.  The Department of Justice (DOJ) is dedicated to make compulsory the CSA consistent with these fortitudes. DOJ directed Federal prosecutors regarding marijuana implementation under the CSA on August 29, 2013. 

Policy Modification: (Key Marijuana Policy Reform Bills, 2014)

There are 57% of Americans who have renewed their marijuana laws by agreeing on medical marijuana. They want imposition of a fine replacing it with possible jail time on marijuana keeping and making it lawfully available for adults. The results of poll show that mostly Americans wants making the marijuana’s usage lawful whereas 86% encouraged permitting curative use of marijuana, policymakers are grasping that the public is encouraging policy reforms regarding marijuana. ("http://www.mpp.org/states/key-marijuana-policy-reform.html," July 24, 2014)

36 states and Washington, D.C. in 2014 have had bills under attention, bills to fashion new medicinal marijuana laws that impose a fine only for the ownership of the drug, or for regulating marijuana like alcohol. Many of those schemes were ratified. Maryland, Minnesota, and New York passed active therapeutic marijuana commandments this year, while Columbia District, Missouri and Maryland substituted possible jail time with fines if anyone simply possesses marijuana. Eleven states further sanctioned bills to allow high-CBD strains of marijuana, though tactlessly, laws are most unlikely to offer access even to the limited group of intended patients to whom they want to provide protection.

In Alaska, Oregon and Florida, voters will decide themselves marijuana policy concerns this November. While voters in Alaska and Oregon will be deciding if the use of marijuana can be decriminalized for adults 21 and older and if this can be regulated just as alcohol. In Florida, a constitutional amendment will be considered by voters to allow curative marijuana. In the meantime, in District Columbia, approvals have been given in to allow grown-ups to produce and hold limited quantity of marijuana.

The constitution:

At 11 June 2014, 22 states have legalized medical marijuana by voters and hence lawmakers. Voters in two states have sanctioned complete legalization to marijuana. But federal official seem not to get along with this new drug paradigm. Consequently by multiple means, the federal government has made it a lot harder for marijuana businesses to operate, ranging from hurdles in tax code to limited waterways. Below are the details of how Government used its power to discourage marijuana free dealings;

1) Marijuana dealers can't plea for federal tax deductions

2) Due to Federal prohibitions, it becomes too challenging for marijuana operators to work with conventional banks

3) The National Institute on Drug Abuse grasps a monopoly over medical marijuana research

4) The feds confine water for growing marijuana plants

5) The DEA sometimes raids marijuana businesses

6) The DEA intimidates doctors into not participating in the medical marijuana industry (Lopez, June 11, 2014).

2014 National Drug Control Strategy

The Obama Administration’s plan to cut drug use and its penalties is presented through the National Drug Control Strategy. It signifies a 21st century tactic to drug policy. This scientific plan guided by the latest research on substance use, covers more than 100 specific reforms to upkeep work to protect public health and safety in America (DeBonis, July 15, 2014).

In its bid to repel congressional intervention with an undecided marijuana legalization law, the District might have prompted President Obama to make an interesting declaration.

The White House on Monday said it “strongly opposes” the amendment attached last month to the House spending bill that includes the D.C. budget. The amendment, offered by Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.), would bar the District government from spending any money on provisions that weaken its drug laws.

References

DeBonis, M. (July 15, 2014). white-house-marijuana-is-an-issue-of-states-rights.

http://www.mpp.org/states/key-marijuana-policy-reform.html. (July 24, 2014).

Lopez, G. (June 11, 2014). Retrieved from www.vox.com/2014/6/11/5799916/6-ways-the-federal-government-continues-its-war-on-marijuana.

Marijuana, whitehouse. Retrieved from

www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/marijuana.

Hendrik Hertzberg, 2014, White House Weed, Retrieved from

http://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/white-house-weed

Sabrina Siddiqui, 2013, White House Marijuana Legalization, Retrieved from

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tag/white-house-marijuana-legalization/