House to take historic vote on federally decriminalizing marijuana - ABC News
By: ABC News
And as the American people still suffer in the economic forum, let's take some time to vote on important shit. MMMMM KAY. Oh and about that vote, also, to fund GovCo..........screw it it can wait......gotta shake your head. As stated elsewhere on NT, the Dems are showing their true "progressive" colors.
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Friday will mark the first vote ever of its kind on a federal level.
ByJohn Parkinson December 3, 2020, 10:37 PM • 6 min read
For the first time in congressional history, House Democrats are poised for a vote Friday on a long-shot measure that would decriminalize marijuana use at the federal level -- months after pulling the bill amid worries the controversial vote could cause some lawmakers to lose tight races in November.
The Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement Act would also mandate a reassessment of prior marijuana convictions, invest in services for people caught up in the war on drugs and open Small Business Administration funding for legitimate cannabis-related businesses.
Despite widespread support from Democrats in the House of Representatives, the bill stands almost no chance of becoming law in the current session of Congress due to a Republican firewall in the Senate and President Donald Trump still occupying the White House. Biden campaigned in favor of decriminalizing marijuana.
But even after President-elect Joe Biden is inaugurated in January, Democrats would have to pass the measure not just through the House again but also clear it through the Senate. The upper chamber's majority control is still up for grabs -- with two runoff elections in Georgia are scheduled early next month -- but the legislation would be subject to a 60-vote threshold to advance through the Senate and on to the Resolute Desk.
Although the measure has collected dust since passing through the House Judiciary Committee last November, the timing of the planned floor vote more than a year later allows many Democrats to celebrate a promise to pass the bill before the end of the current session of Congress.
Oregon Democratic Rep. Earl Blumenauer, one of the bill's original sponsors, presided over the House debate on the measure Thursday wearing a face mask featuring cannabis leaves.
Across the aisle, Republicans continued to criticize Democratic priorities in the midst of a pandemic when floor time is limited and considered precious to lawmakers -- Democrats and Republicans alike.
"Democrats want to focus on cannabis and cats, not COVID relief," House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., told reporters at a news conference in the Capitol on Thursday. "You'd think after a humiliating defeat at the ballot box this year, where Democrats didn't defeat one Republican incumbent, that Democrats would get the picture that Americans are demanding action on issues that matter to them."
While the prolonged stalemate over the next phase of COVID-19 relief persists, lawmakers still haven't come together on other must-pass legislation on the agenda that will require bipartisan cooperation, including an agreement to fund the government. Congress has just five legislative days remaining on the schedule before a potential government shutdown on Dec. 11.
Still, Rep. Jim McGovern, chair of the House Rules Committee, called on lawmakers "to take a stand" for "restorative justice, to stand for racial justice, to stand for criminal justice reform, and to stand with the majority of Americans demanding reforms to our nation's cannabis policy."
"Some, particularly on the other side, have wondered why we are moving forward with these reforms now. We must soon fund the government for the next fiscal year and pass the annual defense bill," McGovern, D-Mass., said during debate on the bill Thursday. "We have a lot to do in the waning days of this Congress. I get that. But the answer is simple: This is not an either-or proposition. Congress can walk and chew gum at the same time."
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If the states get away with it now, why is this a priority? Not hard to see what those are.
It's fine with me, but I doubt the Senate or even Trump will go along. If they have other information, then go for it. Otherwise, it seems like a waste of time.
Of course the Senate won’t go along with it. The Senate has a well established reputation for doing the opposite of what the majority of US citizens want.
I think marijuana should be decriminalized at the federal level. States are selling it, people are using it medically and I don’t see a big difference between having a few drinks or doing a little pot. Just my opinion.
I am not really sure but does the federal government get any money from the states sales of marijuana? If not, my guess is they want some.
And that is a very good guess.
No, they don't. All of Arkansas proceeds (tax) from MMJ sales go straight back to the state.
It's time to decriminalize but all that other stuff can wait until they get a COVID relief package passed
Yes, that should be the top priority!
As can this wait. Look, I partake but I don't have plants growing in my basement or anything but it does help me sleep (and I have been told I'm funny as hell when a puff has been taken LOL). I just am curious as to the timing. Perhaps they are betting on the come that Georgia will go their way and therefore, they may have the Senate votes.............maybe.
I want to see it legalized. I can't even qualify for MMJ here because I don't have one of the 18 conditions. (18 conditions???? ridiculous)
Right now I have constant pain in my thumbs from I think might be arthritis but I doubt if that qualifies
That’s wise but growing them in your neighbors field isn’t very nice. Lol
Severe pain from arthritis would probably get ya a card in Florida.
Just hide it behind the corn!
Again,
I was talking with a guy in Los Angeles about that and he said in CA getting a card is about as hard as just asking for it. All you need to say is I have pain. Then I took a bong hit of what they’re smoking out there and couldn’t even speak for the next hour. After I hit it he looked at me and said “wait, how long has it been since you smoked?”, then he just grinned and shook his head, followed by “you’re in for a ride”. He wasn’t kidding.
My daughter just got her card in FL this week. She said it was simple and that the whole process of prescribing is pretty high tech (no pun intended). She wants off of anti-depressants, so they tailored specific varieties to reach that goal.
Hmmmm. My friend has a card for her fibromyalgia. There's a billboard on my way to work advertising a doctor that writes scripts so you can get a card. There are possibilities.....
It's not too bad yet. I can usually knock it back with a couple of Aleve when it gets real bad, but I can still function which is good since I rely on my hands for my work (I do a lot of computer work)
I just mine the old fashioned way - illegally. I’m a little concerned about my name being on a list somewhere, since employers don’t care whether it is legal or not. I don’t trust that HIPPA is a protection, particularly when the fed continues to outlaw it.
That. Right there. Concerns me, too. Probably why I won't get a card until I retire
Mine sure doesn't. He often hot boxes the office, especially since we closed the office to foot traffic since Covid restriction began...
I won’t try to work and toke. 4:20 pm is the earliest I will indulge M-F.
Good for her. They will even deliver it right to her home. They just started edibles too.
That’s pretty funny stuff. Poor Mom.
I don't either other than the ambient high at times. But I answer all the calls, so all my boss is busy doing is smoking weed, distracting me with movies he wants me to watch and stocking the mini-fridge 2 feet away from my veri-desk with wine and beer. He's a 70 year old conservative but he packs a mean boul.
A 70 year old conservative pot head. Interesting combination. I bet you’ve got good stories.
I would guess not since that would mean they would be taxing illegal commerce (from the federal point of view).
That’s what I was thinking.
He may be on to something here LOL
"Maybe they should, in the states where it’s now legal, get a good joint and just chill. Just chill," Brown said."
And............so it goes.
communities............yeah. I'm sure that is a major consideration..................
Now, get busy on that damned stimulus package.
Wait....are they talking local sales tax or a federal sales tax? Your link didn't say.
I do have some problems with conservative think. I don't consider cannabis to a gateway drug. I partook quite a bit in college and am a contributing member of society. From the stories Mr Giggles tells me, if weed is a gateway drug he would have been in and out of rehab his entire life, but he managed to do 23 years in the military and is working on his second retirement. My own children are fine examples of how weed is not a gateway drug.
As far as impairment at work or driving? Alcohol does the same thing and far worse if you ask me. Worked with quite a few drunks. I would rather they came to work stoned...they might have gotten something done.
I don't really think it is a gateway drug..............at least not to the extent it MAY have been in the 60's and subsequently the 70's when we had the "free love" generation. In high school I worked at a service station (yes I pumped gas and washed windshields and checked oil and air) and the guy I worked with, who was a classmate, smoked weed and then moved on to acid, LSD and beyond I guess seeking a different, longer lasting high. He looked like his eyes were constantly bleeding. LOL
Does raise a bigger question to me though. As you say I would rather work with someone stoned than drunk. One of the best race car mechanics I helped out in the 80's smoked weed and drank Captain Morgan rum a LOT and damned if he wasn't one of the best race car set up and engine builders I have ever met. So what new parameters, if any, would business have to do if someone got hurt at work (as well as pre screening) and tested positive? There needs to be some sort of system to identify amounts in the blood stream maybe? Not sure but just because one chills with a joint the night before doesn't necessarily mean they are still "under the influence"
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Yes, I do see that as a problem. An urinalysis shows THC 30 days or longer after one hit. They may have to do something like a field sobriety test if a work accident happens, I dunno. I'm not one of the smart ones who can think of solutions to this problem
Excellent observation. Kudos
Thank-you
Why not do it. I say go ahead. About damn time. I am glad they are doing it. It's not like they can't work on different things at the same time. It even states in the article this was an older bill that passed through committee and they are going to put it up for a vote.
Just because some extremists are holding up any relief package doesn't mean all other work should stop. Should they stop working on the defence bill and everything else until relief gets passed? No of course not.
Saying they shouldn't work or vote on it is ridiculous. Besides, I think they need to take a better look at how the funds from the first round were spent as a large portion of the money went to larger corporations instead of small business that needed it.
We all know McConnell won't let it come upon the senate floor though. A perfect example of letting a small minority rule over the rest of us. Letting a small minority pass their judgement and morality on the rest of society.