Historic Medical Marijuana Bill Gains Momentum

The Compassionate Access, Research Expansion and Respect States (CARERS) Act, introduced by Reps. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) and Don Young (R-Alaska), is a House companion bill to identical Senate legislation from Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) introduced earlier this month. Each bill seeks to drastically reduce the federal government's ability to crack down on state-legal medical marijuana programs and aims to encourage more research into the plant.

Historic Medical Marijuana Bill Gains Momentum

So it looks like a bill is being sponsored in the house to mirror the similar bill in the Senate to downgrade marijuana's scheduling from schedule 1 to schedule 2. Things are finally starting to fall in place guys. I know that technically marijuana will remain illegal federally, but now many of the people using it as medicine don't have to fear federal prosecution for its use. The fact that now the House has gotten on board with similar legislation as the Senate is also big. Speaking about the Senate bill. It has gained two new bi-partisan sponsors.

The historic Senate version of the bill has also gained traction with two new sponsors since its introduction: Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.).

This House bill does 6 things outlined below.

Allow patients, doctors and businesses to participate in their states' medical marijuana programs without fear of being prosecuted by the federal government.

Reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous substance, moving it from Schedule I to Schedule II.

Give veterans easier access to medical marijuana.

Eliminate barriers to marijuana research.

Remove low-THC strains of marijuana from the controlled substances list.

Open up banking for marijuana businesses.

I personally don't care for the stuff, but there are certainly benefits to marijuana. It is time to quit fighting it and allow it to be legally sold and regulated. The US has spent millions trying to stop the use of marijuana and it only continues to grow. Time to admit defeat and move on to something that it truly harmful and worthy of their time.

I refuse to play their "medical marijuana" games.
It's either legal or this isn't freedom....THAT is that, PERIOD.

I won't abandon my position that unless it is COMPLETELY legal (besides for minors, obviously) and I can grow at home and do what I wish with my cannabis, I am not free.

Free the weed!

trying to control us, you parasitic bastards....and quit messing with my cannabis so you can profit from my buying the product. You don't deserve it. For YEARS these worthless goons have made BANK stuffing cannabis users in prison cells, and now they want me to buy the sh*t from them?

HELL no!

i still wonder if it will change prosecution from a misdemeanor to a felony.....

a reply to: bigfatfurrytexan

That is certainly a valid concern that I'd like the answer to myself.

a reply to: Jakal26

I agree my friend. I want legalize across the board too and won't stop until it is achieved, but I look at it as small steps. Politicians aren't prone to enacting sweeping changes to government all at once. Got to get what you can, then regroup and take more.

a reply to: bigfatfurrytexan

I am afraid that it will. I see someone who used to get a ticket now getting harsher treatment. I think that if this passes it will be treated like a prescription med without the script; which can have LARGE fines and jail times.

a reply to: Krazysh0t

More good news on that front. As much as I dislike it, the west takes it's cue's from the USA.

If they can push something through Congress and the Senate and get this done proper, then it will mean a lot of good things for us here in Canada as well.

~Tenth

a reply to: Martin75

Oh the flip side, keep in mind this is federal law we are talking about here. State authorities would still abide by state governances. Here in Maryland, marijuana is decriminalized and cops can't even search your car on the premise they smell weed. If you get caught with marijuana it is a fine. Those are the laws in Maryland; I imagine they won't change if this bill goes into effect.

What is likely going to change is federal prosecution, but if you end up on the wrong side of federal prosecution in a marijuana case, you are probably already a few steps beyond just a mere user. Though that doesn't mean we shouldn't keep an eye on how law enforcement interprets the new scheduling.

a reply to: Krazysh0t

This issue always bugs me because it comes under the heading of what I want to use personally and is not IMHO a governmental issue. I just wish they would govern big things not my personal sh-t.

a reply to: Krazysh0t

I know...and I agree.

I was just voicing a strong opinion for the sake of it. Tired of them playing games and attempting to make it all about them making money vs helping people who benefit from cannabis, that's all.

Small steps are better than no steps....we just have to make sure those small steps don't place people in a state of apathy where they say, "well, that's good enough, I can have my cannabis because the doc said so...they didn't give you a medical card, so I guess you're sol, sucks for you"....

I refuse to pay a doctor to give me "permission" to utilize this healing plant. The notion is simply ridiculous, imo.

i really believe until the US gets the UN on board with legalization of pot, we will never get it totally legal. decriminalize it but not legalize it for now, because too many people in power still believe that pot is as bad as heroin. or there masters don't want competition for hemp.

a reply to: Krazysh0t

This right here is my point....

"Oh, you got some weed...well then, it isn't criminal now...BUUUTTTT, you're going to have to go to court and pay a fine buddy...oh, and we are taking your medicine"...

....see how flippin' FREE you are now.

a reply to: cancerslug

because too many people in power still believe that pot is as bad as heroin

No they don't. Maybe a few of the fanatic types (generally religious types) but "they" (those with power) know the truth about cannabis and that is why it has been demonized.

We all know this truth...they know we know, now. It's no longer their little secret.
This plant is beneficial in so many ways I could write all day about it...but we all know.

There are many reasons "they" (those clinging to their "power") don't want it legal, but believing it is as bad as heroin or "bad" at all, is absolutely not one of them. .....my opinion.

a reply to: Jakal26

You're right it has nothing to do with what they think pot is.

It's all to do with the fact that many industries would fall over if MJ was legalized. The hemp industry would take over in a heartbeat.

That's why there's this prolonged, drawn our legislative battle going on, because big Business needs time to convert and set themselves up.

~Tenth

a reply to: Jakal26

Trust me, I am really holding out for Maryland to put legalization on the ballot for the 2016 elections. Doubly so because of DC legalizing it. Maryland tends to follow DC politics pretty closely. That's probably because Maryland has Baltimore which is also a primarily black city like DC and Baltimore politics usually become state politics.

a reply to: Krazysh0t

What's the best way to get the African American voting block during the 2016 elections?

Come out as pro legalization. Use that platform to discuss how disparaged minorities are with drug convictions etc. That kind of domestic policy would go a long way if explained properly.

If planned properly and executed well, we could see a huge change in the statistics for prison populations and an increase in stability for all minorities.

~Tenth

a reply to: Krazysh0t
That's actually a really good point I didn't think of. WV writes a ticket for less than an oz. I assume it will stay that way.

a reply to: cancerslug

I must admit to wondering how many of them use coc aine on the sly?

a reply to: tothetenthpower

That tactic has already been proven to work in DC. That is the platform that the pro-legalization people used to get DC to vote so overwhelmingly to legalize.