Senators Gardner and Warren release bipartisan marijuana bill that prioritizes states' rights
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Senators Cory Gardner of Colorado and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts released a long-awaited bipartisan marijuana bill on Thursday.
The bill ensures that each state has the right to determine the best approach to marijuana within its borders.
Chloe Aiello | @chlobo_ilo Published 1:11 PM ET Thu, 7 June 2018 Updated 7:47 PM ET Thu, 7 June 2018CNBC.com
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/07/senators-gardner-and-warren-release-bipa...
Senators Cory Gardner of Colorado and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts released a long-awaited bipartisan marijuana legislation reform bill on Thursday that would give states the right to determine the best approach to marijuana within their borders.
It does not seek to legalize marijuana, but instead proposes an amendment to the Controlled Substances Act, protecting people who choose to use marijuana, so long as they comply with local state or tribal laws. The bill also states that compliant marijuana transactions are not considered trafficking, and, finally, removes industrial hemp from the list of substances prohibited under the CSA.
"The federal government is closing its eyes and plugging its ears while 46 states have acted," Gardner said in a statement. "The bipartisan, commonsense bill ensures the federal government will respect the will of the voters - whether that is legalization or prohibition - and not interfere in any states' legal marijuana industry."
As it stands, marijuana is federally illegal, but due to the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer amendment, the Justice Department has virtually no budget to enforce laws that say so. The proposed bill would go a step further by making it illegal, rather than unworkable, for the federal government to interfere in state marijuana industries.
The language in the bill is not radically different from the legislation Warren and Gardner had envisioned when they discussed it back in April.It upholds a number of federal criminal provisions under the Controlled Substances Act, and recommends a few new ones, such as prohibiting sales at transportation facilities and distribution to those under 21, except for medical purposes.
"This is not a bill that forces legalization on any state that doesn't want it," Warren said during a press conference with Gardner. "We are trying to take care of business in Massachusetts, in Colorado. We are trying to respect the voters of our states that said this is how we want to do business around marijuana...and we just want the federal government to get out of the way and let them do it."
Colorado and Massachusetts have both legalized recreational use of marijuana.
Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts, and Gardner, a Republican from Colorado, formed an unlikely alliance in January through a shared distaste of Attorney General Jeff Sessions approach to marijuana policy. In promoting the bill, the two emphasized the bill had wide-ranging bipartisan support, due to its federalist approach to marijuana legalization.
"The bill specifically reinforces the 10th amendment — it is a states' rights strengthening act. Republicans historically are a states' rights party, so I think they can really get on board," said Tim McCulloch, chair for the cannabis practice group at Dickinson Wright.
"There has been a general softening, at least on medical marijuana, and I think Republicans don't want to end up on the wrong side of the issue," McCulloch added.
Both Senators have made headlines for their vocal support of cannabis legalization.
Gardner's interests mostly concern his support of Colorado's marijuana industry. After Sessions' move to revoke Obama-era legislation that eased federal regulation of marijuana,Gardner promised to block all Department of Justice nominations, pending a resolution.
His move prompted Trump to agree earlier this month to support efforts to protect states that have legalized marijuana, ending Gardner's standoff on DOJ nominations.
For her part, Warren has been at the forefront of marijuana politics in her home state of Massachusetts. She has expressed a desire toimprove marijuana businesses' access to banking, and reform the criminal justice system as it relates to marijuana law.
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Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: _
As someone who lives in a
Speaking as someone who lives in a very conservative state, this is a nightmare. I always hoped this got resolved by it becoming federally legal.
I hope us living in repressive states don't get left behind.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Is forgiveness possible?
You could always move to a
You could always move to a more enlightened state.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Bluelight
This is last months news.
This is last month's news.
You still don't have a TV?
The link you posted is not working for the record
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Bucky Badger
Bluelight with the savage and
Bluelight with the savage and accurate takedown
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Bluelight
Sorry man its really hot here
Sorry man its really hot here today.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Oaksterdam Dan
<<<This is last month's news
<<<This is last month's news
100% correct blue. Zoning while high has it's speed bumps
you would have thought I would have remember posting it in early June.
WTF bakehead
Green Crack, White Widow, 501st og and Dos I do mixed doob has taken it's toll. I will stop zoning until
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Hitchhiker awaiting "true call"
Why are you letting weed mess
Why are you letting weed mess you up?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: _________
I Am Actually DECREASING My
I Am Actually DECREASING My Bud Intake = I Am Going Broke ___Sad But True __Finances Finally Caught Up.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Alias
>>>>I hope us living in
>>>>I hope us living in repressive states don't get left behind.
Sounds like you are pretty supportive of the repressive politicians, so enjoy. If you don't like it, try to vote in someone better. But I'm not sure it matters that they aren't legalizing federally. I don't see any reason why a state would have to legalize even if the feds do.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Oaksterdam Dan
plf medical card sesh's are
plf medical card sesh's are where it's at in California until the tax man cometh. Local glass blowers host them but most operate on instagram. Why pay dispensaries for weed who are the new middleman hustling weed for scumbag prices $60 an eighth. Getting ounces of indoor fire for $120-$140 depending on your negotiating skills. Some high end herbs go has high as $200 oz (Dulce and Banana).
Think of sesh's like a food truck and dispensaries are like a brick and mortar restaurant. Do you really want to pay a dispensaries rent every time you buy weed?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Bucky Badger
>>>>Am Actually DECREASING My
>>>>Am Actually DECREASING My Bud Intake = I Am Going Broke ___Sad But True __Finances Finally Caught Up.
i read here you can get a pound of weed for like $100 in Oregon
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: 2 Room Shack
Helps to know folks.
Helps to know folks.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: _
>> Sounds like you are pretty
>> Sounds like you are pretty supportive of the repressive politicians, so enjoy. If you don't like it, try to vote in someone better.
Huh? I vote third party whenever possible.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: _
>> plf medical card sesh's
>> plf medical card sesh's are where it's at in California
Medical cards equals loss of rights in CA.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: nebulous nelly
^that's why my buddy wouldn't
^that's why my buddy wouldn't get his card.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: St. Mark
Ender, any voter right of
Ender, any voter right of Chairman Mao is now considered a traitor to #theresistance.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: _
It really is crazy now. I
It really is crazy now. I miss the old pz politics forum. It was better than Other Stuff back in the day. Long friendly discussions with the same dozen people. The average post was several paragraphs of original writing.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Oaksterdam Dan
Don't own guns and don't give
Don't own guns and don't give a fuck about those that do since it's a choice. Shooting guns or smoking weed to each there own!
PS - I don't have medical card either now that there $80 ripoff for whole year $40 for 6 months. Worked the sesh a few times so I'm buddies with everybody who runs it so nobody checks. Have all venders I use personal contact info so if I get found out I'll just stop going until funds free up after DeadCo mini tour depleted them.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Skitime
I saw a billboard advertising
I saw a billboard advertising $5 eighths in Portland last week. And that’s a brick and mortar store, no need to find a Instagram Medical party. It’s probably last fall outdoor but gives you an idea where prices have gone
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Zzzzzz
>>>I hope us living in
>>>I hope us living in repressive states don't get left behind.
Some state in the south/midwest will come to the conclusion that there are millions to be made that can be more helpful than harmful to their state. Can you imagine if Mississippi legalized what kind of income they'd have for the first couple of years while the states around them debated their next steps. West Virginia and Kentucky would be other obvious choices. Fix infrastructure, invest in education, increased tourism, etc. Need a new industry to replace coal?
>>> Long friendly discussions
Indeed, there are quite the knee jerk reactions with sweeping generalizations here....but isn't that the PZ way?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ken D.
>>>>I always hoped this got
>>>>I always hoped this got resolved by it becoming federally legal.
Even if it was legal on the federal level, individual states could still ban it. The 21st Amendment repealed the federal prohibition on booze, but many individual states and counties remained dry (Oklahoma was dry until 1959) and there are still hundreds of counties and cities around the country where alcohol remains illegal to this day.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: 2 Room Shack
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Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: ParadiseWaits
Gardner's interests mostly
Gardner's interests mostly concern his support of Colorado's marijuana industry. After Sessions' move to revoke Obama-era legislation that eased federal regulation of marijuana,Gardner promised to block all Department of Justice nominations, pending a resolution.
His move prompted Trump to agree earlier this month to support efforts to protect states that have legalized marijuana, ending Gardner's standoff on DOJ nominations.
Wait, what?!