Smoke It Up, Marijuana May Soon Be Legal In Four U.S. States

[The Straight Story]

Smoke It Up, Marijuana May Soon Be Legal In Four U.S. States



The push to make marijuana legal continues as four U.S. states are currently pursuing the legalization of marijuana....
Boston (SmartAboutHealth) - The push to make marijuana legal continues as four U.S. states are currently pursuing the legalization of marijuana.

The hope from these states is that marijuana will become fully regulated, as well as completely legal.

The four states pushing to legalize marijuana include Massachusetts, California, New Hampshire, and the state of Washington.

There are four bills currently being tossed around, one for each state, with the end result being regulation and legalization of marijuana.

According to federal law, marijuana is an illegal substance, but that could be coming to an end if this trend continues.

http://smartabouthealth.net/drugs/2009/12/28/smoke-it-up-marijuana-may-soon-be-legal-in-four-us-states/

[fishnfla]

1. I believe the proper phrase is : Fire It Up

and dont be a bogart :smoke:

[madokie]

6. Its tragic that that funny little ole weed has ruinned so many lives

not by smoking it but because of the laws against it.

If I understand it right Dupont was largely responsible for our present pot laws due to the fact they wanted to create a market for his new found toy, nylon. Nothing makes better ropes or cloth than hemp. I have some made from hemp shorts that I simply love.

[AllyCat]

9. I had also read somewhere that the dioxin paper production process

had a lot to do with it. Hemp paper requires no toxic chemicals to grow or produce paper. Governor of Kentucky in the scheme somewhere? I'll have to look up the history on that again. Been a long time since I read anything about it.

[madokie]

25. I kind of remember some of that too

paper making as we do it today is a polluter bigtime. I read that making paper was the most polluting of all industries. We have three big paper plants in the industrial park near here and I know one of them shits some pretty evil looking shit into the neosho river. Kind of a pipe that's hidden back in a spot that normally one wouldn't go for fear of snakes and other vermin, in reality the biggest vermin is the paper companies co's.

[AllyCat]

43. The Fox River Valley here in WI has this foul smell in the air and the water is icky

The plants say they don't dump there anymore, but of course, I'm sure they do when no one is looking. I work in a hospital. We see a lot of babies from that area with birth defects, particularly gastroschisis (bowel outside the abdominal wall).

[12string]

34. DuPont was part of it but the main player was big oil

As hemp oil is a completely renewable resource for #2diesel.Every diesel motor in the world could burn hemp oil while reducing harmful emissions by 97%.Weed becoming illegal had nothing to do with getting high.It was just spun that way by corporate America.

[AllyCat]

40. And the way they spun it was to say that's what them "dark-skinned folks" used

there was a lot of underlying racism with getting that done. Just one more example of the corporations using fear to get us to behave the way they want.

[loudsue]

49. So true. Racism has played a part in getting all those "dark-skinned folks" in prisons, too.

Pot being illegal has been a terrible shame for our country this entire time. It's time it was made legal. Past time. Way past time.

[dysfunctional press]

45. 'big oil' wasn't the main driving force behind the prohibition effort for pot...

Dupont, william randolf hearst(who owned a lot of timber and hated mexicans), and the political/power aspirations of harry ainslinger, and even pharmaceutical corporations were the main culprits.
besides- diesel engines can be run on other vegetable oils besides hemp anyway. but it's just not as cheap as sucking it out of the ground- especially in the 30's, when the supply of petroleum seemed virtually endless.

[bertman]

53. "Drugs: America's Holy War" by Arthur Benavie. A comprehensive look at drug laws in the U.S.

since colonial times, how they have evolved and why they have evolved to the draconian end of the scale they are on today.

There were a lot of players who were responsible for the prohibitions on pot, cocaine, heroine, opium, etc. Not always the ones you'd think.

[garybeck]

12. Oy vey, there is no "proper phrase."

get real.... if someone is saying there is a "proper" phrase and getting on someones case for using the wrong terminology, they obviously don't "get it." Light it up, fire it up, whatever you want to call it... just relax...

[dysfunctional press]

42. 'spark it up' is how we've always said it

[Don Caballero]

2. I may have to move Ha Ha Ha

Pot is awesome and it is good for your body. I could stop drinking if pot was legal for me to get high with. I have had to quit smoking the stuff in order to get a job since I got laid off in October. I would love to get high on weed and then go to work and be like what are you going to do about it, the stuff is totally legal. Great news on the pot front.

[timo]

27. thats really gonna help the cause

going to work "IMPAIRED" is a bad idea, hope your not a heavy equipment operator, or surgeon!!!

[Don Caballero]

35. No just a civil servant.

I just really like getting high on pot. If it were legal I could smoke joints in the smoking area at work and be like It is legal now so leave me alone.

[ohheckyeah]

44. Dude.

Alcohol is legal but you can't drink at work and you won't be able to smoke pot at work. But, you knew that, didn't you?

[Don Caballero]

47. Alcohol impairs its users

Weed does not impair those who use it. I am around potheads all the time and you would have no idea they were stoned. If weed becomes legal how are employers going to stop their workers from getting high? Maybe you won't be allowed to smoke it in the smoking area, but what are they going to do if I go to my car and smoke a bong of weed?

[timo]

60. weed does impair users

ok if you need brain surgery do you pick the doctor who is straight up sober, or do you want the one who burned a fatty on the way to the O.R. and then took a few more hits before he got scrubbed??? cuts reaction times, affects short term memory, motor skills, and your attention span is reduced, you may be more aware of it when it is happening but to say it causes no impairment is wrong, and I am all for legalizing it, you still wouldnt be able to use it at work!!!! No employer is going to allow that, the liability issue would be thru the roof

[JTFrog]

63. That's like saying you have a drinking area at work....

I'm all for legal pot, but I'd be willing to bet there will be plenty of restrictions in place regarding it's use in public and in the workplace, just like alcohol.

[Cirque du So-What]

3. GodDAMMit, where's Ohio on that list?

There was talk of approving medical marijuana a couple years ago, but apparently it did the dance of the dying cockroach. Good for the other states, though. Keep chipping away at that wall!

[tridim]

4. Psst, it's already (practically) legal in Denver.

California will be first to completely legalize, the tax revenues will roll in and every other state will want a piece.

I'm already prepared for the inevitable. :)

[Roon]

64. Yep!

I am licensed to get medical marijuana here in Denver.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

5. puff puff pass the bill

and the joint :smoke:

[madokie]

8. Ok but it's still a monday here

I hope you know that ;-)

[napi21]

7. GREAT! I've never smoked but with all the other things that are legal in the US, it sure always

seemed to be really stupid to jail people for possession, distribution & growing a weed! I honestly don't know if I would buy any if it were legal, but I have always had a very bad appetie for food. I just never get hungry and with vey few exceptions, never eat more than once a day and sometimes not even once. I understand MJ causes the munchies, and if for no other reason, I might try it for that reason.

I haven't done so yet because I wouldn'pt have a clue on where to buy any!

[Le Taz Hot]

16. Allow me to counter the "muchies" myth for you.

Different strains of pot have different affects. There are some strains that DO cause the munchies. There are strains that help you sleep. There are strains that give you the giggles. There are strains that reduce pain and/or nausea. There's more but you get the picture. When you go to a GOOD dispensary, the clerks will say things like, "a lot of asthma patients have reported that this strain helps them breath better." (They have to be careful what they say for fear of being accused of dispensing legal advice without a license.) Sometimes the strain just gives you a really good buzz. The last seeds I bought advertised the following: "When getting hit upside the head with a sledge hammer isn't quite enough." It was a good pot year. :smoke:

[RebelOne]

62. Having the munchies is not a myth as far as I am concerned.

In my younger years, not matter what type of pot I smoked, I became overwhelmingly hungry. That is why I do not smoke it now because it is fattening as hell. I prefer my wine.

[KansDem]

10. Fantastic! Now I can pull out my 30-year-old bong from my southern California days!

Wait!...I'm in Kansas now...:(

[Lint Head]

11. As long as there are cowards in D.C. this is a pipe dream.

The feds will attempt to override any state legalization. We need a major revolt touting the financial specifics of how legalizing pot would enhance the economy.

Every time the subject comes up in a public forum some politician just laughs at the idea and say it is
nothing more than immature pot heads wanting to legalize recreational use.

The ridiculous idea that liquor is for recreation and pot should not be is an easy concept to shoot down. We need people with in power with the courage to speak out.

[tridim]

19. No they wont. The feds ARE laying off the legal MMJ states.

Obama and Holder meant what they said 6 months ago.

[Le Taz Hot]

13. I hate to put a monkey wrench into this but . . .

unless and until Federal Law changes, either out-and-out legalizing AT LEAST MM, or changing the classification, all 50 states can legalize it and it would STILL be illegal with the feds which gives local law enforcement grounds to, at the very minimum, close down dispensaries.

Here's the scam locally but the same thing is going down in several other counties (I'm in California): Dispensaries open up. Local law enforcement come around and closes them down based on the fact that the dispensaries are not legal under both state and federal laws which, of course, are diametrically opposed. Let's say said dispensary refuses to close down. The next step: Go to the landlord and threaten HUGE fines if they do not evict said dispensary.

So, unless President Change decides to urge Congress to change the law, and I don't see this happening as it might piss off someone important like Lieberman, Nelson and all of the Republicans, the chances of any change here are extremely slim.

[Cetacea]

15. You're bringing me down, maan.

[Le Taz Hot]

18. Sorry to harsh yer buzz there, dude,

but if we're going to get serious about this shit, let's get serious. :shrug:

LTH<---enjoying my coffee and morning "breakfast roll" as we speak.

[tridim]

17. The feds aren't touching us in Colorado.

If you follow state law, you're safe as a kitten here. If you break the law, you should be prosecuted, just like any other business.

I've always felt that the states need to lead on the issue and the federal law will follow. I'm happy to see that that's exactly what is happening. It's happening FAST.

[Le Taz Hot]

20. Actually, we ARE following state law

as California is MM marijuana state. Re-read my post regarding being required to meet state and federal law. So, apparently, under your law-and-order badass POV, anyone who buys pot in your state IS breaking the law and "should be prosecuted." :wtf: Whatever . . . :eyes:

[tridim]

21. No, Holder said if you follow STATE law the feds will not prosecute.

That is what is happening in the MMJ states.

Feel free to post a recent story about the feds raiding a dispensary that is following state law. It's just not happening any more. Thank gawd, er thank Holder and Obama.

[Le Taz Hot]

22. Apparently, I'm not getting through here.

It doesn't matter what Holder says, the COUNTIES are going after the dispensaries based on FEDERAL LAW.

And here are your links since you seem unable to do your own research before mouthing off. Please note: ONE OF THEM IS IN COLORADO.

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20091219/UPDATES01/91219007/Pot-dispensary-owner-sues-Colorado-city-for-closing-down-his-shop

http://rawstory.com/2009/12/los-angeles-close-hundreds-medical-marijuana-dispensaries/

http://www.cannabisculture.com/v2/articles/5158.html

http://www.cannabisculture.com/v2/articles/5158.html

http://www.cannabisculture.com/v2/articles/5158.html

There were more but you can Google as easily as I can (I think).

[tridim]

23. Yea, I've seen those stories (I read a lot)..

Problem is, these MMJ laws are in their state's respective constitutions. These counties are ignoring state law and I assume THEY will eventually be prosecuted by the state on a constitutional basis.

That said, I'm in Denver where people are treated like adults. None of this BS is happening here. It's probably why Denver was just named "America’s Cannabis Capital" :)

http://blog.norml.org/2009/12/22/where-is-americas-cannabis-capital/

[Flaneur]

28. Those links don't support your case very well.

The Colorado article shows local authorities using federal law as a political club, not a legal one.

The articles about SF dispensaries are from the Bush era. There are currently about three dozen in the city, I think.

The LA article is about the city trying to regulate the number of dispensaries.

The Obama administration has made clear it is not going to go after medical marijuana providers in compliance with state laws. Whether it would take a similar stance on a legalization initiative is a question that remains to be seen.

You are right that until federal pot law changes there are going to be numerous battles over such things at the local and municipal level. In fact, Richard Lee's legalization initiativfe will, sadly, perpetuate that, by giving localities the local option.

[Hippo_Tron]

56. City/Country governments only have as much authority as states give them

Seems like a problem the state could easily deal with if they wanted to.

[Flaneur]

24. The California courts have said federal law is not the responsibility of local cops.

Or you would have seen folks like LA County DA Cooley shutting down dispensaries already. He thinks they're illegal.

Some municipal authorities, on the other hand, are voting to ban or restrict dispensaries, and are using the "it's illegal under federal law" argument, but that's just a political argument.

If California votes to legalize in November, the DEA could still come in and arrest people. The question is whether it has the resources to do so.

[Le Taz Hot]

26. Can you give a link for that?

I'm not trying to be a smart ass, but I don't see a link. If what you are saying is true, our local Barney Fifes here are operating illegally (thanks to our "praise- be-to-Jaysus" mayor and city council).

[Flaneur]

30. Here you go:

http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=5614

For Immediate Release: December 1st, 2008

U.S. Supreme Court: State Medical Marijuana Laws Not Preempted by Federal Law

Medical marijuana case appealed by the City of Garden Grove was denied review today



Washington, DC -- The U.S. Supreme Court refused to review a landmark decision today in which California state courts found that its medical marijuana law was not preempted by federal law. The state appellate court decision from November 28, 2007, ruled that "it is not the job of the local police to enforce the federal drug laws." The case, involving Felix Kha, a medical marijuana patient from Garden Grove, was the result of a wrongful seizure of medical marijuana by local police in June 2005. Medical marijuana advocates hailed today's decision as a huge victory in clarifying law enforcement's obligation to uphold state law. Advocates assert that better adherence to state medical marijuana laws by local police will result in fewer needless arrests and seizures. In turn, this will allow for better implementation of medical marijuana laws not only in California, but in all states that have adopted such laws.

"It's now settled that state law enforcement officers cannot arrest medical marijuana patients or seize their medicine simply because they prefer the contrary federal law," said Joe Elford, Chief Counsel with Americans for Safe Access (ASA), the medical marijuana advocacy organization that represented the defendant Felix Kha in a case that the City of Garden Grove appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. "Perhaps, in the future local government will think twice about expending significant time and resources to defy a law that is overwhelmingly supported by the people of our state."

California medical marijuana patient Felix Kha was pulled over by the Garden Grove Police Department and cited for possession of marijuana, despite Kha showing the officers proper documentation. The charge against Kha was subsequently dismissed, with the Superior Court of Orange County issuing an order to return Kha's wrongfully seized 8 grams of medical marijuana. The police, backed by the City of Garden Grove, refused to return Kha's medicine and the city appealed. Before the 41-page decision was issued a year ago by California's Fourth District Court of Appeal, the California Attorney General filed a "friend of the court" brief on behalf of Kha's right to possess his medicine. The California Supreme Court then denied review in March.

"The source of local law enforcement's resistance to upholding state law is an outdated, harmful federal policy with regard to medical marijuana," said ASA spokesperson Kris Hermes. "This should send a message to the federal government that it's time to establish a compassionate policy more consistent with the 13 states that have adopted medical marijuana laws."

Further information:
Today's U.S. Supreme Court Order denying review: http://AmericansForSafeAccess.org/downloads/Kha_USSC.pdf
Decision by the California Fourth Appellate District Court: http://AmericansForSafeAccess.org/downloads/GardenGroveDecision.pdf
Felix Kha's return of property case: http://AmericansForSafeAccess.org/article.php?id=4412

# # #

[Le Taz Hot]

31. Thank you.

Of course now I'm REALLY confused because earlier in the year, we had as many as 11 dispensaries in town. A couple of months ago they closed ALL of them down and, at least from the paper, stated that the dispensaries must meet federal and state laws. I need to look into this deeper. Thanks for the information.

On edit: Found it

http://www.fresnobee.com/updates/story/1668653.html
Fresno med-pot stores ordered to close
Published online on Friday, Oct. 09, 2009

By Russell Clemings / The Fresno Bee

A judge on Friday ordered nine medical marijuana dispensaries in Fresno to close in response to lawsuits filed by the city.
The order by Fresno County Superior Court Judge Alan M. Simpson came two days after he issued a tentative ruling to propose the shutdowns, and one day after he postponed a final decision when challenged by the businesses' lawyers.


<snip>

City Attorney Jim Sanchez in a prepared statement said the ruling allows the city "to ensure that land uses within the city are operated consistent with the law to protect public health and safety."

Beginning in mid-August, the city filed lawsuits to shut down the dispensaries, all of which opened just this year.

City officials maintain that the businesses are illegal because a city ordinance requires them to comply with both state and federal law.

<more>


http://www.safeaccessnow.org/punbb/viewtopic.php?id=4016

[Flaneur]

32. It's incredibly messy, isn't it?

It's not the feds demanding compliance, it's not the California courts (or even the US Supreme Court), it's local politicians using the federal ban as a POLITICAL weapon, not a legal one.

Barring an end to the federal ban, this kind of shit will go on for years, just as it has with the dispensaries. Are they legal now under California law? Who the hell knows?

[Le Taz Hot]

33. Which is why the FEDERAL law needs to be changed.

Obama doesn't have the cajones to go there but I think he could AT LEAST reclassify it.

[Flaneur]

37. I'm with you on that, but not holding my breath.

I think it will go like medical marijuana. Some state--cough, cough, California--will pass legalization, and then the legal battles will begin. Then more states pass it, more legal battles, then politicians brave enough to lead in Washington will eventuallly come around.

[defendandprotect]

39. Good for them!!

[pipi_k]

14. Smoking pot gives people life skills...

Sort of a funny story from Christmas Eve...

Mr Pip and I went to my son's house where he and his wife do the whole Christmas Eve feast thing.

This year son decides he's going to try doing a couple of sushi things, one using vegies, the other using crabmeat (no raw fish)

So I tried one and it was pretty good, and I ask my son if he had to use one of those little bamboo mats I've seen sushi-makers use for rolling them in the seaweed.

He says, "Hell no, Ma, you forget I have lots of practice rolling things way smaller than that..."

:7



anyway, I live in Mass. I do hope it's not merely decriminalized, but actually legalized...I think I'd rather see him smoke pot than drink. I mean, if he's going to do it anyway...

[Romulox]

29. Back in the old days, I remember headshops sold little bamboo "cheater" mats

for joint rolling purposes--just like the sushi ones but smaller. They didn't work too well for that purpose iirc.

[Echo In Light]

36. K&R . . . four states would make a good starting point

[Blue_In_AK]

38. It's been practically legal in Alaska since 1975.

http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/Ftrials/conlaw/ravin.html

I think recently the legislature has reclassified possession of small amounts of MJ as a class B misdemeanor, but there is nothing more than a fine, and the cops don't even bother with it unless they suspect a commercial grow operation.

I don't know too many people -- or ANY, for that matter -- who haven't lit up once in a while.

[Initech]

41. My friends and I were talking about that the other day.

We figured that if we pass legalization, there will be people getting stoned in the streets. :smoke:

[Greyhound]

46. K&R.

[Gman2]

48. I dont care if the feds give up, it still will not be legal till we develop a test for present level

of intoxication. Period. Till then, med mari. patients can be jailed on murder if they accidently kill someone driving. Even if it is absolutely NOT their fault. SCREW the hair/piss test that uses month old readings against you.

[asdjrocky]

50. Now that's it's legal I'll smoke some...

more.

[BolivarianHero]

51. Uhoh...If we believe Kofi Annan's bullshit...

They'll be supporting terrorism. I'll never respect the UN because of its fuckwad drug policies.

[robdogbucky]

55. I'm SURE you know this but Kofi Annan

has not been the Sec. Gen. of the UN since February, 2006.

It's been Ban Ki mooon since then.


Just my dos centavos

robdogbucky

[BolivarianHero]

58. I know...

But he was at the time the statement was made and he was the one who had made the statement.

[usregimechange]

52. Not at the federal level in any state

[davsand]

54. Massachusetts, California, New Hampshire, and Washington will see higher levels of vacation travel.

Sorry for the bad pun, but you have to admit that folks would probably choose to vacation in places where pot is legal and regulated (sold.)

I seriously enjoyed my last trip to Napa and Sonoma, and I can only think it might be improved with the addition of some legal pot.

:shrug:

Laura

[Jamastiene]

57. I wish North Carolina would one day legalize it too.

I miss the relief it gave me from pain.

Congrats to those who get it legalized in their states.

[newtothegame]

59. How long have these exact headlines been being posted on DU?

I swear I've been reading these headlines on DU for years, and they always say things like "will soon be," "by the end of this year," etc. And yet we're never any closer.

[Shagbark Hickory]

61. Someone needs to spark up another doobie.