Pelosi: It would be ‘really important’ to take on medical marijuana in Congress

[RainDog]

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/07/11/pelosi-it-would-be-really-important-to-take-on-medical-marijuana-in-congress/

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi reiterated her support for medical marijuana on Wednesday and indicated Democrats might be interested in taking changes to federal law after the election.

“I’ve been very clear on the subject of medical marijuana over time, in committee and on the floor as leader,” Pelosi said told Raw Story at a round table of bloggers.

“I think that it would be really important to do that,” Pelosi said. “It would be hard for anyone to agree with the fact that someone who has HIV/AIDS or has cancer and they find relief from pain in medicinal marijuana that should be something that should be a priority to raid on the part of the Justice Department. Going along with that, we need to address some of the penalties for any non-violent crime that are out there.”

...Her fellow congressmen from California, Rep. Sam Farr (D), said to Raw Story, “Medical marijuana is one of those issues where if you get enough states, where when you get enough, then you get it. California had already started that process because of cost concerns. That didn’t cause any scandals or upheavals.”

I think the issue has already hit the tipping point with 16 states and D.C. - and because of the decades long support for legalization of mmj in the U.S.

[morningfog]

1. Rec!

[Woody Woodpecker]

2. Oh yes, it would

it's way past time to remove the scheduling of cannabis, permanently.

Tax it, regulate it like alcohol and cigarettes.

Enough said.

Hemp needs to be the cash crop.

[Volaris]

7. Damn right it does.

In other news, the COTTON GROWERS LOBBY now largest lobbying group on Capitol Hill.

Fuck 'em, let 'em squeal.

[shanti]

12. really?

the largest lobby on capitol hill? lots of cotton growers in cali's central valley too. dunno why they are so against putting in hemp instead

[Vincardog]

3. I think the issue has already hit the tipping point with 16 states and D.C. - and because of the

the decades long support for legalization of mmj in the U.S.

[RainDog]

6. I agree with your comment!

[RKP5637]

4. K&R !!! n/t

[Vincardog]

5. I think it is long past time

[musiclawyer]

8. What professional politicians say regarding MM or LM is irrelevant

All that matters is that one or both of WA and COL pass their legalization measures on NOV 6. If that happens, it's over. There is no going back. The Feds can try through litgation. But all the evidence is on the other side. And if POTUS wins, I dont even think they will even try. One successful legalization measure will be like a cluster bomb detonation underneath the wall known as the war on drugs. Shattered, never to be re-built given the data and the demographics.

[RainDog]

10. Last poll I saw for Colorado showed 61% support for full legalization

http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/drug-law/new-poll-high-support-marijuana-legalization-colorado-61-say-regulate-alcohol-and

A just-released statewide poll by Rasmussen Reports provides strong evidence that Colorado may likely become the first state to re-legalize and regulate the personal use of marijuana this November.

On June 6th, Rasmussen Polling conducted a survey of likely voters in Colorado and found majority support for marijuana legalization. Sixty-one percent of those surveyed supported legalizing marijuana if it were regulated like alcohol and cigarettes. Only 27 percent of respondents are opposed to legalization and 12 percent remain undecided.

This is great news for Amendment 64, a 2012 statewide ballot initiative to end marijuana prohibition and regulate marijuana like alcohol, which will appear on the Colorado ballot this November. Rasmussen’s recent survey shows support shifting upwards from previous polling. In December 2011, Public Policy Polling reported that 49 percent of Coloradan’s believed that marijuana use should be legal versus 40 percent who believed it should remain illegal.

Lately, the mainstream media has caught on to the important role that Amendment 64 will play in this fall’s presidential election. This poll is just further proof of that claim’s validity. During the same time period, Rasmussen polled Colorado voters on their presidential preference and respondents were split, 45 percent for Obama and 45 percent support for Romney. Amendment 64 promises to turn out greater numbers of independent minded and youth voters in November, if either candidate embraced rational marijuana policy reforms, this important battleground state could be theirs to win.

[RainDog]

9. Texas, Iowa and North Carolina Democratic Parties: Decriminalize Marijuana

in case you missed this - state Democratic parties are adding various marijuana reform statements to their platforms. It was originally posted here - http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002836403

Texas: Democratic Party Endorses Marijuana Decriminalization

The Texas Democrats now join the growing list of state political parties throwing their support behind marijuana law reform. Earlier this year, the Colorado Democratic Party added marijuana legalization as a plank to their party’s platform and announced support for their state’s legalization ballot initiative, Amendment 64. 56% of Denver Country Republican Assembly also voted in favor of supporting this initiative. The state democratic party in Washington endorsed their legalization initiative, I-502, in late 2011

http://blog.norml.org/2012/06/18/texas-democratic-party-endorses-marijuana-decriminalization/

Iowa: Democrats Add Medical Cannabis and Industrial Hemp to Party Platform

At their state convention on June 16th, the Iowa Democrats adopted their 2012 platform. Two of the policies endorsed within were medical cannabis use and the industrial cultivation of hemp. You can view the full 2012 Iowa Democratic Party platform (at the link below)

Also worth noting, on June 2nd, the Washington State Democratic Party built upon their earlier endorsement of their state’s legalization initiative, I-502, by adding support for full marijuana legalization and medical cannabis as planks in their party platform. You can view the 2012 Washington State Democratic Party Platform (via the link below.) Recent data from Public Policy Polling has shown the majority Washington State voters support I-502.

http://blog.norml.org/2012/06/20/iowa-democrats-party-add-medical-cannabis-and-industrial-hemp-to-party-platform/

North Carolina: Democratic Party Passes Resolutions in Support of Medical Marijuana and Industrial Hemp

Hot on the heels of the Texas Democratic Party’s endorsement of marijuana decriminalization, the North Carolina Democratic Party endorsed two resolutions in support of marijuana law reform of their own. On Saturday, June 16th, the party held their state convention in Raleigh, NC. During this meeting they passed two reform minded resolutions, one calling for the legalization of medical marijuana and one for the industrial cultivation of hemp. The official text of the resolutions are as follows:

http://blog.norml.org/2012/06/19/north-carolina-democratic-party-passes-resolutions-in-support-of-medical-marijuana-and-industrial-hemp/

[Spoonman]

11. "Democrats might be interested in taking changes to federal law after the election"

After the election?

Fuck you and your "carrot" Nancy, do it now!

I am rapidly losing faith in all of them........... I need a drink!

[RainDog]

13. Yeah - the states are doing this, not Congress

but at least a federal-level Democrat (and more than one of them) is talking about this issue in various ways.

The hemp amendment didn't make it through the ag bill - but it will be back.

The questioning of Leonhart made her look like such a right-wing idealogue - she can't even admit that marijuana is less harmful than meth. What a wanker.

[musiclawyer]

14. Contribute to the WA and COL measures

That is a tangible thing YOU can do make this happen. I don't have time to post links. Perhaps someone else can.

[RainDog]

15. Campaign to Regulate Marijuana - Colorado

http://www.regulatemarijuana.org/

[RainDog]

16. kick for the campaign n/t