HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle vetoed today four bills that are pre-empted by federal law or violate existing federal statutes. The Governor issued her vetoes to ensure that federal officials recognize that the State of Hawai‘i respects the individual role of states and the federal government in setting legal policy for our citizens.
SB 1058 SD2 HD2 CD1 relating to controlled substances. This bill attempts to circumvent provisions of federal controlled substances laws as enforced by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. Portions of this bill may also violate Section 14 of Article II of the State Constitution regarding the scope of subjects each law enacted by the Legislature may encompass.
“I am concerned that the Legislature, in their efforts to address local concerns, may not have fully taken into account existing federal laws or requirements,” Governor Lingle said. “The State of Hawai‘i must abide by federal statutes when they prevail or pre-empt state action, as is the case with these four measures.”
via GOVERNOR LINGLE VETOES BILLS THAT ARE PRE-EMPTED BY OR VIOLATE FEDERAL LAWS — Office of the Governor.
Excuse me, Governor Lingle, but that is a huge steaming load of Kükae lio. The bill, SB 1058, didn’t direct Hawai’i to violate any existing federal statutes. What you vetoed was a task force to study medical marijuana issues:
- “Examine current state statutes, state administrative rules, and all county policies and procedures relating to the medical marijuana program;”
- “Examine all issues and obstacles that qualifying patients have encountered with the medical marijuana program;
- “Examine all issues and obstacles that state and county law enforcement agencies have encountered with the medical marijuana program;”
- “Compare and contrast Hawaii’s medical marijuana program with all other state medical marijuana programs;”
- and “address other issues … the task force deems appropriate.”
You can’t seriously believe Controlled Substances Act prevents a state government from examining things, can you?
[...] look at recent gubernatorial medical marijuana vetoes by Hawaii’s Linda Lingle, Minnesota’s Tim Pawlenty, New Hampshire’s John Lynch, and Rhode Island’s Donald [...]
Gov Linda musta gotten the same call from the Feds that El Paso got. No federal money if you discuss taboo subjects.
I don’t know, maybe something in the Patriot Act forbids questioning the federal government. She could be right.
aren’t these the same people who scream states rights when the federal government tries to do stuff they don’t like?