Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has introduced a bill that would end federal prohibition of marijuana, marking the latest move the Democratic presidential candidate has made toward ending the war on drugs.
The Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act, introduced Wednesday, is modeled after a bill first proposed by Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) in 2013, which was reintroduced this year as the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act. The Senate bill would remove marijuana from the Drug Enforcement Administration's list of the "most dangerous" drugs and strike marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act, allowing states to decide whether they want to legalize pot for recreational or medical use without federal intervention.
The bill comes a week after Sanders first proposed reclassifying marijuana as a less-dangerous substance, arguing that doing so is an essential component of reforming America's criminal justice system.
"In the United States we have 2.2 million people in jail today, more than any other country. And we’re spending about $80 billion a year to lock people up. We need major changes in our criminal justice system – including changes in drug laws,” Sanders said at George Mason University on Oct. 28. “Too many Americans have seen their lives destroyed because they have criminal records as a result of marijuana use. That’s wrong. That has got to change."
Well this is certainly not going to hurt Bernie's standing among liberals, that's for sure.
And of course he's right, however I don;t really give this bill much chance of passing.
Still it is a strong position on a controversial topic and if Bernie Sanders is known for anything, he is known for that.
Good luck, Bernie. I can't see it passing. I like Bernie but this is not a big issue imho.
ReplyDeleteIt is a bigger issue than you might think.... Look at how far weed deregulation has come since the 90's.... The Clinton administration was tossing people in jail left and right for drug offenses, not long before that it was Reagan and just say no, Nixon, and so forth. Even the Obama administration had a piss poor record raiding medical dispensaries etc... Many people spanning many generations have come to learn the anti drug propaganda was just that. And many people over many generations have worked tirelessly to get to where it is now. Even though it has a long way to go, the door has been pushed open and seems to still be gaining momentum.
DeleteThis was smart on Bernie's part. Hillary has been working hard to mimic all the things that have gained him so much grassroots support, and she can fairly safely bullshit and backtrack on most of those idealistic promises later.... but with this statement I do believe he will have called her bluff.
She is out of touch, old, and old school establishment ways.
Bernie may be old, but he seems to not be afraid of change and paving new paths for the future, instead he embraces it. I'm independent, and lean conservative in fiscal respects, but I like his style.
One toke over the line.
ReplyDelete"Childhood love of cows" on resume Francie Havermeister getting fired for corruption, word on the street says.
ReplyDeleteGood angle for th lamestream media to pick up on - all the good people Palin fired and all her unqualified firends she placed in positions.
Get the ball rolling on exposing the Palins for the corrupt POSs they are.
No ADN mention either.
DeleteAt least I can't find it.
I DO see this bill passing. Many people have had their eyes open when Washington released the figures of that state making over a million dollars in revenue on the first day of legalization!
ReplyDeleteLet churches begin paying taxes first, then worry about what revenue pot legalization would bring in. We could probably erase the deficit and still be at war with the world if Osteen, et al gave up some of their sweet tax free dollars. That has always been a scam.
ReplyDeleteOh, it will be HELLA easier to remove the federal restriction on weed than it will be to pry a farthing from the tight fist of the mercenary 'churches'.
DeleteHow about we do both those things simultaneously?
DeleteSARAH PALIN!
ReplyDeleteHow does legalizing Marijuana applies to Sarah Palin?
Can you say DISASTER?
I hope its not legalized in Wasilla for recreational use. Imagine being raised by Sarah Palin with no parental guidance and allowed to smoke Marijuana?
Can you say DISASTER?
Imagine Track, Bristol and Willow toking up in their white limo and arriving at the Palin Family Drunken Brawl high as a kite.
Can you say DISASTER?
They say that older siblings receives tighter parental control and parents relax their parental control as they raise their younger children such as staying out longer on dates, going to parties and allowing boyfriends to go in their daughters rooms.
How does this apply to Sarah Palin and her children?
Looking at how Sarah Palin raised and allowed Track, Bristol and Willow to run the streets, have sex and get into trouble. Now imagine Piper arriving at school or parties after toking up.
Can you say DISASTER?
Can you say another underage unmarried Palin teenage mother???
Anon 6:39 said: Looking at how Sarah Palin raised and allowed Track, Bristol and Willow to run the streets, have sex and get into trouble. Now imagine Piper arriving at school or parties after toking up.
DeleteYou forgot to mention alcohol and illegal drug use.
@6:39 ~ Are you on meth?
DeleteCuz that's just crazy that you would proselytize that the Payme's would be more misbehaved if weed were legal.
Anonymous6:39 AM Do you really think it matters to Palin whether something is legal or not?
DeleteMost of those things listed sound typical of some households and the challenges parents face raising kids these days. Absent parents. Babies being born. My issues are people who aren't tending to their own household issues,but are all over trying to be acknowledged for their lack of knowledge on policy,current events . The constant sexual references towards our president. The lack of pride in asking others to support an unemployed family. Paymees have come to represent disfunction in the American family in the extreme.
Delete639, you are smoking something yourself. Whatever it is, it's a LOT stronger than weed.
DeleteYour whole world revolves around turning every thread into a post on Palin. No wonder she thinks she is so important - judging by the people obsessed with her.
DeleteIt's already legal statewide for recreational use. A person can have up to an ounce on their person or in their car, legally. Even though Wasilla voted not to have pot stores within the city limits, possession and use are still legal under the guidelines of last year's Proposition 2.
Deletehttp://news.yahoo.com/even-police-saying-marijuana-least-143201153.html
ReplyDeleteLove the ending of your article, Gryph. Bernie *IS* known for strong positions on controversial topics. That's why so many of my generation love him as passionately as we do.
ReplyDeleteBernie Sanders needs to dent Hillary Clinton on character and foreign policy
ReplyDeletehttp://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/nov/06/bernie-sanders-democratic-candidates-forum-hillary-clinton
Cancer.gov...and the NIH have come out and proclaimed that cannabis kills cancer. All kinds of cancer.
ReplyDeleteIt is criminal when this subject comes up, everyone ignores this. Why isn't this national news? Why can't we grow a simple weed with so many health benefits? This is your government institutions telling us this.
WHY IS THIS BEING IGNORED??
Because big pharma and the lying cancer centers would lose money is why. Cancer is BIG business.
Don't believe? Don't want to? Too bad.
Go to cancer.gov and see for yourself.
The B.
Of course cancer is big business. That does not make "cannibis" some sort of panacea, though. Sorry to burst your bubble.
Delete@11:32 ~ Panacea indicates a 'cure' but weed seems more of a preventative measure, to me.
DeleteThere's a rumor out there amongst the cig/weed smokers that the combination of the two puts a person at the same risk of COPD as a non-smoker.
Oh, my bubble?
Deleteare you seriously calling a report by cancer.gov and the National Institute of Health 'my bubble'?
Seriously? You are the kind of person that never changes their mind aren't you? Even when presented with overwhelming evidence that you are wrong.
Instead of your knee-jerk denial why don't you go look for yourself?
They said cannabis kills=KILLS- cancer.
Not cures-kills.
You did not burst anything, you are ignorant of the facts. And, I am quite cerain, trying to convince you would be bootless. Why don't you all go look for yourselves?
The B.
Some might say that it was a stupid, stupid thing to do during a presidential candidacy
ReplyDelete...but I see it as Bernie showing the courage of his convictions.
Surveys have tipped over the 50% mark for Americans in favor of legalizing MJ. Congress of course isn't there, but it seems that politically, does not hurt to go there, and might help.
DeleteThere are far too many people imprisoned for the "crime" of smoking weed; just because the PTB believed "Reefer Madness" in the early 20th century doesn't mean we have to cling to that stupidity.
ReplyDeleteI know more people (in all walks of life) that smoke and function quite nicely. The ones that are a menace are the alcoholics that ruin their lives and those of others with the effects of their consumption of that poison. I'd say ban THAT but we all know how that turned out.
Even with all the campaigning and interviews and speaking to people all over the place, Bernie's gettin' shit done at work. We need a whole helluva lot more like him in government.
ReplyDeleteKind of puts a new spin on "feel the Bern". I'm all for it, especially for medicinal purposes. A lady who contracted cancer twelve years ago when I had it, found that she's got Cancer everywhere, and the prognosis is not good at all. She's in hospice and was put on strong opiates and other pain killers BUT what's helped her have more "good days" is the (illegal in my state) use of Medicinal Marijuana. Her doctor orders it in pill and leaf form, and it's all done through the help of the Cancer Society. What's interesting to me is, she uses less of all her medicines just knowing she has access to Cannabis and there are days when all she needs is ibuprophen or methadone.
ReplyDeleteI like Bernies idea, legalize it, tax it and treat it like every other medicine. Small amounts for recreational purposes should be legal as well. Never heard of someone killed in a car accident under the influence of Cannibis. It's a win/win situation.
While I support Bernie's bill, I think introducing it now is a bad move. It will hurt him in the campaign by giving GOP opposition more ammo against him.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure it would gain more votes than lose.
It is a tactical mistake.
FYI Senators Sanders, Merkly (Oregon) and Warren are co-sponsors of a bill that would ban exploitation of fossil fuels on federal lands.....Sanders actually does this stuff. He doesn't just talk about it.
ReplyDelete