For the second time in as many days, U.S. Sen. Al Franken just added his name to a marijuana bill.
On Tuesday, the Democratic lawmaker from Minnesota became the fifth cosponsor of legislation to allow cannabis cultivators and sellers operating in accordance with state laws to be taxed just like any other business.
The day before, he signed onto a bill that would allow those businesses to access financial services from banks.
Earlier this month, the former Saturday Night Live star was one of six senators to introduce a broad bipartisan bill that would amend federal laws so states can enact and implement their own medical cannabis laws without federal interference.
The leadership on marijuana issues is a far cry from when Franken said on a BuzzFeed podcast last year (in response to a question I submitted) that he was "not the guy to ask" about cannabis policy.
In his answer then, he did acknowledge that he should probably study up on the issue because the state he represents is one of more than two dozen that allows medical marijuana. "I should know more," the senator said, jokingly adding, "or it's not important or somewhere in between."
A month later, Franken added his name to an earlier, now-expired version of the comprehensive medical marijuana bill that he is an original cosponsor of in the new 115th Congress. But he never did add his name to the 114th Congress's versions of the cannabis taxation and banking legislation.
Now, the senator is on a bit of a marijuana bill cosponsorship spree, and some observers think it's good politics -- in addition to good policy -- at a time when Franken's name is being floated as a possible 2020 presidential candidate.
"With clear public support in favor of outright legalization, presidential aspirants now recognize that marijuana reform is something that can no longer be ignored," Justin Strekal of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) said in an interview.
A Quinnipiac University poll released in April found that 60% of U.S. voters -- and 72% of Democrats -- support legalizing marijuana.
When it comes to medical cannabis, 94% of all voters and 96% of Democrats are on board. Just 13% of Democrats and 21% of voters overall want the federal government to interfere with state marijuana laws.
Other potential Democratic presidential candidates such as fellow Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts have increasingly taken on leadership roles in the fight for marijuana law reform.
Franken, who discussed his past marijuana, cocaine and LSD use in a book he published earlier this year, also joined four other senators in writing a July letter asking U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions not to go after state-legal industrial hemp growers.
But Strekal, of NORML, wants Franken to do even more, saying, until he "puts his name on a bill that outright deschedules cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act, I remain uninspired."
In July, Booker filed legislation to do just that, and more. And in the last Congress, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, a 2016 presidential candidate, filed cannabis descheduling legislation.
Source
Showing posts with label Senator Al Franken. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Senator Al Franken. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
Friday, June 24, 2016
Support medical marijuana at the federal level,support the CARERS Act
From Americans For Safe Access:
We can end the federal prohibition on medical cannabis this year, but we need your help.
We have so much to be excited for this year in medical cannabis, and the current political landscape is more favorable than it has ever been. But we are at a crossroads. The 2016 Presidential Election right around the corner, and many of the victories we have won in the past few years could be rolled back by a new Administration.
Our work is not done. Millions of Americans still do not have access to safe and legal medical cannabis, and with the uncertainty of 2017, we could see the return of massive federal raids and imprisonment. We are more determined than ever to bring safe and legal access to all Americans, and we now have a real solution on the table.
The Solution
The Compassionate Access, Research Expansion, and Respect States (CARERS) Act is the most comprehensive piece of cannabis legislation ever introduced in Congress. The CARERS Act will end the state-federal conflict over medical cannabis law with far-reaching outcomes. When adopted, the bill will end federal interference is state medical cannabis programs, reschedule cannabis, facilitate research, create legal access for veterans, and more.
The CARERS Act is gaining momentum in the Senate. Judiciary Committee members Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Al Franken (D-MN) have signed on. However, the bill in stalled in the Committee, because Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) refuses to allow a vote on the bill.
The Plan
Despite the Senator’s position, we are not giving up hope. If the CARERS Act gets a fair vote, we are sure it will pass. ASA has developed a strategic plan to push Senator Grassley to allow a vote. Using media, grassroots action, and educational events, we can pass the CARERS Act before the election.
We held a press conference in Iowa last week to kick off our petition drive. We are going door-to-door to gather signatures urging Senator Grassley to allow a vote on the CARERS Act. ASA will deliver the signatures from Iowans later this summer.
More than fifty Congressional offices participated in a special legislative briefing hosted by ASA on the CARERS Act yesterday. Participants included Congressional leaders like Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), lead CARERS Act sponsor Senator Corey Booker (D-NJ), Senator Mark Madsen (R-UT), policy experts, and patients.
How YOU Can Help
This is only the beginning. If you think that we are on the right path, we need your help right now. ASA needs to deploy resources to continue to move this campaign forward. Will you help us raise an additional $25,000 per month between now and January 4, 2017, to make it happen? Your contribution of $5, $20, $50 or $100 will put us that much closer to raising the funds we need.
There is another way you can help, too...Sign the CARERS Act petition,demand Grassley hold a hearing, collect petition signatures and/or share the CARERS Act Fact sheet.
We are so close to our goal. As a grassroots organization, we rely on our members and supporters to win major victories. Anything you can contribute helps. Make a generous one time donation or an affordable monthly contribution right now click here. Together we can make 2016 the year we finally end the federal prohibition on medical cannabis!
We can end the federal prohibition on medical cannabis this year, but we need your help.
We have so much to be excited for this year in medical cannabis, and the current political landscape is more favorable than it has ever been. But we are at a crossroads. The 2016 Presidential Election right around the corner, and many of the victories we have won in the past few years could be rolled back by a new Administration.
Our work is not done. Millions of Americans still do not have access to safe and legal medical cannabis, and with the uncertainty of 2017, we could see the return of massive federal raids and imprisonment. We are more determined than ever to bring safe and legal access to all Americans, and we now have a real solution on the table.
The Solution
The Compassionate Access, Research Expansion, and Respect States (CARERS) Act is the most comprehensive piece of cannabis legislation ever introduced in Congress. The CARERS Act will end the state-federal conflict over medical cannabis law with far-reaching outcomes. When adopted, the bill will end federal interference is state medical cannabis programs, reschedule cannabis, facilitate research, create legal access for veterans, and more.
The CARERS Act is gaining momentum in the Senate. Judiciary Committee members Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Al Franken (D-MN) have signed on. However, the bill in stalled in the Committee, because Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) refuses to allow a vote on the bill.
The Plan
Despite the Senator’s position, we are not giving up hope. If the CARERS Act gets a fair vote, we are sure it will pass. ASA has developed a strategic plan to push Senator Grassley to allow a vote. Using media, grassroots action, and educational events, we can pass the CARERS Act before the election.
We held a press conference in Iowa last week to kick off our petition drive. We are going door-to-door to gather signatures urging Senator Grassley to allow a vote on the CARERS Act. ASA will deliver the signatures from Iowans later this summer.
More than fifty Congressional offices participated in a special legislative briefing hosted by ASA on the CARERS Act yesterday. Participants included Congressional leaders like Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), lead CARERS Act sponsor Senator Corey Booker (D-NJ), Senator Mark Madsen (R-UT), policy experts, and patients.
How YOU Can Help
This is only the beginning. If you think that we are on the right path, we need your help right now. ASA needs to deploy resources to continue to move this campaign forward. Will you help us raise an additional $25,000 per month between now and January 4, 2017, to make it happen? Your contribution of $5, $20, $50 or $100 will put us that much closer to raising the funds we need.
There is another way you can help, too...Sign the CARERS Act petition,demand Grassley hold a hearing, collect petition signatures and/or share the CARERS Act Fact sheet.
We are so close to our goal. As a grassroots organization, we rely on our members and supporters to win major victories. Anything you can contribute helps. Make a generous one time donation or an affordable monthly contribution right now click here. Together we can make 2016 the year we finally end the federal prohibition on medical cannabis!
Friday, June 7, 2013
A father's plea
From Demand Progress:
Over the past five months, I have been heartened to see the memory of my son galvanizing such a powerful movement for change. I can tell you, it's what Aaron would have wanted.
It has been your efforts that have led some lawmakers to pursue an investigation of Aaron's vindictive, cruel and disproportionate prosecution. When the Justice Department appeared before the Judiciary Committee to discuss Aaron's case, Senators Patrick Leahy, John Cornyn, and Al Franken all pushed for answers. And for that they deserve thanks.
Click here to join me in thanking these Senators for their efforts and urge them to keep pushing for answers about Aaron's unjust prosecution.
At the request of these senators, the Department of Justice recently briefed Senate Judiciary Committee staffers on their prosecution of Aaron -- but more questions remain.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: my son was destroyed by a system and prosecutors that still don’t understand the nature of what they did.
They destroyed my son by their callousness and inflexibility.
Click here to thank those lawmakers who've aided our effort to expose the absurd and abusive nature of Aaron's prosecution.
The work of changing that system -- of getting answers to our unanswered questions about Aaron's prosectution -- remains before us.
For now, it's important that those lawmakers who've already joined our cause know that we are thankful, and that we will continue to stand with them as they use their power to hold the DOJ to account and seek justice for Aaron.
Click here to join me in thanking them for pursuing the investigation, and let them know that we'll stand with them as they keep pressing forward.
Thank you,
Bob Swartz
Petition:click here
Over the past five months, I have been heartened to see the memory of my son galvanizing such a powerful movement for change. I can tell you, it's what Aaron would have wanted.
It has been your efforts that have led some lawmakers to pursue an investigation of Aaron's vindictive, cruel and disproportionate prosecution. When the Justice Department appeared before the Judiciary Committee to discuss Aaron's case, Senators Patrick Leahy, John Cornyn, and Al Franken all pushed for answers. And for that they deserve thanks.
Click here to join me in thanking these Senators for their efforts and urge them to keep pushing for answers about Aaron's unjust prosecution.
At the request of these senators, the Department of Justice recently briefed Senate Judiciary Committee staffers on their prosecution of Aaron -- but more questions remain.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: my son was destroyed by a system and prosecutors that still don’t understand the nature of what they did.
They destroyed my son by their callousness and inflexibility.
Click here to thank those lawmakers who've aided our effort to expose the absurd and abusive nature of Aaron's prosecution.
The work of changing that system -- of getting answers to our unanswered questions about Aaron's prosectution -- remains before us.
For now, it's important that those lawmakers who've already joined our cause know that we are thankful, and that we will continue to stand with them as they use their power to hold the DOJ to account and seek justice for Aaron.
Click here to join me in thanking them for pursuing the investigation, and let them know that we'll stand with them as they keep pressing forward.
Thank you,
Bob Swartz
Petition:click here
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