Crackdown on Legalized Marijuana

[MyCollie]

Once Mexico and Canada finish making their moves the war on pot is effectively over unless there is somehow enough political capital to be made by continuing to beat the dead horse as opposed rolling in the taxes.
or

Let’s hope you’re right. Sessions seems to be blaming the opioid crisis on liberal marijuana laws. Of course, that must be the reason for opiate use in his home state of Alabama, right?

He wants to go back to the days of “Just say no.” He has an obsession with marijuana that’s disturbing. Over two decades of progress are now in serious danger. Hopefully the money will talk and Jeff Sessions won’t win. He’ll need the support of Congress with this one. With the support for medical & recreational marijuana at an all time high, the tax income from marijuana sales, and various marijuana related businesses he might have some issues. Also, I’m not sure Republicans are going to want to go against public opinion anytime soon given the current state of affairs and that might be what really prevents a giant crackdown on at least medical marijuana.

 

[C No Ego]

Let’s hope you’re right. Sessions seems to be blaming the opioid crisis on liberal marijuana laws. Of course, that must be the reason for opiate use in his home state of Alabama, right?

He wants to go back to the days of “Just say no.” He has an obsession with marijuana that’s disturbing. Over two decades of progress are now in serious danger. Hopefully the money will talk and Jeff Sessions won’t win. He’ll need the support of Congress with this one. With the support for medical & recreational marijuana at an all time high, the tax income from marijuana sales, and various marijuana related businesses he might have some issues. Also, I’m not sure Republicans are going to want to go against public opinion anytime soon given the current state of affairs and that might be what really prevents a giant crackdown on at least medical marijuana.

medical marijuana right from t he start is at a disadvantage... if it's considered OK do you realize it will be the only plant to be termed medical? plants are the opposite of medicine when we think of medicine as made in a lab to prescribe etc... that's why medical marijuan will never make it in that form.. it's better categorized as ( botanical food substance ) ( botanical drug substance) or plain OL plant life that pops up like.. the medical programs will all be placed into rec legal systems so that plants do not compete with big pharma

 

[CarolKing]

Fuck you to Sessions and Hugh Hewitt. I thought Hewitt was one of the brighter bulbs in the republican media? I guess not.
Jeff Sessions 'Can't Comment' On Marijuana Crackdown Plans
Oct. 26, 2017 this is written by Tom Angell

I cover the policy and politics of marijuana Hugh Hewitt about using federal racketeering laws to go after marijuana businesses.

"A lot of states are just simply breaking the law," Hewitt argued. "A lot of money is being made and banked. One RICO prosecution of one producer and the banks that service them would shut this all down. Is such a prosecution going to happen?"


Sessions replied that he's not sure an enforcement strategy could be so simple.

"I don't know that one prosecution would be quite as effective as that," he said. "We will analyze all those cases and I can't comment on the existence of an investigation at this time. I hear you. You're making a suggestion. I hear it. You're lobbying."

In a separate appearance at the Heritage Foundation on Thursday, Sessions elaborated on his disdain for society's shifting attitudes toward marijuana and other drugs.

"We've got to reestablish first a view that you should say no. People should say no to drug use," he said. "This whole country needs to be not so lackadaisical about drugs. ... Much of the addiction starts with marijuana. It's not a harmless drug."

While a senator, Sessions was one of Congress's most vocal opponents of cannabis law reform. During one hearing, for example, he said, "Good people don't smoke marijuana."

He also spoke out against legalization last month.

"I've never felt that we should legalize marijuana," he said. "It doesn't strike me that the country would be better if it's being sold on every street corner."

Also last month, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein expressed concerns about state cannabis reforms and said that the Justice Department is considering rescinding Obama-era guidance that has generally allowed local marijuana laws to proceed without much federal interference.

"We are reviewing that policy," he said. "We haven't changed it, but we are reviewing it. We're looking at the states that have legalized or decriminalized marijuana, trying to evaluate what the impact is."

But last week, Sessions indicated in appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee that he is open to at least allowing more marijuana cultivation for research purposes.

“I think it would be healthy to have some more competition in the supply,” he said in response to a question from Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), who has in recent weeks become a leading Congressional champion for medical cannabis.

A Gallup poll released on Wednesday found that 64% of Americans support legalizing marijuana. For the first time in the firm's 48 years of polling on cannabis, a majority of Republicans are on board with ending prohibition.

Tom Angell edits cannabis news portal Marijuana Moment and founded the nonprofit Marijuana Majority. Follow Tom on Twitter and subscribe to his newsletter

 

[Chicken #420]

You tell me I can't do this and that...
The world can't be much wickeder!
-Ziggy Marley

 

[Deleted Member 1643]

From today's NYT:

The straight dope on marijuana use among ‘good people’
By NICHOLAS FANDOS and MATT APUZZO

“You said one time that good people don’t smoke marijuana,” Mr. Cohen said. “Which of these people would you say are not good people?”

Mr. Sessions began to explain in earnest, but Mr. Cohen cut him off.

“Quickly. John Kasich, a good person? George Pataki, Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich, Jeb Bush, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Judge Clarence Thomas — which are not good people?” he demanded, citing prominent Republicans who, ostensibly, have admitted smoking dope.

Mr. Sessions, laughing with much of the hearing room, chalked it up to context. “So the question was, what do you do about drug use, the epidemic we’re seeing in the country, and how you reverse it. Part of that is a cultural thing. I explained how when I became the United States attorney in 1981, and the drugs were being used widely, over a period of years, it became unfashionable, unpopular, and people were seeing — it was seen as such that good people didn’t use marijuana.”

And with that, Mr. Cohen’s allotted time for questioning ended.

A silver lining in Roy Moore's shenanigans? Sessions is being urged to reclaim his Senate seat.

 

[Krazy]

Sessions "logic" is the same thing we are seeing with many of these Hollywood, corporate, and government rapists.

I shouldn't be held accountable NOW for things I was able to get away with THEN.

 

[FractaLSD]

Imagine, using RICO, meant for mafia and such, to take down mom and pop dispensaries.

Good news, guys, no need to worry about Jeff Sessions cause he isnt doing shit.

I even read a quote recently where he said something like "back in the 80s it was very unfashionable to smoke marijuana, i guess things have changed in todays world" (referring to his MJ disconnect from modern society).

I think even sessions knows not to fuck with a multi-billion $ industry thats been a boon to the states and plenty of politicals have briefed him on this reality. The only time he will say shit like that is probably when his own ass is on the line and he needs to distract democrats with something scarier than Russia meddling

I think most important: its good to be an activist, but dont be down in the dumps about a hypothetical

 

[mitchgo61]

https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomang...ijuana-policy-remains-in-effect/#a37981b3318e

“Obama-era guidance that allows states to legalize marijuana without federal interference remains in effect, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said on Tuesday during a congressional hearing. He also conceded that cannabis is not as dangerous as heroin and that a current budget rider prevents the Department of Justice from prosecuting people who are in compliance with state medical marijuana laws.”

 

[howie105]

In the past federal policy on MJ has been politically and money driven, which has seldom been a good for MJ users. I doubt that those driving the goals in the opposite direction, but for the same reasons (positional and financial advantage) will do as well as they could. The fed just needs to pull all its MJ regulations and walk away. The MJ community can take care of its self.

 

[C No Ego]

https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomang...ijuana-policy-remains-in-effect/#a37981b3318e

“Obama-era guidance that allows states to legalize marijuana without federal interference remains in effect, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said on Tuesday during a congressional hearing. He also conceded that cannabis is not as dangerous as heroin and that a current budget rider prevents the Department of Justice from prosecuting people who are in compliance with state medical marijuana laws.”

I was thinking that Bill only protected States with Medical and not so much the rec side of things? are rec states protected in that bill as well?

 

[mitchgo61]

I was thinking that Bill only protected States with Medical and not so much the rec side of things? are rec states protected in that bill as well?

Not technically. It prevents the DOJ from using any federal funds to go after medical providers or users in states with legal MMJ. Amazingly, our little hobbit appears to have expanded his understanding of it to include legal rec weed. Sounds like, tentatively, good news.

Of course one could argue the 10th Amendment actually protects the states' rights in this regard, but I'm guessing lil ol' Jeffy doesn't fully grok the bill of rights.

 

[FractaLSD]

There was a new article about this as January 1 draws near. It is to be expected. Its nothing overt just "WE ARE LOOKING VERY HARD AT POLICY RIGHT NOW". Something along the lines of "there should be a federal standard" but the thing is. Even way before sessions, it would be great if all states had equal access to MMJ. But the truth is MJ is VERY different (attitudes, how it is obtained, and even quality). How would you get BHO in a state with no real medical program for regular people? Obv black market or DIY. Its the kind of thing where in Oregon you might have a cop help you pick up a gram you dropped, and in PA they will arrest you. And it is all the USA after all. On the other hand, im all for "state rights" but i think its the STATE OFFICIALS* and not the people who decide for real if a state will be MMJ.

Look at NY. Everyone smokes pot. 60-70% approval. All kinds of products everywhere but all black market. I found an article, and besides the Prison Industrial Complex, there are SO many companies that are working very hard to keep weed illegal at the state level. For example, alcohol corporations hire lobbyists because in legal states there are less alcohol sales.

PS: personally i dont think sessions is gonna do anything but talk. On any issue, this administration hasnt done shit. Some chick is now "opioid czar" (why do we need Czars?). Good luck with that... and another article came out saying "its not just an opioid crisis. Cocaine kills more black people than opioids and white people". Maybe with crack

ALSO. This administration does not understand or really stand for corner mom and pop (medical) weed stores. To them i think they see that as "recreational". They dont really get the difference

 

[Tranquility]

Of course one could argue the 10th Amendment actually protects the states' rights in this regard, but I'm guessing lil ol' Jeffy doesn't fully grok the bill of rights.

To be fair, on these facts, neither does the Supreme Court. Once the Commerce Clause was twisted to its current meaning by court decisions, much of the concept of Federalism died. As a liberal who thinks Federalism is the only possible answer to so many of our problems, that death saddens me. However, Sessions is not the source of that sadness. It is those who want to increase the power of the government. As I used to have as my ID picture here:

 

[Baron23]

To be fair, on these facts, neither does the Supreme Court. Once the Commerce Clause was twisted to its current meaning by court decisions, much of the concept of Federalism died.

I agree completely....they have expanded the commerce clause beyond any and all reasonablness and there is no higher court to appeal to as SCOTUS has participated, aided, and abetted this Federal power grad.

Worse, the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer amendment expires on 8 Dec (yes, in a couple of days) and it is in neither the House nor the Senate appropriations bill. Its possible to insert it during reconciliation but that would be very unusual.

To me, this is the big, very near term, issue.

 

[Tranquility]

Worse, the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer amendment expires on 8 Dec (yes, in a couple of days) and it is in neither the House nor the Senate appropriations bill. Its possible to insert it during reconciliation but that would be very unusual.

To me, this is the big, very near term, issue.

I suspect the real debate will be in the tax bill reconciliation and we will see the sense of the Congress there. Watch for debate on removing 280E from the tax code. (https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/280E) Currently, selling cannabis is a very tax DISadvantaged business. When the code reflects it as simply a business, the tide has permanently come in.

 

[C No Ego]

I suspect the real debate will be in the tax bill reconciliation and we will see the sense of the Congress there. Watch for debate on removing 280E from the tax code. (https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/280E) Currently, selling cannabis is a very tax DISadvantaged business. When the code reflects it as simply a business, the tide has permanently come in.

majority rules too... how come we have not caught up ? with well more than half the Country cannabis legal... we are well over 50%... I guess majority favor is above 60% now a days... it only took less than 30% of states to be legal for booze to come out of prohibition, though alcohol was only prohibited for a short time while cannabis has been for to damn long

 

[nickdanger]

majority rules too... how come we have not caught up ? with well more than half the Country cannabis legal... we are well over 50%... I guess majority favor is above 60% now a days... it only took less than 30% of states to be legal for booze to come out of prohibition, though alcohol was only prohibited for a short time while cannabis has been for to damn long

We, even as a majority, do not grease the political palms like the pharma, liquor and private prison industries do. They who control the money control the debate.

 

[howie105]

We, even as a majority, do not grease the political palms like the pharma, liquor and private prison industries do. They who control the money control the debate.

You have hit upon one of my concern for the current model of legalization, if MG is placed in the hands of those who are best at greasing palms it turns into "shoes for industry."

 

[Tranquility]

The new legal problem for the industry is private RICO actions. I suspect they are going to continue and there is nothing the government can do about it other than de-schedule cannabis or remove the ability of a private person to initiate a RICO lawsuit. Because of the reasons why people were given the right to being a private DA on some types of actions, I don't think the ability to initiate the suit will be changed.

https://mjbizdaily.com/civil-conspiracy-lawsuits-may-next-legal-threat-marijuana-businesses/
https://my.vanderbilt.edu/marijuana...state-licensed-marijuana-grower-safe-streets/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...ana-growing-operation/?utm_term=.40d51f606074
https://www.cannalawblog.com/much-ado-about-rico/
https://www.cannalawblog.com/much-ado-about-rico-and-cannabis-part-2/

 

[Baron23]

t only took less than 30% of states to be legal for booze to come out of prohibition

I don't think so.

The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress
​

I do agree, however, that now more than ever our elected profession political class and their entrenched bureaucrats are ignoring the express will of the people. You can see this clearly in many states wrt to MJ, but look at the tax situation in MA and the non-smokable restrictions in FL against the referendums that put MMJ in place. Make you want to go out and tar and feather some politicians, won't it?

 

[nickdanger]

...Make you want to go out and tar and feather some politicians, won't it?

Don't forget the pitchforks...

 

[Tranquility]

Don't forget the pitchforks...

No need for the pitchforks, the tar goes on hot.

 

[nickdanger]

No need for the pitchforks, the tar goes on hot.

Oh, but you have to have something to catch them with!

 

[lwien]

We knew this was coming:

Sessions to rescind Obama-era rules on non-interference with states where pot is legal

http://www.cnn.com/2018/01/04/politics/jeff-sessions-cole-memo/index.html

 

[Deleted Member 1643]

From NYT:

Trump Administration Taking Step That Could Threaten Marijuana Legalization Movement
By CHARLIE SAVAGE and JACK HEALY JAN. 4, 2018

“This reported action directly contradicts what Attorney General Sessions told me prior to his confirmation. With no prior notice to Congress, the Justice Department has trampled on the will of the voters in CO and other states,” Mr. Gardner wrote on Twitter, adding: “I am prepared to take all steps necessary, including holding DOJ nominees, until the Attorney General lives up to the commitment he made to me prior to his confirmation.”