Cannabis Magna Carta

William Barr, President Trump's nominee to serve as the next U.S. attorney general, made headlines earlier this month when he pledged during his Senate confirmation hearing not to "go after" marijuana companies that comply with state laws.

Now, in response to written questions from senators, Barr is putting that pledge on paper, in black and white. He's also calling for the approval of more legal growers of marijuana for research, and is acknowledging that a recent bill legalizing hemp has broad implications for sale of cannabis products.

"As discussed at my hearing, I do not intend to go after parties who have complied with state law in reliance on the Cole Memorandum," he wrote, referring to Obama-era cannabis enforcement guidance that then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions rescinded last year.

That said, Barr isn't committing to formally replacing the Cole Memo, which generally directed federal prosecutors not to interfere with state marijuana laws, with new guidance reiterating the approach.

"I have not closely considered or determined whether further administrative guidance would be appropriate following the Cole Memorandum and the January 2018 memorandum from Attorney General Sessions, or what such guidance might look like," he wrote in response to a question from Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ). "If confirmed, I will give the matter careful consideration."

And Barr, who previously served as attorney general under President George H. W. Bush, says it would be even better if Congress got around to addressing the growing gap between state and federal marijuana laws.

"I still believe that the legislative process, rather than administrative guidance, is ultimately the right way to resolve whether and how to legalize marijuana," he wrote in a compilation of responses delivered to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Sunday.

But even as Barr reiterated that he wouldn't go after people and businesses that benefited from the Cole memo, he voiced criticism of policy directives like it and of the idea of legalization in general.

"An approach based solely on executive discretion fails to provide the certainty and predictability that regulated parties deserve and threatens to undermine the rule of law," Barr wrote in response to a question from Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). "If confirmed, I can commit to working with the Committee and the rest of Congress on these issues, including any specific legislative proposals. As I have said, however, I do not support the wholesale legalization of marijuana."

Nonetheless, legalization advocates were happy to see the nominee reiterating his non-enforcement pledge when it comes to state-legal businesses.

"It’s positive to see Barr make the same commitments on marijuana enforcement in writing as he did in the hearings," Michael Collins, director of national affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance, said. "My hope is that he sends this message to all federal prosecutors so that states are given space to reform their outdated, broken, racist marijuana laws, and the country can turn the page on prohibition."

Elsewhere in the 247-page document, Barr says that he supports expanding the number of institutions that are allowed to grow marijuana to be used in scientific research.

"I support the expansion of marijuana manufacturers for scientific research consistent with law," he wrote in response to a question from Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA). "If confirmed, I will review the matter and take appropriate steps."

A single facility at the University of Mississippi has for half a century maintained a monopoly on the cultivation of cannabis for research, but due to concerns about the availability and quality of its products, the Drug Enforcement Administration in 2016 announced a process to license additional manufacturers. However, under Sessions, the Department of Justice has blocked the agency from acting on any of the several dozen applications it has received from would-be growers.

"I am not familiar with the details of these applications or the status of their review," Barr wrote. "If confirmed, I can commit to reviewing the matter."

Barr also acknowledged that, due to the passage of the Farm Bill and its hemp legalization provisions late last year, hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) and other components and products made from low-THC cannabis plants are legally distinct from those that come from marijuana.

"Products derived from hemp, including CBD, are therefore subject to different legal and regulatory restrictions than those derived from non-hemp marijuana plants under certain circumstances," he wrote.

He also pledged to "look into" pending medical and scientific evaluations of CBD, which could lead to its formal rescheduling under the Controlled Substances Act.

All told, the cannabis comments indicate that if Barr is confirmed by the Senate, the Justice Department would be poised to take a very different approach to marijuana issues than it did under Sessions, who has long been a vocal legalization opponent.

"After decades of failed drug war, it’s difficult to grasp the progress we’ve made in just the past couple of years. From a hawkish attorney general who sent a chill through the industry and threatened to escalate enforcement to a nominee who put his hands-off federalist approach to prohibition in writing," said Don Murphy, director of federal policies for the Marijuana Policy Project. "William Barr didn’t just wave the white flag, he signed a peace agreement."

NORML Political Director Justin Strekal said Barr is "incredibly wise to acknowledge that the genie is out of the bottle when it comes to the marijuana reform movement."

"Now is the time for the Department of Justice to work in good faith with the Senate Judiciary Committee on legislative solutions that address the senseless waste of law enforcement's precious time and resources due to the failed federal policy of prohibition," he said.

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Giving America an enema

Gun Control part deux

From Ron Paul at Campaign For Liberty:

Make no mistake -- they’re coming for your guns.

When Nancy Pelosi reclaims the Speaker’s gavel, the U.S. House is going to pull out all the stops to ram through the Gun Control Lobby’s radical anti-gun agenda.

And they just might succeed if you and I aren’t prepared to stop them!

That’s why I’m counting on you to renew for 2019 right away.

As I previously mentioned, I budgeted $78,413.89 to ensure Campaign for Liberty could hit the ground running in 2019.

With everything that’s at stake, I hope you realize just how vital it is for Campaign for Liberty to raise every penny of that -- and more, if possible!

While we know the gun-grabbers are preparing to ram through so-called “Universal Background Checks,” that’s really just a code word for NATIONWIDE GUN REGISTRATION.

And I fear that’s just the beginning. Believing they have the momentum, they could soon move on their entire agenda, including:

*** Feinstein’s so-called “Assault Weapons” Ban, which would outlaw specific rifles, shotguns, and handguns -- including ones popular with hunters and sportsmen -- based arbitrarily on nothing more than certain “scary” cosmetic features;

*** Emergency “Red Flag” gun seizures, allowing friends or family members to have your guns taken away based on mere accusations without due process or trial;

*** Raising the minimum age to buy or possess a rifle, denying young adults their Second Amendment rights at home while the government continues to hand them more powerful weapons and ship them off overseas on America’s grand military adventures;

So won’t you please renew for 2019 right away with your most generous contribution of $35, $50, $100, $250 or $500 today?

Your generous support will enable Campaign for Liberty to hold the line against the gun-grabbers and beat back their attempts to gut the Second Amendment.

We must make it clear to your elected representatives there is no room for negotiation when it comes to our Second Amendment rights.

The words of the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution are so easy to grasp:

". . . the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

There were no asterisks and no footnotes. There are no sentences that follow which start with the words "unless" or "however." The right to defend your life and property shall not be infringed by the government.

Period.

Unfortunately, politicians are taking a lot of flak from the anti-gun media and the re-organized and deep-pocketed Gun Control Lobby.

While we may not have the backing of BILLIONAIRES like Michael Bloomberg and George Soros, the Liberty Movement’s passion and dedication to the fight is second to none.

Because every dollar raised from each and every supporter is so critical, I’ve decided to do something this year that I’ve never done before when asking Campaign for Liberty supporters to renew.

If you can renew for 2019 with a contribution of $35 or more, I’ll send you a copy of my “Farewell to Congress” speech booklet.

And if you can agree to $100 or more, I’ll be sure to sign it for you before my staff pops it in the mail!

I realize that’s a lot to ask for. But there’s so much at stake in 2019. We have to fight like never before.

With the end of the year rapidly approaching, and so many critical battles in store for us in 2019, I hope you’ll act right away!

The Dems now control the House just as the GOP controls the Senate. With Democratic leadership the House is going to go a different direction than the GOP House did. The majority of the Dems favor marijuana legalization. Unfortunately they also favor feminism,homosexism,affirmative action and gun control. It is the last one that we are tackling today. Mexico has some of the very harshest gun control laws on the books. How has that worked to the advantage of the average Mexican citizen ? It hasn't. There are only two armed factions in Mexico. The federales and local law enforcement along with other government agents on one side (all corrupt)and the armed drug cartels and other criminal organizations on the other. The people are defenseless and at the mercy of a corrupt government and/or the criminal gangs. Is that what you want for America ? If so you are alone. On the other hand if you value America then stand up to the liberal gun control goons and stand with Ron Paul and Campaign For Liberty in defeating them.

Mrs. Ocasio-Cortez goes to Washington

In January a new congress will be sworn in. Among those new House members will be Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-14th New York Congressional District). She has no prior voting record to judge but she has stated her views. She appeals to a lot of the left wing demographics: minority groups,feminists,socialized medicine groups and those that want free stuff. She has other things going for her too. Perhaps the most important. Perhaps that which got her elected. She is one of the people. She made their drinks for them. Engaged in conversation with them. They relate to her. Another thing the Founding Fathers had someone similar to Cortez in mind when they wrote the Constitution. One of the people would serve in Congress as representatives. The United States Constitution was written during a time when a lot of Monarchs and other despots in European countries claimed right to be the rulers through "divine right" or that God chose them to lead. The concept of the people choosing their own representatives was so radical at the time that it wasn't taken seriously. However when the United States won the American Revolutionary War that very Constitution was put in effect and that effect has resonated around the world. She has drive and sincerity. She does give the impression she cares about her constituents. Another thing is she is not one of them. She is not part of the establishment. She is not a member of the elite.


Now let's just add this up: no prior experience in serving in the government. Appeals to a large number of people. Talks to their constituents. Is constantly dogged by the media. Whom does that remind you of?

Smoke the vote

Who's on board with marijuana legalization and who is not? Want to vote for the pro-legalization candidate but don't know who they are? NORML solves that problem with Smoke The Vote. May it be your guide.

In marijuana news

There are a couple of things marijuana related that I want to bring up and since I do not feel like creating two posts I just combine the two on this one post. Here they are:

It’s incredible to see the progress we have made in recent years. Marijuana has been legalized for adults in nine states and Washington, D.C., and polls show two out of three Americans want to end the failed policy of prohibition.

But our opponents think they can stop our momentum — and they’re spending a lot of money to defeat Prop 1 in Michigan.

A win in Michigan would demonstrate the strength of our movement. But imagine the headlines if Prop 1 fails. Project SAM and their prohibitionist allies will claim that the tide is turning. Politicians in Congress would take note, and if they think voters are changing their mind, our reform efforts at the federal level could be jeopardized.

We have to prove the anti-legalization voices wrong. Make a donation to the YES on 1 campaign to help them fight back against their opposition’s fear tactics.

The Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol produced a series of powerful ads. These TV and digital ads tell the truth about legalization, and they are the perfect antidote to the opposition’s demonstrably false attack ads. Your contribution will go directly towards helping the campaign share these messages with more Michigan voters.

There’s not much time left. Election Day is just a few days away. I can’t emphasize enough how important Prop 1 is for the future of our legalization movement. Please, get in the fight and support the campaign today.

and this:

Attorney General Jeff Sessions may be waging a very public war against marijuana, but we have another Sessions to contend with, a much quieter one with an insidious agenda to ramp up the decades-old drug war, long ago proven to be wasteful and ineffective.

U.S. Representative Pete Sessions has been using his chairmanship of the Rules Committee to stifle popular amendments that would protect legal marijuana, refusing to bring them to the floor. This, despite a record 66% of adults in the U.S. being in favor of legalized marijuana, according to a recent Gallup poll.

This has to stop – and you can make it stop. Stand with the Drug Policy Alliance and tell Rep. Pete Sessions you won't stand for his harmful agenda to stifle drug policy reform. Sign our petition today.

Because of Rep. Sessions' actions, DPA hasn't even been able to produce our annual legislative report card to inform voters like you about elected officials' stances on marijuana reform, a resource we typically provide ahead of every election season.

Through his willful obstruction, Rep. Pete Sessions has halted reform that would help people across the board, including allowing veterans access to medical marijuana, protecting states from federal interference and expanding research into marijuana health benefits. Sign our petition now. Tell Rep. Pete Sessions his outdated, destructive drug war must end.

The election is on Tuesday. See you at the polls.

Red or blue makes little difference when it comes to the question of legalizing marijuana

The adult use of marijuana is now legal in nine states — Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington — as well as the District of Columbia. Come November, additional states may be joining them.

Voters in North Dakota and Michigan will be deciding on marijuana legalization initiatives on Election Day. If past is precedent, these measures likely will emerge victorious at the polls in at least one, if not both, states.

But the fact remains that majority support for ending cannabis criminalization extends far beyond the boundaries of those individual states that have voted for it. In fact, according to statewide polling data compiled from throughout the year, if direct votes on the issue were held today, a majority of the country would be legal.

Specifically:

1. Sixty-two percent of Maryland adults support “making marijuana legal for recreational use,” according to the results of a September 2018 Goucher College poll.

2. Fifty-six percent of likely voters in Minnesota believe that the adult use of marijuana ought to be legal, according to the findings of September 2018 Survey USA poll.

3. Sixty-one percent of Wisconsin voters say, “Marijuana should be fully legalized and regulated like alcohol,” concludes an August 2018 Marquette University survey.

4. Fifty-nine percent of voters in Connecticut support “allowing adults to legally possess small amounts of marijuana for personal use,” according to survey data released in August 2018 by Quinnipiac University.

5. Fifty-three percent of Arizona voters “support legalizing marijuana for adults 21 and over,” according to the results of a June 2018 Emerson College poll.

6. Fifty-three percent of registered voters in Texas approve legalizing either small amounts of marijuana (30 percent) or any amount (23 percent), concludes a June 2018 University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll.

7. Sixty-three percent of New Mexicans support regulating and taxing adult use marijuana sales, according to the results of a May 2018 poll conducted by the firm Research & Polling Incorporated.

8. Fifty-five percent of Georgia voters endorse legalizing the use of marijuana by adults, according to a May 2018 Survey USA poll.

9. Sixty-three percent of New York voters support "allowing adults to legally possess small amounts of marijuana for personal use,” according to the findings of a May 2018 Quinnipiac University poll.

10. Fifty-nine percent of New Jersey residents support "legalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use" and 60 percent believe that "legalizing marijuana in New Jersey would help the state's economy,” according to the results of an April 2018 Monmouth University survey.

11. Sixty-six percent of Illinois voters support "the legalization of recreational marijuana if it is taxed and regulated like alcohol,” according to survey data compiled in March 2018 by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute.

12. Fifty-six percent of New Hampshire residents support the passage of legislation to eliminate criminal and civil penalties for the possession and cultivation of marijuana for personal use, according to a February 2018 UNH Granite State poll.

13. Sixty-two percent of registered voters in Florida support "legalizing and regulating marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol,” according to the results of a February 2018 poll conducted by the University of North Florida Public Opinion Research Laboratory.

Evident from this state-specific data is the reality that Americans’ desire for cannabis legalization is bipartisan — with voters in blue and red states alike expressing majority support. Voters support for legalizing marijuana for medical purposes is even more strongly bipartisan, with super-majorities of self-identified Democrats, Republicans, and Independents endorsing reform.

As many federal politicians approach the upcoming midterm elections, and as state lawmakers look ahead to their 2019 legislative sessions, they ought to keep in mind the simple fact that marijuana legalization likely remains far more popular with their constituents than they are — and they ought to legislate accordingly.

Paul Armentano is the deputy director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. He is the co-author of the book, Marijuana Is Safer: So Why Are We Driving People to Drink? and the author of the book, The Citizen’s Guide to State-By-State Marijuana Laws.

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