Trump Will (Probably) Sign Bill To End Marijuana Ban

[BFritz21]

I'll be honest, I didn't see this happening under Trump, but he continues to impress me and says that he'll "probably sign a bill ending the federal ban on marijurana."

First off, it's a hell of a lot healthier than drinking, and it actually rebuilds brain cells and (without getting scientific about it and throwing out a lot of terms that I've learned that make me sound a lot smarter than I really am) helps the brain with reestablishing the connections to the other parts of the brain and sending messages to the body.

Second, this will be HUGE for the economy, especially in states like Kentucky.

Third, it should reduce crime.

Like I said, I'm in total shock, but I LOVE this move:

Quote:President Trump said he likely will support a congressional effort to end the federal ban on marijuana, a major step that would reshape the pot industry and end the threat of a Justice Department crackdown.

Trump’s remarks put him sharply at odds with Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions on the issue. The bill in question, pushed by a bipartisan coalition, would allow states to go forward with legalization unencumbered by threats of federal prosecution. Sessions, by contrast, has ramped up those threats and has also lobbied Congress to reduce current protections for medical marijuana.

Trump made his comments to a gaggle of reporters Friday morning just before he boarded a helicopter on his way to the G-7 summit in Canada. His remarks came the day after the bipartisan group of lawmakers proposed their measure.
One of the lead sponsors is Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), who is aligned with Trump on several issues but recently has tangled with the administration over the Justice Department’s threats to restart prosecutions in states that have legalized marijuana.

“I support Sen. Gardner,” Trump said when asked about the bill. “I know exactly what he’s doing. We’re looking at it. But I probably will end up supporting that, yes.”


The legislative proposal, which is also championed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), would reshape the legal landscape for marijuana if it becomes law.


California and eight other states, as well as Washington, D.C., have legalized all adult use of marijuana. An additional 20 states permit marijuana for medical use.


But even as states legalize, marijuana has remained a risky and unstable business because of federal law making it illegal. Concerns about federal law enforcement seizures have inhibited most lenders from working with marijuana businesses. And investors have also proceeded cautiously.


“If you are in the marijuana business … you can’t get a bank loan or set up a bank account because of concern over the conflict between state and federal law,” Gardner said at a news conference Thursday to unveil the new bill. “We need to fix this. It is time we take this industry out of the shadows, bring these dollars out of the shadows.”


He called it a “public hypocrisy” that the firms are expected to pay taxes yet are barred from participation in the financial system.
A lifting of the federal prohibition also would bolster efforts to create uniform testing and regulatory standards for marijuana, and potentially free scientists to pursue research into the medical uses of marijuana.


Trump’s support could potentially have a major impact, providing political cover for Republicans who worry about being tagged as soft on drugs. Still, the proposal faces a tough road in Congress.


Even though most lawmakers now represent areas where pot is legal for at least medical use — and public opinion polls show majorities of Democratic and Republican voters nationwide favor legalization — congressional leaders have shown little appetite for loosening restrictions. The House is blocking the District of Columbia from permitting sales of recreational pot, even after its voters chose to legalize. A 2014 budget amendment that protects medical marijuana businesses from Drug Enforcement Administration raids is perpetually under attack.
“It faces tremendous head winds,” John Hudak, a marijuana policy expert at the Brookings Institution in Washington, said, referring to the Gardner-Warren bill.


Trump said he is likely to support the federal legalization effort despite a warning against it from a coalition of narcotics officer groups.
“We urge you to see through the smoke screen and reject attempts to encourage more drug use in America,” they wrote in a letter to Trump Thursday.


The marijuana industry continues to be whipsawed by mixed messages from the administration.


In January, the Justice Department sent pot businesses into a panic by rescinding an Obama-era policy that restricted prosecutors from targeting sellers who operate legally under state laws. Sessions warned at the time that any pot business could find itself in the crosshairs of prosecutors — regardless of whether marijuana was legal in their state.


The move enraged Gardner, who said the administration had earlier given him assurances that there would be no such raids, at least in his state. At Gardner’s behest, Trump in April ordered an abrupt retreat from the announced crackdown. Trump made the order without even consulting Sessions, a sign of their tense relationship.


But prosecutors did back off. During this administration, there have apparently been no federal raids or seizures of pot companies for sales that are legal under state law.


“Remarkably little, if anything, has changed,” said John Vardaman, a former Justice Department attorney who helped draft the Obama-era rules, known as the Cole memo, after former Deputy Atty. Gen. James M. Cole, who issued it. “Almost every U.S. attorney in states where marijuana is legal has decided to apply the same principles as the Cole memo,” said Vardaman, now an executive at Hypur, which sells banking compliance software to marijuana companies.


Banking is the area in which the Gardner bill could most help pot companies.


The Senate proposal, and a companion bipartisan measure in the House, would amend the Controlled Substances Act so that its marijuana provisions do not apply to any person or business that is in compliance with state laws. To put bankers at ease, it specifies that such marijuana sales would not be considered trafficking and do not amount to illegal financial transactions.


“The very people you want involved in this market are the ones who have been most reluctant to get involved because of the banking issue,” said Vardaman. “If you address that, you would have enormous beneficial effects for the industry.”


While Trump’s comments were welcomed by marijuana activists, they remain on edge, especially because of Trump’s spotty record at actually pushing legislation through Congress.


“We have seen this president voice his support for a lot of things related to cannabis, but he has done absolutely nothing to move legislation,” said Hudak. “This is just more empty rhetoric from a president who is vague on this issue.”


Gardner is hoping he can persuade more of his conservative colleagues to join the crusade by framing the issue as one of state’s rights. Several Republicans, including Reps. Dana Rohrabacher of Costa Mesa and Don Young of Alaska, are demanding an end to federal marijuana laws that intrude on the states. Their movement is slowly growing in Congress.


“This is a chance for us to express that federalism works,” said Gardner, who like some other Republicans was not a proponent of marijuana but took up the cause after his state’s voters endorsed legalization, “to take an idea that states have led with and provide a solution that allows them to continue to lead.”

How will Democrats find a way to ***** about this one?

[SunsetBengal]

If he does? Pretty much will guarantee him another 4 years.

Seriously? No reason that he shouldn't sign a bill making medical marijuana legal in the entire US.

[Nebuchadnezzar]

What about those in prison now on marijuana charges, will they be released or will the still have to serve out their sentences since they still broke the law?

[*wildcats forever*]

Keep it simple and regulate it just like alcohol. No need for any bureaucratic mumbo jumbo beyond that.

[SunsetBengal]

(06-08-2018, 09:18 PM)Nebuchadnezzar Wrote: What about those in prison now on marijuana charges, will they be released or will the still have to serve out their sentences since they still broke the law?

This bill is for medical marijuana, not casual use.  So, those already imprisoned for pot charges will stay right where they are.

Besides, those already in jail broke the law that was, at that time. Was still a law, and they broke it. Going forward, people still won't be able to sell pot on the street, they will have to purchase from government approved dispensaries.

[*bfine32*]

(06-08-2018, 09:00 PM)BFritz21 Wrote: How will Democrats find a way to ***** about this one?

In the most ingenious ways

[HarleyDog]

[BmorePat87]

This is an important bill. I hope he follows through with this rather than continuing to let Jeff Sessions' policies to endanger this growing market.

I remain cautious until I see it happen given his record.

[Benton]

I’ll be pretty shocked if he does.

I imagine it’ll play out like Bevin did here in Kentucky. Non-committal and espousing openmindedness then he’ll say “hey, we don’t need to go down that road just for money” when that was never really the argument.

[BFritz21]

(06-08-2018, 10:04 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: This bill is for medical marijuana, not casual use.  So, those already imprisoned for pot charges will stay right where they are.

Besides, those already in jail broke the law that was, at that time.  Was still a law, and they broke it.  Going forward, people still won't be able to sell pot on the street, they will have to purchase from government approved dispensaries.

Good points.

Also, I'll have no problem getting my (or any) brain doctor to prescribe it for me since it helps cure brain injuries and grows back the pieces of the brain that I'm missing.

I'm excited that our country is finally moving forward.

[6andcounting]

(06-08-2018, 10:07 PM)bfine32 Wrote: In the most ingenious ways

I can see it now, 20 minutes after Trump signs the bill legalizing medicinal marijuana....


"How marijuana is inherently racist, homophobic and sexist" - Washington Post

"How marijuana is a symbol of the alt right and neo Nazi's" - Vox

"Trump just re-banned marijuana and made medicinal use a death penalty" - CNN

[fredtoast]

Trump won't make it legal until he has a business set up to take advantage of the new law.

Right now medical producers are protected as long as they follow the state laws. Due to an amendment in the Federal Bbudget the DOJ can not use any funds to prosecute medical providers that are following their state laws. It has been included in the past several budgets, but there is no guarantee it will be there next year.

[BmorePat87]

(06-11-2018, 03:49 PM)Benton Wrote: I’ll be pretty shocked if he does.

I imagine it’ll play out like Bevin did here in Kentucky. Non-committal and espousing openmindedness then he’ll say “hey, we don’t need to go down that road just for money” when that was never really the argument.

Current GOP leadership isn't even on board with this bill, so it's pretty easy to say "yea, probably" knowing it won't even go up for a vote. 

If he's serious, I'd like to see him call on McConnell and Ryan to put it up for a vote. 

[CKwi88]

I can't help but feel this is only because Trump hates Jeff Sessions.

[Bengalzona]

(06-11-2018, 05:26 PM)BmorePat87 Wrote: Current GOP leadership isn't even on board with this bill, so it's pretty easy to say "yea, probably" knowing it won't even go up for a vote. 

If he's serious, I'd like to see him call on McConnell and Ryan to put it up for a vote. 

Exactly.

Instead of worrying about what Democrats will do about this, people should consider what Republicans (the party in power) won't do about it.


Trump can claim to agree with medical marijuana all day. But it means little if it never comes to a vote or a bill. And the majority of the officials you put in office do not want that vote to happen due to the big pharma lobbies.

[*bfine32*]

(06-11-2018, 04:29 PM)6andcounting Wrote: I can see it now, 20 minutes after Trump signs the bill legalizing medicinal marijuana....


"How marijuana is inherently racist, homophobic and sexist" - Washington Post

"How marijuana is a symbol of the alt right and neo Nazi's" - Vox

"Trump just re-banned marijuana and made medicinal use a death penalty" - CNN

"Trump legalizes marijuana, but does nothing to address the fact that the vast majority of rolling papers are white"- Bengals PnR Forum

[*bfine32*]

You go Amy's dad:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/schumer-introduces-bill-to-federally-decriminalize-marijuana/ar-AAziCqc?ocid=spartanntp

Quote:Sen. Chuck Schumer has introduced a new bill to decriminalize and regulate marijuana at the federal level.

The legislation, which the New York Democrat announced back in April, would remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act, where it is classified among drugs such as heroin and LSD.

By striking marijuana from the act, Schumer's office said in a news release Wednesday, the bill would effectively decriminalize the drug at the federal level. The measure would still allow states to determine their own marijuana laws while maintaining federal law enforcement against trafficking to states where it is illegal.

[GMDino]

We're not supposed to pay attention to what Trump says...just what he does.  Like when he says about taking guns...right?


But this thread went from "Yay Trump" for saying something....to imaginary butthurt over how "they" would slam him for it (if he really did it)....to it congratulating a Democrat who makes the proposal (did something)?

Weird.