|
|
Post by jay57 on Dec 17, 2014 3:37:25 GMT -5
One of my few significant contributions to the old Hampur was to create the weed thread that went 80+ pages. I would like to revive it here.
Changes in this area are occurring so quickly and I'm still not sure if the positive effects of the changes will overcome the negative effects but is fascinating to watch nonetheless.
|
|
|
|
Post by jay57 on Dec 17, 2014 3:38:41 GMT -5
The Federal War on Medical Marijuana Is Over
Good news for medical pot smokers: The $1.1 trillion federal spending bill approved by the Senate on Saturday has effectively ended the longstanding federal war on medical marijuana. An amendment to the bill blocks the Department of Justice from spending money to prosecute medical marijuana dispensaries or patients that abide by state laws.
"Patients will have access to the care legal in their state without fear of federal prosecution," Rep. Sam Farr (D-Calif.), a supporter of the rider known as the Hinchey-Rohrbacher amendment, said in a statement. "And our federal dollars will be spent more wisely on fighting actual crimes and not wasted going after patients."
The Department of Justice last year pledged not to interfere with the implementation of state pot laws, but the agency's truce left it with plenty of room to change its mind. Earlier this year, for instance, the DOJ accused the Kettle Falls Five, a family in Washington State, of growing 68 marijuana plants on their farm in Eastern Washington, where pot is legal. Members of the family face up to 10 years in jail—or at least, they did; the amendment may now stop their prosecution.
More broadly, the change provides some added peace of mind for pot patients in California, where the DOJ's pledge appeared not to apply. The Golden State's 1996 medical pot law, the first in the nation, has long been criticized by the DOJ as too permissive and decentralized.
Medical marijuana activists hailed the amendment's passage as a landmark moment for patients' rights. "By approving this measure, Congress is siding with the vast majority of Americans who are calling for change in how we enforce our federal marijuana laws," said Mike Liszewski, Government Affairs Director for Americans for Safe Access.
The CRomnibus spending bill wasn't a universal victory of marijuana advocates, however. Another rider aims to prevent the District of Columbia from legalizing marijuana; it prohibits federal funds being "used to enact any law, rule, or regulation to legalize or otherwise reduce penalties associated with the possession, use, or distribution of any schedule I substance." But Reason's Jacob Sullum notes that the rider may be moot because DC's pot law has already been "enacted" by voters—it passed at the polls in November by a 2-to-1 margin.
Whatever the outcome in DC, the appropriations bill is an undisputed win for pot smokers. As Slate's Josh Voorhes points out, "the District is home to roughly 640,000 people; California, one of 23 states were medical pot is legal, is home to more than 38 million." In short, Congress has done a bit of temporary weed whacking in its backyard, but it's acknowledging that stopping the repeal of pot prohibitions by the states is all but impossible.
|
|
|
|
Post by Hotman on Dec 17, 2014 3:51:35 GMT -5
In
|
|
|
|
Post by Jets Things on Dec 17, 2014 9:58:11 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by freestater on Dec 17, 2014 10:02:00 GMT -5
I like pot.  |
|
|
|
Post by thebigragu on Dec 17, 2014 10:03:53 GMT -5
How the hell did Filipinos get thrown in there? |
|
|
|
Post by Jets Things on Dec 17, 2014 10:20:12 GMT -5
How the hell did Filipinos get thrown in there? I'm guessing because they're brown and weren't essential railroad workers. |
|
|
|
Post by em31 on Dec 17, 2014 10:57:32 GMT -5
"I also don't believe in pot. For years I paid my people extra so they wouldn't do that kind of business. Somebody comes to them and says, «I have bud; if you put up three, four thousand dollar investment - we can make fifty thousand distributing.» So they can't resist. I want to control it as a business, to keep it respectable. I don't want it near schools - I don't want it sold to children! That's an infamia. In my city, we would keep the traffic in the dark people - the colored. They're animals anyway, so let them lose their souls."
|
|
|
|
Post by thebigragu on Dec 17, 2014 10:59:45 GMT -5
"I also don't believe in pot. For years I paid my people extra so they wouldn't do that kind of business. Somebody comes to them and says, «I have bud; if you put up three, four thousand dollar investment - we can make fifty thousand distributing.» So they can't resist. I want to control it as a business, to keep it respectable. I don't want it near schools - I don't want it sold to children! That's an infamia. In my city, we would keep the traffic in the dark people - the colored. They're animals anyway, so let them lose their souls." Godfather |
|
|
|
Post by 2milehighJet on Dec 17, 2014 11:01:55 GMT -5
Living in a ski resort town in CO, let me tell you that town has seen a "boom" since New Years day. Sales are up across the board for everybody whether you agree with this or not, its fact. And the demographic is wide on who is buying a joint or edible because they can!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by rexneffect on Dec 17, 2014 11:20:02 GMT -5
If you have CO plates or you are obviously leaving CO in a neighboring state you are almost certain to get pulled over because there's a good chance you're carrying weed with you. The airports in CO are also pretty careful with the drug screening to make sure you aren't exporting Colorado's favorite vegetable out of the state. I'd be surprised if the same isn't true in other places that have or will legalize.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ff2 on Dec 17, 2014 11:21:42 GMT -5
I like pot too.
|
|
|
|
Post by Peebag on Dec 17, 2014 11:24:52 GMT -5
If you have CO plates or you are obviously leaving CO in a neighboring state you are almost certain to get pulled over because there's a good chance you're carrying weed with you. The airports in CO are also pretty careful with the drug screening to make sure you aren't exporting Colorado's favorite vegetable out of the state. I'd be surprised if the same isn't true in other places that have or will legalize. There's one county in Nebraska that borders CO where I-76 rolls through - the count mounties have applied for federal aid to help with the wave of drugs flooding through. |
|
|
|
Post by nyahaybus on Dec 17, 2014 11:25:44 GMT -5
Living in a ski resort town in CO, let me tell you that town has seen a "boom" since New Years day. Sales are up across the board for everybody whether you agree with this or not, its fact. And the demographic is wide on who is buying a joint or edible because they can!!! I'll love to get some ganjala treats. |
|
|
|
Post by Fishooked on Dec 17, 2014 11:45:43 GMT -5
Why couldn't my Secret Santa hail from CO
Why
|
|
