Senators will introduce a federal medical marijuana bill tomorrow [TUES]

[Seaf0ur]

Reclassification from schedule 1 to 2 would simply open the door for a shitpile of more legislation as we can see has happened in Colorado since Amendment 64 went into play.
I now wish it had not.
The old system was better.

If congress begins to legislate cannabis, do you believe for one second "states rights" will stand?

George Soros has a LOT of money invested... and we can see what he achieved in Paraguay...

What we need... is a recall of H.R. 2306

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr2306/text

 

[Jhhnn]

I wonder if we are back at the dynamic that defeated legal weed in CA - the resistance from the current cash croppers. Any step forward like this will bring the inevitable market dominance of corporate growers. But as long as personal grows remain legal that seems to be a function of the marketplace that will come sooner or later anyway. I am not willing to sacrifice my freedom to ensure private growers their livelihood - my worry is with reduced genetic diversity

I remember reading something about how Alaska was considering enabling small growers but I can't find it.

That would be better than the current CO model for retail, anyway.

Wait- I did find it-

http://www.adn.com/article/20150225/marijuana-commercialization-bill-introduced-alaska-legislature

A small grower could make a name for himself, like private label vineyards.

 

[HUGE]

that would be fantastic. and that kind of opportunity is what we need to remain available.

I remember reading something about how Alaska was considering enabling small growers but I can't find it.

That would be better than the current CO model for retail, anyway.

Wait- I did find it-

http://www.adn.com/article/20150225/marijuana-commercialization-bill-introduced-alaska-legislature

A small grower could make a name for himself, like private label vineyards.

 

[TheArchitect]

see bold

I see, you'd rather everybody suffer until you get your UTOPIA.


I'll just bite my toungue

 

[m314]

Marinol and stivex are schedule 2. Both are sold in pharmacies. I think the disconnect is that you think that I'm saying you will get raw flowers in a pharmacy. No I'm saying once its schedule 2 there won't be medical flowers as smoking will not be an FDA approved delivery method for this newly approved schedule 2 drug.

Look if you Dont believe me go ask the leaders in this industry like K from trichome technologies , or tony verzura with his prana drops , and I believe just hired an ex Monsanto guy to position his company to survive the switch. Adult use/rec is the only hope for raw flowers in the long term and schedule 2 makes that a tricky proposition.

I don't think schedule 2 would mean doctors can prescribe flowers. I also don't think schedule 2 would be enforced over state medical and recreational laws when they've mostly stopped enforcing the schedule 1 laws at the state level.

This is largely dependent on the President, of course. I don't see Obama letting the FDA shut down medical and recreational dispensaries if this law is passed. Someone like Romney or Santorum might, if they were elected, but they could do the same thing if it was schedule 1. I don't believe the political will is there overall to roll back all the progress we've made at the state level.

I think most of us here want the same thing. The end of prohibition. I'm just a little more optimistic about this law being a step in the right direction.

It's a different subject, but I don't believe Rand Paul wants this bill to be used to overturn the will of the people in states where the people voted to legalize it. Some politicians actually believe in personal freedom over government or corporate control. I'm hoping that whoever becomes our next President agrees with us on this, or at least thinks the states should be free to decide.

 

[Jhhnn]

I don't think schedule 2 would mean doctors can prescribe flowers. I also don't think schedule 2 would be enforced over state medical and recreational laws when they've mostly stopped enforcing the schedule 1 laws at the state level.

This is largely dependent on the President, of course. I don't see Obama letting the FDA shut down medical and recreational dispensaries if this law is passed. Someone like Romney or Santorum might, if they were elected, but they could do the same thing if it was schedule 1. I don't believe the political will is there overall to roll back all the progress we've made at the state level.

I think most of us here want the same thing. The end of prohibition. I'm just a little more optimistic about this law being a step in the right direction.

It's a different subject, but I don't believe Rand Paul wants this bill to be used to overturn the will of the people in states where the people voted to legalize it. Some politicians actually believe in personal freedom over government or corporate control. I'm hoping that whoever becomes our next President agrees with us on this, or at least thinks the states should be free to decide.

Should it pass, I think this will this will clinch no rollback on MMJ, ever. Clinton, Bush & Obama all went along with it, overall, even as they allowed some gamesmanship from the DEA & local US Attorneys. It's way too big for anybody to try to turn it around.

If we're to advance to the personal freedom you mention, the only people who've done that are legalization states, with the blessings of the Obama Admin. Federal law will need to change again to accommodate that completely for states who want it that way.

I think it's too late to turn back on that, as well. While the DEA could shut down retail, they'd just deny States revenue & force it all back underground with the states mostly helpless (& likely unwilling) to enforce any cannabis law at all. That's the beauty of the regulate & tax model- it puts state govts on our side. Here in CO, it even puts conservatives on our side because they know the best taxes are ones they don't pay.

 

[MrBelvedere]

Well said. With 23 states having Mmj laws now, and 12 more potentially soon, this bill has a decent chance of getting out of committee. Currently it's in the Judiciary committee.

Republican Nevada Sen. Dean Heller announced Wednesday that he’s adding his name to proposed legislation to legalize medical marijuana on the federal level for states with medical marijuana programs.

Sens. Rand Paul, Cory Booker and Kirsten Gillibrand proposed the legislation on Tuesday.

In a press release announcing his decision, Heller stated, “The time has come for the federal government to stop impeding the doctor-patient relationship in states that have decided their own medical marijuana policies. This bipartisan legislation puts Americans who are suffering first by allowing Nevada’s medical marijuana patients, providers, and businesses that are in compliance with state law, to no longer be in violation of federal law and vulnerable to federal prosecution.”

Heller’s move puts him at odds with other federal Republicans, who are not only staunchly opposed to marijuana, but have actively tried to halt legalization attempts. In Washington, D.C., Republican Reps. Jason Chaffetz and Mark Meadows threatened the D.C. City Council with the possibility of legal action if it allowed the voter-backed Initiative 71 measure to pass, which enacts a limited legalization regime. GOP Rep. Andy Harris has also tried to block Initiative 71 through a spending bill in Congress.

The Compassionate Access, Research Expansion and Respect States Act, would reschedule marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule II and prohibit the federal government from aggressively cracking down on medical marijuana operations and violating states’ rights. (RELATED: Senators Unveil Bill To Legalize Federal Medical Marijuana)


Rescheduling the drug would be explicit admission by the federal government that marijuana has legitimate medical value.

“We applaud Sen. Heller for co-sponsoring this important legislation, and we hope to see more of his Republican colleagues join him as it moves forward,” Dan Riffle, director of federal policies for the Marijuana Policy Project, told The Daily Caller News Foundation.

“This bill reflects several Republican principles. Rarely do you see a piece of legislation that is designed to protects states’ rights, respect medical choice, support our veterans, and promote tax fairness. Sen. Heller’s decision to sign on in support of this proposal demonstrates a growing level of support for marijuana policy reform within the Republican Party.”

A total of 23 states have medical marijuana programs, and 12 other states are considering legislation to allow a certain derivative of marijuana to treat conditions like epilepsy.

 

[mingmen]

Reclassification from schedule 1 to 2 would simply open the door for a shitpile of more legislation as we can see has happened in Colorado since Amendment 64 went into play.
I now wish it had not.
The old system was better.

If congress begins to legislate cannabis, do you believe for one second "states rights" will stand?

George Soros has a LOT of money invested... and we can see what he achieved in Paraguay...

What we need... is a recall of H.R. 2306

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr2306/text

solid points. CO laws are indeed poorly written

 

[mingmen]

Should it pass, I think this will this will clinch no rollback on MMJ, ever.

I cant help but agree

 

[MrBelvedere]

STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

______

By Mr. BOOKER (for himself, Mrs. Gillibrand, and Mr. Paul):
S. 683. A bill to extend the principle of federalism to State drug
policy, provide access to medical marijuana, and enable research into
the medicinal properties of marijuana; to the Committee on the
Judiciary.
Mr. BOOKER. Mr. President, I wish to introduce the Compassionate
Access, Research Expansion, and Respect States Act CARERS Act. This
commonsense legislation would make our Federal marijuana criminal laws
fairer and more in line with our values and ensure that medical
marijuana is more accessible to the millions of Americans who need it
for treatment purposes. I thank Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Senator
Rand Paul for joining me on this bill, and I appreciate their hard work
on this legislation.
The CARERS Act would clarify how the Federal Government handles
medical marijuana in the States. Currently, 23 States and the District
of Columbia have passed laws legalizing medical marijuana for qualified
patients. But the Federal Government still bans medical marijuana and
treats the people who use it with contempt. It is time we end this
backward approach toward a substance that helps treat millions of
Americans, including veterans, who suffer from debilitating diseases.
Today, the Federal Government classifies marijuana as a schedule I
drug, meaning it lacks a recognized medical value and it has a high
potential for abuse. Incredibly, marijuana shares the same
classification with such drugs as heroin or LSD-substances that no one
disputes are incredibly dangerous and harmful. Schedule II is the next
controlled substances category for drugs deemed to have some medical
use, such as cocaine and methamphetamine. The view that marijuana has
no medical use whatsoever, but the methamphetamine has some medicinal
use is troubling and contrary to science. We can do better.
In 2013, the Department of Justice issued guidance to Federal
prosecutors and regulators to refrain from prosecuting individuals that
use, purchase or sell marijuana in States where it is legal as long as
a State regulatory framework exists that maintains certain standards,
such as a ban on sales to minors. As a result of this guidance, more
and more States have taken steps to legalize medical marijuana.
Sadly, despite this guidance, the inability of Federal and State law
to be on the same page regarding the legality of medical marijuana has
resulted in confusion and uncertainty for State regulators and the
public about what the law requires. This lack of clarity is only part
of the problem. Individual users of medical marijuana in States with
legalized medical marijuana continue to be targeted by the Drug
Enforcement Agency. That is unacceptable and must change. Individuals
who use medical marijuana in States where it is legal should not fear
prosecution simply based on prosecutorial discretion. We can do better.
I am encouraged that the winds of change are blowing at the Federal
level on whether to prosecute medical marijuana, but confusion remains.
While the 2013 guidance likely trumps the prior two memorandum, what
message do these documents send? Is medical marijuana legal or not? Is
it right that the law can be changed at a moment's notice by an
unelected Federal prosecutor? And what protection does State law afford
medical marijuana users when State and Federal law collide, especially
when marijuana is classified by the Federal Government as a schedule I
drug? This legislation brings certainty and uniformity to these issues.
Another problem with current law is that medical marijuana operates
largely in the shadows because financial institutions are scared to do
business with legitimate marijuana businesses. Banks and other
financial institutions are hesitant to do business with legitimate
marijuana businesses because they are concerned about losing their
Federal depository insurance or facing Federal prosecution. As a
result, the medical marijuana industry operates largely as a cash
business which is bad for the economy and endangers public safety.
Dealing with high quantities of cash and having to transport it leaves
these businesses and their operatives as easy targets for criminals.
The current medical marijuana situation in America is untenable. It
is unfair for the Americans that operate legitimate marijuana
businesses. It is unfair to people with disabilities, including
veterans with post-traumatic

[[Page S1386]]

stress, traumatic brain injury or missing limbs who rely on medical
marijuana for treatment. It is unfair to children with intractable
epilepsy who need cannabidiol-known as CBD-to control their seizures.
This issue has a real impact on the lives of ordinary Americans.
Recently, my staff met with Jennie Stormes, a woman recently forced to
leave my home State of New Jersey because of our restrictive medical
marijuana laws. Ms. Stormes' son Jackson suffers from Dravet syndrome,
a severe and debilitating form of epilepsy. Without medication, Jackson
can have multiple seizures in a day. This condition has affected
Jackson's development and put him through a tremendous amount of pain.
Jeannie Stormes and her family shared with my staff the hardships of
living in a State where it is hard to gain access to the medication
Jackson needs. Jackson has tried 23 different drugs in 60-plus
different combinations, but nothing worked to control his seizures. She
talked about how medical marijuana was the first drug that controlled
his seizures and changed their lives. Unfortunately, Jennie announced
her family was moving to Colorado because it was too difficult in New
Jersey to access the medicine Jackson needed to stay alive.
We need this legislation to help the Jackson Stormes of the world. No
child in America with a debilitating disease deserves to live a life of
pain without access to the medication that he or she needs. Jennie and
Jackson's story pains me. It tells me that we have a long way to go.
But their story also gives me hope. It gives me hope because despite
all the hardships they have gone through, they remain strong and
committed to their cause. It is people like Jennie and Jackson who make
our country great. It is for them that we need to continue to fight to
move our country forward.
The CARERS Act would take significant steps towards addressing the
situation that Jackson and Jennie went through.
First, the bill would end the Federal prohibition of medical
marijuana. Millions of Americans need to gain access to the medicine
that works best for them. The Federal Government's current stance on
medical marijuana has only created confusion and uncertainty. This bill
would prohibit the Federal Government from prosecuting persons who are
in compliance with State medical marijuana laws and let people, like
Jackson, gain access to the care they need.
The bill would reschedule marijuana as a schedule II drug. The Drug
Enforcement Agency insists that medical marijuana is a fallacy. It
insists that marijuana is a dangerous substance and it is properly
classified as a schedule I drug. Doctors know that is wrong, I know
that is wrong, Jennie and Jackson know that is wrong. It is time we
finally properly classify marijuana.
The bill would also allow States to import CBD. CBD is an oil
substance made from a marijuana plant that contains virtually no THC-
meaning you experience no high from the drug. CBD is the medicine
Jackson needs-along with thousands of other individuals with Dravet
syndrome-to control his seizures. We must make this important drug more
available so people can access the medication they need.
The bill would create a safe harbor for banks and financial
institutions that want to do business with legal medical marijuana
businesses. It is not safe that these businesses are forced to deal
only in cash. It is bad for our economy and it is bad for law
enforcement. The bill would institute protections that these
institutions need to feel comfortable doing business with medical
marijuana establishments.
The bill would promote research. A large problem for our Nation is
that not enough research exists on the impact of medical marijuana. We
know there are legitimate medical uses of the drug, but we can learn
much more. We need to allow experts to access the drug to conduct tests
and clinical trials to fully understand the effects of the drug and how
it can best be utilized. This will only benefit the doctors who
prescribe it, the lawmakers who regulate it, and the people who need
it.
Finally, the bill would allow VA doctors to prescribe medical
marijuana to veterans in States that have legalized medical marijuana.
Many men and women in uniform who have bravely served our Nation come
home with invisible wounds of war and they deserve the best care
available. This means allowing them access to the medicine they need to
heal or control their condition. Those who have served our country
deserve to be served by us, and that means receiving the best care
available.
I want to thank Senators Paul and Gillibrand for working on this
legislation with me and I urge my colleagues to work with us to help
ensure the CARERS Act is signed into law.

 

[m314]

I think it's too late to turn back on that, as well. While the DEA could shut down retail, they'd just deny States revenue & force it all back underground with the states mostly helpless (& likely unwilling) to enforce any cannabis law at all. That's the beauty of the regulate & tax model- it puts state govts on our side. Here in CO, it even puts conservatives on our side because they know the best taxes are ones they don't pay.

I never thought of it that way. Conservatives who don't get high won't mind taxes they'll never pay.

I'm conservative on most economic issues and liberal on most social issues. I don't like taxes either, but the Colorado model is a great step forward. Pay taxes on weed you buy legally or grow it yourself tax free. There's no realistic path to legalization without taxes.

Actual truth and evidence will make it harder to roll back legalization as time goes on. The sky isn't falling in states where it's legal. Car accidents aren't increasing, crime rates aren't going up, the economies aren't crashing, people aren't getting stupid or lazy. The reasons they use to justify the prohibition laws will look more and more ridiculous as more states legalize.

 

[MrBelvedere]

If you support the Act, let these Judiciary committee members know your thoughts via this simple form. The Act needs to get voted to leave the committee for a full Senate vote.

Spread the word and pound their inboxes!

http://www.judiciary.senate.gov/about/members

http://blog.mpp.org/medical-marijuana/medical-marijuana-bill-introduced-in-u-s-senate/03102015/ click "ask your Senators to cosponsor" for these states that have senators on the Judiciary committee:

Focus on these non med state committee members:
Alabama
South Carolina
Texas
Louisiana
Georgia
North Carolina


These Judiciary Committee members rep MMJ states and will more likely vote yea just for the clarity will bring to their state:
Vermont
California
New York
Illinois
Rhode Island
Minnesota
Delaware
Connecticut

If you do not want to reveal your true address for security reasons, just Google and find a RANDOM nursing home/hospital/highRiseApartments/etc in the state and use the address and phone number of the nursing home.

 

[MJPassion]

I don't believe that. I think you are making hysterical assumptions.
In fact I don't believe it will affect recreational one bit.
I hope you are wrong but can't see any way realistically that this could happen like you outline.
Let me know when the government weed plantations gear up for production

What you believe has nothing to do with what the truth is.

There are many many people that believe the lies of politicians!

Beliefs are the blinders of objectivity.

 

[HUGE]

I see now why you people can't understand the chess game your in. Enjoy your hemp oil cheers.

 

[HUGE]

I see, you'd rather everybody suffer until you get your UTOPIA.


I'll just bite my toungue

Negative douche,

I'm out actually fughting this fight and pathetic appeases like you, make it very difficult

 

[MJPassion]

States rights is all we have protecting us now.

What about individual Rights?

You know... Those Rights written about in the Bill of Rights...

WE THE PEOPLE...
created all of these servant government organizations.
Government is the servant of the people by design...

WE THE PEOPLE are not subjects of the various governing organizations!

What happened to representative government?
You know... A government that bows to the will of the people...

We The People created these organizations to protect us, not subject us...

 

[oldchuck]

I just read a commentary by our state Senate Republican minority leader who is also on the committee looking into legalization. A very conservative guy from a very conservative part of the state, he seems quite enthusiastically in favor of legal weed now. This is Vermont and there is no need for me to lobby any of our Congressional delegation on this issue.

 

[Betterhaff]

“The bill would promote research. A large problem for our Nation is
that not enough research exists on the impact of medical marijuana. We
know there are legitimate medical uses of the drug, but we can learn
much more. We need to allow experts to access the drug to conduct tests
and clinical trials to fully understand the effects of the drug and how
it can best be utilized. This will only benefit the doctors who
prescribe it, the lawmakers who regulate it, and the people who need
it.”

This is a very important part of this bill and will aid in the process of furthering legalization.

By the way, Marinol is schedule 3.

 

[Crusader Rabbit]

I wonder if we are back at the dynamic that defeated legal weed in CA - the resistance from the current cash croppers.

I think that we on the cannabis boards have a biased, self centered view on how the last California election went down. We read people here whining about how legalization would hurt their bottom line and actually come to believe that this noise has some influence. The big money interests (potential industrial scale growers/distributors) have the clout to get an initiative written to their liking and enough money to push the thing over the petition hump. But once a measure is on the ballot it's up to the voters. Analysis of voting patterns in California showed that the baby boomers didn't vote yes in the numbers expected. Parents were concerned about their kids.

Also, in Cali the initiative promoters totally dropped the ball on the voter information pamplet that was mailed to every registered voter. In this info pamphlet the anti legalization side really hammered the argument that legalization would mean more impaired drivers on the roads. The pro cannabis side didn't offer any kind of a response to this. They didn't even mention in their rebuttal that driving under the influence is already illegal. I think this omission resulted in a lot of no votes from the oldsters.

 

[hush]

By the way, Marinol is schedule 3.

I wasn't going to point that out so I'm glad someone else did. It's just, if people are going to take such a hardline stance on things such as schedule numbers, one would think they would get their schedule numbers correct. It seems there is a bit of confusion in this thread over what drugs are in what schedule, and I think that demonstrates that our preconceived notions of what happens with each schedule are probably incorrect.