U.S. House votes to decriminalize marijuana at federal level

[rooster59 17,945]

U.S. House votes to decriminalize marijuana at federal level

By Susan Cornwell

 

FILE PHOTO: Marijuana enthusiasts gather after midnight to celebrate the legalization of recreational use of marijuana in Portland, Oregon July 1, 2015. REUTERS/Steve Dipaola

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Friday to decriminalize marijuana at the federal level, but the legislation is not expected to advance further as long as the Senate remains in Republican hands.

 

It was the first time either chamber of Congress has voted to end the federal ban on marijuana since the drug was listed as a "controlled substance" in 1970.

 

Fifteen U.S. states and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational use of marijuana, and over 30 states allow some form of the drug for medicinal purposes. U.S. cannabis sales hit record levels over the Thanksgiving weekend.

 

But the federal ban on the drug persists, which creates conflicts with state laws and limits cannabis companies' access to banking services and funding.

 

The Democratic-majority House voted 228-164, largely along party lines, to lift the federal prohibition. But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, is an opponent of the change, meaning a decriminalization proposal is unlikely to see Senate action unless Democrats manage to win both Georgia Senate seats and with them Senate control in a Jan. 5 runoff election.

 

The bill the House passed would allow states to regulate marijuana, Representative Earl Blumenauer, a Democrat and co-chairman of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, said in debate.

 

“This legislation does not legalize cannabis across the country. It stops the federal government from interfering with what states have decided to do," he said.

 

Republican Representative Debbie Lesko said she found it incredible that Democrats were talking about "legalizing marijuana" instead of focusing on passing more relief from the coronavirus pandemic. "Sometimes I think that the world is turned upside down," she said.

 

In fact, the House in May passed a mammoth coronavirus aid bill, but it did not advance in the Republican-run Senate.

Negotiations are underway on a smaller compromise bill.

 

The cannabis bill would expunge federal marijuana convictions and impose a 5% tax on cannabis products. The revenue raised would help reinvest in communities most adversely impacted by enforcement of the law, Blumenauer said.

 

(Reporting by Susan Cornwell; Editing by Bill Berkrot)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-12-05

 

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[Don Chance 917]

The western world is so spiritually dead they need drugs and alcohol just to mentally survive. You get a whole country drunk and stoned and nobody realized what is really wrong.

[Jingthing 69,809]

Must.

Win.

Georgia!

This could be the issue that does that.

Among the people, there is strong bipartisan support for legalization.

 

The Chance for Marijuana Legalization Rests In Georgia (forbes.com)

 

Quote

Just when we thought election season was over, supporters of marijuana legalization are gearing up for one last major fight of the season. That is because the last hope for full cannabis legalization at the federal level fully depends on the outcome of two special elections for U.S. Senate in Georgia on January 3, 2021. 

 

[Jingthing 69,809]

7 minutes ago, Don Chance said:

The western world is so spiritually dead they need drugs and alcohol just to mentally survive. You get a whole country drunk and stoned and nobody realized what is really wrong.

So are you suggesting making alcohol illegal?
Been there, done that.

[PatOngo 44,545]

19 minutes ago, Don Chance said:

The western world is so spiritually dead they need drugs and alcohol just to mentally survive. You get a whole country drunk and stoned and nobody realized what is really wrong.

Then you get clowns like Mitch McConnell and you DO realize what's wrong!

[Don Chance 917]

47 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

So are you suggesting making alcohol illegal?
Been there, done that.

If you look at a country like India there are not many alcoholics. Why? They have  spiritual, community and cultural life that keeps them occupied. Young people are not getting into drugs and alcohol. So that is something western countries need to learn.

[Credo 10,189]

Well, I am pretty much in favor of anything that starts mellowing out people in the US!!

 

[Credo 10,189]

1 minute ago, Don Chance said:

If you look at a country like India there are not many alcoholics. Why? They have  spiritual, community and cultural life that keeps them occupied. Young people are not getting into drugs and alcohol. So that is something western countries need to learn.

Well, I certainly see enough stories about wedding parties in India where they are drinking the homemade hooch and a whole bunch end up dead.   

 

I don't think the US needs more religion.   Maybe a lot less, though.

 

[Chomper Higgot 35,614]

1 hour ago, Don Chance said:

The western world is so spiritually dead they need drugs and alcohol just to mentally survive. You get a whole country drunk and stoned and nobody realized what is really wrong.

While only anecdotal, the places I’ve been that have banned alcohol aren’t very ‘spiritual’.

[mr mr 5,607]

1 hour ago, Don Chance said:

The western world is so spiritually dead they need drugs and alcohol just to mentally survive. You get a whole country drunk and stoned and nobody realized what is really wrong.

 

enjoying your morning coffee don ? 

[simple1 19,682]

24 minutes ago, Don Chance said:

If you look at a country like India there are not many alcoholics. Why? They have  spiritual, community and cultural life that keeps them occupied. Young people are not getting into drugs and alcohol. So that is something western countries need to learn.

 

If you believe India has minimal issues with illegal drugs and alcohol, think you're being overly romantic POV of Indian society. e.g.

 

Alcohol consumption is emerging as a major public health problem in India. 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7014857/

[Tug 21,442]

I’m for decriminalizeing cannibs as long as it’s treated the same as booze in the workplace and driving under the influence it certainly doesent merit draconian prison time 

[Jeffr2 8,003]

This is great news.  Time to end the war on this drug.  It just doesn't work.  Sadly, the reaper, Mitch McConnell, won't even take up this legislation.  He's in charge of the worst performing senate in decades.

[Hayduke 7,125]

1 hour ago, Don Chance said:

If you look at a country like India there are not many alcoholics. Why? They have  spiritual, community and cultural life that keeps them occupied.

 

There are not many of a lot of things in India....like toilets, for example. Not sure how spirituality makes up for that.

 

 

[DuiDui48 227]

2 hours ago, Don Chance said:

The western world is so spiritually dead they need drugs and alcohol just to mentally survive. You get a whole country drunk and stoned and nobody realized what is really wrong.

Agree 110 %...spiritually dead