US Congressman: Federal MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION Will Happen This Decade

[Segami]

Oregonian Congressman (D) Earl Blumenhaur delivered a momentous speech in front of Congress yesterday during which he prophesied an impending shift in U.S. federal drug policy. The kind-eyed and even-keeled congressman proclaimed in a calm yet authoritative manner that the future is green:

“Sometime in this decade the U.S. will tax and regulate Marijuana,” “Our federal laws are frozen in time, but the American public has moved on… Majorities now say it should be legal, and even more say the federal government should not interfere with whatever state laws are in place.”

The congressman’s weary frustration with the United States’ borderline schizophrenic drug policies is a symptom of the stagnant dialogue surrounding drug policy. The truth is staring the American public, and Earl Blumenhaur, in the face.


We’ve heard it all before: deplorable incarceration rates (5% of the worlds population and 25% of its prisoners), a thriving and highly destructive multi-national black market: the U.S. isn’t just losing the war on drugs, its consciously sustaining it. The largely privatized U.S. prison system and the FDA have grown into bureaucratic tumors as a result of our ineffective, half hearted attempt at prohibition. A change is coming, the real question is, “when?”


While his speech may seem like just another congressman blabbing in front of his grey haired co-workers, Earl Blumenhauer has a history of getting ahead of the curve. Earl was an early supporter of the 26th amendment responsible for lowering the voting age to 18. He also played a pivotal role in designing Portland Oregon’s state of the art public transportation system. He’s a proven catalyst for change, and it may be that one day we look back on this speech as a moment when the tide finally turned.



http://www.marijuana.com/news/2014/01/us-senator-federal-marijuana-legalization-will-happen-this-decade/

[Scuba]

1. “Our federal laws are frozen in time, but the American public has moved on …"

[Segami]

2. Earl Blumenhaur: "..It's INSANE to force..

...hundreds of LEGAL marijuana businesses to be ALL CASH.....We should end the grotesque punitive public taxation for these LEGAL small businesses..."

[Ranchemp.]

3. Uh Oh.

DEA ain't gonna like that, there goes a huge portion of their asset seizure funds.

My take on this? It's about frickin time, arresting and imprisoning people and seizing their belongings for using MJ is one of the most onerous aspects of the WOD.

[riversedge]

27. Local police depts also depend on the money from drug siezures.

[Lint Head]

4. If people had any sense it would happen tomorrow.

[jeff47]

5. FDA? Did they mean DEA? (nt)

[Hun Joro]

6. I wonder if that will mean anything to employers who drug test.

I haven't partaken in many years because I like to receive a paycheck. My employer uses the hair test, so they are able to go back a good while. I don't care for the effects of alcohol, and would love to be able to relax any way I choose on my own time.

[thefool_wa]

13. Probably not

The government has already shown that it will defend corporations right to deprive us of whatever rights they choose in order to employ you. (I contend, as many do, that ALL drug testing is a violation of the 4th and 5th amendments).

[tridim]

14. I don't know about that.. Can a company fire someone for eating spinach?

If not, they wont be able to fire someone for eating Cannabis.

Both are (or will be very soon) legal herbs.

It's really an EOE issue, and I assume courts will have to rule on it soon.

[thefool_wa]

15. in "Employment At Will" states

They can fire you for whatever they like. Including eating spinach. They typically WON'T, but in my old call center we had a woman who had a legitimate medical MJ card and they fired her over it. Then when she sued the state supreme court upheld that they can fire you for whatever they like.

I hate it too, but corporate interests trump law every time.

[tridim]

17. Fucking Republicans. Get ready SCOTUS, this is headed your way.

[tridim]

7. As far as I'm concerned it's already legal.

TPTB just don't know it yet... They are in denial.

It's going to happen within a few months of the 2014 elections. Watch.

I'm already planning my new career direction.

[thefool_wa]

12. Me too

Weed Farms are going in in my county in Washington in the next few months. Time to change from a corporate slave to a farmer

[SamKnause]

8. Cannabis

It's time to blow the old myths and fallacies right out of the water

Well done sir, well done indeed !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Harmony Blue]

9. And the death knell of the drug war has commenced

what a waste of money.

[Fumesucker]

10. So the government is going to admit they've been lying for 70 years about cannabis?

Somehow I rather doubt that.

[Bluenorthwest]

16. Gosh no, they just mutter about new findings and modern times

maybe State's Rights for some extra crunch and poof, it's done.

[Initech]

11. Legalize it and close the for profit prisons!

[StrictlyRockers]

18. One can only hope that this becomes true.

The WOD is a charade to fund law enforcement orgs.

[thefool_wa]

19. And yet this is going on...

One of the tribes in my state has decided to use tribal treaties to do the federal governments work FOR them and fight legalization. I cannot imagine what their motive is, but I don't like this one bit.


http://hemp.org/news/content/washington-yakama-nation-moves-ban-marijuana-10-counties

[eShirl]

20. so get to it

wtf are they waiting for?

[ryan_cats]

21. If they do, what about people in prison?

If they do legalize it at the federal level, what about people in prison? Will they release them? What about people in process, will they stop prosecution? I don't know if this is going to happen, I still can't believe it passed in Colorado and Oregon but it doesn't pass in California.

[B Calm]

22. The only ones against legalization are criminals, drug cartels, and

the ones who profit by locking people up!

[WorseBeforeBetter]

23. Brian Schweitzer on legalization...

Also Monday, former Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, who’s doing everything he can to drum up speculation that he could seek the Democratic Party’s 2016 presidential nomination, offered his loose approval of Colorado’s legalization move when asked about it by Slate’s Dave Weigel.

“Each society has to make choices about what’s against the law. You have a large percentage of the population that’s already using this,” Schweitzer told Weigel. “The war on drugs is another war that appears to have been lost. This experiment with prohibition of marijuana doesn’t seem have to been working.

“Colorado might have it more right than the rest of us.”

http://kdvr.com/2014/01/06/support-for-marijuana-legalization-grows/

Not good, O'Malley:

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Lawmakers in Maryland will introduce legislation early in 2014 to legalize the possession, cultivation, and retail sale of marijuana to adults, and has bi-partisan support in the Senate.

The proposed bill would remove all criminal and civil penalties for the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana and allow the personal cultivation of up to 6 marijuana plants by those over the age of 21. The bill would also create a system of retail marijuana stores, cultivation facilities, and marijuana product manufacturers.

....

While the bill has growing support among lawmakers in Maryland, Governor Martin O’Malley, a Democrat, said earlier this year that he is opposed to marijuana legalization in the state, which could slow the bill’s progress.

“I’ve seen what drug addiction has done to the people of our state and the people of our city,” O’Malley said during an interview with WEAA 88.9 FM. O’Malley, who is term-limited and can not seek reelection, gained political prominence as the former tough-on-crime mayor of Baltimore being elected governor.

....

http://www.thedailychronic.net/2014/27171/marijuana-legalization-bill-introduced-maryland/

Anyone have anything on Hillary's position?

[B Calm]

25. Governor O'Malley is on the wrong side. Could he be profiting by keeping it illegal?

[WorseBeforeBetter]

26. I haven't kept up with MD politics...

perhaps that's the case. I'd expect it from my asshole governor McCrory (R-NC), but not a Democratic governor of a DEEPLY blue state...

[jmowreader]

31. I worry about this "up to one ounce" thing

If one ounce (28.349 grams) is all that's legal, every cop car in the state will be equipped with a precision scale so they can bust people who have 29 grams of weed.

A "bulk possession" license that will allow you to grow six pounds per year of cured pot, or the produce of six plants whichever is greater, would be very popular. (If you go to 420magazine.com you'll find guys bragging about getting five pounds off a plant grown outside. This might be bullshit but on the off chance it isn't...) Charge $50 per year and only allow you to sell to a licensed pot store.

[CanSocDem]

24. Think of the social changes...

...that are inevitable when people get 'high' instead of drunk. Divorce and domestic violence will plummet, people will care about their job or find one that is worthy and health centers will replace hospitals. In regards to the preponderance of sexual violence, Wilhelm Reich set up counseling centers around Vienna in the 19 Century that were quite successful. There will probably be a lot of kids wandering around that "...just want to rap." A good opportunity to impart good social values.

So far all they got is the driving thing. That'll be solved when they people demand more public green space where they can walk.

[ConcernedCanuk]

28. umm - no - it ain't gonna be federally approved in the USA.

.
.
.

WHY?

Because if the general population starts mellowing out, which weed is known to do -

where the hell are the MIC/PNAC gangs gonna get their warriors/cannon fodder?

Drug lords/cartels will oppose it, as will Big Pharma.

MJ is known for its medical benefits, both physical and psychological.

Prescription drug sales would plummet, as would global war . . .

USA is run by corporations with deep pockets,

there is NO MONEY TO BE MADE by legalizing MJ (for them).

A healthier, happier population will not support wars.

that is all . . .

. . .sigh . . .

CC

[wildbilln864]

29. I fear you're correct but....

I hope we're both wrong! Educating the public is the key.

[blackspade]

30. I could see this guy as a viable presidential pick.

[TeamPooka]

32. Prohibition is a failed public policy. nt