Making the Case for Medical Marijuana

[heironymouspasparagus]

Amazing how much the nation's attitude shifted. 


Five Months After Decriminalizing Marijuana, Here's What's Happened in Philadelphia
http://mic.com/articles/109466/five-months-after-decriminalizing-marijuana-here-s-what-s-happened-in-philadelphia


Rand Paul Calls Out Jeb Bush's Marijuana "Hypocrisy," And He's Not Wrong
http://www.bustle.com/articles/61681-rand-paul-calls-out-jeb-bushs-marijuana-hypocrisy-and-hes-not-wrong

It's all about the money and connections.  Just like here, as in Judge Kurt Glassco and Tim Harris' office.

[patric]

Colorado Brings in $44 Million In Taxes On First Year Of Marijuana Sales

Fears about potential negative effects of legalized recreational marijuana seem to have been exaggerated at the announcement Colorado's final haul in tax revenue after it's first fiscal year of sales: $44 million.

The news of Colorado's final tax revenue total is just the latest to show that, despite any claims to the contrary, the effects of legalization thus far are positive.   
Just two days ago, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released a study showing that unlike those who drink and drive, people who drive stoned are no more likely to crash than those who drive sober.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/02/09/stoned-drivers-are-a-lot-safer-than-drunk-ones-new-federal-data-show/


That study came on the same day that CNBC reported that legalized marijuana has contributed to taking away power from Mexican drug cartels  http://dailycaller.com/2015/02/09/legal-marijuana-drug-cartels/
and making the U.S. – Mexican border safer, as the total number of homicides in Mexico have dropped from 22,852 in 2011 to 15,649 in 2014.  And just one week ago in an interview with CBS "This Morning", U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy stated that medical marijuana works as a legitimate medicine.  http://dailycaller.com/2015/02/04/u-s-surgeon-general-confirms-that-medical-marijuana-works/


http://www.dailycaller.com/2015/02/11/colorado-brings-in-44-million-in-taxes-on-first-year-of-marijuana-sales/

[patric]

Feds Move to Decriminalize Marijuana

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/20/marijuana-legalization-congress_n_6722686.html

Two congressmen filed separate House bills on Friday that together would legalize, regulate and tax marijuana at the federal level, effectively ending the U.S. government's decades long prohibition of the plant.



And a big step for Alaska:
http://www.mercurynews.com/nation-world/ci_27587135/recreational-marijuana-becomes-legal-alaska

[patric]

In Texas, a conservative lawmaker filed a bill to completely deregulate marijuana in the Lone Star State Monday, proposing to strike any mention of the psychoactive plant from state law.

"Everything that God made is good, even marijuana" said state Rep. David Simpson, R-Longview, who filed the bill. "The conservative thought is that government doesn't need to fix something that God made good."

In his column, Simpson reflected on his Republican beliefs in small government and individual liberties, and he invoked biblical verse to explain his initiative to repeal marijuana prohibition.
http://www.chron.com/news/article/Texas-lawmaker-files-bill-to-legalize-marijuana-6111922.php

[heironymouspasparagus]

"The conservative thought is that government doesn't need to fix something that God made good."

In his column, Simpson reflected on his Republican beliefs in small government and individual liberties, and he invoked biblical verse to explain his initiative to repeal marijuana prohibition.

Makes one wonder why so few Republicans actually "practice what they preach" on small government and individual liberties.

[patric]

Makes one wonder why so few Republicans actually "practice what they preach" on small government and individual liberties.

I think a lot of sheriffs still believe for some strange reason that law enforcement can control marijuana, and it's pretty obvious after being an officer for 40 years and after more than 50 years of a miserably failed drug war that it doesn't work.
-- San Miguel (Telluride) County Sheriff Bill Masters

http://www.thecannabist.co/2015/03/05/telluride-sheriff-bill-masters-san-miguel-county-pot-lawsuit/31214/

[Hoss]

Poor old guy...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/10/06/heavily-armed-drug-cops-raid-retirees-garden-seize-okra-plants/

[heironymouspasparagus]

Poor old guy...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/10/06/heavily-armed-drug-cops-raid-retirees-garden-seize-okra-plants/

Like the guy said...okra has 5 leaves, pot has 7.  Shame the cops can't count... so we're taking what?  4rd grade graduates??  Naw...all the 3rd graders I know can count to way more than 10 !!

But they ARE sorry!  They said so!

[TeeDub]

148,000 pounds: The amount of marijuana legally sold in Colorado in 2014, the first full year that recreational marijuana has been legal in the state.

4.82 million: The number of marijuana-infused edibles sold in Colorado.

15,992: The number of people licensed to work in the pot business in Colorado.

143%: The increase in marijuana employment licenses since recreational marijuana was legalized in Colorado.

2,251: The total number of licensed marijuana businesses in Colorado.

$76 million: Total collected by Colorado from marijuana-related taxes and fees

Seems like a win to me.  (And no telling how much they didn't put into the prison system.)

[Townsend]

Seems like a win to me.  (And no telling how much they didn't put into the prison system.)

And that will be what'll stop it here in Oklahoma.

Once federal legalizes pot, how many lawsuits do you guys think Oklahoma will file?

[Conan71]

148,000 pounds: The amount of marijuana legally sold in Colorado in 2014, the first full year that recreational marijuana has been legal in the state.

4.82 million: The number of marijuana-infused edibles sold in Colorado.

15,992: The number of people licensed to work in the pot business in Colorado.

143%: The increase in marijuana employment licenses since recreational marijuana was legalized in Colorado.

2,251: The total number of licensed marijuana businesses in Colorado.

$76 million: Total collected by Colorado from marijuana-related taxes and fees

Seems like a win to me.  (And no telling how much they didn't put into the prison system.)

Curious about the uptick in sales tax from fast food restaurants and retailers of Little Debbie snack cakes.

[Ed W]

On another tack, imagine the furor if one of the tribes goes into the marijuana bidness.

[Vashta Nerada]

Like the guy said...okra has 5 leaves, pot has 7.  Shame the cops can't count... so we're taking what?  4rd grade graduates??  Naw...all the 3rd graders I know can count to way more than 10 !!
But they ARE sorry!  They said so!

Sounds like:

Man spends 3 months in jail for possession of vitamins.
http://www.mankatofreepress.com/news/local_news/drug-charges-dismissed-it-really-was-vitamins/article_5bd3b8b8-b3bb-11e4-a86c-939946b09d9e.html

[patric]

Look how close this vote was

The House rejected, by a vote of 210-213, a proposal Thursday to allow doctors at Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals to discuss the use of medical marijuana with patients.
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/240731-house-rejects-allowing-va-doctors-to-recommend-medical-marijuana


Veterans -- still under the bus.  Meanwhile in Oklahoma, the Governess last week signed a bill into law that would allow the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics to oversee non-existent clinical studies on non-intoxicating CBD oil (successfully used to treat children with seizures).  Given the OBN is on record as wanting to see any uses of marijuana fail, dont expect much from this delaying tactic.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Look how close this vote was

The House rejected, by a vote of 210-213, a proposal Thursday to allow doctors at Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals to discuss the use of medical marijuana with patients.
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/240731-house-rejects-allowing-va-doctors-to-recommend-medical-marijuana


Veterans -- still under the bus.  Meanwhile in Oklahoma, the Governess last week signed a bill into law that would allow the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics to oversee non-existent clinical studies on non-intoxicating CBD oil (successfully used to treat children with seizures).  Given the OBN is on record as wanting to see any uses of marijuana fail, dont expect much from this delaying tactic.

At least we are number 1 in something...!!!   It's just a crying shame it's not a good something.....


http://okpolicy.org/oklahoma-continues-lead-u-s-deepest-cuts-education