Crackdown on Legalized Marijuana

florduh

Well-Known Member
For the first time, a majority of Republican voters support legalization in some form.

https://www.npr.org/2017/10/25/5599...icans-support-pot-legalization-for-first-time

51% of Republicans and 64% of all voters are now in favor of legalization. It would be nice if Congress would do their duty and enact the will of the people into law. They haven't. So States have picked up the slack and passed their own legalization measures.

I've heard States called "the laboratories of democracy". Well, the legal cannabis experiment has been a smashing success. Time to roll it out to the rest of the Country.
 

nickdanger

Collector of Functional Art
You know I think gridlock is/has become the preferred approach for governing. It's often quicker, easier and sadly the longer it goes on the less people care. Following the logical course of such an approach should be disturbing enough to get people out of their idealogical foxholes, but it isn't.
Gridlock is definitely preferred, because then one party can point fingers at the other and tell their constituents "Well, I tried!". And many times, it's a controlled opposition ploy. If any of them would jump on the legalize bandwagon, it would probably be an easy way to get elected, or re-elected. I think this issue would bring folks out to vote that have previously given up on the system. I think they would be surprised at the support they would receive. If they could ever agree, it would be a great bi-partisan coalition.

Our state (perhaps the reddest of the red) is going to be voting on medical in June, and the support of the people is huge. I'm not sure if the Sessions issue will affect this one way or another. There was even someone connected with the current politicians in the State House and Senate say on a local radio show that there have already been talks going on behind closed doors about the progression to rec. The tax dollars are calling them. Although I'm sure the group that is in power now is probably horrified at the idea and wouldn't do it just to be doing the right thing.
 

howie105

Well-Known Member
I think they would be surprised at the support they would receive. If they could ever agree, it would be a great bi-partisan coalition.
Last thing either party wants is a significant uncontrolled block of voters and their representatives wielding actual power. Much safer and easier to just keep hitting the philosophical replay button election after election.
 

Tranquility

Well-Known Member
I agree with @howie105 and @nickdanger . Gridlock will result if we start choosing between left and right rather than right and wrong. Something I wrote earlier but did not post as it didn't seem relevant to furthering discussion I add now to reinforce the difference between theory and reality.
-------------------------------------------

I hesitate to add a personal reason why I don't trust politicians on either side as I might give out too many facts that could allow a motivated reader to go to PACER and tease out names and such (Which is bad for many reasons.) with a clever search, but think it might be useful here so will add it--although will be vague and will probably not reply to questions on it.

I had an acquaintance (Of the level of that guy you see every year when your friend puts on his annual [insert theme here] party. Basically, a friend of a friend.) who was a successor trustee of a trust that had just became irrevocable on the death of the principal, his dad. In it, there was an industrial building with shared income beneficiaries among the trustee and his sisters.

He came to me to be part of his team in a golden (green) opportunity to rent out the property to...someone involved in cannabis who was going to use the property for state-legal cannabis activity. There were numerous good reasons why it was being considered from a business perspective. However, I (and others) pointed out the potential legal risk. The trustee felt that the reduction of enforcement activity and the promises of the administration to allow for state-legal medical marijuana to be left alone unless it violated other federal priorities kept the risk low. I remember him saying that he would try to mitigate risk (I'm paraphrasing. He didn't use those terms.) by having the lease extend no further than the next election with the rationale that if someone other than Obama is elected, he could end the lease and escape risk.

I declined to be a part of it for personal and professional reasons and the Trustee took his own advice and leased the property.

Not that long thereafter came the letters. Really threatening letters. In the summer of 2012, the building was gone from the trustee's control (to be eventually lost under RICO), the trustee was being threatened with criminal indictment (Which resulted in 5 figures of attorney fees.) and some problems in how the lease was written (giving some percentage profit in addition to set-fee rent for the property) brought in the IRS as well. Things went poorly, but he didn't go to jail.

Oh, yeah. His sisters sued him for breach of his fiduciary duties. He lost. He went BK. Good times.

Some might say he lost everything but his freedom because Obama cared more about looking tough on crime for the election than following his promise to leave it to the states. Me, I'd say it was because he was an idiot who took the promises of politicians as some substitute for the law.

We can either work together to form coalitions that bring true legalization in, what seems, a fairly short time, or, we can divide and keep this on the back burner forever with sides drawn and opinions locked in stone--based on priorities completely unrelated to cannabis. What any politician says he will do is near irrelevant in this day and age. There will always be another "stakeholder" or another moment to explain as to how he is on your side, but this is just not the right time, in his explanation (If he deigns to give one.) as to why he did not act according to what he said.

Actions are the only things you can believe in from the government any longer. It might have always been that way, but it certainly is that way now. Let us bring people together who want legalization or who feel the government should not intrude rather than divide us down lines drawn by the marketeers who sell us a politician's sizzle. (Not the steak.)
 
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MinnBobber

Well-Known Member
As an independent voter, I hate to see any generalizations about this party better/worse on cannabis.
And I weigh our State lawmakers as the key, after getting the Feds to stay the flock out of State's cannabis issues

-- One of Minnesota's most ardent cannabis supporters (State Legislature) is a Republican and she gets all my support.
- - On the flip side, many of our Dem legislators are either against cannabis OR passive /aggressive where they vote in the country's worst MMJ law. Then they can get "credit" for it yet make it an unaffordable piece of shit program/ intentionally set up to maximize the number of barriers for patients.

Here in MN, we do know where the "Legalize Marijuana Now" party stands on cannabis/hemp.

The good news is that more brave legislators are standing up for cannabis.
 

florduh

Well-Known Member
As an independent voter, I hate to see any generalizations about this party better/worse on cannabis.

I'm an independent as well. I'm not familiar with your local State politicians, but I'll take your word on it that there the GOP is more Pro-Cannabis than Dems.

That just simply isn't the case nationwide though. Sorry if pointing this out upsets people.

If your Republican Senator/Congressman supports Cannabis.... by all means vote for them. Though, I would point out they likely voted to confirm Jeff Sessions.

And can anyone really look me in the eye and say if the Dem won the White House, the Cannabis movement wouldn't be in a better place?

Again, the Dem platform called for legalization. The Dem Candidate promised to reschedule Marijuana.

You can say these are "just words" but this is the first time in history a major political Party has called for these changes. The opposing Party gave you Jeff Sessions.

Personally, I hope every single Politician who voted for Jeff loses their job in November. I'm not motivated by ideology, or anything Bill Maher says.... I am motivated by vengeance. Enough of this shit.
 

grokit

well-worn member
The good news is that more brave legislators are standing up for cannabis.
I hope it's enough to finally get us over the hump; because if not the meme for this administration's brave neo world and the memorandum rescission it inspired, will not be justice. It will be selective enforcement.

:myday:
 
grokit,
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florduh

Well-Known Member
florduh,

Silver420Surfer

Downward spiral
Cory is one of the good Republicans. Sessions straight up lied to his face about leaving legal weed alone.

And he has a decent plan. If you don't want to vote on Party lines, find out if your Senator votes to confirm any new Justice Dept appointees. If they do, punish them at the polls.

Please read more about this "Good Republican", who was too cowardly(among many other faults,CHIP))to face his own constituents in a town hall style meeting. I could go on but it just makes me angry and does me no good. Let's hope he finally grew a pair but I'm skeptical.
 

Deleted Member 1643

Well-Known Member
this "Good Republican", who was too cowardly(among many other faults,CHIP))to face his own constituents in a town hall style meeting

That Cory Gardner!


(This ones's angry about health care, not cannabis. Such passion.)

He voted to confirm Jeff as well.

WTF!

Loved your dialog with @OldNewbie, very civil. Just what we need, IMO.
 
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MinnBobber

Well-Known Member
And can anyone really look me in the eye and say if the Dem won the White House, the Cannabis movement wouldn't be in a better place?
...........................................................................................................................

Yes, I can do that...and why is that???
I don't know which/who is more dangerous, an appointed cannabis hater that we know where he stands OR having Hillary in as I never knew where she really stood on anything----only where she wanted "us" to think she stood, to best advance her personal agenda.

That's why I didn't vote for either of the unworthy candidates. We deserve better.
 

florduh

Well-Known Member
I don't know which/who is more dangerous, an appointed cannabis hater that we know where he stands OR having Hillary in as I never knew where she really stood on anything----only where she wanted "us" to think she stood, to best advance her personal agenda.

Supporting someone who was guaranteed to nominate an avowed cannabis hater to Attorney General is worse. Much worse. I agree Hillary wasn't great. But literally every criticism you leveled against her applies to Trump tenfold.

There was a zero percent chance Hillary would have nominated a prohibitionist to AG.

I do agree that in a nation of 300 million plus, we should've had better candidates for President.

But we didn't. Given that, I went with the imperfect over the awful.
 
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Jill NYC

Portable Hoarder
I think its also important to acknowledge the country’s acceptance for marijuana should reflect how the Federal government responds.
In January 2009, 13 states had legalized medical marijuana in 13 years. None had legalized recreational.
9 years later, that number more than doubled (30 states plus DC) and 8 states legalized recreational use.

Medical Usage Legalized:
  • 1996: California
  • 1998: Alaska, Oregon, Washington
  • 1999: Maine
  • 2000: Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada
  • 2004: Montana, Vermont
  • 2006: Rhode Island
  • 2007: New Mexico
  • 2008: Michigan
  • 2010: Arizona, D.C., New Jersey
  • 2011: Delaware
  • 2012: Connecticut, Massachusetts
  • 2013: Illinois, New Hampshire
  • 2014: Maryland, Minnesota, New York
  • 2015: Louisiana
  • 2016: Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, North Dakota, Arkansas
  • 2017: West Virginia
Recreational Usage Legal:
  • 2012: Colorado, Washington
  • 2014: Alaska, Oregon
  • 2016: California, Nevada, Maine, Massachusetts
**Please note these years are when laws were made/passed, not necessarily when the law was enacted. And they may be slightly off, I got them from Wikipedia and filled in a few blanks.


In 2011 a Gallup poll finally showed 50% of country supported legalization. Up until then, the majority of the country didn’t want it legal. By 2016, that number jumped to 60%. The previous administration may have started out over zealous on enforcing federal laws, but as time went on and public opinion started to snowball in favor of legalization, they adapted. They began to respond in a way that reflected the will of the states, and ultimately the people.

Change is HARD. Changing laws that have been on the books for decades is near impossible. And for a few years, it was looking like the Federal government was willing to take steps to reassess it’s stance for the will of the people. Anyone who thinks something of this magnitude can be changed quickly is naive. But I think many of us felt hopeful we were moving in the right direction.

What makes this administration more in “the wrong”than the last admin (in my opinion) is they are doing the opposite of the wants of the majority of the country. The last administration adapted.
 

florduh

Well-Known Member
The previous administration may have started out over zealous on enforcing federal laws, but as time went on and public opinion started to snowball in favor of legalization, they adapted. They began to respond in a way that reflected the will of the states, and ultimately the people.

Change is HARD. Changing laws that have been on the books for decades is near impossible. And for a few years, it was looking like the Federal government was willing to take steps to reassess it’s stance for the will of the people. Anyone who thinks something of this magnitude can be changed quickly is naive. But I think many of us felt hopeful we were moving in the right direction.

What makes this administration more in “the wrong”than the last admin (in my opinion) is they are doing the opposite of the wants of the majority of the country. The last administration adapted.

:clap:

I completely agree. It felt like we were heading in a better direction, and then a man with opinions on cannabis straight from the 1930s became Attorney General.

I think Cory Gardner's meeting with Sessions is big (and bad) news. It sounds like rescinding the Cole Memo wasn't just some administrative move. It seems like Jeff wants to start fucking with recreational markets.

@Jill NYC Thank you for eloquently describing our current predicament.
 

macbill

Oh No! Mr macbill!!
Staff member
get


1jeff4.jpg


1pot%2Bjunkies.jpg
 

Tranquility

Well-Known Member
I was just forwarded this information of a new proposal in Colorado.
SB18-029
Development of Marijuana Tracking Technology
Concerning the development of marijuana tracking technology.
http://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2018A/bills/2018a_029_01.pdf

I remember in the olden days the government had an additional scam to harass users, supposedly, you were supposed to take your illegal product to the police and buy a tax stamp for it. Otherwise, they could attach an additional penalty for avoiding the tax. (It's still in force, by the way. http://norml.org/legal/tax-stamps )

I wonder if this is a first step to getting rid of pot that does not have the proper tax "tracking technology" in it?
 

invertedisdead

PHASE3
Manufacturer
I remember in the olden days the government had an additional scam to harass users, supposedly, you were supposed to take your illegal product to the police and buy a tax stamp for it. Otherwise, they could attach an additional penalty for avoiding the tax. (It's still in force, by the way. http://norml.org/legal/tax-stamps )

I wonder if this is a first step to getting rid of pot that does not have the proper tax "tracking technology" in it?

It's just funny to me that the gov finally realized if they legalized cannabis they wouldn't have to stop enforcing it. Now they can scoop all those legal tax dollars off the top of the sale, and enforce it even harder since they have a rapidly expanding user base. It's a win-win for the department of revenue. The term profiteering comes to mind...

I'm just curious, if it's legal to grow your own in Colorado, how will this scanning technology be sufficient for LEO to determine whether said marijuanas are "legal or illegal"

Provide scanning technology to law enforcement and the department of revenue that detects these identifiers that distinguish legal medical and retail marijuana and industrial hemp from illegal marijuana and hemp so that it can be used by law enforcement to seize illegal marijuana and start appropriate enforcement actions.
 

grampa_herb

Epstein didn't kill himself
I'm just curious, if it's legal to grow your own in Colorado, how will this scanning technology be sufficient for LEO to determine whether said marijuanas are "legal or illegal"

The State develops a harmless, required additive for the plant food for the dispensaries which contains some encoded information. Would it be that hard? Brave New World, here we come.
 

Tranquility

Well-Known Member
As long as we're talking about state crackdowns, there is a recent case out of Connecticut having to do with search and seizure. Conn is a decriminalized state (small fine no jail for small amounts) and, later, a medical marijuana state.

United States v. Hampton, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3914 (D. Conn. Jan. 9, 2018)

While there is a lot in the holding not relevant to us, the key portion had to do with probable cause. The amount of articulable facts that would lead a person of like training and experience to believe a crime has been or is being committed. With probable cause, the police can search. What was the little bit that pushed it over the top in Conn?

"his observation of a small amount of marijuana not clearly labelled for medicinal use creates probable cause that evidence of illegal drug activity would be found within the car"

Keep your meds in their container on the way home!
---------------------------
Add a case edit:
For more on how the populace still supports draconian measures to stomp out the demon weed, see:
https://www.techdirt.com/articles/2...arijuana-raid-predicated-wet-tea-leaves.shtml

Police wait outside a hydroponics store and see guy leave with nutrients. They follow him and search his trash to find wet tea leaves. Police do preliminary test and it is positive for cannabis. They send in SWAT with a battering ram and sit everyone down for hours while they find...loose tea. And, some tomato plants for the school science project they bought supplies for.

Jury awarded them $0.
 
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CarolKing

Singer of songs and a vapor connoisseur
I agree with making sure you keep your cannabis or waxes in the original container. Also keep your sales slip.

I went to a Safe Access meeting once and the speaker there suggested using something like a C-Vault container - just make sure the one you have is smell proof. He said that the officer would need to get a search warrant to open it. This was the state of WA before legal started up.
 
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