Posted on 04/20/2018 9:12:02 AM PDT by NobleFree
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer introduced legislation Friday that would decriminalize marijuana at the federal level and establish “dedicated funding streams” for women and minority businesses to grow and distribute the drug.
“The time has come to decriminalize marijuana,” Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a statement. “My thinking, as well as the general population’s views on the issue has evolved, and so I believe there’s no better time than the present to get this done. It’s simply the right thing to do.”
Schumer’s legislation would maintain laws that prevent trafficking of marijuana across state lines in cases where the drug is legal in one state but not in a neighboring state.
How Your Small Business Can Take Advantage of Instagram Watch Full Screen to Skip Ads It would also call for dedicated funding for “highway safety research,” to “assess the pitfalls of driving under the influence of THC,” and to develop impairment testing for drugged drivers.
The bill would also call for funding research into the health effects of using marijuana as well as whether it is effective for treating medical ailments.
Schumer’s endorsement of marijuana follows Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s decision to bring up legislation that would legalize hemp, which is grown for industrial use and does not contain THC.
McConnell, R-Ky., plans a vote on the measure in the coming weeks.
Kentucky is one of the country’s top producers of hemp.
Also on Friday, D.C.’s nonvoting delegate, Democrat Eleanor Holmes Norton, said she will introduced a bill and file an amendment to the House fiscal year 2019 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill that would legalize use of medical marijuana in public housing, as long as medical marijuana is legal in the state. The bill would permit the use of medical marijuana in federally-assisted housing, including public housing and the Section 8 housing program.
Norton plans to speak at the third annual National Cannabis Festival in Washington on Saturday.
Norton pointed to polls showing 90 percent support for legalizing medical marijuana.
“Individuals living in federally funded public housing who are prescribed legal, medical marijuana should not fear eviction for simply treating their medical conditions,” Norton said. “Our legislation should attract bipartisan support because it also protects states’ rights.”
Hey upChuck: Don’t forget to remove marijuana use as a prohibiting factor to gun ownership.
Secure the border, stop the prescription pill machines, heroin and fentanyl problems. Pot has been almost 70% of the war on drugs justification. We could focus on the real issues while treating pot like they do in Alaska. We would all be better off and free our entire law enforcement system to go after real crimes.
I’m not sure it’s about creating a controversy although I wouldn’t put it past Schumer the putz. I think this is about energizing the base in a off year election to get more young (aka democrat) voters to the polls in order to possibly turn the election toward the dems. This is a last ditch effort at a backdoor impeachment plan.
So, who is going to enter a bill criminalizing anything chucky does?
Will his bill allow pot users to buy a gun?
That's the worst case scenario, but there are many lesser issues with recreational marijuana that are just as problematic for society.
Ask those in Colorado about it. Even the DEMOCRATIC Governor of that state has expressed regrets over its legalization there.
How smug.
I don't care if you're SUPER uptight or a complete pot-head:
That is NOT an argument.
Here's an upgrade:
"It's simply the right thing to do --this is 2018, after all..!!
The GOP needs to defuse that by voting for this pro-Tenth-Amendment bill (while amending out unconstitutional provisions like the funding for women and minorities in the pot biz).
...establish “dedicated funding streams” for women and minority businesses to grow and distribute the drug...
This is the feds subsidizing the pot business. Naturally, only women and minorities need apply. Sorry, Chuck, this is a real stinker.
If Chuck Schumer is in favor of it, you know it's got to be a stupid idea.
We need a bill to decriminalize lying to Congress... and to the American People while we are at it...
The CO polls I've seen showed continued support for legalization - and the guv's only beef was the challenges that came with being one of the FIRST states to legalize.
Noble Free and his fellow pot pushers think they are experts on the “Constitution.”
LOL
My family in Colorado share the same sentiment. All it did was drive up homeless population. Denver now has a much stronger police presence downtown in the strip to keep the potheads out. Noticed last month when I stayed down there.
If it doesn't promote future drug usage, then why is it spreading?
Notice the phrase ‘women and minority’..
It’s a vote-buying scheme.
It’s beyond debate that young people - minors - are increasing exposed to and are using pot since its legalization in Colorado, and the bleedover in neighboring states. DUI’s have gone through the roof, many of them involving accidents.
Noble Free and his fellow pot pushers think they are experts on the “Constitution.”
I notice you didn't answer the question. I'll bet I'm not the only one who noticed that.
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