Just this week, new legislation has been presented to both the House and Senate that seeks to have cannabis removed from the Controlled Substances Act; it would enable cannabis to be regulated and taxed similar to alcohol.
The new legislation was presented by both Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) and US Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR).
If successful, the new rules would remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act and it would allow states themselves to decide whether or not they wanted to legalize. As it stands currently, there are dozens of states who have already moved forward with approving cannabis for either recreational purposes, medical purposes, or both.
It's expected that other states are going to want to follow-suit and legalize as well because the people no longer want to see force initiated against someone for consuming an herb. Various polls have demonstrated that there is overwhelming support for the move to end to the criminalization of cannabis. The support comes not only from cannabis smokers, but from doctors, teachers, law enforcement experts, and parents and family members of many who they have seen be helped by this herb.
The bill introduced by Polis and Wyden is called the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act.
Aside from those two bills, there are other efforts attempting change as well. There are bills introduced which are suggesting a cannabis tax be considered, others seeking to re-frame the cannabis policy so that it eliminates many federal consequences with cannabis-related activities, and more.
At the moment, many states are exercising civil disobedience in choosing to ignore federal prohibition against this plant, and enable access to cannabis for their citizens; for either recreational or medicinal purposes. Because of the confusion of it being illegal federally, yet endorsed “legally” in some states, it's caused quite the confusion for many, especially law enforcement.
Perhaps it is time for lawmakers to act appropriately on the will of the people who they supposedly derive their authority from, and those people have reiterated for far too long that they are ready to see an end to the war against this plant.
Keep in mind that when they say legalize they also insist that they'll be heavily regulating and restricting access. Which, somewhat defeats the purpose of legalizing in the first place. But where most people are concerned is that the criminal penalties are taken away.
While they take their time with deciding on whether or not they are going to continue violating our natural rights, people continue to be harassed, arrested, detained etc, because of peaceful and voluntary actions in this market.
Pics:
Cannabis Culture
adam vygus/Sott
peacefulanarchism
References:
https://www.leafly.com/news/politics/breaking-cannabis-legalization-bills-make-splash-in-congress
http://peacefulanarchism.com/seeds-of-liberty-podcast-ep-12-the-war-on-drugs-is-a-war-on-the-individual/
http://www.westword.com/marijuana/jared-polis-introduces-regulate-marijuana-like-alcohol-act-in-us-houseagain-8926183
http://ireadculture.com/bill-legalize-cannabis-nationwide-introduced/
