Feds ask Supreme Court to stay out of lawsuit over Colorado marijuana

This is regarding the lawsuit against Colorado by those states, because they feel harmed by the cost of having to arrest people in their own states for possessing marijuana.

Verrilli argued the Supreme Court generally has avoided stepping into disputes between states unless it is the states themselves that are at odds.

The Supreme Court could ultimately elect to hear the states’ challenge regardless of the brief filed this week, but the administration’s opinion may likely influence the justice’s decision.

But the U.S. Solicitor General, the Justice Department’s top courtroom lawyer, countered there’s a high bar for the U.S. Supreme Court to get involved in such interstate disputes and urged the high court not to hear the case. Oklahoma and Nebraska have sued Colorado over the actions of private citizens who are breaking the law.

Nebraska has said it wants Colorado to pay for local drug enforcement in its state.

The two states claim laws allowing the manufacture, possession and distribution of pot have led to more illegal drugs crossing state lines.

“This is a meritless and, quite frankly, ludicrous lawsuit”. Washington state also voted the same year to legalize recreational marijuana use by adults. The government argues Nebraska and Oklahoma haven’t suffered direct or substantial injury.

The White House was asked to weigh in on the matter back in May, and on Wednesday, the solicitor general said the Obama administration doesn’t think the case is right for the Supreme Court. “Any argument otherwise either misreads the brief or is intentionally disingenuous”.

“While many supporters and patients expressed their desire to see this provision included in the law, United for Care left “home grow” out of the amendment in order to create a tightly regulated and controlled system that is best for the State of Florida”, the organization says.

In its brief for the Supreme Court, the government questions whether the complaint from Nebraska and Oklahoma is within the high court’s original jurisdiction.