Bernie and Marijuana Legalization

[TBF]

One of the key issues in this election will be marijuana legalization — and Bernie Sanders is getting the attention of those who say it’s time. He’s addressed the U.S. “war on drugs” a few times already, and it looks as though groups fighting for the right to toke are beginning to move in his support. Added to other key support Sanders has received, this may be a deciding factor in this election.

Bernie Sanders’ official policy on drugs, as expressed on his campaign site, is that the war on drugs is the new prohibition, and like the previous one, it has failed. He cites votes for medical legalization, and against military force in preventing drug trafficking.

He calls the current laws ineffective and a means to imprison nonviolent offenders, and for addiction, he proposes access to treatment, rather than punishment. Aside from medical use, Sanders has a cautious approach on marijuana: he says he’d want to observe how things go in states that have legalized recreational use like Colorado, and move forward accordingly — in due time.

Sanders has spoken publicly about his longstanding feeling that marijuana is a low priority — according to the Denver Post, he has said that police “[have] more important things to do” than making arrests for drug use ...

Read more at http://www.inquisitr.com/2350989/marijuana-legalization-advocates-throw-support-behind-bernie-sanders/#iS9YmMFPPqjlo5CW.99

[JackInGreen]

1. Considering he was

the only candidate table I saw at Hempfest (and it was a party, folks) this makes sense.
Several of my friends and acquaintances were impressed, I brought em along into the fold
I think if he's more bold about the end of the war on drugs, we'll hear a lot of REEFERMADNESS etc etc...and anyone that pulls out those tropes is pretty instantly written off, so that works

[TBF]

3. It goes hand in hand with the

prisons-for-profit.

These are non-violent offenders and there are many medicinal uses of marijuana. Frankly I'd be surprised if the tobacco companies as well as pharma companies aren't allies in this as well. Tax and market these products. Make us some medicinal tea so we can have it in that form to ease chronic illnesses.

Personally I think Bernie is taking the correct approach here.

[JackInGreen]

4. That's actually been one of our concerns in legalization in Seattle

the recreational markets further bills have tightened down constraints on medical dispensaries, because all traffic now has to be handled through the liquor board.
We've been watching and waiting to see the first Dama Oil ad where we see 'RJ reynolds' in the lower corner. None to pleased about the possibility there either.

[TBF]

5. Prices will go up ...

but in the end tax/regulate will be the way it is in a capitalist society.

Better than throwing everyone in jail ... we pay for that as well.

[JackInGreen]

6. Oh trust me I've got few issues

With taxes or prices (our tax schedule for it is a bit nuts but it's new) What I don't care for is the possibility of the tobacco industry greasing wheels and cutting out tge possibility for home growing or knowing your grower/seller.

[jtuck004]

14. The ignorant ass clowns that are politicians in WA state have much to drive the MMJ

crowd back underground. Yet to grow all one needs is a bucket, a light, a closet, and some ground up weeds for fertilizer - there is no way the state - especially these people can ever enforce it against all those millions upon millions of hiding places.

Not to mention it's one of the most racist places I have been, but they hide it up front better than others. Ignorance and racism are often found together, however.

They had a workable system, but in their greed they killed it, and put a recreational system in it's place, and tax it when grows, when it is sold, when it is sold again. There are now tens of thousands of people engaged in growing at home, many of them illegally because of this.

I have no use for nearly any of them now. The really funny part is that med patients are selling ounces for less than $100 to each other, and the rec stores can't touch that.

They will never make a nickel off me or anyone I am in contact with, and I will do everything in my power to obstruct them. Fuck 'em. All.

[TBF]

15. Well if it's grown in closets it will be pretty hard to stop!

Thank you for providing some background. I'm not at all surprised to see capitalists let their greed get out of control - that's the "American way".

[Ed Suspicious]

17. RIght on.

[eridani]

24. Were you there for the last Sunday PM shift?

Nice thing about it is that the vendors drop prices on a lot of stuff. I was impressed by the overwhelming dominance of young people--not as many gray ponytail types as in the past. (Of course I use Clairol Medium Golden Brown on mine). Got lots of signups and also signatures for Initiative 735.


See also
https://twitter.com/yeshecann
https://www.facebook.com/YesHeCann

[azmom]

2. K &R

[Ichingcarpenter]

7. Ben and Jerry endorsed Sanders

I found that suspicious for my munchies

.... Ben dishes it out

[TBF]

10. lol

[PatrickforO]

8. He talks about watching Colorado...

Recreational marijuana sales in Colorado hit the $50 million per month mark and $35 million per month for medical marijuana.

So it's a $1 billion annual market JUST in Colorado.

Good points:
- Dramatic increase in tax base with much of the revenue going to K-12
- An estimated $9 billion in revenue taken away from vicious drug cartels
- Significantly lower jail population
- Pot is no longer a 'gateway' drug if it ever was

I can remember the big electronic town hall Obama had right after he was elected. I participated in that, and every fourth post called for marijuana to be legalized and the drug war ended.

Americans overwhelmingly support medical marijuana an I believe a majority support full legalization.

By the way, it was big oil that cozened Congress into making pot illegal because John Rockefeller who was going for a cornered market felt that hemp oil might affect his profits. So the corporate propaganda went out: if you smoke pot, you'll kill your horse. Then a few years later, if you smoke pot you'll kill your mother. And so on.

Legalize now! We can use hemp oil, hemp seeds (comparable in nutritional quality to soy) and people in chronic pain really can benefit. Ridiculous keeping it illegal; just as ridiculous as privatizing prisons...what??? Could there be a $link$ here???

[TBF]

11. "Could there be a $link$ here???"

Nailed it.

[PatrickforO]

21. Here's a fun link

http://www.drugwarrant.com/articles/why-is-marijuana-illegal/ It's kind of a rant, but has some good primary sources.

[pinebox]

29. I'm from Denver

and the one bad side to legalization? How much the damn cost of living here has skyrocketed. It's becoming unaffordable. People literally are unable to survive here now. It's scary. Everybody is moving here.....

[JDPriestly]

9. I'm not for drug use, but I view alcohol and certain prescription drugs as far more treacherous,

more dangerous, more harmful to society than marijuana at least as far as we know.

Alcohol is a major factor in many crimes including a lot of the domestic violence, neglect and abuse of children, assaults (bar fights for example), serious driving accidents and many others.

Alcohol is a much bigger problem in the US than anyone admits. Prohibition is not the answer, but it would be great if we could educate people more about the dangers of alcohol than we do. Many are unaware of the damage that alcohol can do to their bodies, their families, their lives and our society. Again, I am not advocating for prohibition.

But educating people very honestly about the dangers of something can work wonders.

California has done a pretty good job of educating people about the dangers of smoking. People still smoke in California, but fewer and fewer smoke. And that is great.

[TBF]

12. As someone with a chronic illness

(actually I have a couple of auto-immune issues) it is very promising to hear about medicinal purposes/legalizing. That's what I'm interested in.

I'm also curious about the connection between non-violent offenders being sent to private prisons though, and how much of that is connected to cannabis use. We can solve two problems with one fix here - legalize and clear out these prisons. I don't know as much about this issue as some though and need to look at it more. It sounds like Bernie is taking a similar cautious approach and that is good.

[Nitram]

13. With issues like wars in the Middle East, the Iran nuclear treaty, relations with Russia and China,

...attacks on unionization, civil rights, voting rights, Wall St and bank regulation, etc, etc, I don't see marijuana legislation as among the top ten most important issues facing the nation today.

[TBF]

16. I think Bernie actually agrees with this -

it obviously hasn't been his #1 priority. But I'm glad he's made a few statements and addressed prison reform as well. It is an important topic for those of us who are chronically ill, and it's enough for me to know that he is not opposed to legalization. I compare and contrast with other people running and find that (yet again) he has a reasonable position on an issue that I have an interest in.

[Nitram]

18. The post says "One of the key issues in this election will be marijuana legalization."

It is to that remark that I was addressing my comment.

[TBF]

19. Right - that's the comment of the reporter

not a quote from Bernie as far as I can tell (went back to the original article to check that for sure).

[Nitram]

20. I never intended to imply that it was Bernie's stance.

[Utopian Leftist]

22. Imagine, if the Democratic Party Platform includes

the legalization of weed?

What a phenomenal turnout it will be in the next election!

The entire younger generation will turn out in record numbers, if that is the case, to vote! And more than a few of us old-timers, too. Go, Bernie, way to find new Democratic voters!!!

[TBF]

23. I was thinking the baby boom

generation might be quite thrilled about it as well - especially thinking about the medicinal uses.

[Nitram]

25. If that's the only issue that can energize young liberal voters, then Buddha help us. nt

[joshcryer]

26. It is all but absolutely certain. 4 states legalized.

That's more than enough delegates to have it in the party platform in some way or another. I mean, a few southern states regularly require "God" to be mentioned in the platform, simply by staying up into the wee hours of the night and demanding it be put in there (and yes, a lot of people are pissed off that "God" is in the platform, so the fuck what, it's a democratic process, don't get pissed off because the "God" people decided to stay up late and do a vote at the DNC).

[smokey nj]

28. As far as I'm concerned including MJ legalization in the

platform is a no-brainer. They have everything to gain and nothing to lose.

[joshcryer]

27. Saw this post kicked and my heart skipped a few beats.

Sanders is so close to coming out for full legalization (not decriminalization) but he has not done so yet. 8 more states will be legalizing in 2016. This is such good position to take. It must happen.