Page 1 of 6 12345 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 146
  1. #1
    Take the fcking keys away baseline bum's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Post Count
    93,156
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/power...839_story.html
    House votes to decriminalize marijuana as GOP resists national shift on pot

    By
    Mike DeBonis
    Dec. 4, 2020 at 1:59 p.m. EST
    The House endorsed a landmark retreat in the nation’s decades-long war on drugs Friday, voting to remove marijuana from the federal schedule of controlled substances and provide for the regulation and taxation of legal cannabis sales.

    The vote was 228-to-164 and marked the first time either chamber of Congress has voted on the issue of federally decriminalizing cannabis.

    The measure is not expected to pass into law, and, due to political skittishness, it was only voted on after the November election and more than a year after it emerged from committee. But the House took a stand at a moment of increasing momentum, with voters last month opting to liberalize marijuana laws in five states — including three that President Trump won handily.

    Friday’s vote, however, was largely along party lines, with Democrats voting overwhelmingly to support the federal decriminalization bill and all but five Republicans broadly opposing it.

    “We are not rushing to legalize marijuana — the American people have already done that. We are here because Congress has failed to deal with a disastrous war on drugs and do its part for the over 50 million regular marijuana users in every one of your districts,” said Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), a longtime liberalization advocate. “We need to catch up with the rest of the American people.”

    Top Republicans — including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) — made derisive public comments about the bill this week, painting the measure as a frivolous diversion from the task of funding the federal government and delivering a new round of emergency coronavirus aid to Americans.

    One headline from McConnell: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) decides to “puff, puff, pass” on emergency coronavirus relief.

    “It’s just unbelievable how tone-deaf they are to these small businesses and the jobs, the families that are tied to them,” House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) said in a Fox News Channel interview Thursday, slamming Democratic leaders for holding the vote.

    But some are warning that Republicans risk finding themselves out of step with their own voters, who are increasingly embracing the loosening of marijuana restrictions — including outright legalization.

    On Election Day in South Dakota, for instance, 54 percent of voters opted to legalize marijuana, while only 36 percent of voters chose the Democratic presidential ticket. In Montana, the 57 percent who voted to legalize marijuana nearly matched the number who voted to reelect Trump. And Mississippi became the first state in the Deep South to legalize medical marijuana use, with 62 percent of voters approving a ballot measure in a state where Trump won 58 percent of the vote.

    Fifteen states have now authorized some form of recreational cannabis legalization, while 36 states have approved medical marijuana programs, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

    Decriminalizing marijuana at the federal level would not end the vast majority of cannabis-use prosecutions, which happen in state courts. But it would end troublesome conflicts between state and federal law for those states that have loosened pot restrictions and greatly ease commerce for the multibillion dollar cannabis industry.

    Public opinion appears to back up the state electoral trend. In October, Gallup found that 68 percent of Americans said the use of marijuana should be legal, the highest support for marijuana legalization since the polling organization first asked in 1969.

    Only 8 percent of Americans say marijuana should be completely illegal

    While overwhelming proportions of Democrats and independents supported legalization, Republicans were split: 52 percent said it should not be legal and 48 percent said it should be legal — a figure that is slightly down from recent years.

    But that near 50-50 split among Republican voters is not even close to being mirrored in the GOP lawmaker ranks. Only two of 17 Republicans, Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and Tom McClintock (R-Calif.), supported the bill in the House Judiciary Committee.

    The prospects of winning Republican support for the House bill were complicated by some of its provisions — such as the establishment of a 5 percent federal excise tax that would in part fund programs for “individuals most adversely impacted by the War on Drugs,” such as job training, legal aid in seeking to expunge marijuana convictions, and mentoring programs.

    The bill also provides for the expungement of federal marijuana convictions dating back to 1971 and bars the denial of federal public benefits or security clearances based on marijuana offenses.

    That has turned off some libertarian-minded Republicans who might otherwise support eliminating marijuana restrictions. “Tax and spend,” said Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who said he would have considered voting for the bill had Democratic leaders allowed a vote on an amendment to eliminate the tax component.

    Gaetz said Friday that he was voting for the bill despite the flaws: “The federal government has lied to the people of this country about marijuana,” he said. “My Republican colleagues today will make a number of arguments against this bill, but those arguments are overwhelmingly losing with the American people.”

    Gaetz is among a small group of outspoken Republicans who say it is a matter of political malpractice that the party has not taken a softer line on federal marijuana laws.

    “The leadership is sort of stuck,” said Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), referring to the infamous 1936 prohibitionist film “Reefer Madness.” “I always jokingly say … they were all in the theater watching. And they’re still sort of this belief that marijuana is going to destroy the world somehow.”

    Pro-pot activists are facing another major setback in winning support in the Republican ranks: the Nov. 3 loss of Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), who emerged as an especially fervent advocate for the cannabis industry in the Republican ranks. It is unclear who — beyond Paul, a libertarian often estranged from his party’s leadership — might take up the mantle.

    Still, marijuana legalization advocates say the House bill represents a watershed moment in the long struggle to roll back marijuana prohibition, and many see it as only a matter of time before it becomes an issue of bipartisan concern.

    Maritza Perez, director of national affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance, said the partisan nature of the marijuana debate on Capitol Hill reflected the deeply divided nature of Congress rather than an intractable difference on policy.

    “The tide is really turning on this issue, and I think it’s just something the government can’t ignore anymore,” Perez said. “Congress is going to have to come to the table and address this.”

    The imperatives go beyond the political shift, according to Randal John Meyer, executive director of the Global Alliance for Cannabis Commerce, who said businesses in states that have legalized marijuana are facing an increasingly incoherent legal and regulatory framework.

    “It’s reached a critical tipping point where the basics of letting someone work and do their job consistent with state law and state licenses runs against the federal prohibitionist stance of Republicans,” said Meyer, a former aide to Paul. “That tension can’t hold; it’s reaching past the breaking point.”

    Republicans, he added, are going to increasingly find their anti-pot stance at odds with their more fundamental pro-business, anti-regulation tenets: Referring to the descheduling effort, he said, “The Democratic Party is trying to actually generate new business and new industry with this and to help recover the economy.”

    But interviews with several Republican lawmakers revealed a fundamental reticence to loosen pot restrictions — even in states that have already seen voters endorse legalization measures.

    In Arizona last month, 60 percent of voters chose to pursue legalization, but Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-Ariz.) said she was not inclined to loosen federal laws given her concerns about addiction after speaking to teens in recovery programs.

    “Every one of them — they said they started by using marijuana,” she said. ‘I am not saying that every person that smokes marijuana is going to be addicted to harder drugs, but I am concerned that we have so much costs associated with addiction in our country.”

    “With all that’s going on in our world, I just don’t necessarily think this is the time,” said Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.), who represents a state where two-thirds of voters chose to legalize marijuana last month. “There are certain points to be made. But the bottom line is my concern for urban areas, concern for kids.”

    Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.), who represents a state where cannabis use has been legal for nearly seven years, said he backed easing some of the commercial restrictions on the pot industry. But, he said, “Going as far as this bill goes is going to make sense someday. I’m not sure it makes sense right now.”

    Advocates say they plan to redouble their efforts in the new Congress, but a much tighter Democratic majority could mean the bill expected to pass Friday — known as the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act — might not come up again in the House, let alone in the Senate, where McConnell has expressed firm opposition to legalizing pot. Democratic wins in the Jan. 5 Georgia special elections, however, would sideline McConnell and could open a narrow window for compromise action.

    Perez said the trend is clear, and more Republicans are bound to change their views: “I really do believe that November’s elections can help really start to shift some of these members, realizing that this is going to happen and they need to get on board,” she said.

  2. #2
    Mr. John Wayne CosmicCowboy's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Post Count
    43,734
    They could still win it in the senate even if republicans pick up the Georgia seats. There are 10 Republican senators in MJ legal states. McConnell might be willing to lose the vote to save seats in 2022.

  3. #3
    what uganda do about it? Joseph Kony's Avatar
    My Team
    Seattle Supersonics
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Post Count
    7,039
    i dont know why this is a partisan issue. weed being illegal federally in 2020 given how many states have legalized recreational use is beyond stupid

  4. #4
    Mr. John Wayne CosmicCowboy's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Post Count
    43,734
    i dont know why this is a partisan issue. weed being illegal federally in 2020 given how many states have legalized recreational use is beyond stupid
    I agree. They can still leave it to the states to regulate. As it is, the MJ companies are ed by the feds. They don't have access to banks and low cost bank loans and get totally ed by the IRS tax code. They have to pay taxes on 100% of income but can't deduct any expenses because the IRS considers them "illegal" businesses.

  5. #5
    Grab 'em by the pussy Splits's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Post Count
    25,330
    Biden can just direct his AG to reschedule it from level 1 and effectively have the same outcome if McObstruction fails to bring it to a vote.

  6. #6
    4-25-20 Will Hunting's Avatar
    My Team
    Boston Celtics
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Post Count
    22,310
    They could still win it in the senate even if republicans pick up the Georgia seats. There are 10 Republican senators in MJ legal states. McConnell might be willing to lose the vote to save seats in 2022.
    McConnell won’t even bring the bill to the floor.

  7. #7
    Believe. MultiTroll's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Post Count
    22,799
    McConnell won’t even bring the bill to the floor.
    Can prevent a bill from coming to the floor?
    No way to bypass the ?

    Probably on the cartels' payroll thus wants to keep it illegal.
    Along with selling his soul to Satan and whatever else that cull has done.

  8. #8
    4-25-20 Will Hunting's Avatar
    My Team
    Boston Celtics
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Post Count
    22,310
    Can prevent a bill from coming to the floor?
    No way to bypass the ?

    Probably on the cartels' payroll thus wants to keep it illegal.
    Along with selling his soul to Satan and whatever else that cull has done.
    It’s basically an unwritten rule that the majority leader is the one who sets the agenda and brings bills to the floor. Schumer could bring the bill to the floor but he’s too much of a pussy to defy norms.

  9. #9
    LMAO koriwhat's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Post Count
    37,901
    how about relief instead of weed legalization! priorities are skewed with the left for sure.

  10. #10
    Still Hates Small Ball Spurminator's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Post Count
    37,144


    pArTy oF pErSoNaL reSpOnsiBiLitY aNd FReeDoM

  11. #11
    Believe. MultiTroll's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Post Count
    22,799
    how about relief instead of weed legalization! priorities are skewed with the left for sure.
    Why not both?
    Not like all those multimillionaire politicians are busy doing anything else.

  12. #12
    Take the fcking keys away baseline bum's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Post Count
    93,156
    how about relief instead of weed legalization! priorities are skewed with the left for sure.
    What ing relief? McConnell isn't doing and hasn't done anything on the COVID stimulus front in eight months.

  13. #13
    LMAO koriwhat's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Post Count
    37,901
    Why not both?
    Not like all those multimillionaire politicians are busy doing anything else.
    Because no one needs weed right now when everyone is struggling to survive while these same pothead politicians care more about ruining our economy, putting small businesses out of business, creating a culture of snitches, etc... Weed should be at the end of their priority list but guess what the left is merely trying to pander like always.

    What ing relief? McConnell isn't doing and hasn't done anything on the COVID stimulus front in eight months.
    You're always so easily triggered and want to blame the right over everything. I guess you're all in for the "new green deal" because that's the same nonsense the left has tried to put in their bills and the same that gets struck down because once again priorities aren't in order when it comes to the left. By all means blame who you want but try to think outside your echo chamber for once.

  14. #14
    The Boognish FuzzyLumpkins's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Post Count
    22,829
    It’s basically an unwritten rule that the majority leader is the one who sets the agenda and brings bills to the floor. Schumer could bring the bill to the floor but he’s too much of a pussy to defy norms.
    Party politics not being addressed in the Cons ution is a huge problem.

  15. #15
    The Boognish FuzzyLumpkins's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Post Count
    22,829
    how about relief instead of weed legalization! priorities are skewed with the left for sure.
    Why not both. Maybe you have an issue considering more than one thing at once but most are not so limited.

  16. #16
    LMAO koriwhat's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Post Count
    37,901
    Why not both. Maybe you have an issue considering more than one thing at once but most are not so limited.
    Yeah yeah yeah more passive aggressiveness from mr. condescending a-hole Fuzzy. Fuzzy move along already... You and I are obviously not alike and thank the Lord for that! God bless you and hope you find some humility one of these days.

  17. #17
    i hunt fenced animals clambake's Avatar
    My Team
    Dallas Mavericks
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Post Count
    25,029
    Because no one needs weed right now when everyone is struggling to survive while these same pothead politicians care more about ruining our economy, putting small businesses out of business, creating a culture of snitches, etc... Weed should be at the end of their priority list but guess what the left is merely trying to pander like always.



    You're always so easily triggered and want to blame the right over everything. I guess you're all in for the "new green deal" because that's the same nonsense the left has tried to put in their bills and the same that gets struck down because once again priorities aren't in order when it comes to the left. By all means blame who you want but try to think outside your echo chamber for once.
    Echo chamber, huh? You, sir, are on record saying zombies stole the election.

    Why not go to your safe zone as derps rag again?

  18. #18
    The Boognish FuzzyLumpkins's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Post Count
    22,829
    Yeah yeah yeah more passive aggressiveness from mr. condescending a-hole Fuzzy. Fuzzy move along already... You and I are obviously not alike and thank the Lord for that! God bless you and hope you find some humility one of these days.
    That wasn't passive aggressive, dim. That was me saying that others are not as limited mentally as you are directly.

    And classifying people that think they are smarter than you as arrogant is setting the bar so low as to be meaningless.

    At the end of the day people and congress can consider more than one thing even if you are averse to it.

  19. #19
    LMAO koriwhat's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Post Count
    37,901
    Echo chamber, huh? You, sir, are on record saying zombies stole the election.

    Why not go to your safe zone as derps rag again?
    You're weird bro and not in a good way either. Get help and find some inner peace and humility too while you're at it.

    That wasn't passive aggressive, dim. That was me saying that others are not as limited mentally as you are directly.

    And classifying people that think they are smarter than you as arrogant is setting the bar so low as to be meaningless.

    At the end of the day people and congress can consider more than one thing even if you are averse to it.
    You're so smart you waste so much of your precious time on a sports message board going back and forth with someone you don't know, who is so beneath you(right?), and who you think so little of. Smart people don't waste time because time is money. You waste time here because you're a simpleton with an ego that's so inflated. It's ok Fuzzy, at the end of the day you and i will end up in the same predicament one day and you won't have anything to say at all. You're a nobody just like the rest of us on this big ol' rock.

    God bless your black cold heart buddy.

  20. #20
    LMAO koriwhat's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Post Count
    37,901
    Clam and Fuzzy, yall can stop wasting your time replying to anything I have to say from here on out. Just like those before yall, Chump and Blake, you losers will be ignored too. Sad thing is, just like Chump and Blake, I'm damn sure I'll live rent free in the minds of you two losers and yall will blow up my notifications because yall can't and won't stop obsessing over every little thing I say here. Yall can't move along for whatever reason and that's more telling about how pathetic you two truly are.

    God bless yall regardless!

  21. #21
    Take the fcking keys away baseline bum's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Post Count
    93,156
    You're always so easily triggered and want to blame the right over everything. I guess you're all in for the "new green deal" because that's the same nonsense the left has tried to put in their bills and the same that gets struck down because once again priorities aren't in order when it comes to the left. By all means blame who you want but try to think outside your echo chamber for once.
    You ed about COVID aid, McConnell hasn't done for it since late March. Sorry if facts hurt your feelings.

  22. #22
    R.C. Drunkford TimDunkem's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Post Count
    13,924
    McConnell is the one who let the HEROES Act die. It passed in May. It isn't a Dems againts Repugs thing. It's just facts...

  23. #23
    Veteran
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Post Count
    97,514
    i dont know why this is a partisan issue. weed being illegal federally in 2020 given how many states have legalized recreational use is beyond stupid
    pot, the war on drugs, go back to harry anzinger in the 1930s "reefer madness" was to take down blacks

    it's really The RACIST War on Drugs, cops "fry" knitters and Mexicans by planting joints on them or throwing on the ground, eg, NYC under Julie Annie

    BigPharma and BigAlcohol don't want people using less patent drugs, drinking less booze, so they finance campaigns against decriminalization/recreational use.

    iow, and as always, the oligarchy, not the people, runs the govt and country.
    Last edited by boutons_deux; 12-04-2020 at 09:04 PM.

  24. #24
    Got Woke? DMC's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Post Count
    90,829
    They could still win it in the senate even if republicans pick up the Georgia seats. There are 10 Republican senators in MJ legal states. McConnell might be willing to lose the vote to save seats in 2022.
    Not sure if MJ legal states want it decriminalized nationwide. They have a commodity now.

  25. #25
    Take the fcking keys away baseline bum's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Post Count
    93,156
    McConnell is the one who let the HEROES Act die. It passed in May. It isn't a Dems againts Repugs thing. It's just facts...
    got never even came with a counter until right before the election to try to buy votes for Trump.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •