Why Bernie Sanders’ marijuana proposal would be a big deal

[smokey nj]

Bernie Sanders has been hinting for months now that he'll have more to say on marijuana in the 2016 election. Tonight, it looks like he'll finally say it.

Sanders will call for marijuana to be removed from the Drug Enforcement Administration's schedule of controlled substances. Doing so would be a big deal for marijuana policy in this country. While it wouldn't legalize marijuana at the federal level per se, it would allow states to pursue their own marijuana policies free of most federal interference. The DEA classifies marijuana as a schedule 1 drug because it says that the drug has no medically accepted use and high a potential for abuse. It's regulated more tightly than other drugs that are far more deadly and less medically useful, like cocaine, opium and methamphetamines.

"The time is long overdue for us to take marijuana off the federal government’s list of outlawed drugs," he said in prepared remarks given to the Post by his campaign. "In my view, states should have the right to regulate marijuana the same way that state and local laws now govern sales of alcohol and tobacco."

Here are seven things that would change if marijuana were removed from the DEA's schedule:<snip>

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonkblog/wp/2015/10/28/why-bernie-sanders-marijuana-proposal-would-be-a-big-deal/

[Sunlei]

1. why not now? I want Obama to mandate just that plant off the Federal list now, this year.

Not only for the Federal arrests, people can't use banks, people are being sued using federal rico laws.

[smokey nj]

2. That's something you'd have to ask President Obama.

[Sunlei]

3. I'd like to know if Senator Sanders has asked him. He is in the position to ask the President.

[smokey nj]

4. Yeah, the only reason President Obama hasn't removed marijuana from the drug schedule is

because Bernie hasn't asked him?

[SoapBox]

5. Agreed.

But you know...all the faults of the world are now Bernie's fault.

[Sunlei]

6. No. Bernie is a Senator, they can make bills, find supporters and talk to the president.

That's all I meant.

[smokey nj]

7. I'm sure that's all you meant.

[Sunlei]

8. good, Thank you.