House gets ready for historic vote on federal marijuana prohibition

This week the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on a bill that would remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act and require federal courts to expunge many prior marijuana offenses. It will be the first time the full House will vote on ending the federal prohibition of cannabis.

Morgan Fox with the National Cannabis Industry Association says House passage would “send a really strong message to not only the rest of Congress, but to a lot of other states that the time to end prohibition has come.”

The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act (MORE Act), introduced by Rep. Jerry Nadler (D., N.Y.), would eliminate conflict between state and federal law and allow states to set their own marijuana policies.

“We don't need to have one size fits all. We just need to get rid of prohibition and then let the states do what the states are doing. It's essentially what the states have done already. They haven’t waited for the federal government, which is why we have a lot of these discrepancies and challenges,” said Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D., Ore.), who has long pushed for marijuana legalization.



“It’s coming at a time when Americans are recognizing how hopelessly flawed the criminal justice system is,” said Blumenauer.

‘You’ve got to repair the damage’
The MORE Act would impose a 5% sales tax on marijuana and marijuana products. The revenue would go toward a new trust fund for grant programs designed to help people “adversely impacted by the War on Drugs” access job training, re-entry services, legal aid, treatment and more. The bill would also provide protections prohibiting denial of federal benefits based on use, possession or conviction for a marijuana offense.


“Regardless of who you are, if you've been incarcerated and if you've done your time and you get out, you should be provided for a second chance,” Lee told Yahoo Finance. “When you've been incarcerated or when you have have a record based on unjust laws — they're really targeted in many ways, Black and Brown people — then you've got to make restitution, you've got to repair the damage. This fund is about the time that was lost because of barriers to employment, because of incarceration.”

The MORE Act would open up more opportunities for marijuana businesses, including access to Small Business Administration funding. It would also require the Bureau of Labor Statistics to gather demographic data on cannabis business owners and employees to ensure people of color and economically disadvantaged people are taking part in the industry.

“That really sets out a process for equity in the industry. This is a job-creating industry, and it also provides economic opportunities for minority-owned business owners,” said Lee.


Graphic by David Foster/Yahoo Finance
The House Judiciary Committee passed the MORE Act last year 24 to 10 — Rep. Matt Gaetz (R., Fla.) and Rep. Tom McClintock (R., Calif.) were the only Republicans who voted for the bill.

In an interview with Yahoo Finance, McClintock said while he didn’t endorse marijuana, it’s clear U.S. marijuana laws have “not accomplished their goals.”

“These laws have done far more harm than good. They've created a violent underground economy and ruined the lives of so many young people who’ve had a youthful marijuana conviction, follow them and ruin their lives,” said McClintock.

The House was scheduled to vote on the bill in September, but Democratic leadership postponed the vote because some members in tight races worried passing the MORE Act before a stimulus package could hurt them at the polls.

Nearly a month after the election, there is still no additional coronavirus relief and many Republicans are again slamming Democrats for what they see as prioritizing the cannabis bill over coronavirus relief efforts.

Democrats have already passed two versions of the Heroes Act and argue it’s the Trump administration and Republican Senate that’s holding up stimulus talks.

“Passing the MORE Act is an opportunity to put an end to decades-long racial injustice against Black and brown communities. Maybe some are comfortable letting that fall down the priority list, but we are moving full speed ahead to pass the MORE Act, end the harmful prohibition of cannabis, and continue working to deliver desperately needed COVID relief to families in need,” Lee said in a statement to Yahoo Finance.

‘The momentum is building’
Marijuana proved popular with voters on Election Day, as five states passed legalization measures. In a debate earlier this fall, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris — who introduced the MORE Act in the Senate — pledged a Biden administration would decriminalize marijuana and expunge marijuana-use convictions.

Supporters acknowledge the bill could face an uphill battle in the Senate — especially if Republicans maintain control of the upper chamber. But they argue House passage would be more than a symbolic victory.

“It will allow advocates to be able to really be able to figure out exactly who supports what and help us determine who we still need to convince,” said Fox of the National Cannabis Industry Association.

Polls show an increasing number of Americans support relaxing marijuana laws. Last month, Gallup found 68% of adults — a record high percentage — want to see marijuana legalized.

Blumenauer said this issue motivates young voters, and skeptical lawmakers should keep that in mind.

“This is an issue that has galloped ahead of the politicians,” said Blumenauer. “The momentum is building. So if people are going to be on the wrong side of this, there will be a political price that will be paid.”




This will pass the House but passing the Senate is an uphill battle unless the last few seats flip and it goes to the democrats. This is a smart move that makes sense and dollars for the cities, counties, states, and the federal government...too bad the right is so stuck in the ancient times that they will refuse to even take it up while they pout that their presidick was voted out.

 

I dunno guys its not looking like everything is ok in paradise and Pence is no longer one of the 2020 hopefuls anymore. Or 2024 hopefuls for that matter.

Pence AWOL from Trump ‘election fraud’ crusade — and seems to have been dropped from campaign logo: report

https://www.rawstory.com/2020/12/pe...-have-been-dropped-from-campaign-logo-report/

 

Quite the extraordinary sleuths the state-run leftist media has become...campaign season is over.

You've become redundantly obsessive and borderline psychotic.

 

Borderline?
BORDERLINE!!??!?!

That motherfucker is nuttier than a can of peanuts.

 

Triggered!
Excellent

 

Yeah why don't all you treasonous quisling Trump cult followers just tell us all about the left trying to commit voter fraud.

Florida attorney busted for voter fraud in Georgia — and for encouraging other Republicans to join him

https://www.rawstory.com/2020/12/fl...or-encouraging-other-republicans-to-join-him/

 

Trump attacks 2 GOP governors — in less than 15 minutes — as Republican civil war intensifies

https://www.rawstory.com/2020/12/tr...-minutes-as-republican-civil-war-intensifies/

 

Marijuana has not been illegal all this time because opponents have feared that marijuana smokers were ruining their health smoking it. It has been illegal all this time because opponents of legalization have feared that marijuana smokers were enjoying themselves. Marijuana has been illegal all this time because most Americans have disliked the kind of people who enjoyed it.

I smoked it lightly for about eleven years. I never tried to quit. I lost interest. Now I would not know where to buy any. Nevertheless, I never had any problems with it. The only person I knew who had problems had the problem of being arrested with it.

There are some people who should not smoke marijuana. There are more people who should not drink alcoholic beverages, and still more should not be eating food that is high in salt, saturated fat, and calories. For most marijuana smokers it is a harmless pleasure.

 

This part, I find to be very interesting...interesting indeed.

 

House passes historic bill to end federal marijuana prohibition

Jessica Smith
·Reporter
Fri, December 4, 2020, 12:17 PM CST




On Friday the U.S. House passed a historic bill that would end the federal prohibition of marijuana and expunge many cannabis-related convictions. It’s the first time the full House has considered —let alone passed — such a bill.

The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act (MORE Act), made it through the House by a 228 to 164 vote. Nearly every Democrat supported the measure, while just five Republicans voted for it. Six Democrats voted against the bill.

The bill, introduced by Rep. Jerry Nadler (D., N.Y.), would eliminate conflict between state and federal law and allow states to set their own marijuana policies.

"I have long believed that the criminalization of marijuana has been a mistake, and the racially disparate enforcement of marijuana laws has only compounded this mistake, with serious consequences, particularly for communities of color,” said Nadler ahead of the vote.

The MORE Act would impose a 5% sales tax on marijuana and marijuana products. The revenue would go toward a new trust fund for grant programs designed to help people “adversely impacted by the War on Drugs” access job training, re-entry services, legal aid, treatment and more. The bill would also provide protections prohibiting denial of federal benefits based on use, possession or conviction for a marijuana offense.


Marijuana cigarettes are seen at the Billings, Mont. medical marijuana dispensary, on Nov. 11, 2020. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown)
If signed into law, marijuana businesses would have access to Small Business Administration funding and other business opportunities. The Bureau of Labor Statistics would have to gather demographic data on cannabis business owners and employees to ensure people of color and economically disadvantaged people are taking part in the industry.

“My Republican colleagues today will make a number of arguments against this bill. But those arguments are overwhelmingly losing with the American people. In every state where cannabis reform was on the ballot in this country, it passed,” said Rep. Matt Gaetz (R., Fla.), the bill’s only Republican cosponsor. “We talk all the time, on the right, about the need to empower people and to empower states. Right now, the federal policy on cannabis restrains our people and limits our states.”

Republicans have used the bill as a line of attack this week, repeatedly saying Democrats are prioritizing cannabis over COVID-19 relief negotiations.

“I was all over the state of Ohio in the recent campaign. I was all over the country,” said Rep. Jim Jordan (R., Ohio) on the House floor ahead of the vote. “Not once — not once did a person come up to me, American citizen come up to me, and say ‘you know what the first thing I hope the Congress does after this election, the. first major piece of legislation I hope the Congress takes up after this election is to legalize marijuana.”

When asked about that argument earlier this year, Rep. Tom McClintock (R., Calif.) — one of just two Republicans to support the bill in committee — told Yahoo Finance “you support a bill when it comes up for a vote.”


Joe Gibson, co-owner and head grower of Gibby's Garden, checks on marijuana plants in the "veg room" of his cannabis business in Uxbridge, MA on Jan. 2, 2020. Co-owned by Joe and his parents, Fred and Kim Gibson, family-owned Gibby's Garden is the first cannabis microbusiness licensed to open in Massachusetts. (Photo by Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
“I do think it's rather disturbing that the only small business that the Democrats seem to be concerned about is cannabis vendors, when they were strangling the life out of every small business in our state,” he added.

Democrats argue they’ve already passed two versions of the Heroes Act and it is Republicans who are holding up stimulus talks.

“We had a Speaker of the House that never stopped negotiating and trying to find relief for the dying Americans and those suffering from COVID-19,” said Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D., Texas). “It’s important to note that work is going on, led by our Speaker, and we hope that we’ll have the right partner to be able to save the lives of the American people who are now suffering from COVID-19. The MORE Act also saves lives.”

Vice President-elect Kamala Harris introduced the Senate version of the bill last year. Legalization advocates say passage in the Senate will be difficult.

“It’s not very likely to be brought up during the lame duck and would still face a pretty big uphill battle in the Senate...regardless of what the actual outcome of the Georgia Senate races are,” said Morgan Fox with the National Cannabis Industry Association.

Still, supporters say this is a huge victory that sends a strong message.

 

For what its worth, Shooter gives not a popcorn fart if marijuana is legalized.
People wanna get baked, that's their business.

 

It's deadern' a hammer in the senate. it's just bluster to avoid what's really happening with mail in ballots.

 

Biden's post-election stock bump tops Trump's

https://www.axios.com/biden-trump-stock-market-comparison-ac315dcb-1f2d-44bb-8e50-4cf36e73f378.html

 

Remember Presidential candidate Congressman Eric Swalwell? It turns out that even before his Congressional run he was supported by the Chinese CCR. A Chinese spy Christine Fang, aka 'Fang Fang' infiltrated his political career, and boosted it by fundraising towards his initial run for Congress was his 'very close' confident (with as yet unproven sexual connections) - starting from when he was a mere City Councilman.

I'm surprised that I have not yet seen this in the threads her (I might have missed it).

Swalwell is on the House Intelligence Committee, and HAD to be approved for that position by Nancy Pelosi. His compromised status was known in intelligence circles years ago, and one wonders if this news was kept from Pelosi, who since this damning news broke, has said that she has 'confidence' in Swalwell's position in both the Intelligence Committee and in Congress itself.

This smarmy China-bitch needs to be thrown out of Congress.

But it's gonna be okay because of all that 'China Money' that so many of these Dems are enjoying - at the cost of their loyalty to America and their constituents is also shared by the mainstream and social media. They will soon reassure you that there's 'Nothing to see here - just move along'.

Hell, it never seemed to hurt Dianne Feinstein that her longtime Driver was a Chines spy.

Obviously, as the Radical Left tries to seize more power, they don't even care if you know about it. Let alone everything about Comrade Joe and his son Biden that is out there

https://nypost.com/2020/12/09/rep-swalwell-wont-say-if-he-had-sex-with-chinese-spy/

 

Wrong again [Distant Lover]. [Marijuana] was made illegal because of idiots like Harry Anslinger and the rest of the fucking racist pussies like you that still believe that blacks and browns are all rapists and killers. There was a world wide push to minimize the populations use of cocaine, heroine, opium, and other hard drugs and the US figured out how to do just that in the early 20th century and with the International Opium Convention of 1912 which was expanded on in 1925 to include weed and ratified by the League of nations. Remember dumbass it was demonized because it was "used by the poor" and not the upper class. It was a way of proving that the coloreds were inferior because they imbibed.

- Sanity_is_Relative

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Sirrah,

I have never claimed that "browns are all rapists and killers."

On several occasions I have documented the following assertion:

"U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Statistics

"Based on available data from 1980 to 2008—  Blacks were disproportionately represented as both homicide victims and offenders. The victimization rate for blacks (27.8 per 100,000) was 6 times higher than the rate for whites (4.5 per 100,000). The offending rate for blacks (34.4 per 100,000) was almost 8 times higher than the rate for whites (4.5 per 100,000)."

https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/htus8008.pdf

Your angry, insulting tone indicates that you know that what I say is true. People do not get angry when beliefs they are confident in are challenged.

I admire Jews and Orientals. When someone condemns them I do not get angry. I anger him by drawing attention of Jewish and Oriental intelligence and achievement.

 

Yeah after half the Republicans and especially Devin Nunes are linked to the Russians I don't think one Chinese spy is all that big a deal.

Don't you guys remember the fleet of Chinese spies hanging out at Mar a Lago? I never saw any of you bitching about them.


Anyway to get back on topic here I do not blame the Bidens one bit. Fumigate the whole place and check the mattresses for pee stains.

Bleach-ful Transfer of Power: Biden Team Plans Spraying Down of White House to ‘Thoroughly Clean and Disinfect’ It Before Taking Office

https://www.mediaite.com/biden/blea...d-disinfect-white-house-before-taking-office/

 

https://www.oann.com/democrats-seeking-to-circumvent-constitution-to-abolish-electoral-college/

I remember hearing about this some months ago, it honestly got my attnetion and concern.

This Nation has been at war for Independence and the idea of Individualism since the creation of this Nation and it will remain at war forever...

Democrats seeking to circumvent constitution to abolish electoral college

The left is seeking to skirt the Constitution in their attempts to abolish the electoral college. One America’s Hans Hubbard reports.

 

It will also be necessary to thoroughly air out the White House. That will be difficult in the dead of winter.

 

Sirrah, I have never claimed that "blacks and browns are all racists and killers."

- Distant Lover

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Liar, you keep saying that we are all violent and stupid yet you show the lowest level of intelligence on this entire forum. Hell even toothless1 is smarter than you are.

- Sanity_is_Relative

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You have called me a liar. Insults are all you are capable of, and yet you feel qualified to evaluate my intelligence.

When have I ever lied about Negroes? If I have, it should be easy for you to quote me in a lie. If you do so, be sure to quote me accurately, word for word. My calm is due to my confidence that what I say is true, and that you know it too.