Outgoing Reps. Ron Paul (R-Texas) and Barney Frank (D-Mass.) are urging President Obama to permit Colorado and Washington State to move forward with the legalization of recreational pot.
"We urge you to respect the wishes of the voters of Colorado and Washington and refrain from federal prosecution of the inhabitants of those states who will be following their states’ laws with regard to the use of marijuana," the two write in a letter to Obama dated Wednesday.
Voters in both states approved ballot measures that would permit the growth, sale and use of marijuana for recreational purposes. The news are the most permissive in the world — more permissive than the Dutch.
Marijuana, however, remains a controlled substance under U.S. law — setting up a clash between the states and the federal government.
"We believe that respecting the wishes of the electorates of Colorado and Washington and allowing responsible state authorities to carry out those wishes will provide valuable information in an important national debate," they write.
"Our request does not mean any permanent waiver of the ability of the federal government to enforce national laws should there be negative consequences of these state decisions – which we do not believe are at all likely – and thus we have as a result of these two states’ decisions a chance to observe in two states the effect of the policy that we continue to believe would be wise for the country as a whole. Those who disagree with us should welcome the opportunity to put their theories to a test," they write.
Paul and Frank are two of the most outspoken pro-legalization, anti-drug war voices in Congress and both are set to retire in January. Their retirement deprives the incoming Congress of strident, senior members pushing for a revision of the country's drug laws.
The Department of Justice has not yet commented on how they plan to deal with the legalization experiment in both states.
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