Drug War Issues
Politics & Advocacy
New Jersey and New York efforts to legalize marijuana this year are faltering, New Jersey expands its medical marijuana system, USAID sends $160 million to Colombia, and more.
Illinois Legalization Bill Could Remove Home Cultivation. The marijuana legalization bill filed last week, SB 002, may see its home cultivation provision stripped out in a bid to appease critics, bill sponsor Sen. Heather Steans (D) has confirmed. Illinois NORML said if that happens, it will have to reconsider whether to support the bill.
New Jersey, New York Marijuana Legalization Bills Stalled. In both states, efforts to get a legalization bill through this year appear to have run out of steam. When New Jersey was unable to gets its bill through in March, that took pressure off of neighboring New York, and now momentum has stalled there, too.
Cincinnati Moves to Decriminalize Marijuana Possession. The city council on Wednesday voted to decriminalize the possession of marijuana. The council approved two separate measures, one that would decriminalize up to 200 grams, the other that would decriminalize up to 100 grams. There would be no fine or jail time, but the person would be guilty of a “minor misdemeanor” of marijuana possession even though the ordinance says that doesn't "constitute a criminal record." A final vote on the possession limit will come later.
Medical Marijuana
Democratic Presidential Candidate Seth Moulton Files Three Veterans' Medical Marijuana Bills. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA), who recently announced he is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, filed three House bills concerning medical marijuana for military veterans on Friday. The bills are identical to ones he has filed in the past. One would direct the VA to survey marijuana use by vets, a second would require the VA to train doctors and other primary care providers in the therapeutic use of marijuana, while the third would direct the VA to create a medical marijuana policy.
Maryland Governor Signs Bills Allowing Edibles. Gov. Larry Hogan (R) on Monday signed into law a bill legalizing edible medical marijuana products. That should lead to increased sales in the state's dispensaries.
New Jersey to Expand Medical Marijuana Program. Starting next week, the Health Department has new legal authority to expand the supply and demand for medical marijuana in the state. The department will be able to create a permit-granting system that splits the industry between growers, manufacturers and retailers. That should open the door to smaller players, help the industry grow, and generate more medicine. Also, the health commissioner will be empowered to add qualifying medical conditions. This does away with the cumbersome Marijuana Review Panel.
Hemp
Iowa Governor Signs Hemp Bill. Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) on Monday signed into law SF 599, which legalizes hemp production in the state. She warned, however, that the measure “does not legalize the sale or manufacturing of…CBD."
Foreign Policy
US Announces Funding for Colombia Peace Process. The US Agency for International Development announced Monday that it will provide $160 million in funding to Colombia to help implement the historic peace accord signed between the state and now-disarmed FARC rebels. "These funds are destined for important work, for the implementation of peace, to promote reconciliation, to help rural communities, to improve security for citizens and to strengthen the protection of human rights," said US AID Administrator Mark Green.
International
St. Kitts And Nevis Court Rules Adults Can Legally Use Marijuana in Private. The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court has ruled that parts of the country's drug laws regarding marijuana unconstitutionally infringe on citizens' privacy and religious freedom rights. The ruling makes it legal for Rastafaris to use marijuana for religious purposes. The court has given the government of the two-island Caribbean nation 90 days to "remedy these constitutional defects."
(This article was prepared by StoptheDrugWar.org's 501(c)(4) lobbying nonprofit, the Drug Reform Coordination Network, which also pays the cost of maintaining this web site. DRCNet Foundation takes no positions on candidates for public office, in compliance with section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and does not pay for reporting that could be interpreted or misinterpreted as doing so.)
Permission to Reprint: This content is licensed under a modified Creative Commons Attribution license. Content of a purely educational nature in Drug War Chronicle appear courtesy of DRCNet Foundation, unless otherwise noted.
Comments
Still no home cultivation allowed in Washington State or Nevada
A very slight exaggeration about Nevada. But this affects how I feel about legalizing cannabis without a right to grow provision. Predictions that Washington State would soon add a right to grow have proven wrong so far, and the only change Nevada is contemplating is, naturally, to allow on site consumption, something that they can make money from. So far the lesson is get the right to grow in the initial legalization or forget about it.
I'd rather forget about the whole legalization thing in states like NY, NJ and IL than accept this wild hypocrisy. I'm not into giving the money boys and girls like Johnny Boehner what they want, the right to sell weed for a profit, if I can't have the much more basic right of growing my own.
Naturally, I overestimated how much a desire for justice was driving the success of cannabis reform, of course it has way more to do with the Yankee $.
Support for medical marijuana is over 80%, maybe over 90%, but congress critters are still claiming cannabis has zero medicinal use and very high danger of abuse. If they can ignore that level of support on something that is of such strong general interest, what hope is there that the ruling class will respect public opinion or the civil rights of home growers?
In reply to Still no home cultivation allowed in Washington State or Nevada by newageblues (not verified)
Poll Question
I support marijuana legalization because:
a) marijuana prohibition is unjust, inhumane, and founded on lies;
b) I look out for Number One;
c) my white privilege entitles me to legal weed;
d) I do not support marijuana legalization.
My personal answer to the poll question would be a) marijuana prohibition is unjust, inhumane, and founded on lies.
Now, I wholeheartedly agree with the right to home grow. And I am as angry at the injustice and hypocrisy of legalization without homegrow as you appear to be.
But it's not only injustices that happen to me that matter; I believe stopping the marijuana arrests -- ALL marijuana arrests, in any state -- must be the first priority.
I'm no mind reader, but from the extortionist threat in your comment, Newageblues, I am guessing that your answer to the poll question might be b) I look out for Number One. Am I right?
In reply to Poll Question by Dain Bramage (not verified)
It's the rights of all personal growers that I'm concerned with
Not just my own.
I don't support a reform movement that prioritizes the right of richies to get richer from commercial sales over the right of regular people to grow their own weed. That's an unacceptable level of hypocrisy. that's a new version of the same old money talks and justice walks crap. And my faith that it will be fixed later is GONE, no person of power gives a shit about personal growers of weed. When Nevada and Washington State revise their cannabis laws, it will be to allow on site consumption, not to allow personal growers of weed the liberty everyone else has, and so blithely takes for granted.
That's a red herring about medical marijuana grow rights
They can easily do a stand alone bill to give medical marijuana users that right, that would be great, but not as part of a bill that legalizes commercial sales of recreational weed but maintains felony criminal status for personal growers. That's an unacceptable level of hypocrisy.
It's become clear reform movement power brokers have much bigger fish to fry than insuring my rights, and not just in the initial legaliation process, making sure the big money boys get to sell weed for a profit is where it's at. NJ even wanted to legalize delivery services, but no right to grow your own weed, manufacturing your own killer booze is perfectly fine though.
I don't support a marijuana reform movement that prioritizes the right to profit from commercial sales over the right to grow your own, that's despicable justice, that's just money talking, same old, same old. Vermont did it the right way, the fair way: legalize possession and personal growing, and then figure out the details of commercial sales.
In reply to That's a red herring about medical marijuana grow rights by newageblues (not verified)
So I was right: you look out
So I was right: you look out for Number One.
If you can't have your homegrow, then neither can the medical marijuana patients.
Selfish bastard.
In reply to So I was right: you look out by Dain Bramage (not verified)
Keep ignoring most of what I say, demagogue
If they can't get a stinking no home grow recreational legalization thru the legislature, they can EASILY get a 5 plant limit bill thru the legislature for MMJ patients. So patients would be covered either way. If you want to argue that I want to force recreational users to buy from the black market if I can't get my home grow, that would be an accurate description of my views. Their right to buy legally is no more precious to me than my right to grow my own legally.
In reply to Keep ignoring most of what I say, demagogue by newageblues (not verified)
Denial. It ain't a river in
Denial.
It ain't a river in Africa.
Those weren't your options. The bill you say you will oppose will have homegrow for patients only.
You would force medical marijuana patients onto the black market until YOU get YOURS.
You would force ALL recreational patients to risk arrest, as well; all because YOU want YOURS.
Obstructionist.
Never underestimate the power of denial!
In reply to Denial. It ain't a river in by Dain Bramage (not verified)
That's okay, Newageblues.
That's okay, Newageblues. Looking out for Number One isn't all bad. We all do it.
Just admit it, okay? You're not in this thing for social justice, or even to fight hypocrisy. Shit! You're a Trump supporter. "Saynotohypocrisy?" Shiiiiiiiit. You've tipped your MAGA hand already when you freaked out about MAGA "safe spaces."
Just admit it, okay? You are here for Trump. You are here to obstruct and divide and extort.
Do you want Pelosi to move on rescheduling weed or don't you?
You ignored that issue yesterday, but it's back today.
In reply to Do you want Pelosi to move on rescheduling weed or don't you? by newageblues (not verified)
You don't listen, do you?
Are you unable to comprehend my comments? Are you ignoring them? Or, are you simply not reading them?
How many times do you need me to repeat myself?
THE FIRST AND ONLY THING I WANT NANCY PELOSI TO DO IS TO DEFEAT TRUMP. THAT IS THE TOP AND ONLY PRIORITY AT THIS TIME: TO SAVE OUR DEMOCRACY FROM FASCISM!!
GOT IT? FUCK NO, I DO NOT WANT NANCY PELOSI WASTING PRECIOUS TIME TALKING TO TRUMP, TRYING TO NEGOTIATE WITH TRUMP, OR TREATING TRUMP AS IF HE WERE IN ANY WAY A LEGITIMATE GODDAMN PRESIDENT. HE IS NOT. HE IS A GODDAMN PUTIN PUPPET, AND I DO NOT WANT NANCY PELOSI NEGOTIATING AMERICAN POLICY WITH A STINKING PUTIN PUPPET.
FUCK NO!! FUCK NO!! FUCK NO!!!!!!!
(Any of this getting through?)
In reply to You don't listen, do you? by Dain Bramage (not verified)
Once more, for the hard of hearing...
THE FIRST AND ONLY THING I WANT NANCY PELOSI TO DO IS TO DEFEAT TRUMP.
Add new comment