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Colorado sued over marijuana legalization, Its neighbors, Oklahoma and Nebraska, filed a lawsuit stating Colorado is costing their states money and resources.
Nebraska and Oklahoma’s complaint argues that Colorado does not have authority to pass laws that conflict with the federal prohibition on marijuana. Doing so, the states claim, violates the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning announced Thursday that the states are seeking a court order to prevent Colorado from enforcing a measure that was approved by voters in 2012. Bruning says Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt is also a party to the lawsuit.
The complaint alleges that Colorado’s Amendment 64 runs afoul of federal law. “Marijuana flows from this gap into neighboring states, undermining Plaintiff States’ own marijuana bans, draining their treasuries, and placing stress on their criminal justice systems,” the lawsuit alleges.
The police chief in Sydney, Neb., said this year that half of his department’s traffic stops now result in a marijuana arrest. He said the department burned through its yearly overtime budget in six months, mostly paying officers overtime to go to court to testify in marijuana prosecutions.
“Nebraska taxpayers have to bear the cost,” Bruning said at a news conference Thursday.
Washington state also has legalized marijuana, but Bruning says Nebraska isn’t suing over that law because it doesn’t share a border with Washington.
Colorado Attorney General John Suthers says in a statement that the lawsuit is without merit. He says his office will vigorously defend the marijuana law in the U.S. Supreme Court.
Agencies/Canadajournal
Oh too bad, Nebraska. I have seen these lawyer politician types get themselves all worked up over things like this and the next thing we know, they are climbing on the backs of those trampled by them on their way to hoped higher office. This lawsuit is without merit or even likely, nexus as Colorado has no control over highway commerce. If Nebraska and Oklahoma are so concerned over what enters their state, let them erect border stations. Since their complaint is over their citizens entering the state with what is not permitted, let them take steps to defend against this so-called “ill” being delivered to them. Its not Colorado delivering it to them. So I don’t see how Colorado could be liable. Of course courts are political but there is one arm of this nation that is forgotten to be mentioned, and that is “the will of the people.” In the end, public demand will prevail.