Hardrock69's Reefhead Madness Thread

[Hardrock69]

http://blog.norml.org/2012/11/26/two-of-the-largest-american-newspapers-opine-in-favor-of-allowing-states-to-legalize-marijuana/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+NORMLBlog+%28NORML+Blog%29

Two of the Largest American Newspapers Opine in Favor of Allowing States to Legalize Marijuana

by Erik Altieri, NORML Communications Director November 26, 2012

In the wake of the historic votes for marijuana law reform on November 6th, there has been a renewed focus on the topic and a shift in tone amongst the mainstream media. While previously, many outlets have either covered our efforts with a wink and a nod (or didn’t cover them at all), now that two states have called for the end of marijuana prohibition, reporters are rushing to cover the story. Along the way it seems they are also getting a crash course education in the concepts of civil liberties, federalism, and the disasters of our country’s prohibition on cannabis. Many are beginning to wake up to the reality that we have long identified: cannabis prohibition is a failed policy that has destructive effects on our society and these effects can be remedied by legalization and regulation.

Look no further for a sign of the changing times than editorials featured this weekend by two of the United States’ largest newspapers, the New York Times and the Washington Post. Both papers featured columns from their staff opining in favor of marijuana law reform. It seems the days of traditionally conservative editorial boards writing against cannabis law reforms may be coming to an end.

There is a seismic shift happening in the national consciousness on marijuana policy in response to the legalization of cannabis in Colorado and Washington, we are winning new converts by the day and those previously afraid to speak out are now doing so with passion and vigor. This recent influx of mainstream media outlets jumping on board with reform is just the beginning of the avalanche of change that is to come.

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/22/give-pot-a-chance/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/marijuanas-foot-in-the-door/2012/11/25/a1746d46-3347-11e2-bb9b-288a310849ee_story.html

[Hardrock69]

http://nationalcannabiscoalition.com/2012/11/members-of-congress-urge-feds-to-respect-state-cannabis-laws/

Members of Congress Urge Feds to Respect State Cannabis Laws
by Anthony Johnson November 21, 2012

Following the historic victories by cannabis legalization proponents in both Washington State and Colorado, prominent members of Congress have signed onto a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder and Michele Leonhart, Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Agency, urging the federal government to respect the will of the voters and allow the states to implement their laws regulating marijuana without federal interference. Cannabis law reformers, prohibitionists, politicians and policy makers are all waiting to see how the federal government responds to the two marijuana legalization measures. How the Obama Administration reacts will have a big impact upon how activists and reform-minded politicians craft measures that will end cannabis prohibition in upcoming states in the upcoming 2014 and 2016 elections.

While drug law reformers have been disappointed with the Obama Administration the last four years, there are some reasons for optimism about positive changes for reform in President Obama’s second term. Hopefully, President Obama will revert back to his earlier political days, before he started laughing off questions about ending prohibition after getting elected president.

The Obama Administration’s silence regarding their position on state legalization measures on this year’s ballot, despite lobbying from prohibitionists that urged the federal government to strongly oppose the state measures as well as the silence since the election is a positive sign. This silence was a 180 degree turn-around from 2010 when Attorney General Eric Holder warned California about the consequences of legalizing marijuana when the Sunshine State’s voters were contemplating whether to pass Prop 19. The stance of the federal government was one of the reasons the legalization measure suffered a narrow defeat. The federal government could have issued sweeping, dire warnings, before and after November 6th, but none have occurred thus far, despite the posturing of some prohibitionists. According to the Drug Policy Alliance’s Ethan Nadelmann at the Missouri Cannabis Law Reform Conference on November, the Obama Administration had whispered at fund raisers that they would be more progressive on drug law reform in a second term. While some are calling for a positive statement from the Obama Administration, even from President Obama himself, thus far, the silence is golden.

Also, the fact that that Colorado is a swing state and cannot be taken for granted by the Democratic Party gives me hope that the Obama Administration will be much better in the second term. Marijuana legalization received 55% of the vote in the Centennial State, compared to the 51% President Obama garnered. Unlike the “blue” West Coast states of Washington, Oregon and California, Colorado is a “purple” state that could swing to the Republicans in 2016 if the Democrats are seen as violating the will of their voters. I personally believe that politics always matter and that the cannabis law reform community is fortunate that the good people in the swing state of Colorado decided they were done with the failed and harmful consequences of cannabis prohibition.

Winning creates momentum and a bandwagon effect. The fact that the St. Louis Cardinals have won 11 World Series titles compared to the lone championship by my beloved Kansas City Royals (though you can never take away the magical 1985 season from us), causes many people in my home state of Missouri to join Cardinals Nation instead of joining me as a suffering fan of the Royals. Now that two states have demonstrated that cannabis legalization can win convincingly, and even earn more votes than an incumbent president cruising to an Electoral College landslide, politicians have already been emboldened across the country. Not only have members of Congress sent a letter to the federal government urging respect of state marijuana laws, but elected officials in Maine and Rhode Island have already voiced their intention of sponsoring legalization measures in the upcoming legislative session. The brave legislators of Maine and Rhode Island will soon have company as more politicians realize that sensibly reforming our nation’s marijuana laws isn’t a political liability, but will actually benefit them politically in most areas of the country. Don’t be surprised to see legislation ending cannabis prohibition is introduced in Vermont, Massachusetts, California and Oregon as well. Republican Senator Rand Paul, not a supporter of cannabis legalization like his Congressman father Ron, has even stated that the Republican Party should be consistent of their support of states’ rights and adhere to the will of states that choose to end cannabis prohibition within their borders.

We are living in an extraordinary time for cannabis law reform. We have a huge opportunity, but we must seize upon it. We need to support organizations pushing for positive change across the country as well as politicians trusting us with their political livelihood. We won two major battles this November, but major battles are up ahead. We are the change we have been waiting for and if we keep moving forward, we shall soon be free.

Full text of the letter sent to the Attorney General and DEA Administrator:

Dear Attorney General Holder and Administrator Leonhart:

We are writing to urge federal law enforcement to consider carefully the recent decisions by the people of Colorado and Washington to legalize small amounts of marijuana for personal use by adults. Under the new laws, each state will establish a comprehensive regulatory scheme governing the production, sale and personal use of marijuana. We believe that it would be a mistake for the federal government to focus enforcement action on individuals whose actions are in compliance with state law.

We are concerned that the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) continue to threaten individuals and businesses acting within the scope of their states’ laws on the medicinal use of marijuana despite formal guidance on exercising prosecutorial discretion. These actions contradict assurances made by DOJ in 2009 that the Department would not prioritize criminal charges against those who act in compliance with state law. It is also a poor use of limited federal resources. We hope your agencies will not take a similar approach with regard to individuals and businesses who comply with Colorado’s and Washington’s new laws, each of which were approved with overwhelming public support.

As Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis once observed, states are the laboratories of democracy. The people of Colorado and Washington have decided that marijuana ought to be regulated much like alcohol, with strong and efficient regulation of production, retail sales, and distribution, coupled with strict laws against underage use and driving while intoxicated. The voters chose to eliminate the illegal marijuana market controlled by cartels and criminals and recognized the disproportionate impact that marijuana prohibition has on minorities. These states have chosen to move from drug policy that spends millions of dollars turning ordinary Americans into criminals toward one that will tightly regulate the use of marijuana while raising tax revenue to support cash-strapped state and local governments. We believe this approach embraces the goals of existing federal marijuana law: to stop international trafficking, deter domestic organized criminal organizations, stop violence associated with the drug trade and protect children.

While we recognize that other states have chosen a different path, and further understand that the federal government has an important role to play in protecting against interstate shipments of marijuana leaving Colorado or Washington, we ask that your Departments take no enforcement against anyone who acts in compliance with the laws of Colorado, Washington and any other states that choose to regulate access to marijuana for medicinal or personal use. The voters of these states chose, by a substantial margin, to forge a new and effective policy with respect to marijuana. The tide of public opinion is changing, both at the ballot box and in state legislatures across the country. We believe that the collective judgement of voters and state lawmakers must be respected. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

The letter was signed by Steve Cohen, Jared Polis, Diana DeGette, Ed Perlmutter, Barney Frank, Earl Blumenauer, Jerrold Nadler, Adam Smith, Sam Barr, Jim Moran, Chellie Pingree, Jan Schakowsky, Barbara Lee, Dennis Kucinich, Mike Honda, Raul Grijalva, Robert C. “Bobby” Scott and John Conyers, Jr. Please be sure to support all of these legislators. I am lucky enough to be represented by Earl Blumenaur and I have let his office know that I appreciate that he stands up for sensible cannabis law reform and the will of the voters.

[Hardrock69]

When alcohol Prohibition fell, it was in the same manner. One by one, individual states stood up to the Feds and decided they were not going to enforce Prohibition anymore. That left the Feds with no choice but to cave in.

In other news, 11 years ago Portugal decriminalized ALL drugs. What happened? As of July, 2011, drug abuse was down by over half.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2011/07/05/ten-years-after-decriminalization-drug-abuse-down-by-half-in-portugal/

7/05/2011 @ 3:09PM
Ten Years After Decriminalization, Drug Abuse Down by Half in Portugal

Drug warriors often contend that drug use would skyrocket if we were to legalize or decriminalize drugs in the United States. Fortunately, we have a real-world example of the actual effects of ending the violent, expensive War on Drugs and replacing it with a system of treatment for problem users and addicts.

Ten years ago, Portugal decriminalized all drugs: Link
One decade after this unprecedented experiment, drug abuse is down by half: Link

Health experts in Portugal said Friday that Portugal’s decision 10 years ago to decriminalise drug use and treat addicts rather than punishing them is an experiment that has worked.

“There is no doubt that the phenomenon of addiction is in decline in Portugal,” said Joao Goulao, President of the Institute of Drugs and Drugs Addiction, a press conference to mark the 10th anniversary of the law.

The number of addicts considered “problematic” — those who repeatedly use “hard” drugs and intravenous users — had fallen by half since the early 1990s, when the figure was estimated at around 100,000 people, Goulao said.

Other factors had also played their part however, Goulao, a medical doctor added.

“This development can not only be attributed to decriminalisation but to a confluence of treatment and risk reduction policies.”

Many of these innovative treatment procedures would not have emerged if addicts had continued to be arrested and locked up rather than treated by medical experts and psychologists. Currently 40,000 people in Portugal are being treated for drug abuse. This is a far cheaper, far more humane way to tackle the problem. Rather than locking up 100,000 criminals, the Portuguese are working to cure 40,000 patients and fine-tuning a whole new canon of drug treatment knowledge at the same time.

None of this is possible when waging a war.

[Nitro Express]

What's interesting is we have two states that have legalized a substance that is still illegal under federal law. This really is a case of states challenging the federal government saying we are going to go our own way. More of this needs to happen. It was always intended for the states to have most the power to govern their own affairs. Now the only question is how are the feds going to behave on the matter?

Talk to anyone who works in an emergency room or law enforcement. They will tell you pot causes far less problems than alcohol does.

[Angel]

This opens the door for us. Now we don't have to worry about pissing off the neighbours anymore. We just have to get rid of our Conservative government...

[Blaze]

Police protecting citizens! Effective government at work!

Seattle Police Department publishes how-to guide for smoking pot legally

http://spdblotter.seattle.gov/2012/11/09/marijwhatnow-a-guide-to-legal-marijuana-use-in-seattle/

[Hardrock69]

http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2019689348_aplturuguaymarijuana.html

Marijuana law introduced to Uruguay congress

Uruguay is one step closer to turning the government into the country's leading pot dealer.

BY PABLO FERNANDEZ

Associated Press
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay —

Uruguay is one step closer to turning the government into the country's leading pot dealer.

The proposal formally introduced to Congress on Thursday would create a National Cannabis Institute with the power to license people and companies to produce marijuana for recreational, medical or industrial uses.

It also would allow anyone to grow as many as to six pot plants and produce up to 480 grams (17 ounces) of marijuana in their own homes.

People could join clubs of up to 15 marijuana users who together could grow up to 90 plants and stockpile 7,200 grams of marijuana a year. The identity of buyers would remain protected by law.

Ruling party Deputy Sebastian Sabini says the proposals now in committee are likely to pass Congress by year's end.

[Hardrock69]

Well.....just as I said somewhere in all this mess.....once CO and WA legalized pot.....the other states are going to go for it as well....and now they are not going to wait for the voters to introduce referendums in 2014:

http://reason.com/blog/2012/11/14/state-legislators-in-rhode-island-and-ma

State Legislators in Rhode Island and Maine Are Announcing Marijuana Legalization Bills Tomorrow

Nov. 14, 2012 11:20 am

State legislators in Rhode Island and Maine will announce bills tomorrow to legalize recreational marijuana, a spokesperson for the Marijuana Policy Project announced today.

Rhode Island Rep. Edith Ajello and Maine Rep. Diane Russell will hold a conference call tomorrow with the Marijuana Policy Project to announce the legislation.

MPP says that "similar proposals will be submitted in at least two other states — Vermont and Massachusetts." A ballot initiative legalizing medical marijuana passed in Massachusetts last week with more than 60 percent of the vote. Maine voters voted to expand the state's 1999 medical marijuana law in 2009 to include dispensaries. The Rhode Island legislature decriminalized marijuana earlier this year, and has had medical marijuana since 2006.

[Nickdfresh]

The Daily Show with Jon StewartGet More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

[Hardrock69]

Cities are beginning to take matters into their own hands.

Several years ago, Breckenridge, CO removed criminal penalties for possession of small amounts of pot, around the same time as several other cities in CO did.

Now it seems Michigan has taken that step. Detroit is flying the friendly skies!!!!

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20121107/METRO/211070412/1409/metro/Pot-laws-eased-Detroit-Grand-Rapids-Flint

November 7, 2012 at 4:55 pm
Pot laws eased in Detroit, Grand Rapids and Flint

By Christine MacDonald and Darren A. Nichols
The Detroit News


Detroit — Final tabulations of Tuesday's elections show that city voters overwhelmingly approved a proposal to decriminalize marijuana.

With all precincts reporting, the measure passed 65-35 percent. It will allow adults older than 21 to possess less than an ounce of marijuana on personal property without criminal prosecution.

"This is no surprise," said Tim Beck, chairman of the Coalition for a Safer Detroit. "We knew we were going to win."

"I truly believe that the city will not use its resources to prosecute small time marijuana users. There is no upside."

Sgt. Eren Stephens, the Detroit Police Department spokeswoman, said Wednesday that the department had no comment on Proposal M's passage.

"We will be guided by the city of Detroit's law department," Stephens said.

A call to a spokesman for Mayor Dave Bing wasn't immediately returned Wednesday.

The effort came the same day that ballot measures relaxing laws on marijuana won approval statewide and nationwide.

In Grand Rapids, voters made marijuana possession a civil infraction punishable by a fine — rather than a misdemeanor that carried possible jail time — 59-41 percent. In Flint, allowing possession of less than an ounce for those older than 19 was leading 57-43 percent with 95 percent of precincts reporting.

Nationally, voters in Colorado and Washington became the first states to approve recreational use of the drug, setting up a potential showdown with federal authorities.

Federal law still classifies marijuana as an illegal drug and some local officials have been reluctant to allow local law to supersede federal regulations — as backers of a 2008 medical pot initiative in Michigan know well.

Statewide voters approved that measure in 2008, but much of that law is still being fought in court. Beck said Detroit users still could be charged under state law, but those charges would have to be heard in circuit court rather than local ones.

The Detroit initiative already survived one court challenge, when a judge this spring allowed it on the ballot after city officials protested that state law makes pot illegal.

The measure was one of six to pass in Detroit.

[Hardrock69]

Hippie.

Ahh you know you love me.

[Hardrock69]

Colorado

Amendment 64 amends the state constitution to allow the personal use and sale of recreational marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol. Tax revenues go to school construction and the state's general fund.
Votes Percent
Yes 1,125,349 54%
No 964,267 46%
60% reporting


Oregon

Measure 80, endorsed by Willie Nelson, legalizes the personal use and sale of marijuana by adults. Tax proceeds go to the state's general fund and drug treatment.
Yes 549,617 45%
No 679,571 55%
56% reporting


Washington

Initiative 502 legalizes it — but only for people over the age of 21. And sorry green thumbs: personal cultivation without a license is still illegal.
Yes 1,030,005 55%
No 827,539 45%
50% reporting


Massachusetts

Question 3 follows the lead of neighboring Rhode Island, which has been bogarting all the medical marijuana in Narragansett Bay since 2006.
Yes 1,739,027 63%
No 1,005,938 37%
92% reporting


Arkansas

Issue 5 makes the state the first in the south to approve medical marijuana.
For 461,658 48%
Against 494,867 52%
89% reporting


Montana

Initiative 124 is a total buzzkill: it ratifies restrictions on medical marijuana that the state's legislature put in place in 2011.
For 108,764 57%
Against 82,213 43%
28% reporting

[Angel]

Time to wake and bake

Sent from my GS2, bitches

[Kristy]

Hippie.

[Hardrock69]

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/05/amendment-64-poll-52-perc_n_2079908.html

There are a LOT of links in the report below. IF you want to see what they are talking about in detail, just go to the original page....

Amendment 64 Poll: Colorado 'Set To Legalize Marijuana' On Election Day, PPP Survey Says

Posted: 11/05/2012 8:11 pm EST Updated: 11/05/2012 8:24 pm EST

With just hours before polling places open for Election Day, advocates for the legalization of marijuana in Colorado got some good news from Public Policy Polling about the popularity of Amendment 64, a ballot measure which seeks to regulate marijuana like alcohol, on Monday.

According to PPP, 52 percent of voters support Amendment 64 while only 44 percent are opposed to the measure leaving the state "set to legalize marijuana tomorrow," PPP's Tom Jensen writes about the results of their latest survey.

PPP also found that of the 1,096 likely Colorado voters, 56 percent favored the legalization of marijuana in general, while only 39 percent said the drug should remain illegal.

This is the highest percentage of support that PPP has found since they began surveying the issue of marijuana legalization. Back in September, PPP found 47 percent in favor of A64 and 38 percent against with 49 percent in favor of marijuana being legal, in general.

The highest support ever polled was from a June Rasmussen survey of 500 likely Colorado voters which showed 61 percent were in favor of legalizing marijuana if it is regulated the way that alcohol and cigarettes are currently regulated.

Voters in Colorado, Oregon and Washington are all considering measures that would effectively end marijuana prohibition in their respective states. Marijuana legalization has become an issue that defies the stereotypes of party lines, garnering the support of key progressives and conservatives in Colorado, Washington and Oregon. And although all three states have pot initiatives on their ballots, Colorado and Washington's pot ballot measures appear to be quite popular with voters, according to recent polling.

If marijuana is legalized in Colorado under Amendment 64 it would be taxed and regulated similar to alcohol and tobacco. It would give state and local governments the ability to control and tax the sale of small amounts of marijuana to adults age 21 and older. According to the Associated Press, analysts project that that tax revenue could generate somewhere between $5 million and $22 million a year in the state. An economist whose study was funded by a pro-pot group projects as much as a $60 million boost by 2017.

However, the big unknown still is if the federal government would allow a regulated marijuana market to take shape. Attorney General Eric Holder, who was a vocal opponent of California's legalization initiative in 2010 saying he would "vigorously enforce" federal marijuana prohibition, has continued to remain silent on the issue this year.

In September, Holder was urged by by nine former heads of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to take a stand against marijuana legalization again. "To continue to remain silent conveys to the American public and the global community a tacit acceptance of these dangerous initiatives," the nine said in the letter to holder obtained by Reuters.

Earlier this month those same DEA drug warriors joined by former directors of the Office of National Drug Control Policy on a teleconference call to put additional pressure on Holder to speak out against Colorado's marijuana measure as well as similar initiatives on the ballot in Washington state and Oregon.

The drug warriors say that states that legalize marijuana for recreational use will trigger a "Constitutional showdown" with the federal government.

In a report published Sunday by NBC News, President Obama's former senior drug policy advisor said that if the marijuana initiatives pass, a war will be incited between the federal government and the states that pass them. "Once these sates actually try to implement these laws, we will sen an effort by the feds to shut it down," Sabet said.

But proponents of the legislation say they don't foresee federal agents interfering in states that have legalized cannabis, citing the federal government's silence on the issue this election cycle.

With Election Day less than 24 hours away, the DOJ has yet to formally announce its enforcement intentions regarding the ballot measures that, if passed, could end marijuana prohibition in each state. The clearest statement from the DOJ came from Deputy Attorney General James Cole, who said his office's stance on the issue would be "the same as it's always been." During a recent appearance on "60 Minutes" Cole elaborated, "We're going to take a look at whether or not there are dangers to the community from the sale of marijuana and we're going to go after those dangers," Reuters reported.