Kirsten Gillibrand Signs Onto Cory Bookers Marijuana Legalization Bill

[brooklynite]

Source: Observer

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, a New York Democrat, will become the second co-sponsor of the Marijuana Justice Act, legislation introduced by Sen. Cory Booker to end the federal prohibition on marijuana.

The Marijuna Justice Act would make marijuana legal at the federal level and includes incentives for states to revise their outdated marijuana laws and expunge convictions pertaining to use or possession. The legislation would also establish a fund that will reinvest in communities that have been adversely affected by marijuana policies by investing in job training programs, educational opportunities, public libraries and community centers.

Booker, a New Jersey Democrat who is rumored to be weighing a 2020 presidential bid, and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) introduced the legislation.

Gillibrand, a junior senator and also a rumored 2020 presidential contender, referred to a recent POLITICO report that black and Latino New Yorkers are nearly 10 times more likely to face marijuana arrests than white New Yorkers.

Read more: http://observer.com/2018/02/kirsten-gillibrand-cory-booker-marijuana-reform/?utm_content=nj+politics&utm_campaign=social+flow&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social+

[hibbing]

1. Good

Don't think I'll ever see this pass in my lifetime, but I hope I'm wrong. I can buy booze in at least 10 (probably closer to 20) places within a mile of my house, but not weed.

Peace

[padfun]

6. There are three places within 2 miles where I can buy weed.

Legally. Northern California. (Sacramento)

[hibbing]

7. Don't make me jealous, I'm 500 miles away from legal...waaaaaaaaaaaa

[Hermit-The-Prog]

9. opioids

I'm in Kentucky. How far to legal from here?

There's a TN state legislator who's trying to get medical marijuana legalized there. He presented data that shows where marijuana is legalized, opioid addiction declined significantly.

[marble falls]

2. Its going to pass one way or another.

[TeamPooka]

3. Prohibition is a failed public policy, again. Legalize it!

[The Mouth]

8. Why the hell we didn't do this when we had the house, senate and white house

I will never know.

[jalan48]

11. We were in "reaching across the aisle to find consensus" mode because Republicans were so

honest back then. Maybe?

[SFnomad]

13. Because when we had the House, Senate and WH ... too many of the Senators were

of the Blue Dog type, like Ben Nelson, that meant even though we technically had a filibuster proof majority, we didn't have a real working filibuster proof majority.

Also, may people believe we had that filibuster proof majority for the entire 2 years .... in actuality we only had it for a couple of real working months. We didn't have 60 until Franken was finally seated (after the court battle) in July 2009. And then, we really didn't have 60, because Kennedy was sick from cancer and then passed in August. We finally, really got the full filibuster proof majority in the Senate in September when Kirk replaced Kennedy. We lost it in February when Brown replaced Kirk after the special election. So between September 2009 and February 2010 was the only time we had 60 votes in the Senate, and Congress adjourns because of the holidays for a good percentage of that time.

[crazycatlady]

14. We last had it all in 2010

And we've come a long way on weed since then. IIRC California voted down legal weed in 2010.


The tide started to shift in 2012 with Colorado and Washington. NJ is rumored to get it soon-- we can sure use the tax dollars.

[Renew Deal]

4. Interesting that it's headline news when Gillibrand does something

[LisaM]

5. It's Cory Booker and Barbara Lee's bill, looks like.

I picked up on that, too. Not to say that Gillibrand, a former prosecutor, IIRC, wouldn't be open to the idea of changing the laws here.

[IronLionZion]

12. Two black people did something, but we need news of one blonde woman signing on to it

[Dream Girl]

15. I had the same thought.

[Honeycombe8]

10. I'm sure most Dems are in favor of that bill. I hope. nt

[Ahpook]

16. I don't even smoke anymore and this just has to be

Ever have friends that vote against their interests constantly? I..... don't get it!

I'd be willing to bet there are smokers and dealers locked up longer than rapists or murderers in the next cell over.

What a fucking joke!