Today congress will review a new bill which might be passed. This would require growers to get federal permit and then the responisblity to moniter it would go to the ATMF (alchohol tabacco and marijuana and firearms) so no longer dea's problem. Yay ill update more later <3
UPDATE: today at 2:30 Hawaiian time, 6:30 east coast time house bill 699 will be judged and if passed Hawaii will become 3rd legalized state
I highly doubt this will pass, but it's a step in the right direction at least.
In other news, today is the first official day Cannabis will be legal for sale in the two states that legalized!
I'm actually feeling really confident about the bill, I think more and more people are waking up and realizing how stupid it is to treat cannabis this way.
[QUOTE=theif;39482255]Today congress will review a new bill which might be passed. This would require growers to get federal permit and then the responisblity to moniter it would go to the ATMF (alchohol tabacco and marijuana and firearms) so no longer dea's problem. Yay ill update more later <3[/QUOTE]
So instead of it being ATF it will be ATMF?
[editline]5th February 2013[/editline]
Marijuana law reform: New proposal for legalization coming to Congress
Posted: 7:27 AM
Last Updated: 4 hours and 39 minutes ago
By: Gene Johnson, Associated Press
SEATTLE (AP) -- An effort is building in Congress to change U.S. marijuana laws, including moves to legalize the industrial production of hemp and establish a hefty federal pot tax.
While passage this year could be a longshot, lawmakers from both parties have been quietly working on several bills, the first of which Democratic Reps. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon and Jared Polis of Colorado plan to introduce Tuesday, Blumenauer told The Associated Press.
Polis' measure would regulate marijuana the way the federal government handles alcohol: In states that legalize pot, growers would have to obtain a federal permit. Oversight of marijuana would be removed from the Drug Enforcement Administration and given to the newly renamed Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Marijuana and Firearms, and it would remain illegal to bring marijuana from a state where it's legal to one where it isn't.
The bill is based on a legalization measure previously pushed by former Reps. Barney Frank of Massachusetts and Ron Paul of Texas.
Blumenauer's bill would create a federal marijuana excise tax of 50 percent on the "first sale" of marijuana - typically, from a grower to a processor or retailer. It also would tax pot producers or importers $1,000 annually and other marijuana businesses $500.
His office said Monday it doesn't yet have an estimate of how much the taxes might bring in. But a policy paper Blumenauer and Polis are releasing this week suggests, based on admittedly vague estimates, that a federal tax of $50 per ounce could raise $20 billion a year. They call for directing the money to law enforcement, substance abuse treatment and the national debt.
Last fall's votes in Colorado and Washington state to legalize recreational marijuana should push Congress to end the 75-year federal pot prohibition, Blumenauer said.
Washington state officials have estimated that its legal marijuana market could bring in about half a billion dollars a year in state taxes.
"You folks in Washington and my friends in Colorado really upset the apple cart," Blumenauer said. "We're still arresting two-thirds of a million people for use of a substance that a majority feel should be legal. ... It's past time for us to step in and try to sort this stuff out."
Advocates who are working with the lawmakers acknowledge it could take years for any changes to get through Congress, but they're encouraged by recent developments. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell last week came out in support of efforts to legalize hemp in his home state of Kentucky, and U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif., is expected to introduce legislation allowing states to set their own policy on marijuana.
Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., has indicated he plans to hold a hearing on the conflict between state and federal marijuana laws and has urged an end to federal "mandatory minimum" sentences that lead to long prison stints for drug crimes.
"We're seeing enormous political momentum to undo the drug war failings of the past 40 years," said Bill Piper, director of national affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance, who has been working with lawmakers on marijuana-related bills. "For the first time, the wind is behind our back."
The Justice Department hasn't said how it plans to respond to the votes in Washington and Colorado. It could sue to block the states from issuing licenses to marijuana growers, processors and retail stores, on the grounds that doing so would conflict with federal drug law.
Blumenauer and Polis' paper urges a number of changes, including altering tax codes to let marijuana dispensaries deduct business expenses on federal taxes, and making it easier for marijuana-related businesses to get bank accounts. Many operate on a cash basis because federally insured banks won't work with them, they noted.
Blumenauer said he expects to introduce the tax-code legislation as well as a bill that would reschedule marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act, allowing states to enact medical marijuana laws without fear that federal authorities will continue raiding dispensaries or prosecuting providers. It makes no sense that marijuana is a Schedule I drug, in the same category as heroin and a more restrictive category than cocaine, Blumenauer said.
The measures have little chance of passing, said Kevin Sabet, a former White House drug policy adviser. Sabet recently joined former Rhode Island Rep. Patrick Kennedy and former President George W. Bush speechwriter David Frum in forming a group called Project SAM - for "smart approaches to marijuana" - to counter the growing legalization movement. Sabet noted that previous federal legalization measures have always failed.
"These are really extreme solutions to the marijuana problem we have in this country," Sabet said. "The marijuana problem we have is a problem of addiction among kids, and stigma of people who have a criminal record for marijuana crimes.
"There are a lot more
people in Congress who think that marijuana should be illegal but treated as a public health problem, than think it should be legal."
Project SAM suggests people shouldn't get criminal records for small-time marijuana offenses, but instead could face probation or treatment.
I like what they are proposing. Its not forcing legalization across the board, its allowing states to choose for themselves (which is what republicans will like). Also since it is Obama's last term, he wont be concerned about re-election and will be able to take a chance on something like this. However i doubt it will get that far. I dont know how exactly SAM (smart approaches to marijuana) plans on keeping it both illegal and treating the problem. Even if you 'help' those who are 'addicted' (most likely you get caught, choose either probation or treatment, i bet you everyone will choose treatment) its still going to be out there, you are basically putting band aids on a gaping wound that needs surgery.
United Nations, and not only the American Congress, should pass a similar bill.
The entire world must legalize!
North Carolina submitted the ballot to legalize marijuana today to be voted on later this year.
After looking into it may just be for medical marijuana but either way it's a step forward in the right direction.
[QUOTE=acer8;39500257]North Carolina submitted the ballot to legalize marijuana today to be voted on later this year.
After looking into it may just be for medical marijuana but either way it's a step forward in the right direction.[/QUOTE]
I need sources to make an article on my blog :D
[url]http://norml.org/news/2013/02/08/marijuana-legalization-measure-introduced-in-hawaii[/url]
6:30 tonight our time. HB 699 yay
I might as well post this here
ive been checking out the news on marijuana legislation these past few days (for the US) and there is a lot of discussion about legalization. Sure the federal bill wont pass (or maybe, who knows), but it will show a lot more support than before and may set the stage for the next couple of years. Oregon is planning on a second attempt to legalize recreational marijuana in 2016 rather than 2014 since more younger voters will turn up to vote for president. Michigan is thinking about full legalization as [url=http://www.michiganradio.org/post/state-rep-jeff-irwin-introduce-bill-decriminalize-marijuana]well[/url]. New Hampshire is looking to legalize by introducing bills this [url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/new-hampshire/2013/02/10/bills-would-decriminalize-marijuana/TSDf5TIMhIdqFpVARPtOvJ/story.html]week[/url]. Vermont looks to [url=http://vtdigger.org/2013/01/23/vermont-state-senators-introduce-marijuana-decriminalization-bill/]decriminalize[/url]. Illinois looks to finally legalize medical [url=http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1029015]marijuana[/url]. Rhode Island is looking to [url=http://www.theweedblog.com/rhode-island-marijuana-legalization-bill-filed/]legalize[/url] too. Hawaii is considering [url=http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/21077945/hawaii-representatives-mull-marijuana-legislation]legalization[/url]. Pennsylvania is considering legalization however that is [url=http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2013/02/11/news/doc5119551781eaa010715313.txt]unlikely[/url] there. New Jersey currently has a decriminalization bill that [url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/25/new-jersey-assembly-appro_n_1626147.html]still[/url] hasnt been voted in the Senate yet. Texas is working to reduce penalties of possession, just a little less than [url=http://www.thedailychronic.net/2013/14918/marijuana-penalty-reduction-bills-filed-in-texas/]decriminalization[/url]. North Carolina looks to allow [url=http://www.digtriad.com/news/article/268425/57/State-Rep-Introduces-Bill-That-Would-Allow-Medical-Marijuana]medicinal[/url] marijuana.
[QUOTE=Cpn Crunch21;39565618]I might as well post this here
ive been checking out the news on marijuana legislation these past few days (for the US) and there is a lot of discussion about legalization. Sure the federal bill wont pass (or maybe, who knows), but it will show a lot more support than before and may set the stage for the next couple of years. Oregon is planning on a second attempt to legalize recreational marijuana in 2016 rather than 2014 since more younger voters will turn up to vote for president. Michigan is thinking about full legalization as [url=http://www.michiganradio.org/post/state-rep-jeff-irwin-introduce-bill-decriminalize-marijuana]well[/url]. New Hampshire is looking to legalize by introducing bills this [url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/new-hampshire/2013/02/10/bills-would-decriminalize-marijuana/TSDf5TIMhIdqFpVARPtOvJ/story.html]week[/url]. Vermont looks to [url=http://vtdigger.org/2013/01/23/vermont-state-senators-introduce-marijuana-decriminalization-bill/]decriminalize[/url]. Illinois looks to finally legalize medical [url=http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1029015]marijuana[/url]. Rhode Island is looking to [url=http://www.theweedblog.com/rhode-island-marijuana-legalization-bill-filed/]legalize[/url] too. Hawaii is considering [url=http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/21077945/hawaii-representatives-mull-marijuana-legislation]legalization[/url]. Pennsylvania is considering legalization however that is [url=http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2013/02/11/news/doc5119551781eaa010715313.txt]unlikely[/url] there. New Jersey currently has a decriminalization bill that [url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/25/new-jersey-assembly-appro_n_1626147.html]still[/url] hasnt been voted in the Senate yet. Texas is working to reduce penalties of possession, just a little less than [url=http://www.thedailychronic.net/2013/14918/marijuana-penalty-reduction-bills-filed-in-texas/]decriminalization[/url]. North Carolina looks to allow [url=http://www.digtriad.com/news/article/268425/57/State-Rep-Introduces-Bill-That-Would-Allow-Medical-Marijuana]medicinal[/url] marijuana.[/QUOTE]
Meanwhile in Canada. Harper is still dicking around with the courts and the stuffs still illegal.
If it gets legalized in one province though it gets legalized in all of them. Imagine an entire continent where weed is legal.
[QUOTE=ultra_bright;39573926]Meanwhile in Canada. Harper is still dicking around with the courts and the stuffs still illegal.
If it gets legalized in one province though it gets legalized in all of them. Imagine an entire continent where weed is legal.[/QUOTE]
That would be epic.
#update the Hawaiian bill hb699 was defered for the 3rd time ( meaning they will decide on a later date
Goddamn Tennessee....we'll probably be one of the last states in the union to even consider decriminalization of cannabis. Hell, even Mississippi has decriminalization!
Wait so how will the DEA react to all this? Would they still be arresting people in non-friently states or leave it to the state to handle?
[QUOTE=Chicken_Chaser;39574384]Wait so how will the DEA react to all this? Would they still be arresting people in non-friently states or leave it to the state to handle?[/QUOTE]
I'm guessing they would leave it up to the state now that a new bill has been introduced into congress and the Obama administration has explicitly mentioned that he would not enforce federal law onto states that have voted to legalize it, because It wouldn't make sense of course. You still have to remember that the DEA answers to the federal administration and if they're not cool with something I doubt they wouldn't turn a blind eye to it.
[QUOTE=phantom87;39574323]Goddamn Tennessee....we'll probably be one of the last states in the union to even consider decriminalization of cannabis. Hell, even Mississippi has decriminalization![/QUOTE]
Yeah right, I live in Utah dude. You have to be 19 to even smoke a cigarette here. My state will pride itself in being the last state to officially legalize I bet you anything.
[QUOTE=Chicken_Chaser;39574384]Wait so how will the DEA react to all this? Would they still be arresting people in non-friently states or leave it to the state to handle?[/QUOTE]
despite obama promising that they wont go after state legal dispensaries, there have been raids on them. They wont however be going after the smokers, but be focusing on the growers/sellers, etc. I would say the main bad thing about these two states legalizing, is that it was done before the federal one passed. Yeah sure it may have sped things up, but the slightest screw up by either state would be a disaster and set a lot of shit back. Republicans may be on board for the legalization bill (since it caters to states rights, cut federal spending, cut federal power, and amends the constitution, but the second shit hits the fan they will be the first dickheads to say "i told you so", because thats just how politics are.
Sucks that Hawaii's bill was put off, they did so because there "was a swift division of opinion just prior to the vote." Basically members of law enforcement called in claiming that it would create more crime, it wasnt what the people would want, they dont know the consequences, etc bullshit. I can see them taking this to a vote by the public if this keeps happening.
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