Could Cannabis become legal nationally?

It’s high time (no pun intended) we take a hard look at our national marijuana laws.  This article in the Denver Post gives us hope that lawmakers may be starting to understand that a majority of the public they represent support legalization.  While there are many details to work out regarding how legalization would work, kudos go to Ron Paul, Barney Frank  for leading the way in the charge and now to Reps. Earl Blumenaur of Oregon and Jared Polis of Colorado for stepping up to provide new leadership on this issue.

While I don’t agree with the proposed tax structure, I do support the bill.  You can do the same by clicking here to write your U.S. Representatives.

Effort building to change marijuana laws

By GENE JOHNSON Associated Press
Posted:   02/04/2013 12:26:34 PM MST
Updated:   02/04/2013 04:58:07 PM MST

In this Nov. 7, 2012, file photo, Jake Dimmock, co-owner of the Northwest Patient Resource Center medical marijuana dispensary, works with flowering plants in a grow room in Seattle. (AP file | Ted S. Warren)

SEATTLE—An effort is building in Congress to change U.S. marijuana laws, including moves to legalize the industrial production of hemp and establish a hefty federal pot tax.

While passage this year could be a longshot, lawmakers from both parties have been quietly working on several bills, the first of which Democratic Reps. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon and Jared Polis of Colorado plan to introduce Tuesday, Blumenauer told The Associated Press.

Polis’ measure would regulate marijuana the way the federal government handles alcohol: In states that legalize pot, growers would have to obtain a federal permit. Oversight of marijuana would be removed from the Drug Enforcement Administration and given to the newly renamed Bureau

In this June 8, 2011, file photo, Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon, speaks during an interview, in Portland, Ore. (AP file | Rick Bowmer)

of Alcohol, Tobacco, Marijuana and Firearms, and it would remain illegal to bring marijuana from a state where it’s legal to one where it isn’t.

The bill is based on a legalization measure previously pushed by former Reps. Barney Frank of Massachusetts and Ron Paul of Texas.

Blumenauer’s bill would create a federal marijuana excise tax of 50 percent on the “first sale” of marijuana—typically, from a grower to a processor or retailer. It also would tax pot producers or importers $1,000 annually and other marijuana businesses $500.

His office said Monday it doesn’t yet have an estimate of how much the taxes might bring in. But a policy paper Blumenauer and Polis are releasing this week suggests, based on admittedly vague estimates, that a federal tax of $50 per ounce could raise $20 billion a year. They call for directing the money to law enforcement, substance abuse treatment and the national debt.

Read the full article at http://www.denverpost.com/news/marijuana/ci_22516321/apnewsbreak-effort-building-change-us-pot-laws

This proposed bill would not legalize marijuana in Texas, but would provide a defense if you were arrested in possession of marijuana.  It would be a step in the right direction.  See the article below.

by Mark Wiggins at KVUE News posted on 1/23/13.  See original story at: http://www.kvue.com/news/Austin-lawmaker-hopes-6th-times-the-charm-for-medical-marijuana-bill-188123281.html

AUSTIN — The 83rd Texas Legislature reconvened Wednesday with little fanfare.
Many lawmakers spent the weeklong absence filing bills. One of them is HB 594, a law which would carve a legal foothold for medical marijuana sponsored by State Rep. Elliott Naishtat (D-Austin).

The policy is aimed at patients like Vincent Lopez, diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at the age of 17 and racked by constant pain. Lopez became an advocate for medical marijuana after trying several legal prescription drugs which he said only made him feel worse.

“It seems to stimulate appetite. It seems to alleviate my spasms, alleviate my muscle stiffness, alleviate the pain throughout my back that I feel daily,” Lopez told KVUE in December.

For the last two years, Lopez has volunteered as patient outreach director for the Texas chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML).

Since the 1930s film “Reefer Madness” portrayed marijuana users as dangerous and psychopathic, the U.S. government has consistently held marijuana to be a dangerous narcotic in the same category as heroin and cocaine.

“It causes harm because it’s young people that are using it,” U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) chief administrator Michele Leonhart told a congressional panel in June 2012.

Those opposed to relaxing marijuana laws have cited the view that marijuana is a “gateway drug” that leads to use of other more deadly drugs.

While marijuana is illegal under federal law, 18 states allow for some form of medical use. In November, the states of Washington and Colorado decriminalized recreational use as well.

Health care professionals in Texas remain cautious on the subject of marijuana for medicinal use.

“Marijuana is illegal in Texas,” the Texas Medical Association responded in a statement to KVUE Wednesday. “However TMA policy supports the physician’s right to discuss with his or her patients any and all possible treatment options related to the patient’s health and clinical care (including the use of marijuana) without the threat to physician or patient of regulatory, disciplinary, or criminal sanctions. TMA also calls for further well-controlled scientific studies of the use of marijuana with seriously-ill patients who may benefit from such alternative treatment.”

Support for Naishtat’s proposal could potentially come from growing libertarian leanings among Texas conservatives.

One Texas House Republican KVUE spoke with called current federal marijuana policy “government overreach” and the large scale incarceration of those convicted of marijuana possession a waste of state resources. While he said he doesn’t encourage breaking the law or irresponsible behavior, he told KVUE he’d be open to a discussion about easing certain penalties and restrictions.

“I’ve tried a few times, I’m not giving up on this,” said Naishtat, optimistic despite five previously unsuccessful attempts to pass similar legislation. “Two states have legalized marijuana, Washington and Colorado. I think there’s much more of a chance that we’ll see some progress this session.”

At least one other lawmaker has filed marijuana-related legislation this session as well.

Sponsored by State Rep. Harold Dutton, Jr. (D-Houston), HB 184 would reduce the penalty for possession of one ounce or less of marijuana from a Class B misdemeanor to a Class C misdemeanor. The bill would decrease the current maximum penalty from 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine to a $500 fine with no jail time.

NORML, or the National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws, is dedicated to moving public opinion sufficiently to achieve the repeal of marijuana prohibition so that the responsible use of cannabis by adults is no longer subject to penalty. They have local groups around the country that exist to help spread their message. To find a chapter near you click here and then on your state. Their website is rich with valuable credible information.

The San Antonio NORML Chapter recently wrote a blog about Chronic Relief. Thank you Karli!  I am grateful to Karli Duran, the co-founder of San Antonio NORML and defense attorney and cannabis activist Jamie Balagia, for their support of this project.  Their encouragement and insight was an important factor in MyChronicRelief growing into something more than a short e-cookbook.

In fact, it was Karli who invited me to my first NORML event in May 2012 where I received an incredible education about the legalization movement.  Two things about the crowd really stuck out in my mind. I was surprised by the number of yuppie-looking 20 somethings (whom I had perceived as generally apathetic about politics) who were so visibly passionate and vocal about the issue and the diversity of the crowd.  It gave me inspiration to be willing to speak more freely with people about my views on cannabis.

For the last year, I have pondered the dangers of publicly advocating for the reform of cannabis laws.  Finally, it has dawned on me that while cannabis is illegal under federal law, talking about it and educating people about it is not.  The more we are willing to have real and substantive conversations about cannabis and its merits as a medicine, and as a safe intoxicant the more public opinion changes, the more people are willing to speak up, and then and only then laws will change.

It is especially important that we communicate directly with our elected officials.  If they never hear about what is important to us, how can they represent us effectively?  Texas NORML provides tips for how to communicate with your elected officials.  The guidelines they provide are helpful regardless of where you live.  Additionally, they have created a helpful Legislators Education Guide for you to print and share with your elected officials.  Please read it yourself so that you can be an excellent spokesperson for the issue!

Visit our Resources Page to learn about other quality organizations working to legalize cannabis.