2016 Will Be Marijuana's Big Year

[Robert Celt]

2015 was a pretty amazing year for the progress in the legalization of marijuana. Four states and the District of Columbia legalized recreational marijuana, many states decriminalized it and several more states approved of medical marijuana. But for all the advances made in 2015, the year was seen as a run up to 2016, where the presidential election is expected to ramp up the legalization landscape.

In Congress, there are expectations for a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the CARERS Act (S. 683 or H.R. 1538). This bill, sponsored by Cory Booker, Kirsten Gillibrand, Dean Heller and presidential candidate Rand Paul is a comprehensive medical marijuana piece of legislation. It would allow states to legalize medical marijuana without federal interference and reschedule marijuana to a schedule II drug. It would eliminate barriers to research and allow banks to work with marijuana companies. Chuck Grassley is the head of the committee and until he schedules a hearing, it is dead in the water. Many hope this year he will buckle under pressure and set up a hearing.

The Respect State Marijuana Laws or HR 140 is also on the hoped for hearings list. Mason Tvert, Director of Communications for Marijuana Policy Project said, "We expect support will continue to grow for both of those bills as well as for legislation regarding veterans' access to medical marijuana and banking for medical marijuana businesses."

Other pieces of marijuana legislation include Bernie Sanders bill, S. 2237, The "Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2015," Bernie Sanders bill S. 2237, The "Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2015" H.R. 667, The Veterans Equal Access Act, H.R. 262 The States Medical Marijuana Act Property Right Protection, H.R. 1013 & 1014 The Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol Act and Marijuana Tax Revenue Act of 2015, H.R. 1855 and S. 987 The Small Business Tax Equity Act and H.R. 2076 and S. 1726 The Marijuana Business Access to Banking Act. There's also the H.R. 3124 Clean Slate for Marijuana Offenses Act of 2015 and H.R. 3518 The Stop Civil Asset Forfeiture Funding for Marijuana Suppression Act.

Many states have initiatives for November that focus on legalizing or regulating marijuana for adult use. These include Nevada, Massachusetts, Arizona, Maine and California. Some states are trying to pull together legislation for the November ballots. They include Florida, Arkansas and Missouri.

Vermont's state attorney general thinks that legalization of recreational marijuana could pass in 2016 and the house speaker is supportive. Rhode Island is also a possibility for recreational legalization next year.

When it comes to medical marijuana, Pennsylvania is likely. The Senate passed a law, but the house is slow to come around, even though the governor supports it. Nebraska and Utah could potentially pass medical marijuana laws in 2016.

Illinois and New Hampshire are likely to pass decriminalization of possession laws in the new year.

News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: 2016 Will Be Marijuana's Big Year
Author: Debra Borchardt
Contact: Forbes
Photo Credit: Allison Shelley
Website: Forbes

 

[420 Warrior]

Brother Robert, I'm loving the sound of this...

I really think we need to write up some petitions for these bills and let them know these things are what the people really want to see happen.

 

[OlderGrower]

Shame on you Chuck Grassley, shame on you. For you who are not aware who Chuck Grassley is, he is a Republican Senator from the state of Iowa. If you live in Iowa I would suggest you get on the phone and call his office and ask his office why he is dragging his feet on this? I live in Oregon and will be contacting his office, though the threat of not being re-elected coming from someone from Oregon will not have near the impact as someone from his own state. His office's phone number in Washington DC is (202)- 224-3744. Please call and ask why he will not schedule a hearing. Also call (202)-224-5225 to speak directly to the committees office.

I suggest to everyone at 420 that these bills will not get through legislation by themselves. We need to push them along through constant pressure of phone calls and petitions letting our voices being heard. If you are not willing to speak up for yourself, why should anyone speak up for you. Sure it is easy for me to say make those calls, sign those petitions, I live in a state where it is both legal for Medical and recreational. But that being said, I could just as easily say, I got what I want, the rest of you are on your own. This type of thinking is what the opposition is hoping for. That if we legalize it in a few places, they, being all of us, will shut up and let the status quo continue. Well I beg to differ with the opposition, my being in a state where I have the legal right only makes me more motivated to get each and everyone of you the same rights as I enjoy.

I think it is safe to say that everyone who frequents the 420 site is supportive of legalizing MJ if for no other reason then Medical and many believe that it should be legalized for recreational as well. 2016 is a presidential election year and both parties are scrambling to get votes, and are going to be more receptive to our position because they believe they may sway our vote in their direction. Now is the time to strike, while the political winds are favorable. We need our voices heard loud and clear.

 

[420 Warrior]

Shame on you Chuck Grassley, shame on you. For you who are not aware who Chuck Grassley is, he is a Republican Senator from the state of Iowa. If you live in Iowa I would suggest you get on the phone and call his office and ask his office why he is dragging his feet on this? I live in Oregon and will be contacting his office, though the threat of not being re-elected coming from someone from Oregon will not have near the impact as someone from his own state. His office's phone number in Washington DC is (202)- 224-3744. Please call and ask why he will not schedule a hearing. Also call (202)-224-5225 to speak directly to the committees office.

I suggest to everyone at 420 that these bills will not get through legislation by themselves. We need to push them along through constant pressure of phone calls and petitions letting our voices being heard. If you are not willing to speak up for yourself, why should anyone speak up for you. Sure it is easy for me to say make those calls, sign those petitions, I live in a state where it is both legal for Medical and recreational. But that being said, I could just as easily say, I got what I want, the rest of you are on your own. This type of thinking is what the opposition is hoping for. That if we legalize it in a few places, they, being all of us, will shut up and let the status quo continue. Well I beg to differ with the opposition, my being in a state where I have the legal right only makes me more motivated to get each and everyone of you the same rights as I enjoy.

I think it is safe to say that everyone who frequents the 420 site is supportive of legalizing MJ if for no other reason then Medical and many believe that it should be legalized for recreational as well. 2016 is a presidential election year and both parties are scrambling to get votes, and are going to be more receptive to our position because they believe they may sway our vote in their direction. Now is the time to strike, while the political winds are favorable. We need our voices heard loud and clear.

Again, like with allot of things you've said before brother, you took the words right out of my mouth and I couldn't have said it better myself.

 

[OlderGrower]

For the record, I called both numbers and got the typical run around, was told that if it was not on the official calendar that it was not under consideration and they did not know when or if ever it would be under consideration to be moved onto the calendar. They also asked me if I would like my concerns forwarded to Chuck Grassley and I said YES. Did this get anything accomplished? NO

But if there is one thing I have learned over the years it is this. "The squeaky wheel gets the grease"
If I am the only one to ever call they will ignore me as a kook, but if thousands call, they say, I hear a squeak.

Lets make our voices heard!

 

[Robert Celt]

Well said OG I live in a different country so my voice will do little to help, but for those of you living in states that are still dragging their heels, or are actively opposing legalization, follow OG's lead and make yourself heard

Legalization is in the fore front of political conversation in many countries, with enough voices (and votes) we can turn this into a landslide and force the politicians to listen.

Look what happened here in Canada this fall. The previous totalitarian Conservative government ignored the people on this issue and many others. When election time came, they were ousted in favor of the Justin Trudeau's Liberals who swept the country in the polls and now we, here in Canada, have a strong chance of seeing "full" legalization in the not too distant future

RC

 

[Radogast]

Well said OG I live in a different country so my voice will do little to help, but for those of you living in states that are still dragging their heels, or are actively opposing legalization, follow OG's lead and make yourself heard

Legalization is in the fore front of political conversation in many countries, with enough voices (and votes) we can turn this into a landslide and force the politicians to listen.

Look what happened here in Canada this fall. The previous totalitarian Conservative government ignored the people on this issue and many others. When election time came, they were ousted in favor of the Justin Trudeau's Liberals who swept the country in the polls and now we, here in Canada, have a strong chance of seeing "full" legalization in the not too distant future

RC

I am so glad to see that small growers and 'dispensaries' have been able to fight back against the Canadian megamonopoly on cannabis growing and distribution. For awhile there, it looked like a civil war was brewing in BC (not that extreme - you are Canadians ! ) I'm rooting for the new Trudeau broom to sweep aside the bureaucratic, highly regulated approach and treat cannabis like huckleberries: free for everyone to grow, pick and consume.