Politics

While it was predicted that the presidential candidates would be forced to speak out in regard to marijuana reform during Wednesday night’s Republican debate, it was somewhat disheartening, yet not altogether surprising, to watch the issue downplayed in true GOP fashion.

Despite this clash of the pachyderm being scheduled in Colorado, where marijuana has been legal for nearly two years, none of the candidates other than Ohio Governor John Kasich were asked about their position on the legalization of marijuana or the continuing challenges faced by the cannabis industry due to conflicting federal and state law.

When Moderator Carl Quintanilla hit on the topic of legalization, asking Kasich to offer some insight on whether he believes marijuana could be an economic powerhouse to the entire United States as it has been for the state of Colorado, the Ohio governor simply replied that he was not in favor of legalization because he is afraid it sends mixed signals to kids about drugs.

Read More:http://www.hightimes.com/read/republican-debate-barely-hits-marijuana-question

Presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders announced his support Wednesday for removing marijuana from a list of the most dangerous drugs outlawed by the federal government — a move that would free states to legalize it without impediments from Washington.

The self-described “democratic socialist” senator from Vermont shared his proposal during a nearly two-hour town hall meeting with college students that he said was broadcast on the Internet to about 300 campuses across the country from George Mason University in Fairfax County, Va.

“Too many Americans have seen their lives destroyed because they have criminal records as a result of marijuana use,” Sanders told a live audience of more than 1,700 students, which erupted with applause. “That’s wrong. That has got to change.”

Read More:https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/sanders-will-propose-nixing-marijuana-from-federal-list-of-dangerous-drugs/2015/10/28/be8c3adc-7da2-11e5-b575-d8dcfedb4ea1_story.html

(image via Oregon Cannabis Connection)

Today, as representatives from the Oregon Cannabis Association visit Capitol Hill, Representative Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) on the House floor called for an end to the federal government’s failed approach of marijuana prohibition.

To follow are Congressman Blumenauer’s remarks. Click here to watch his speech.

“Mr. Speaker, advocates from the new emerging marijuana industry in Oregon are descending on Capitol Hill at a very critical time for this fledgling industry. They have a report about the implementation of Oregon’s Ballot Measure 91, overwhelming approved by voters last year to legalize, tax, and regulate marijuana at the state level.

“Possession became legal July 1st. Retail sales were authorized in existing dispensaries on the 1st of October to significant interest around the state. The first week saw an estimated $11 million in sales. They are working hard to implement the spirit and the letter of the measure, working closely with the Oregon legislature to refine it – learning from the experiences of states like Washington and Colorado that have already legalized adult use.

“Theirs is a positive story of economic opportunity, product development, tax revenues, more freedom for individuals, and eliminating the racial disparities in the enforcement of a failed policy of prohibition that comes down heavily against young men of color – especially African Americans.

Read More:http://www.theweedblog.com/us-representative-blumenauer-calls-for-end-failed-marijuana-prohibition/

While the DEA has made no apologies for its liberal interpretation of a 2014 congressional amendment that was supposed to prevent the federal government from going on full blown seek-and-destroy missions in medical marijuana states, a federal judge in San Francisco has issued a landmark ruling that could serve to neuter these vile schemes from this point forward. 

On Monday, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer slapped down the DEA with a verdict damning the agency for continuing to bust down the doors of the medical marijuana community—even when an amendment attached to last year’s government budget prevents such actions. The decision, which is reportedly the first ever by a federal judge to stand up for state marijuana laws, argues that the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment clearly prevents the Justice Department from spending money to crack skulls in states that have established medical marijuana programs.

This federal ruling surrounds a case involving Lynette Shaw, founder of Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana in Fairfax, who was forced the shut down her dispensary in 2011 after the Justice Department nailed her to the wall with a federal injunction. Fortunately, Judge Breyer’s decision not only allows Shaw to re-open the dispensary, but it could also allow other marijuana-related operations that have been subject to similar bans to come up for some air. 

Read More:http://www.hightimes.com/read/federal-court-us-government-breaking-law-interfering-medical-marijuana

Asked by CNN's Juan Carlos Lopez whether he'd support Nevada's 2016 ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana in that state, Senator and Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders answered "I suspect I would vote yes" to applause from the crowd.

Sanders' answer is significant because it marks the first time a 2016 candidate has openly declared support for legalizing recreational -- and not just medical -- marijuana. Asked earlier this year on Reddit about his views on marijuana,Sanders replied that he supported marijuana decriminalization as well as medical marijuana. He also hinted that he'd have more to say in coming months on the subject.

His response at tonight's debate may hint at what his future policy proposals may entail. The full question and response is below:

LOPEZ: Senator Sanders, right here in Nevada, there will be a measure to legalize recreational marijuana on the 2016 ballot. You've said you smoked marijuana twice; it didn't quite work for you. If you were a Nevada resident, how would you vote?

SANDERS: I suspect I would vote yes.

Read More:http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonkblog/wp/2015/10/13/bernie-sanders-signals-support-for-marijuana-legalization/

The Liberal Democrats are to set up an expert panel to establish how a legal market for cannabis could work in Britain, paving the way for them to become the first major political party in the UK to back its legalisation.

The move is backed the party’s health spokesman, Norman Lamb, and by a former deputy assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan police, Brian Paddick. It is in line with a 2014 party conference resolution which called for a review of the effectiveness of a regulated market in relation to health and reduced criminal activity.

The review panel members will include Prof David Nutt, the founder of DrugScience and a former chairman of the government’s advisory committee on the misuse of drugs, Tom Lloyd a former Cambridgeshire chief constable and chair of the National Cannabis Coalition, and Niamh Eastwood, the executive director of Release, a drugs charity. The panel is to be chaired by Steve Rolles, of the drugs policy campaign group Transform.

Read More:http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/oct/12/liberal-democrats-expert-panel-cannabis-legalisation