Showing posts with label congressman jared polis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label congressman jared polis. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
Saturday, March 11, 2017
Trump sends mixed message on marijuana, but pot industry pushes ahead
DENVER – America’s marijuana industry isn't sure where President Trump and his attorney general stand on marijuana, but it is forging ahead with expansion plans anyway.
Cannabis businesses are hiring new workers, leasing new space and pushing across state borders. And regulators are drafting rules that will give access to legal recreational pot to tens of millions of adults.
The stakes are high: This is a job-generating industry that cannabis data firm New Frontier Data estimates may be worth $2.3 billion in taxes within three years.
“Far from the punchline of a joke, these are real people and real lives,” said Colorado Rep. Jared Polis, a Boulder Democrat who recently co-founded the pro-legalization Congressional Cannabis Caucus.
The nation’s marijuana industry expanded rapidly under President Obama, whose administration laid out Justice Department priorities for targeting drug dealers. In short, the Obama administration said, it would leave companies alone in states where voters approved recreational pot if the states took solid steps to keep marijuana away from kids and profits away from drug cartels.
Medical marijuana is reserved for people who’ve gotten a doctor’s recommendation to use it to alleviate specific symptoms, while states with that permit recreational use allow any adult to buy marijuana.
In states with licensed cannabis stores, it’s easy to forget those businesses sell a plant that remains an illegal Schedule 1 controlled substance under federal law. Federal prosecutors, if they chose, could easily arrest tens of thousands of people who have state licenses to grow and sell the drug, or even anyone walking out of a pot shop with a purchase. But they haven’t.
Trump’s administration may take a different tack, but so far, it has delivered conflicting messages.
Last month, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said the Justice Department would not use federal laws to prosecute medical marijuana users, in part because Congress has already banned it from doing so. But he drew a distinction between medical and recreational use.
“I do believe you'll see greater enforcement” of federal laws against recreational marijuana use, he said. Then, in the same press conference, he suggested the matter wasn’t settled and referred reporters to the Justice Department for comment.
Shortly after, Attorney General Jeff Sessions in a speech seemed to suggest there’d be stricter enforcement in states with recreational marijuana. Members of Congress, including Sens. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Cory Gardner, R-Colo., say Sessions has reassured them privately that is not the case.
Cannabis industry roiled by White House comments on enforcement
The whiplash from the shifting positions jostled the market. Marijuana stocks tracked by Viridian Capital Advisors had generally risen steadily all year – up about 25% – until the day Spicer spoke. Then, in the hours after his press conferences, 80% of those marijuana-related stocks dropped. The next day, the first full day of trading following the comments, it got worse: 92% of the stocks dropped, said Viridian, which provides financial and data-analysis to the cannabis industry.
Those stocks are now recovering, said Viridian’s president, Scott Greiper: “I think the industry is very comfortable operating in a harsh, uncertain environment. It’s just what we’re used to.” Viridian tracks the movement of 50 publicly traded cannabis companies that are either worth more than $10,000 each or see trading volume of $20,000 daily.
Decriminalizing marijuana has widespread support.
Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, the District of Columbia and California voters have all approved laws allowing adults to grow and possess small amounts of recreational pot, though not every state has a functioning marketplace. And a Quinnipiac University poll released last month found 71% of Americans would oppose efforts to enforce federal marijuana laws in those eight states. The poll also found that 93% of voters support allowing the use of marijuana for medical purposes and 59% support making it legal for all purposes.
Congress has prohibited the Justice Department from interfering with states’ medical marijuana programs, but has remained silent about recreational marijuana.
Many marijuana businesses had hoped Trump would at least maintain the Obama-era attitude, if not relax restrictions even further in a nod to states’ rights, job creation, personal liberty. Trump on the campaign trail said he’d respect state laws that permit recreational pot.
Smoke, because you can: Inside a legal marijuana dinner
Troy Dayton, CEO of the ArcView Group, which offers cannabis industry investment services and research, says the pot business also plays into Trump's "America First" policy.
“This would be a really huge missed opportunity if we let other countries get ahead of us in something that is really our ours to lose," Dayton said. "The question is whether we want these to be American jobs, do we want these to be American companies, or do we want Canada and Germany and Columbia take that market share."
Dayton said it's hard to imagine the Trump administration would shut down a widely popular industry: “I have a feeling they get to see the same polls we do.”
Still the broad uncertainty is enough to keep some cannabis businesses cautious. In California, marijuana grower CANNDESCENT has given its products soothing names like "Calm" and "Connect," instead of relying of more typical names like AK-47 or Durban Poison or Day Wrecker.
“We literally changed our product names in order to better educate the public and seem less ominous to government officials,” said CANNDESCENT CEO Adrian Sedlin.
In states with recreational marijuana marketplaces, many front-line marijuana business say they think the country has come too far to ever roll back recreational pot, and regulators in California and Nevada continue drafting the rules necessary to implement their voter-approved cannabis marketplaces. Polis, the congressman from Boulder, said he plans to re-introduce federal legislation to regulate marijuana like alcohol, which would give states the power to create legal marijuana marketplaces if they choose. Previous measures haven't received enough support to pass.
Marijuana business owners say they'll stand tall despite the potential threat to their livelihoods.
“We employ 24 full-time people. It gives us a tremendous sense of pride,” said Amy Andrle of L’Eagle Services, a Denver-based marijuana store specializing in pesticide-free cannabis. “I’m very proud of the work we are doing. This is our small business we are running in this great country.”
Source
You know what to do. Contact the usual suspects in the House,Senate
Yes,even President Trump himself. The more of us they hear from the better.
Cannabis businesses are hiring new workers, leasing new space and pushing across state borders. And regulators are drafting rules that will give access to legal recreational pot to tens of millions of adults.
The stakes are high: This is a job-generating industry that cannabis data firm New Frontier Data estimates may be worth $2.3 billion in taxes within three years.
“Far from the punchline of a joke, these are real people and real lives,” said Colorado Rep. Jared Polis, a Boulder Democrat who recently co-founded the pro-legalization Congressional Cannabis Caucus.
The nation’s marijuana industry expanded rapidly under President Obama, whose administration laid out Justice Department priorities for targeting drug dealers. In short, the Obama administration said, it would leave companies alone in states where voters approved recreational pot if the states took solid steps to keep marijuana away from kids and profits away from drug cartels.
Medical marijuana is reserved for people who’ve gotten a doctor’s recommendation to use it to alleviate specific symptoms, while states with that permit recreational use allow any adult to buy marijuana.
In states with licensed cannabis stores, it’s easy to forget those businesses sell a plant that remains an illegal Schedule 1 controlled substance under federal law. Federal prosecutors, if they chose, could easily arrest tens of thousands of people who have state licenses to grow and sell the drug, or even anyone walking out of a pot shop with a purchase. But they haven’t.
Trump’s administration may take a different tack, but so far, it has delivered conflicting messages.
Last month, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said the Justice Department would not use federal laws to prosecute medical marijuana users, in part because Congress has already banned it from doing so. But he drew a distinction between medical and recreational use.
“I do believe you'll see greater enforcement” of federal laws against recreational marijuana use, he said. Then, in the same press conference, he suggested the matter wasn’t settled and referred reporters to the Justice Department for comment.
Shortly after, Attorney General Jeff Sessions in a speech seemed to suggest there’d be stricter enforcement in states with recreational marijuana. Members of Congress, including Sens. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Cory Gardner, R-Colo., say Sessions has reassured them privately that is not the case.
Cannabis industry roiled by White House comments on enforcement
The whiplash from the shifting positions jostled the market. Marijuana stocks tracked by Viridian Capital Advisors had generally risen steadily all year – up about 25% – until the day Spicer spoke. Then, in the hours after his press conferences, 80% of those marijuana-related stocks dropped. The next day, the first full day of trading following the comments, it got worse: 92% of the stocks dropped, said Viridian, which provides financial and data-analysis to the cannabis industry.
Those stocks are now recovering, said Viridian’s president, Scott Greiper: “I think the industry is very comfortable operating in a harsh, uncertain environment. It’s just what we’re used to.” Viridian tracks the movement of 50 publicly traded cannabis companies that are either worth more than $10,000 each or see trading volume of $20,000 daily.
Decriminalizing marijuana has widespread support.
Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, the District of Columbia and California voters have all approved laws allowing adults to grow and possess small amounts of recreational pot, though not every state has a functioning marketplace. And a Quinnipiac University poll released last month found 71% of Americans would oppose efforts to enforce federal marijuana laws in those eight states. The poll also found that 93% of voters support allowing the use of marijuana for medical purposes and 59% support making it legal for all purposes.
Congress has prohibited the Justice Department from interfering with states’ medical marijuana programs, but has remained silent about recreational marijuana.
Many marijuana businesses had hoped Trump would at least maintain the Obama-era attitude, if not relax restrictions even further in a nod to states’ rights, job creation, personal liberty. Trump on the campaign trail said he’d respect state laws that permit recreational pot.
Smoke, because you can: Inside a legal marijuana dinner
Troy Dayton, CEO of the ArcView Group, which offers cannabis industry investment services and research, says the pot business also plays into Trump's "America First" policy.
“This would be a really huge missed opportunity if we let other countries get ahead of us in something that is really our ours to lose," Dayton said. "The question is whether we want these to be American jobs, do we want these to be American companies, or do we want Canada and Germany and Columbia take that market share."
Dayton said it's hard to imagine the Trump administration would shut down a widely popular industry: “I have a feeling they get to see the same polls we do.”
Still the broad uncertainty is enough to keep some cannabis businesses cautious. In California, marijuana grower CANNDESCENT has given its products soothing names like "Calm" and "Connect," instead of relying of more typical names like AK-47 or Durban Poison or Day Wrecker.
“We literally changed our product names in order to better educate the public and seem less ominous to government officials,” said CANNDESCENT CEO Adrian Sedlin.
In states with recreational marijuana marketplaces, many front-line marijuana business say they think the country has come too far to ever roll back recreational pot, and regulators in California and Nevada continue drafting the rules necessary to implement their voter-approved cannabis marketplaces. Polis, the congressman from Boulder, said he plans to re-introduce federal legislation to regulate marijuana like alcohol, which would give states the power to create legal marijuana marketplaces if they choose. Previous measures haven't received enough support to pass.
Marijuana business owners say they'll stand tall despite the potential threat to their livelihoods.
“We employ 24 full-time people. It gives us a tremendous sense of pride,” said Amy Andrle of L’Eagle Services, a Denver-based marijuana store specializing in pesticide-free cannabis. “I’m very proud of the work we are doing. This is our small business we are running in this great country.”
Source
You know what to do. Contact the usual suspects in the House,Senate
Yes,even President Trump himself. The more of us they hear from the better.
Friday, February 17, 2017
Congressional Cannabis Caucus
With public support for reforming marijuana laws at an all time high, Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Jared Polis (D-CO), and Don Young (R-AK) have formed the first-ever Congressional Cannabis Caucus to promote sensible cannabis policy reform and to ease the tension between federal and state cannabis laws.
The official establishment of a Congressional Cannabis Caucus represents yet another step forward toward ultimately reforming cannabis policy at the federal level. The creation of this caucus is yet another manifestation that our political power is growing -- even inside the beltway.
Email your Congressional Representative and urge them to join the Cannabis Caucus today.
NORML has been in this fight for over 47 years, representing the position that responsible adults who choose to consume marijuana should not be be persecuted or stigmatized. Throughout the country, our chapters are organizing to advocate for state level reforms. NORML represents a growing community of individuals who are coming together and working toward the mutual goals of building a more just and verdant society.
The end of marijuana prohibition will not come overnight. In fact, the forces of prohibition remain strong and the misinformation campaign that has spanned from Reefer Madness to D.A.R.E. is deeply entrenched in the psyches of lawmakers and voters alike. But just as we have for decades, we will not be deterred.
In order for our state and federal laws to be more reflective of the cold truths of reality and science rather than hysteria and racism, we must continue to educate our legislators and neighbors alike. Having a coalition of lawmakers in Washington, DC who will go on the record in support of advocating for cannabis freedom is something we haven’t had before, but it is an event that is long overdue.
So let’s keep building.
Send a message to your member of Congress now and tell them to join the Cannabis Caucus and support sanity in marijuana policy.
Thanks for all you do,
The NORML Team
P.S. Our work is supported by thousands of people throughout the country as we work to advance marijuana reform in all 50 states and at the federal level. Can you kick in $5, $10 or $20 to help us keep going?
Sounds good to me. Let's tell our Senators about this caucus,for them to have a Senatorial version of it. Let's also contact President Trump and let him know that we want him to support it too.
Thursday, June 2, 2016
Stand up for our children's innocence
From Public Advocate:
The radical homosexuals infiltrating the United States Congress have a plan:
Indoctrinate an entire generation of American children with pro-homosexual propaganda and eliminate Traditional Values from American society.
Their ultimate dream is to create a new America based on sexual promiscuity in which the Family Values you and I cherish are long forgotten.
I hate to admit it, but if they pass the deceptively named "Student Non-Discrimination Act," (H.R. 846) that's exactly what they'll do.
Better named the "Homosexual Classrooms Act," its chief advocate in Congress is Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO), himself an open homosexual and radical activist.
And Republicans in both the House and Senate -- especially Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell -- are under tremendous pressure to sell out to the Homosexual Lobby's radical agenda and pass this bill.
That's why I need you to act quickly -- right away -- to protect our nation's youth.
I have prepared the official "Protect Our Children's Innocence" Petition to Congress for you to sign.
You and I must defeat this disastrous legislation.
You see, the Homosexual Classrooms Act contains a laundry list of anti-Family provisions that will:
*** Spin impressionable students in a whirlwind of sexual confusion and misinformation, even peer pressure to "experiment" with the homosexual "lifestyle;"
*** Exempt homosexual students from punishment for propositioning, harassing, or even sexually assaulting their classmates, as part of their specially-protected right to "freedom of self-expression;"
*** Force private and even religious schools to teach a pro-homosexual curriculum and purge any reference to religion if a student claims it creates a "hostile learning environment" for homosexual students.
And this bill is just the beginning of the Homosexual Lobby's radical agenda.
In fact, it will set them up to ram through their entire perverted vision for a homosexual America.
My friend, I'm sure I don't have to tell you this is not a fight we can afford to lose.
That's why Public Advocate is leading the fight against this immoral legislation.
But I need your help to do it.
You see, it's becoming harder and harder to send my message to pro-Family advocates.
The radical Homosexual Lobby is working day and night to censor Public Advocate's warnings about the Homosexual Classrooms Act.
That's why, along with your signed petition, I need you to seriously consider chipping in a special contribution of $15 to Public Advocate.
A contribution of just $20 will enable me to email 1,000 potential new supporters.
This is a battle for the survival of American values, and the fact is, there's no time to waste.
The Homosexual Classrooms Act will turn America's schools into indoctrination centers and its classrooms into social laboratories -- and they're pulling out all the stops to pass it.
You see, they've disguised the bill's wicked purpose behind an innocent name: "The Student Non-Discrimination Act."
The Homosexual Lobby knows that if the public finds out the truth about their radical agenda, they'll have no hope of success.
They've made that mistake before, and you and I had enough time to kill the bill.
This year they have successfully kept everything under wraps -- for now.
I've developed a massive program to launch the second they try to push this bill through Congress -- mail, email, phones, and even radio and TV ads.
But that's only possible with your support...
None of these things are cheap.
In fact, running a program of the size necessary to defeat this bill can get quite expensive, especially with increases in postage and printing costs.
That's why I ask for your generous contribution.
In addition to your signed "Protect Our Children's Innocence" Petition, will you contribute $15 or even just $10 or $5 right away?
Unfortunately, this agenda is nothing new.
Other countries like Britain are already experimenting with this kind of legislation, such as mandating public schools inject pro-homosexual content into every aspect of education.
Word problems in math classes are now to include homosexual characters. History classes will document the "civil rights" struggle against the "oppressive" pro-Family establishment.
And it's even started to infiltrate our state and local governments.
In parts of California, lawmakers "require schools to portray lesbians, homosexuals, transsexuals ... as positive role models to children in all public schools."
Sexual deviants held up as models of virtue?
If that makes you as sick as it makes me, you simply must join me in this battle for America's children.
Please sign the "Protect Our Children's Innocence" Petition to Congress and then send a generous contribution of at least $5 right away.
Your action will make all the difference.
If all that wasn't enough to convince you that action must be taken immediately, there's more.
Some say that there will always be private schools and traditional homeschool families to teach Traditional Values to the next generation.
But the truth is, this radical agenda is NOT restricted to public schools.
Kevin Jennings, while acting as Obama's "Safe Schools Czar," clearly stated that "every school, public, private or parochial has an obligation" to teach a pro-homosexual curriculum.
Jennings denounced school choice programs as "very dangerous" because they make it much harder to impose the Homosexual Agenda on our kids.
"Lord forbid a Baptist or Mormon school," he added.
Jennings' ultimate goal is for all curricula in "kindergarten, and first grade, and second grade -- every grade" be infused with a pro-homosexual slant.
Traditional Values will be squashed and demonized as old fashioned or out-of-date, or even as bigotry.
You and I cannot let them succeed.
Please sign the "Protect Our Children's Innocence" Petition to Congress I've prepared for you right away.
And along with your petition, would you please send a generous contribution of $15, $10, or $5?
Thank you so much for all you do.
Sincerely,
HON. EUGENE DELGAUDIO
President,
Public Advocate of the United States
P.S. Radical homosexuals in Congress have a plan to indoctrinate our children in schools -- both public and private.
But Public Advocate is taking a stand. Will you join me?
Please sign the "Protect Our Children's Innocence" Petition to Congress I've linked here.
And along with your petition, would you please send a generous contribution of $15, $10, or $5 right away?
The radical homosexuals infiltrating the United States Congress have a plan:
Indoctrinate an entire generation of American children with pro-homosexual propaganda and eliminate Traditional Values from American society.
Their ultimate dream is to create a new America based on sexual promiscuity in which the Family Values you and I cherish are long forgotten.
I hate to admit it, but if they pass the deceptively named "Student Non-Discrimination Act," (H.R. 846) that's exactly what they'll do.
Better named the "Homosexual Classrooms Act," its chief advocate in Congress is Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO), himself an open homosexual and radical activist.
And Republicans in both the House and Senate -- especially Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell -- are under tremendous pressure to sell out to the Homosexual Lobby's radical agenda and pass this bill.
That's why I need you to act quickly -- right away -- to protect our nation's youth.
I have prepared the official "Protect Our Children's Innocence" Petition to Congress for you to sign.
You and I must defeat this disastrous legislation.
You see, the Homosexual Classrooms Act contains a laundry list of anti-Family provisions that will:
*** Spin impressionable students in a whirlwind of sexual confusion and misinformation, even peer pressure to "experiment" with the homosexual "lifestyle;"
*** Exempt homosexual students from punishment for propositioning, harassing, or even sexually assaulting their classmates, as part of their specially-protected right to "freedom of self-expression;"
*** Force private and even religious schools to teach a pro-homosexual curriculum and purge any reference to religion if a student claims it creates a "hostile learning environment" for homosexual students.
And this bill is just the beginning of the Homosexual Lobby's radical agenda.
In fact, it will set them up to ram through their entire perverted vision for a homosexual America.
My friend, I'm sure I don't have to tell you this is not a fight we can afford to lose.
That's why Public Advocate is leading the fight against this immoral legislation.
But I need your help to do it.
You see, it's becoming harder and harder to send my message to pro-Family advocates.
The radical Homosexual Lobby is working day and night to censor Public Advocate's warnings about the Homosexual Classrooms Act.
That's why, along with your signed petition, I need you to seriously consider chipping in a special contribution of $15 to Public Advocate.
A contribution of just $20 will enable me to email 1,000 potential new supporters.
This is a battle for the survival of American values, and the fact is, there's no time to waste.
The Homosexual Classrooms Act will turn America's schools into indoctrination centers and its classrooms into social laboratories -- and they're pulling out all the stops to pass it.
You see, they've disguised the bill's wicked purpose behind an innocent name: "The Student Non-Discrimination Act."
The Homosexual Lobby knows that if the public finds out the truth about their radical agenda, they'll have no hope of success.
They've made that mistake before, and you and I had enough time to kill the bill.
This year they have successfully kept everything under wraps -- for now.
I've developed a massive program to launch the second they try to push this bill through Congress -- mail, email, phones, and even radio and TV ads.
But that's only possible with your support...
None of these things are cheap.
In fact, running a program of the size necessary to defeat this bill can get quite expensive, especially with increases in postage and printing costs.
That's why I ask for your generous contribution.
In addition to your signed "Protect Our Children's Innocence" Petition, will you contribute $15 or even just $10 or $5 right away?
Unfortunately, this agenda is nothing new.
Other countries like Britain are already experimenting with this kind of legislation, such as mandating public schools inject pro-homosexual content into every aspect of education.
Word problems in math classes are now to include homosexual characters. History classes will document the "civil rights" struggle against the "oppressive" pro-Family establishment.
And it's even started to infiltrate our state and local governments.
In parts of California, lawmakers "require schools to portray lesbians, homosexuals, transsexuals ... as positive role models to children in all public schools."
Sexual deviants held up as models of virtue?
If that makes you as sick as it makes me, you simply must join me in this battle for America's children.
Please sign the "Protect Our Children's Innocence" Petition to Congress and then send a generous contribution of at least $5 right away.
Your action will make all the difference.
If all that wasn't enough to convince you that action must be taken immediately, there's more.
Some say that there will always be private schools and traditional homeschool families to teach Traditional Values to the next generation.
But the truth is, this radical agenda is NOT restricted to public schools.
Kevin Jennings, while acting as Obama's "Safe Schools Czar," clearly stated that "every school, public, private or parochial has an obligation" to teach a pro-homosexual curriculum.
Jennings denounced school choice programs as "very dangerous" because they make it much harder to impose the Homosexual Agenda on our kids.
"Lord forbid a Baptist or Mormon school," he added.
Jennings' ultimate goal is for all curricula in "kindergarten, and first grade, and second grade -- every grade" be infused with a pro-homosexual slant.
Traditional Values will be squashed and demonized as old fashioned or out-of-date, or even as bigotry.
You and I cannot let them succeed.
Please sign the "Protect Our Children's Innocence" Petition to Congress I've prepared for you right away.
And along with your petition, would you please send a generous contribution of $15, $10, or $5?
Thank you so much for all you do.
Sincerely,
HON. EUGENE DELGAUDIO
President,
Public Advocate of the United States
P.S. Radical homosexuals in Congress have a plan to indoctrinate our children in schools -- both public and private.
But Public Advocate is taking a stand. Will you join me?
Please sign the "Protect Our Children's Innocence" Petition to Congress I've linked here.
And along with your petition, would you please send a generous contribution of $15, $10, or $5 right away?
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Rainbow mafia pushes anti-heterosexual bill before Congress
From Public Advocate:
The radical homosexuals infiltrating the United States Congress have a plan:
Indoctrinate an entire generation of American children with pro-homosexual propaganda and eliminate Traditional Values from American society.
Their ultimate dream is to create a new America based on sexual promiscuity in which the Family Values you and I cherish are long forgotten.
I hate to admit it, but if they pass the deceptively named "Student Non-Discrimination Act," that's exactly what they'll do.
Better named the "Homosexual Classrooms Act," its chief advocate in Congress is Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO), himself an open homosexual and radical activist.
And it's dangerously close to becoming the law of the land.
That's why I need you to act quickly -- right away -- to protect our nation's youth.
I have prepared the official "Protect Our Children's Innocence" Petition to Congress for you to sign.
You and I must defeat this disastrous legislation.
You see, the Homosexual Classrooms Act contains a laundry list of anti-Family provisions that will:
*** Require schools to teach appalling homosexual acts so "homosexual students" don't feel "singled out" during already explicit sex-ed classes;
*** Spin impressionable students in a whirlwind of sexual confusion and misinformation, even peer pressure to "experiment" with the homosexual "lifestyle;"
*** Exempt homosexual students from punishment for propositioning, harassing, or even sexually assaulting their classmates, as part of their specially-protected right to "freedom of self-expression;"
*** Force private and even religious schools to teach a pro-homosexual curriculum and purge any reference to religion if a student claims it creates a "hostile learning environment" for homosexual students.
And this bill is just the beginning of the Homosexual Lobby's radical agenda.
In fact, it will set them up to ram through their entire perverted vision for a homosexual America.
My friend, I'm sure I don't have to tell you this is not a fight we can afford to lose.
That's why Public Advocate is leading the fight against this immoral legislation.
But I need your help to do it.
You see, it's becoming harder and harder to send my message to pro-Family advocates.
The radical Homosexual Lobby is working day and night to censor Public Advocate's warning about the Homosexual Classrooms Act.
That's why, along with your signed petition, I need you to seriously consider chipping in $5 or $10 to Public Advocate.
A contribution of just $20 will enable me to email 1,000 potential new supporters.
This is a battle for the survival of American values, and the fact is, there's no time to waste.
The Homosexual Classrooms Act will turn America's schools into indoctrination centers and its classrooms into social laboratories -- and they're pulling out all the stops to pass it.
You see, they've disguised the bill's wicked purpose behind an innocent name: "The Student Non-Discrimination Act."
The Homosexual Lobby knows that if the public knew the truth about their radical agenda, they'll have no hope of success.
They’ve made that mistake before and you and I had enough time to kill the bill.
This year they won’t make the same mistake and have successfully kept everything under wraps -- for now.
I've developed a massive program to launch the second they try to push this bill through in the new Congress -- mail, email, phones, and even radio and TV ads.
But that's only possible with your support...
None of these things are cheap. In fact, running a program of the size necessary to defeat this bill can get quite expensive especially with increases in postage and printing costs.
That's why I ask for your generous contribution. In addition to your signed "Protect Our Children's Innocence" Petition, will you chip in $5, $10, or more right away?
Unfortunately, this agenda is nothing new.
Other countries like Britain are already experimenting with this kind of legislation, such as mandating public schools inject pro-homosexual content into every aspect of education.
Word problems in math classes are now to include homosexual characters. History classes will document the "civil rights" struggle against the "oppressive" pro-Family establishment.
And it's even started to infiltrate our state governments.
In parts of California, lawmakers "require schools to portray lesbians, homosexuals, transsexuals ... as positive role models to children in all public schools."
Sexual deviants held up as models of virtue?
If that makes you as sick as it makes me, you simply must join me in this battle for America's children.
Please sign the "Protect Our Children's Innocence" Petition to Congress and then chip in $5 or $10 right away.
Your action will make all the difference.
If all that wasn't enough to convince you that action must be taken immediately, there's more.
Some say that there will always be private schools and traditional homeschool families to teach Traditional Values to the next generation.
But the truth is, this radical agenda is NOT restricted to public schools.
Kevin Jennings, while acting as Obama's "Safe Schools Czar," clearly stated that "every school, public, private or parochial has an obligation" to teach a pro-homosexual curriculum.
Jennings denounced school choice programs as "very dangerous" because they make it much harder to impose the Homosexual Agenda on our kids.
"Lord forbid a Baptist or Mormon school," he added.
Jennings' ultimate goal is for all curriculum in "kindergarten, and first grade, and second grade – every grade" be infused with a pro-homosexual slant.
Traditional Values will be squashed and demonized as old fashioned or out-of-date, or even as bigotry.
You and I cannot let them succeed.
Please sign the "Protect Our Children's Innocence" Petition to Congress I've prepared for you right away.
And along with your petition, would you please chip in with a contribution of $5 or $10?
Thank you so much for all you have done.
Sincerely,
HON. EUGENE DELGAUDIO
President,
Public Advocate of the United States
P.S. Radical homosexuals in Congress have a plan to indoctrinate our children in schools -- both public and private.
But Public Advocate is taking a stand. Will you join me?
Please sign the "Protect Our Children's Innocence" Petition to Congress I've linked here.
And along with your petition, would you please chip in with a contribution of $10 or $20 right away?
The radical homosexuals infiltrating the United States Congress have a plan:
Indoctrinate an entire generation of American children with pro-homosexual propaganda and eliminate Traditional Values from American society.
Their ultimate dream is to create a new America based on sexual promiscuity in which the Family Values you and I cherish are long forgotten.
I hate to admit it, but if they pass the deceptively named "Student Non-Discrimination Act," that's exactly what they'll do.
Better named the "Homosexual Classrooms Act," its chief advocate in Congress is Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO), himself an open homosexual and radical activist.
And it's dangerously close to becoming the law of the land.
That's why I need you to act quickly -- right away -- to protect our nation's youth.
I have prepared the official "Protect Our Children's Innocence" Petition to Congress for you to sign.
You and I must defeat this disastrous legislation.
You see, the Homosexual Classrooms Act contains a laundry list of anti-Family provisions that will:
*** Require schools to teach appalling homosexual acts so "homosexual students" don't feel "singled out" during already explicit sex-ed classes;
*** Spin impressionable students in a whirlwind of sexual confusion and misinformation, even peer pressure to "experiment" with the homosexual "lifestyle;"
*** Exempt homosexual students from punishment for propositioning, harassing, or even sexually assaulting their classmates, as part of their specially-protected right to "freedom of self-expression;"
*** Force private and even religious schools to teach a pro-homosexual curriculum and purge any reference to religion if a student claims it creates a "hostile learning environment" for homosexual students.
And this bill is just the beginning of the Homosexual Lobby's radical agenda.
In fact, it will set them up to ram through their entire perverted vision for a homosexual America.
My friend, I'm sure I don't have to tell you this is not a fight we can afford to lose.
That's why Public Advocate is leading the fight against this immoral legislation.
But I need your help to do it.
You see, it's becoming harder and harder to send my message to pro-Family advocates.
The radical Homosexual Lobby is working day and night to censor Public Advocate's warning about the Homosexual Classrooms Act.
That's why, along with your signed petition, I need you to seriously consider chipping in $5 or $10 to Public Advocate.
A contribution of just $20 will enable me to email 1,000 potential new supporters.
This is a battle for the survival of American values, and the fact is, there's no time to waste.
The Homosexual Classrooms Act will turn America's schools into indoctrination centers and its classrooms into social laboratories -- and they're pulling out all the stops to pass it.
You see, they've disguised the bill's wicked purpose behind an innocent name: "The Student Non-Discrimination Act."
The Homosexual Lobby knows that if the public knew the truth about their radical agenda, they'll have no hope of success.
They’ve made that mistake before and you and I had enough time to kill the bill.
This year they won’t make the same mistake and have successfully kept everything under wraps -- for now.
I've developed a massive program to launch the second they try to push this bill through in the new Congress -- mail, email, phones, and even radio and TV ads.
But that's only possible with your support...
None of these things are cheap. In fact, running a program of the size necessary to defeat this bill can get quite expensive especially with increases in postage and printing costs.
That's why I ask for your generous contribution. In addition to your signed "Protect Our Children's Innocence" Petition, will you chip in $5, $10, or more right away?
Unfortunately, this agenda is nothing new.
Other countries like Britain are already experimenting with this kind of legislation, such as mandating public schools inject pro-homosexual content into every aspect of education.
Word problems in math classes are now to include homosexual characters. History classes will document the "civil rights" struggle against the "oppressive" pro-Family establishment.
And it's even started to infiltrate our state governments.
In parts of California, lawmakers "require schools to portray lesbians, homosexuals, transsexuals ... as positive role models to children in all public schools."
Sexual deviants held up as models of virtue?
If that makes you as sick as it makes me, you simply must join me in this battle for America's children.
Please sign the "Protect Our Children's Innocence" Petition to Congress and then chip in $5 or $10 right away.
Your action will make all the difference.
If all that wasn't enough to convince you that action must be taken immediately, there's more.
Some say that there will always be private schools and traditional homeschool families to teach Traditional Values to the next generation.
But the truth is, this radical agenda is NOT restricted to public schools.
Kevin Jennings, while acting as Obama's "Safe Schools Czar," clearly stated that "every school, public, private or parochial has an obligation" to teach a pro-homosexual curriculum.
Jennings denounced school choice programs as "very dangerous" because they make it much harder to impose the Homosexual Agenda on our kids.
"Lord forbid a Baptist or Mormon school," he added.
Jennings' ultimate goal is for all curriculum in "kindergarten, and first grade, and second grade – every grade" be infused with a pro-homosexual slant.
Traditional Values will be squashed and demonized as old fashioned or out-of-date, or even as bigotry.
You and I cannot let them succeed.
Please sign the "Protect Our Children's Innocence" Petition to Congress I've prepared for you right away.
And along with your petition, would you please chip in with a contribution of $5 or $10?
Thank you so much for all you have done.
Sincerely,
HON. EUGENE DELGAUDIO
President,
Public Advocate of the United States
P.S. Radical homosexuals in Congress have a plan to indoctrinate our children in schools -- both public and private.
But Public Advocate is taking a stand. Will you join me?
Please sign the "Protect Our Children's Innocence" Petition to Congress I've linked here.
And along with your petition, would you please chip in with a contribution of $10 or $20 right away?
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Support H.R. 525 aka the Industrial Hemp Farming Act
From Campaign For Liberty:
A new agricultural commodity appears on the verge of a breakout.
Well, actually, it’s not really “new” and all I can say is, it’s about time!
I’m speaking, of course, about industrial hemp’s recent reemergence as a viable agricultural commodity.
You see, since the war on drugs began, an innocent bystander was caught up in all the hysteria, and industrial hemp (marijuana’s botanical cousin with near-zero THC) was outlawed.
This was despite its use in the war effort during WWII, remembered today through a government film called “Hemp for Victory,” still widely available for viewing on the Internet.
During my years in Congress, I introduced multiple bills to exclude industrial hemp from the definition of “marihuana” under the Controlled Substances Act.
Unfortunately, while I was able to get bipartisan support for this legislation, it never went very far while I was there.
But now, prevailing attitudes toward hemp are beginning to change across America, and that is (at times, very) slowly changing the opinions of politicians in Washington.
That’s why I’m glad my good friend, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY-4) has again reintroduced my old legislation, the Industrial Hemp Farming Act, as H.R. 525.
In 2013, Rep. Massie teamed up with Rep. Jared Polis and, along with some help from allies on the issue in the Senate, they were able to include an amendment to the Farm Bill allowing for “research” projects to be conducted on industrial hemp.
I’m happy to tell you that despite delays, and initially, harassment from the DEA, Kentucky’s pilot programs with industrial hemp were quite successful in 2014.
In fact, the programs were so successful that at a news conference this spring, Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner James Comer announced it will expand from the 33 acres planted in 2014 to 1,742 acres across Kentucky in 2015!
The momentum behind industrial hemp’s research programs in Kentucky has attracted millions of dollars in capital investment.
"With their investment, jobs have been created, jobs are going to be created, and they've signed contracts with family farmers," Comer said. "Hemp equals jobs and true economic growth, which is what we predicted when we launched Senate Bill 50 two years ago."
Kentucky’s Senate Bill 50 allowed farmers in the state to cultivate industrial hemp -- IF the federal government creates a legal framework for them to operate under.
That’s why I hope you’ll agree passing H.R. 525 this Congress has never been more important.
Not just for Kentucky, but to allow farmers all across the country who are capable, to begin experimenting and planting this viable cash crop!
Hemp is such a versatile plant, we may not even understand its full economic potential in this day and age.
It’s a shame America’s entrepreneurs have been limited in their ability to profit and experiment with hemp because of misguided policies put in place during our country’s ill-fated attempt to outlaw plants.
Unfortunately, too many drug warriors on Capitol Hill are still afraid to voice their support for H.R. 525.
They’re afraid if they vote to remove hemp from the list of controlled substances, they’ll be seen as “going soft” on crime.
To counter this misconception, Rep. Massie has taken to telling people, “Industrial hemp: think rope, not dope.”
I can hardly think of a more concise message to tell Congress.
That’s why it’s vital you take action today in support of H.R. 525 by signing your “Think Rope, Not Dope” petition today!
My goal is to bury Congress in these petitions, explaining briefly, and clearly, that industrial hemp is not marijuana.
As I said repeatedly on the campaign trail throughout 2011 and 2012, you’d have to smoke a joint the size of a telephone poll to get “high” from hemp.
And even then, you’d probably just get lightheaded from the lack of oxygen . . . rather than feel any impact from the trace amounts of THC in the plant.
Now I know many of you wonder if signing a petition actually does anything . . .
Let me tell you, your signed petitions absolutely have an impact on how your Congressman looks at an issue.
>>> First, it tells them there are angry people in their district. Though it’s always a sure bet more constituents share those feelings than signed a petition; and
>>> Second, it conveniently tells them what they are angry about. Phone calls over time are very important, but unless you have diligent front office staff, sometimes the purpose of your call might get lost in the mix and the politician never hears about it; and
>>> Third, it concludes by telling them the action they need to take so their constituents aren’t angry anymore (at least about that issue).
That’s why I’m counting on you to sign your “Think Rope, Not Dope” petition today!
It’s about time Congress begin to legalize freedom again in this country, and I’m glad we have friends like Rep. Thomas Massie up there to introduce important legislation like this.
But you and I need to provide the outside support necessary to make sure this effort is successful in the 114th Congress.
Can I count on you to sign your “Think Rope, Not Dope” petition today and then make a generous contribution to Campaign for Liberty today?
Your petition will be delivered to your representative either way, but Campaign for Liberty relies solely on the voluntary contributions of our generous supporters to operate.
Every day, my staff is working hard, tracking legislation, working the phones, email, delivering petitions, and representing you and three quarters of a million C4L Members across the country on Capitol Hill.
Unfortunately even modern technology hasn’t made the tools of our trade free, and every aspect of a program like this costs money -- even this email you’re reading now.
And the bigger we get, the more every aspect of the operation costs.
The good news is, passing H.R. 525 may eventually lead to cheaper paper production, as using hemp to create paper is much more efficient than trees.
That would mean the cost of printing your petitions we deliver to your representative would go down, saving Campaign for Liberty money in the long run.
So if you think about it, chipping in $10 to Campaign for Liberty today will have a much bigger economic impact in the long run than you might realize.
I’m confident that with your support, we can deliver a huge victory for hemp this Congress.
For Liberty,
Ron Paul
Chairman
P.S. My good friend, Congressman Thomas Massie (R-KY-4) has reintroduced H.R. 525. Currently the bill has 60 bipartisan cosponsors, but with your support, I’m sure we can not only get more, but pass this legislation.
Sadly, misguided drug warriors continue to spread propaganda against this versatile and viable cash crop.
That’s why it’s vital you sign your “Think Rope, Not Dope” petition today and chip in $10 to help C4L pass H.R. 525.
A new agricultural commodity appears on the verge of a breakout.
Well, actually, it’s not really “new” and all I can say is, it’s about time!
I’m speaking, of course, about industrial hemp’s recent reemergence as a viable agricultural commodity.
You see, since the war on drugs began, an innocent bystander was caught up in all the hysteria, and industrial hemp (marijuana’s botanical cousin with near-zero THC) was outlawed.
This was despite its use in the war effort during WWII, remembered today through a government film called “Hemp for Victory,” still widely available for viewing on the Internet.
During my years in Congress, I introduced multiple bills to exclude industrial hemp from the definition of “marihuana” under the Controlled Substances Act.
Unfortunately, while I was able to get bipartisan support for this legislation, it never went very far while I was there.
But now, prevailing attitudes toward hemp are beginning to change across America, and that is (at times, very) slowly changing the opinions of politicians in Washington.
That’s why I’m glad my good friend, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY-4) has again reintroduced my old legislation, the Industrial Hemp Farming Act, as H.R. 525.
In 2013, Rep. Massie teamed up with Rep. Jared Polis and, along with some help from allies on the issue in the Senate, they were able to include an amendment to the Farm Bill allowing for “research” projects to be conducted on industrial hemp.
I’m happy to tell you that despite delays, and initially, harassment from the DEA, Kentucky’s pilot programs with industrial hemp were quite successful in 2014.
In fact, the programs were so successful that at a news conference this spring, Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner James Comer announced it will expand from the 33 acres planted in 2014 to 1,742 acres across Kentucky in 2015!
The momentum behind industrial hemp’s research programs in Kentucky has attracted millions of dollars in capital investment.
"With their investment, jobs have been created, jobs are going to be created, and they've signed contracts with family farmers," Comer said. "Hemp equals jobs and true economic growth, which is what we predicted when we launched Senate Bill 50 two years ago."
Kentucky’s Senate Bill 50 allowed farmers in the state to cultivate industrial hemp -- IF the federal government creates a legal framework for them to operate under.
That’s why I hope you’ll agree passing H.R. 525 this Congress has never been more important.
Not just for Kentucky, but to allow farmers all across the country who are capable, to begin experimenting and planting this viable cash crop!
Hemp is such a versatile plant, we may not even understand its full economic potential in this day and age.
It’s a shame America’s entrepreneurs have been limited in their ability to profit and experiment with hemp because of misguided policies put in place during our country’s ill-fated attempt to outlaw plants.
Unfortunately, too many drug warriors on Capitol Hill are still afraid to voice their support for H.R. 525.
They’re afraid if they vote to remove hemp from the list of controlled substances, they’ll be seen as “going soft” on crime.
To counter this misconception, Rep. Massie has taken to telling people, “Industrial hemp: think rope, not dope.”
I can hardly think of a more concise message to tell Congress.
That’s why it’s vital you take action today in support of H.R. 525 by signing your “Think Rope, Not Dope” petition today!
My goal is to bury Congress in these petitions, explaining briefly, and clearly, that industrial hemp is not marijuana.
As I said repeatedly on the campaign trail throughout 2011 and 2012, you’d have to smoke a joint the size of a telephone poll to get “high” from hemp.
And even then, you’d probably just get lightheaded from the lack of oxygen . . . rather than feel any impact from the trace amounts of THC in the plant.
Now I know many of you wonder if signing a petition actually does anything . . .
Let me tell you, your signed petitions absolutely have an impact on how your Congressman looks at an issue.
>>> First, it tells them there are angry people in their district. Though it’s always a sure bet more constituents share those feelings than signed a petition; and
>>> Second, it conveniently tells them what they are angry about. Phone calls over time are very important, but unless you have diligent front office staff, sometimes the purpose of your call might get lost in the mix and the politician never hears about it; and
>>> Third, it concludes by telling them the action they need to take so their constituents aren’t angry anymore (at least about that issue).
That’s why I’m counting on you to sign your “Think Rope, Not Dope” petition today!
It’s about time Congress begin to legalize freedom again in this country, and I’m glad we have friends like Rep. Thomas Massie up there to introduce important legislation like this.
But you and I need to provide the outside support necessary to make sure this effort is successful in the 114th Congress.
Can I count on you to sign your “Think Rope, Not Dope” petition today and then make a generous contribution to Campaign for Liberty today?
Your petition will be delivered to your representative either way, but Campaign for Liberty relies solely on the voluntary contributions of our generous supporters to operate.
Every day, my staff is working hard, tracking legislation, working the phones, email, delivering petitions, and representing you and three quarters of a million C4L Members across the country on Capitol Hill.
Unfortunately even modern technology hasn’t made the tools of our trade free, and every aspect of a program like this costs money -- even this email you’re reading now.
And the bigger we get, the more every aspect of the operation costs.
The good news is, passing H.R. 525 may eventually lead to cheaper paper production, as using hemp to create paper is much more efficient than trees.
That would mean the cost of printing your petitions we deliver to your representative would go down, saving Campaign for Liberty money in the long run.
So if you think about it, chipping in $10 to Campaign for Liberty today will have a much bigger economic impact in the long run than you might realize.
I’m confident that with your support, we can deliver a huge victory for hemp this Congress.
For Liberty,
Ron Paul
Chairman
P.S. My good friend, Congressman Thomas Massie (R-KY-4) has reintroduced H.R. 525. Currently the bill has 60 bipartisan cosponsors, but with your support, I’m sure we can not only get more, but pass this legislation.
Sadly, misguided drug warriors continue to spread propaganda against this versatile and viable cash crop.
That’s why it’s vital you sign your “Think Rope, Not Dope” petition today and chip in $10 to help C4L pass H.R. 525.
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Support the McClintok/Polis Amendment
From NORML:
Members of the United States House of Representatives are anticipated to vote as early as tonight on a series of amendments to a Justice Department spending bill. Several of these amendments seek to limit the federal government's ability to intrude in states that have regulated various aspects of marijuana production and access.
Specifically, Representatives Tom McClintock (R-CA) and Jared Polis (D-CO) are introducing a provision to halt the federal prosecution of individuals involved in marijuana-related activities in instances when those activities are in strict compliance with the laws of their respective states.
Twenty-three states (and the District of Columbia) permit the medical use of cannabis, while four states now regulate the plant's production and sale to all adults. (Washington, DC imposes no penalties on the personal use, possession, and cultivation of the plant, but does not allow for its retail sale.) More than a dozen additional states permit patients to possess a specific anti-convulsant compound found in the marijuana plant, known as cannabidiol. Nearly half of all states permit farmers to cultivate industrial strains of cannabis.
Congressional passage of the McClintock/Polis amendment would allow these states, and the citizens who reside in them, to engage in these permitted activities free from any threat of federal interference or prosecution. It is time for Congress to respect these measures and the rights of voters and state lawmakers who resoundingly support them.
Other pending amendments to be voted on in the coming days seek to shift DEA funding priorities away from marijuana eradication and stimulate federal research into the plant's therapeutic properties. A separate amendment seeking reauthorization from Congress would continue to limit the Justice Department's authority in states that regulate the use of medicinal marijuana as part of a state-licensed program.
Please contact/call your US Representative today to support the McClintock/Polis amendment. Let Congress know that the majority of voters, including majorities of both political parties, agree that the government should not enforce federal marijuana laws in states that allow its use.
Please enter your zip code below to contact your House members and urge them to support this pending legislation. You can also call your member of the House by clicking here.
To sign petition
Members of the United States House of Representatives are anticipated to vote as early as tonight on a series of amendments to a Justice Department spending bill. Several of these amendments seek to limit the federal government's ability to intrude in states that have regulated various aspects of marijuana production and access.
Specifically, Representatives Tom McClintock (R-CA) and Jared Polis (D-CO) are introducing a provision to halt the federal prosecution of individuals involved in marijuana-related activities in instances when those activities are in strict compliance with the laws of their respective states.
Twenty-three states (and the District of Columbia) permit the medical use of cannabis, while four states now regulate the plant's production and sale to all adults. (Washington, DC imposes no penalties on the personal use, possession, and cultivation of the plant, but does not allow for its retail sale.) More than a dozen additional states permit patients to possess a specific anti-convulsant compound found in the marijuana plant, known as cannabidiol. Nearly half of all states permit farmers to cultivate industrial strains of cannabis.
Congressional passage of the McClintock/Polis amendment would allow these states, and the citizens who reside in them, to engage in these permitted activities free from any threat of federal interference or prosecution. It is time for Congress to respect these measures and the rights of voters and state lawmakers who resoundingly support them.
Other pending amendments to be voted on in the coming days seek to shift DEA funding priorities away from marijuana eradication and stimulate federal research into the plant's therapeutic properties. A separate amendment seeking reauthorization from Congress would continue to limit the Justice Department's authority in states that regulate the use of medicinal marijuana as part of a state-licensed program.
Please contact/call your US Representative today to support the McClintock/Polis amendment. Let Congress know that the majority of voters, including majorities of both political parties, agree that the government should not enforce federal marijuana laws in states that allow its use.
Please enter your zip code below to contact your House members and urge them to support this pending legislation. You can also call your member of the House by clicking here.
To sign petition
Saturday, February 21, 2015
Congressman introduce bills to legalize marijuana
Two congressmen filed separate House bills on Friday that together would legalize, regulate and tax marijuana at the federal level, effectively ending the U.S. government's decadeslong prohibition of the plant.
Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) introduced the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act, which would remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act's schedules, transfer oversight of the substance from the Drug Enforcement Administration over to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and regulate marijuana in a way similar to how alcohol is currently regulated in the U.S.
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) introduced the Marijuana Tax Revenue Act, which would set up a federal excise tax for regulated marijuana.
The bills would not force states to legalize marijuana, but a federal regulatory framework would be in place for those states that do decide to legalize it. To date, four states and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational marijuana (however, D.C.'s model continues to ban sales), 23 states have legalized marijuana for medical purposes and 11 other states have legalized the limited use of low-THC forms of marijuana for medical use.
"While President Obama and the Justice Department have allowed the will of voters in states like Colorado and 22 other jurisdictions to move forward, small business owners, medical marijuana patients, and others who follow state laws still live with the fear that a new administration -- or this one -- could reverse course and turn them into criminals," Polis said in a statement Friday. "It is time for us to replace the failed prohibition with a regulatory system that works and let states and municipalities decide for themselves if they want, or don't want, to have legal marijuana within their borders."
Despite the programs currently in place in Colorado and Washington state -- as well as those that will soon go into effect in Oregon, Alaska and D.C. -- the sale, possession, production and distribution of marijuana all remain illegal under federal law. The states that have legalized marijuana or softened penalties for possession have only been able to do so because of federal guidance urging prosecutors to refrain from targeting state-legal marijuana operations.
With marijuana legalization supported by a majority of Americans, and a new wave of states considering loosening their marijuana laws over the next several years, it seems unlikely that the federal government would push back against the popular movement. But it's not completely out of the realm of possibility.
Harvard economist Jeff Miron, a vocal supporter of marijuana policy reform, highlighted the precarious nature of state marijuana laws in a recent op-ed for CNN on why Congress needs to act now on federal marijuana policy.
"Despite the compelling case for legalization, and progress toward legalization at the state level, ultimate success is not assured," Miron wrote. "Federal law still prohibits marijuana, and existing jurisprudence (Gonzales v. Raich 2005) holds that federal law trumps state law when it comes to marijuana prohibition. So far, the federal government has mostly taken a hands-off approach to state medicalizations and legalizations, but in January 2017, the country will have a new president. That person could order the attorney general to enforce federal prohibition regardless of state law."
On Friday, Blumenauer called the federal prohibition of marijuana "a failure" that has wasted tax dollars and ruined lives. He also said it's time for the government to forge a new path ahead for the plant.
"As more states move to legalize marijuana as Oregon, Colorado, Washington and Alaska have done," Blumenauer said, "it's imperative the federal government become a full partner in building a workable and safe framework."
Source
Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) introduced the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act, which would remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act's schedules, transfer oversight of the substance from the Drug Enforcement Administration over to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and regulate marijuana in a way similar to how alcohol is currently regulated in the U.S.
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) introduced the Marijuana Tax Revenue Act, which would set up a federal excise tax for regulated marijuana.
The bills would not force states to legalize marijuana, but a federal regulatory framework would be in place for those states that do decide to legalize it. To date, four states and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational marijuana (however, D.C.'s model continues to ban sales), 23 states have legalized marijuana for medical purposes and 11 other states have legalized the limited use of low-THC forms of marijuana for medical use.
"While President Obama and the Justice Department have allowed the will of voters in states like Colorado and 22 other jurisdictions to move forward, small business owners, medical marijuana patients, and others who follow state laws still live with the fear that a new administration -- or this one -- could reverse course and turn them into criminals," Polis said in a statement Friday. "It is time for us to replace the failed prohibition with a regulatory system that works and let states and municipalities decide for themselves if they want, or don't want, to have legal marijuana within their borders."
Despite the programs currently in place in Colorado and Washington state -- as well as those that will soon go into effect in Oregon, Alaska and D.C. -- the sale, possession, production and distribution of marijuana all remain illegal under federal law. The states that have legalized marijuana or softened penalties for possession have only been able to do so because of federal guidance urging prosecutors to refrain from targeting state-legal marijuana operations.
With marijuana legalization supported by a majority of Americans, and a new wave of states considering loosening their marijuana laws over the next several years, it seems unlikely that the federal government would push back against the popular movement. But it's not completely out of the realm of possibility.
Harvard economist Jeff Miron, a vocal supporter of marijuana policy reform, highlighted the precarious nature of state marijuana laws in a recent op-ed for CNN on why Congress needs to act now on federal marijuana policy.
"Despite the compelling case for legalization, and progress toward legalization at the state level, ultimate success is not assured," Miron wrote. "Federal law still prohibits marijuana, and existing jurisprudence (Gonzales v. Raich 2005) holds that federal law trumps state law when it comes to marijuana prohibition. So far, the federal government has mostly taken a hands-off approach to state medicalizations and legalizations, but in January 2017, the country will have a new president. That person could order the attorney general to enforce federal prohibition regardless of state law."
On Friday, Blumenauer called the federal prohibition of marijuana "a failure" that has wasted tax dollars and ruined lives. He also said it's time for the government to forge a new path ahead for the plant.
"As more states move to legalize marijuana as Oregon, Colorado, Washington and Alaska have done," Blumenauer said, "it's imperative the federal government become a full partner in building a workable and safe framework."
Source
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Sign petition to prevent gay supremacy
From Public Advocate:
Due to the action of pro-Family activists from across the nation, Public Advocate was able to deliver over 1,000,000 petitions!
It’s truly inspiring to see there are so many pro-Family Americans like you willing to stand up for traditional values.
Please take a few minutes to watch Public Advocate deliver YOUR message to Congress.
If you haven't signed your petition to protect our children, please do so right away!
Congressman Jared Polis' bill would allow the following:
*** Require schools to teach appalling homosexual acts so "homosexual students" don't feel "singled out" during already explicit sex-ed classes;
*** Spin impressionable students in a whirlwind of sexual confusion and misinformation, even peer pressure to "experiment" with the homosexual "lifestyle";
*** Exempt homosexual students from punishment for propositioning, harassing, or even sexually assaulting their classmates, as part of their specially-protected right to "freedom of self-expression";
*** Force private and even religious schools to teach a pro-homosexual curriculum and purge any reference to religion if a student claims it creates a "hostile learning environment".
Sign petition here
Due to the action of pro-Family activists from across the nation, Public Advocate was able to deliver over 1,000,000 petitions!
It’s truly inspiring to see there are so many pro-Family Americans like you willing to stand up for traditional values.
Please take a few minutes to watch Public Advocate deliver YOUR message to Congress.
If you haven't signed your petition to protect our children, please do so right away!
Congressman Jared Polis' bill would allow the following:
*** Require schools to teach appalling homosexual acts so "homosexual students" don't feel "singled out" during already explicit sex-ed classes;
*** Spin impressionable students in a whirlwind of sexual confusion and misinformation, even peer pressure to "experiment" with the homosexual "lifestyle";
*** Exempt homosexual students from punishment for propositioning, harassing, or even sexually assaulting their classmates, as part of their specially-protected right to "freedom of self-expression";
*** Force private and even religious schools to teach a pro-homosexual curriculum and purge any reference to religion if a student claims it creates a "hostile learning environment".
Sign petition here
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