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Congressman Earl Blumenauer
Now that the new congressional term is underway, Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Jared Polis (D-CO) have launched a new effort to end marijuana prohibition in the United States. Both are introducing bills that together would end marijuana prohibition and turn it into a well-regulated market.
Polis put forward the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act which would have marijuana treated much like alcohol is as a result of the 21st amendment. It would remove the Drug Enforcement Agency’s authority over marijuana and transfer it to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Individual states would be given the option to legalize marijuana or not.
Blumenauer has introduced the Marijuana Tax Equity Act. It would create a federal regulatory framework for marijuana in states that have legalized it. The industry would be subject to regulation and heavily taxation.
Together, Polis and Blumenauer have put out a new report The Path Forward: Rethinking Federal Marijuana Policy explaining the logic behind their new push.
While it is unlikely that these bills will be adopted this year, it is good to see that Blumenauer and Polis have stepped up to champion the issue at the federal level. Recently, Congress lost two of its most vocal advocates for marijuana reform when both Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) and Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) decided to retire last year.
Even if the bills are probably doomed this legislative session, the effort could still have an impact on how federal authorities decide to deal with the federal-state conflicted created by voters choosing to legalize marijuana in Colorado and Washington State.
5 Comments
Where are the anti-big government interference in the free market and usurping State’s rights conservative Republicans???
Every conservative Republican in Congress needs to be confronted and demanded to explain why the support big government taking away the State’s rights to set free market policies in their home States.
Demanded to explain why they support big government dictating what citizens of their State can grow and consume on their own property?
Demand where in the US Constitution Congress has the power to dictate to individuals they can not grow a native plant on their land, a product that was a common agricultural product for American farmers for centuries until prohibited by jack boot big government agents?
Conservatives have created the language and principles, economic and political, that clearly oppose the Federal laws restricting drug production and use, but this is clearly most applicable to pot production and use by individuals. Use the conservatives’ own arguments against the conservative Republicans who won’t support getting the Federal government out of interfering with States setting policy on pot.
Ramp up for 2014 and going after ALL candidates no matter party who refuse to support repeal of Federal laws over pot, and do it using the very language conservatives use in opposition to the EPA, Obamacare, the Ed Dept, …
always tell the republicans how much money it will bring in via taxation, fees and business profits……
I have been waiting for the proof to appear in the states that have legalized. Once other states start to see that money rolling in, they will be clammoring to be next. (See ‘lottery’ for example).
Telling the repugs anything that is not fear based is expecting abstract thinking, which is a higher order thinking process beyond their normal ability.
Our criminal enforcement scheme on marijuana is a ninety-year experiment which I think we can claim to be failure. Criminal enforcement of marijuana doesn’t work. It doesn’t satisfy public safety.” marijuana prohibition has failed and Congress and the legislature must act to eliminate the danger to public safety posed by the enormous American black market. Unless states act to regulate, control and decriminalize most uses of marijuana, Congress will continue to ignore the law enforcement danger and assert federal criminal laws that ill serve the public.
Let’s stop wasting law enforcement resources, generate new tax revenues, and quit subsidizing drug cartels. Learn more at http://www.newapproachwa.org.
Washington State Initiative Measure No. 502 legalized the possession of marijuana for adults age 21 and older. Marijuana will be grown in Washington and sold in standalone, marijuana-only stores by private businesses licensed and regulated by the state. There will be a 25% tax, the proceeds of which will go to healthcare, research and education, and proven drug abuse prevention programs. Laws that prevent driving under the influence of marijuana will be strengthened so that drivers would automatically be found guilty of DUI if the amount of marijuana in their blood were above a certain level, similar to how alcohol DUI laws are enforced.
No, tell Republicans how much money they and their friends could make. That’s all they care about.