Washington State legislators are getting ready to set statutory limits on the amount of marijuana that constitutes the legally permissible “60-day supply” for terminally ill people in that State. The users of course fear that any limits will be set too low for those individuals in the most pain; and the legislators recognize that there really isn’t any line which can be drawn with any significance, e.g., is one-half pound enough? Nine ounces? 9.5 ounces?

But until the States are willing to come to the defense of their citizens contra an over-reaching Federal government, it’s all a dog-and-pony show:

As is the case anywhere in the country, nothing in state statute shields a patient from prosecution under federal law, which does not recognize medical uses for marijuana.

This has happened repeatedly in California, since the People’s Republic legalized medicinal herb. SWAT teams and other paramilitary task-forces have repeatedly raided co-operatives owned and operated by AIDS patients and octogenarians with terminal cancer, all proper under Federal law. I haven’t heard of this happening in Washington, yet – although it probably has, and it certainly will in the future. If you’re going to pass a law, and seriously entertain a law which is in direct opposition to Federal law or executive order, or whatever Orwellian nonsense justifies Federal interference, then have the basic human decency to defend your constituents.

Failure to do so is prima facie evidence that all your talk is mere posturing, and that your oath of office is in fact, idle wind. You are responsible to nobody, and your actions (or inactions) demonstrate as much.