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ALERT: Marijuana Legalization Bill in Congress!

Submitted by David Borden on (Issue #690)
Drug War Issues
Politics & Advocacy

The first Congressional marijuana legalization bill is now in Congress -- please support it!

H.R. 2306, the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act, would remove marijuana from the federal Controlled Substances Act and limit the federal government's role in marijuana enforcement to cross-border or interstate smuggling. States would be able to legalize and regulate marijuana, or to continue to prohibit it, as they individually choose.

Please use our web form to contact your US Representative and your two US Senators in support of this historic bill. Please follow-up by calling their offices too -- if you don't know their numbers (or aren't sure who they are), you can reach them by calling the Congressional Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. And please use our tell-a-friend form to spread the word.

Visit http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2011/jun/23/historic_bill_end_federal_mariju for more information on these bills, and sign up for our email list or paste http://stopthedrugwar.org/taxonomy/term/229 into your RSS reader to follow the news about marijuana policy.

Thank you for taking action!

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

sdgfsdhfgiosh dfg (not verified)

I think marijuanna should be legalized, because if god made the earth, why would he make weed if it was bad.

Tue, 06/28/2011 - 7:12pm Permalink
Uniquitous (not verified)

In reply to by Stand together (not verified)

There are strong reasons from both liberal and conservative standpoints for legalization. In fact the argument might be stronger from the conservative side: does government have any business being a nanny-state, telling citizens that they may use this intoxicant but not that one? Most advocates of limited government would tell you that it does not.

Wed, 06/29/2011 - 8:29am Permalink
stpnddg (not verified)

In reply to by Anon (not verified)

God is real. He did make man in his image. And he did give us Marijuana and the ability to use this gift. They are called indocannabinoids. And "Anon" is the name of a demon.

 

Tue, 11/01/2011 - 5:33pm Permalink
Common sense (not verified)

In reply to by sdgfsdhfgiosh dfg (not verified)

Cancer? Poison? Tsunamis? AIDS?  Really dude?

Legalize weed because it will keep innocent people out of jail and stop young kids from getting killed over nothing. Legalize it becuase it was banned for racist reasons in the first place.  Keep religion away from this.

Wed, 06/29/2011 - 12:20am Permalink
wut (not verified)

In reply to by Common sense (not verified)

Weed is illegal because back in the time of the first presidents, there were 2 biggg types of farms/plantations, cotton and hemp. The presidents all had cotton plantations, so they created legislation to make hemp illegal, hence making way more money off of their cotton. Thats when it all started :[

Wed, 06/29/2011 - 8:32am Permalink
Gingent (not verified)

In reply to by wut (not verified)

All of that was just....so utterly wrong. SO. UTTERLY. WRONG. Also, on behalf of all Ents...LEGALIZE

Wed, 06/29/2011 - 3:17pm Permalink
jnos (not verified)

In reply to by wut (not verified)

Actually, the truth be know as fact: marijuana was legal up to the time of proibition. When it ended marijuana was not taken off the ban - only alcohol. But the enforcement of it didn't really take place until the late 60s and 70s when Nixon started his war on drugs. I was around when it started. I remember a 1/4 pound only being a traffic ticket. So, when people shoot their mouth of without knowing the facts they make for poor reading and a lot of bad rumors.

Fri, 07/01/2011 - 1:36am Permalink
T Baker (not verified)

In reply to by wut (not verified)

It was made illegal as a result of the middle class to upper class men thought that the black men were using it to get white women to have sex with them. I don't remember the main guy's name right off hand but he was a victim and I think he was a senator or something like that, anyway he spearheaded the whole thing just like they did with the Chinese when heroin became bad in the 20's

Mon, 07/11/2011 - 5:33pm Permalink
IV XX (not verified)

The title and timing of this article is slightly misleading. Does this "ALERT" mean this has moved forward past committee, or is it simply a call to arms to get our representatives to push Lamar Smith for a hearing?

Tue, 06/28/2011 - 8:24pm Permalink
rebel rabbit (not verified)

I hear lots of people... who use the "god" made it defense, people who use the "it's medicine " defense, and lots of people who bash the plant... but most of these points are pointless. Unfortunately the pharmaceutical companies, who make billions by pushing their drugs on the people, pay the government lobbyists billions of dollars a year to keep cannabis illegal. Our country is no longer run by the people, it's run by the money, and cannabis would be a very inexpensive source of not only medicine, but fuel and fibers for clothing, rope, paper, and virtually all textiles. It is a profitable plant even if no part of the plant is used because where it is grown it naturally fertalizes the soil, keeps other weeds from growing, and contains natural pesticides and fungicides. In addition to reducing nausea, pain, and anxiety, in the medical field, some cannabanoids also act is very effective antibiotics. All natural antibiotics capable of killing bacteria that is resistant to many common day antibiotics. As well as slowing growth of certain kinds of cancer cells, which reduces the amount of time a person must be treated by things such as radiation and chemotherapy. If cannabis was legalized it would take billions of dollars away from the pharmaceutical companies and industrial corporations. So many studies have shown there are no true negative long term effects to the brain caused by cannabis use. As for the smoking it causes cancer argument, anytime you consume a non completely combusted hydrocarbon it will be carcinogenic. Yet there is no criminalization of tobacco which has many cancer causing chemicals in it. According to many health and medical institutions in their studies, there has never been a case of cancer directly linked to smoking cannabis. As well as there never having been a recordable death caused by the use of cannabis... nearly all anti marijuana propaganda is false. There is no legitimate reason for it to be criminalized and there never was. It was in fact, America's third largest cash crop at one time. Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and Ben Franklin, all grew cannabis. It's criminalization only came about due to competition from chemical, petrol, and pharmaceutical companies, And those with money tied up in them. Simple truth is, it has never been shown to cause any disease or sickness, it does not cause mental illness, it will not make you commit suicide, and legalizing it could save this country trillions of dollars. Not to mention, that it could make this country billions of dollars annually, if it was returned to its status as a cash crop and was used for industrial and medicinal purposes. Which just goes to show you how idiotic our government has truly become. Also, the consumer sales alone for recreational users, like tobacco, could create millions to billions of dollars in annual taxable revenue.
Tue, 06/28/2011 - 8:57pm Permalink
cosmicbrownies (not verified)

In reply to by rebel rabbit (not verified)

Yes to all of this.  Do a little research on how cannibis became illegal in the first place and you may be pretty surprised.  It had nothing to do with being dangerous to your health, but stemmed from a racist political agenda in the 1930's.  Specifically one of Harry J. Anslinger, which is evident with such great lines as: 

“Reefer makes darkies think they’re as good as white men.”

“Marihuana leads to pacifism and communist brainwashing”

“You smoke a joint and you’re likely to kill your brother.”

This are quotes of the man in charge of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, a newly formed department of the Treasury in 1930.  I don't want to spoil it for you though: http://www.drugwarrant.com/articles/why-is-marijuana-illegal/

Wed, 06/29/2011 - 12:11am Permalink
Lavonne (not verified)

In reply to by rebel rabbit (not verified)

I , as a voter, as a born citizen of this country, as a wife, as a mother, as a grandmother of 6, and a friend to most...and a supporter of cannabis due to circumstance changes in my life due to an illness... i wish to say..

That since I have found out I had MS, lost my use of my leggs, depended upon family member for more years than i can remember, loss of work due to this illness and forced to  live on income which pays nothing to live on... reallty open up my eyes to a diffrent reality and changed my life completly...

From being an activist since i was 18, against all mind alterating drugs, including booze of all sorts, and spoke at prisons, boys homes, girl homes, hospitals, and meetings, i was strongly against what these things have done to a loved family member , and have seen so many families torn apart, seen good friends die , and so forth.. but over the years of this involvement , i have not seen anyone die due to cannabis... and when later on in my years , when i became seriously ill and lost the best job i had including the benifits , my life changed drastly... needless to say.. to make a long story short... cannabis has given back to me what i lost... being able to do more for myself.... to live life without the challenges that i face due to my MS, from bed ridden, to wheelchair, to walker , to cane.. still it changes from day to day the challenges.. but at least i am aware of my surroundings, and more alert and due to this i was able to let go of many of the pharmacuticles that was putting me under the rug,, so to speak..

this is something i would like to see come into reality.. to be able to live without fear , to live without wondering if you were going to come in on me and arrest me... knowing that i was breaking federal law, but due to my health knew that the state law allowed the utalizing of my cannabis for medical purposes... but still... i would like to see that way it was in the history when it was once legal in the 1930's... We need our govern afficalas to now pay attention to the people by the people on this issue as well as other issues involved, and work on soulutions to these issues... but first our government need to open up their eyes, including the state afficials, the city afficials, the county afficials, polititions, ect.. We have a right to choose , the natural way of relife and relaxation besides booze, or pharmacuticle drugs which some have not even been approved before they reached the doctor's office..

But also the people should be able to have a choice to obtain safe access to their choice.. like we do with pharmacuticle drugs, which is obtain by pick up or delivery... well that should be allowed to those whom wish to go to a store front , whom feel safe in doing so, and obtain a variety of sorts of strains that they wish to try out.. or open up a coffee house setting or what ever they choose like any other business...But also those whom grow, should be able to have  a choice to grow for that store, or to grow for themselves or grow with a dozen members in a home site business.. but still... the most important thing oto me..

That to live without fear, that someone is going to raid your house due to your growing your own, or due to you obtaining it from a store front, and utalizing it in your home, or visiting a friend and utalizing in their home, even though the state laws allow you to utalize it... its still against federal laws even though they break their own laws and supply it still even today across state lines, to those whom are still alive ... we the people should be able to choose or be able to benifit from both that is available in hand in hand... for example: Cancer or Aids...

And at one time it was legal , so.. lets have it legal again...

Cannabis is growing stronger across our nation.. and at one time we have used hemp products  to serve for our country along side our country men.. whom served for protecting our freedom...

So .. as a voter, as a senior , as a citizen of my beautiful country that i was bornin.. i urge you to free cannabis from the chains that binds her.. and allow her to be free in the hands of your people whom you serve.. people for the people by the people... ... Resechedule it ... but better yet.. let it be free to roam amonst the citizens ....

We can not have a drug free society, when we have pharmacies that push drugs.. we live on drugs from one thing or the other... or we are given drugs that just came out to test.. so.. instead of wasting our government funding on the drugs.. allow it to flow.. freely... for once and for all.. change it to the point that demanatory chean up in a health agencity to those whom are abusing it.. jsut like to booze, tobacco, ... i am not asking for all drugs to be legal.. but cannabis should be free to those whom would like to utalize it.. for most of the population of this country utalizes .. that is a fact... i trust in the laws of our government.. but when it comes to my health.. i must use what helps me most. under the advise of my doctor.. but for those whom use it as a relaxer like wine.. they should be able to be.. so.. please change the federal laws when it comes to cannabis..... thank you... cannabis supporter.... 

Wed, 06/29/2011 - 4:26am Permalink
Cathie (not verified)

In reply to by rebel rabbit (not verified)

You are brilliant, and hit the nerve of the reality of the ban on Marijuana. Thank you for your post. I live with two disabled people: The husband fell and broke his neck, WAS to be 

You are brilliant, and hit the nerve of the reality of the ban on Marijuana. Thank you for your post. I live with two disabled people: The husband fell and broke his neck, WAS to be quadriplegic but now partial. He can walk with a walker and at times with crutches. Had serious side effects from pharmaceutical drugs and the doctors could not stop the intense pain when he had neurological issues such as severe shaking, restless leg syndrome, and other things that were serious, the medical Marijuana has stopped all of that, including serious headaches, depression & insomnia. No wonder the pharmaceuticals try as hard as they can to keep this plant away from those who need it. Not one person ever has been known to die from marijuana alone. Not one. Why this plant is illegal is strictly rooted in money and corruption, nothing less. Too, God is a personal thing, no need to bring it up in a forum such as this as you will receive arguments (not you but the other who DID bring it up). Keep it personal. The other person I live with has R.A., fibermealgia (sp), depresson and a few other problems. We, the people, need to stand up and stop this non-sense. THC or no THC, doesn't matter. This should have never started in the first place, it has caused illegal trafficking, millions of people's lives ruined and jailed. Drug testing should only include white drugs - or skip the testing, and merrit on performance.

The beauty of legalization of this plant creates people the right to help themselves, and in this economy especially. Pharmeceuticals have had their hay day, is the root behind innocent people being jailed and ruining people's lives. Too, cancer is big business, and this plant is known to kill the cancer - cure without the poison of chemo.

It shouldn't hurt anyone to allow this to be wide open legal. If it was, watch what happens to the cartels that depend on it being illegal. Enough said.

For those legislators that keep up the lie, they are the ones to watch with pharmeceutical and tobacco companies - to understand that the money is greater than people's lives. Do you want someone like that running laws in this country? I sure don't.

c.

Wed, 06/29/2011 - 1:54pm Permalink
Bruno Marchal (not verified)

In reply to by rebel rabbit (not verified)

I agree with you, the God argument is empty. God is supposed to have created humans and prohibitionnists, too. But I disagree with your idea that we are run by money. The real problem is that with prohibition we are run by BLACK money, and more and more grey money. This means that prohibition transform the state into a mafia state. This leads to arbitrariness in all domains and this concerns all enterprises and all lives. Prohibition and the war on drugs has been, and still is, a victory for the bandits and the drug dealers. It is a complete failure for health, but also, and mainly, a complete nonsense in democracies. Prohibition of a drug always makes it more dangerous and more available, especially for the kids who become the target one of the bandits. Prohibition of cannabis lasts since a long time, because cannabis is not toxic at all, so that even its prohibition does not make it dangerous. But it is a Trojan horse for the bandits. 

Wed, 06/29/2011 - 2:03pm Permalink
tempname_52456 (not verified)

In reply to by rebel rabbit (not verified)

Yes, but for different reasons than most accept as non paranoid or delusional, lol.
My premious is that "it's all about the money" in this current economical struture existing for our world. ALWAYS< ALWAYS>>>ALWAYS.. about the money.
Since it's just a weed, and can be grown most anywhere, in anyback yard, who's money is threated by legalization? Disruptive forces always have consequences, who loses what money from which revenue streams, should disruption happen(legalization/pot)? More importantly, should the revenue streams that are dependant(in the volumes that they enjoy now) on Marijuana
not having a legal status, exist at all, or even be alowed to call the kettle(pot) black?
Let's consider, beyond"Drug War succesful" or not and get down to the brass
tacks of whom benifits in a war, this war.
Alchohol comprises, in all it's industries involved in consumtion, 5% of the American economy... about 700 billion dollars of commerce.. might some of that go away with legalization? Does anybody care?
A major portion of what's commonly called "Defense spending" is dedicated
to and through private and public agencies with Mandates to spend to Prohibite "pot" in many guises. The essence of the statements of "Billions of Dollars wasted in Drug War" is lost on most.. simply due to overlooking the modeling of any buisness in todays structuring. Meaning, those Billions spent have created jobs and consumption and Bonds And Stock values and CDOs and CDSs and synthetic derivitives against and for other dirivitives.......... 10-30 Billion spent on Drug War yearly does not scratch the underlying financial
concerns where the "Drug War" and "National Defense" come into co-insidense.
And yet the ultimate monetary concern and the modeling that supports that Industry.. just going by shear dollars spent and taking the Social implications, Health Care. Not is (Cannibinols) it better treatment or worse ect... again whom is threatened by disruption(we can grow some of our own medicine in our back yard, marijuana or else products).. How many Billions of dollars, from Pharmas, to Doctors paying education loans to the underlying financial dirivitives, do not want any disruption.

This is not about paranoia, but simple greed,,,, what's in the best intrests of existing edifices of our global societies.

Or to put it more shortly, why would anything be allowed that can grow in your back yard.  

Mon, 07/04/2011 - 11:26am Permalink
markmarkmark (not verified)

A well thought out choice with proper DUI, Trafficking, and Tax laws

 

I stress the word "proper," as in, not overbearing nor too lacks. s

Wed, 06/29/2011 - 2:01am Permalink
Ent#18 (not verified)

Weed has many benefits even to those who arent ill. Marijuana isnt a carcingen of any kind and has much more pros than cons. Marijuana can be addictive the same way anything can. People can learn how to do it in moderation

Wed, 06/29/2011 - 2:13am Permalink
Anonymouse (not verified)

Anybody able to change the e-mail text that gets sent out?  "Won't force any state to legalization marijuana" doesn't exactly read well or make us look all that credible.

Wed, 06/29/2011 - 3:22am Permalink
small_steps_fo… (not verified)

If by in Congress you mean locked up in committee courtesy of Lamar Smith(R-tx) then yes, it is in congress.

Wed, 06/29/2011 - 8:44am Permalink
wake up (not verified)

Legalize cannabis so pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer can take over and put all small cannabis businesses out of business. Lets get rid of the collectives and delivery services and all of the mom and pop growers. Lets let the corporations regulate what kind of weed we ingest and how we ingest it. It's so much easier to pop a pill than it is to lug around a pipe and a bag full of nasty smelling narcotics. This is a great idea. Lets get legal. Legalize today, pop pills and loose revenue tonight.

Wed, 06/29/2011 - 11:26am Permalink
Rested_Knutts (not verified)

In reply to by wake up (not verified)

BigPharma and such will only monopolize the market if WE the users allow it to take place. I believe if full blown legal why would anyone bother goin to BigPharma when they can simply add a few plants to their gardens..? I see clubs staying open for reference and learning as there is always someone who doesnt know whats goin on around them... BigPharma aint gonna promote an individual to grow on there own. Besides when Marijuana becomes legal.. I see it being legal like adult entertainment, even though it would be legal it would still cast a taboo shadow. I see those who vote against legalization and/or use atall, using behind closed doors not wanting to be judged by their own peers as their despised "Marijuana User". If ever BigPharma does run everyone out..watevr, I dont see it happening for a decade or so...

Mon, 07/04/2011 - 1:32pm Permalink
Bigballinbob (not verified)

uptoke!

 

But yeah, the war on drugs is nothing more than a big pharma, privatized prison, etc. etc. scam for money and control of the lower classes.

Wed, 06/29/2011 - 1:46pm Permalink
Anonymous34567 (not verified)

seems like there's quite a few ents here, I'm sure I'll eventually uptoke you all.

Wed, 06/29/2011 - 1:46pm Permalink
TrebleBass (not verified)

The initiative to legalize marijuana in the state of washington in november of this year (2011) is not going to get enough signatures in time to be on the ballot. They have 60,272 signatures and need 241,153. I don't know what the due date is but it must not be very far away if the election is in november (that's four months). If you live in washington, please sign the petition:

www.sensiblewashington.org

Wed, 06/29/2011 - 2:11pm Permalink
David B (not verified)

I just sent this message to my Congressman (down a little bit). I challenge everybody who reads to send a letter to your representatives. Use your knowledge of the individual to tailor a message that will be accepted. If you think they might lean toward the Tea Party don't forget they support states rights whenever it suits them and if they want abortion or whatever to be regulated by the states they need to balance that with an elimination of the federal prohibition of marijuana.

I would like to express my support for H.R. 2306 which would in essence leave it up to the individual states how to regulate the use of marijuana. As a fellow Republican I am sure that you believe in states rights and a smaller central government. Here is a perfect issue to demonstrate your support of states rights. This law will not affect the use of marijuana in Virginia one bit. It will remain against the law. I expect that well over 90% of all prosecutions of marijuana offenses occur at the state level and that will not change. I do believe that it has medical value and that these uses should be researched. The federal prohibition has prevented valuable research in this area.

Wed, 06/29/2011 - 2:23pm Permalink
ConservativeCh… (not verified)

Note that Judiciary committee chair Lamar Smith / Texas has spoken against the bill; here are some of his campaign finances http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?type=C&cid=N00001811&newMem=N&cycle=2010

Note the National Beer Wholesaler Association funding.

Here’s  a list of other National Beer Wholesalers Assn contributions http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/totals.php?cycle=2010&id=D000000101

 

Note also: Mr. Smith has $2,000 funding from Corrections Corporation, the largest for-profit prison company in America (they want to keep marijuana illegal because it keeps their prisons full and keeps them getting rich) http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.php?cmte=C00366468&cycle=2010

 

Is Mr. Smith trying to protect Americans, or just his campaign financiers?

Wed, 06/29/2011 - 2:45pm Permalink
William Trautman (not verified)

The cats out of the bag and we DEMAND

to be recognized as....................................

People not Lawbreakers............................

Patients not Criminals................................

Citizens not Drug Addicts...........................

We Are Humans Humannity is our goal

 

 

Wed, 06/29/2011 - 3:25pm Permalink
The Mikado (not verified)

Why do people keep calling this a "legalization" bill? This is a proposal for marijuana federal decriminalization. Nothing's being made legal yet. All we're doing is taking off the DEA blanket and letting the states choose. Don't buy into what the average angle-driven T.V. reporter will say, which is, "SO BASICALLY THIS IS LIKE A LEGALIZATION BILL RIGHT?!?!" it's not, and it's far from that. Each state is undergoing its own deserved struggle in figuring this out. To undermine the individual legal process that all states are going through (and will have to continue going through) just because you wanna make flashy headlines by saying "THEY'RE GONNA LEGALIZE IT GUYS" instead of making the clear distinction between "legalization" and "federal decriminalization," which, in this case, are two different things, is about as close to sensationalist journalism as it fucking gets.

Seriously, post the news right. Every time I get someone asking me, "SO I HRD THEYRE GONNA LEGALIZE IT" I just want to punch the editor that picked the word "legalize" as proper nomenclature for what's actually happening. When all 50 goddamn states decide to legalize it? THAT's when we can say, "Hey, they're going to legalize it." But because our country runs through a federal government as well as a series of state governments, we can't just go around yelling that it's getting legalized quite yet. "Legalize" in this case, would be, as I said earlier, a sensationalist term.

Thu, 06/30/2011 - 10:51am Permalink
JOBIEWAYNE59 (not verified)

SPEAK FOR YOUR SELF, IF GOD ISNT REAL YOU WOULDNT BE HERE.....

Thu, 06/30/2011 - 5:58pm Permalink
jimmyd (not verified)

It appears that The initative in Wa. St. has failed to gather the required signatures. I thank the 72000 plus, that took the time to sign the petitions. I beleave as long as the federal law remains, it will be very hard to get states to legalize cannibis. People don't want a state law that is hollow. The state would still be subjected to federal threats of arrest, as what recently happened to Wa. St. MMJ Veto by it's governor. I think this has to happen from the top down.
Fri, 07/01/2011 - 4:26pm Permalink
robert Fary (not verified)

 

 

I have MS and I am in pain 24/7 a friend give me some special brownies and it took the edge of some the pain. Pot will not damage my liver like all the pain drugs. I would buy or grow what I need to get by.

Sat, 07/02/2011 - 2:29pm Permalink

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