So then, Washington and Colorado in the West, and maybe next year ME/RI/VT?/MA? in the east....
Seems the rest of the country is about to get smoked out FROM BOTH SIDES.
Plant the seed, rock the need...
...
Lawmakers To Announce Introduction of Marijuana Legalization
Re: Lawmakers To Announce Introduction of Marijuana Legaliza
Thx NSFE, some excellent news...
So then, Washington and Colorado in the West, and maybe next year ME/RI/VT?/MA? in the east....
Seems the rest of the country is about to get smoked out FROM BOTH SIDES.
Plant the seed, rock the need...
...
So then, Washington and Colorado in the West, and maybe next year ME/RI/VT?/MA? in the east....
Seems the rest of the country is about to get smoked out FROM BOTH SIDES.
Plant the seed, rock the need...
...
-
Willjay
- Posts: 2573
- Joined: Fri 2nd Oct 2009 08:28 pm
- Location: The keystone state, in the land of prohibition
Re: Lawmakers To Announce Introduction of Marijuana Legaliza
can you say tax revenue
www.stopthedrugwar.org
www.mpp.org
www.drugpolicy.org
www.mpp.org
www.drugpolicy.org
Re: Lawmakers To Announce Introduction of Marijuana Legaliza
Amazing development. The feds do not have the resources or the nads to fight this on so many fronts. I love to see them squirm over this after so many years of lies racism and corruption related to cannabis
Re: Lawmakers To Announce Introduction of Marijuana Legaliza
Listen my peeps and you shall here....
... the tumbling of dominoes oh so near!
...
"Everybody Must Get Stoned" WORLD TOUR 2013
Amsterdam, Bangor, Barcelona, Denver, Providence, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver, and points in between... (the list is growing)
Sponsored by Uncle Ron's Oily Balls
... the tumbling of dominoes oh so near!
...
"Everybody Must Get Stoned" WORLD TOUR 2013
Amsterdam, Bangor, Barcelona, Denver, Providence, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver, and points in between... (the list is growing)
Sponsored by Uncle Ron's Oily Balls
-
Stanky Danky
- Posts: 973
- Joined: Fri 27th Nov 2009 08:59 am
- Location: YOUR MOTHERS PANTIES
Re: Lawmakers To Announce Introduction of Marijuana Legaliza
I did a speech in college back in 1998 about the benefits of taxing and regulating marijuana, it's nice to see the movement is gaining major momentum.
-
worldcitizen1723
- Posts: 1122
- Joined: Mon 1st Mar 2010 12:10 am
Re: Lawmakers To Announce Introduction of Marijuana Legaliza
Pot legalization puts U.S. bankers in a pickle
ST. LOUIS, Nov 8 (Thomson Reuters Accelus) - Colorado and Washington may have voted to legalize recreational marijuana, but it is far from a green light for banks to provide accounts or other services to the pot industry in those states.
Financial institutions across the country still face legal risks if they do business with marijuana shops because pot remains illegal under federal law.
"If financial institutions are federally licensed or insured, they must comply with federal regulations, and those regulations are clear about conducting financial transactions with money generated by the sale of narcotics," said Jim Dowling, a former Internal Revenue Service special agent who also acted as an anti-money laundering advisor to the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
The ballot measures on Tuesday made Colorado and Washington the first states to permit recreational marijuana sale and use. Medical-marijuana laws have been around in some states for more than a decade.
California was the first state to legalize medical marijuana in 1996. With the addition of Massachusetts, which passed a medical-marijuana ballot initiative on Tuesday, 18 states and the District of Columbia now have such laws on their books.
The medical marijuana business was worth $1.7 billion in 2011 and growing, according to a study by financial-analysis firm See Change Strategy.
The federal government does not recognize states' authority to legalize marijuana under any circumstances, however. It has targeted some medical-pot businesses for violations of the 40-year-old Controlled Substances Act, which classifies the drug a Schedule 1 narcotic, meaning it is considered addictive and with no medical value.
The Justice Department on Wednesday said its marijuana enforcement policies remained unchanged. "We are reviewing the ballot initiatives and have no additional comment at this time," its public statement said.
A Justice Department spokeswoman did not respond to a request for additional comment related to banking activity.
DEA WARNS BANKS
Under President Barack Obama, federal authorities have focused enforcement efforts on large commercial medical marijuana operations that generate a lot of money. In some cases, federal money-laundering and forfeiture laws have been used against such businesses.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began warning banks and credit card companies away from medical marijuana businesses four years ago, and many, if not all, have responded by closing the businesses' accounts. Even small regional banks that once publicly embraced the industry have abandoned it.
Some medical marijuana businesses pose as traditional medical clinics to open bank accounts, or clandestinely misuse existing personal or business accounts.
U.S. attorneys offices in states with medical marijuana laws have had a large degree of autonomy in determining when to bring criminal prosecutions for marijuana-related infractions of the Controlled Substances Act.
In 2010, Californians considered legalizing the recreational use of marijuana. While the measure ultimately failed, prior to the vote U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder vowed to aggressively prosecute "organizations that possess, manufacture or distribute marijuana for recreational use".
After Tuesday's votes, the Justice Department and individual U.S. attorneys offices will have to clarify their intentions with regard to enforcing the federal marijuana ban in Colorado and Washington, former federal enforcement officials said.
The recreational marijuana measures in both states will allow pot to be sold at state-licensed stores.
However, former Justice Department officials said that financial institutions, even those in Colorado and Washington State risk possible criminal or civil penalties for doing business with pot shops.
Once the states have begun their licensing processes, financial institutions may need to update their reviews on existing business customers by ensuring they are not on lists of state-licensed marijuana stores, the sources said.
ST. LOUIS, Nov 8 (Thomson Reuters Accelus) - Colorado and Washington may have voted to legalize recreational marijuana, but it is far from a green light for banks to provide accounts or other services to the pot industry in those states.
Financial institutions across the country still face legal risks if they do business with marijuana shops because pot remains illegal under federal law.
"If financial institutions are federally licensed or insured, they must comply with federal regulations, and those regulations are clear about conducting financial transactions with money generated by the sale of narcotics," said Jim Dowling, a former Internal Revenue Service special agent who also acted as an anti-money laundering advisor to the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
The ballot measures on Tuesday made Colorado and Washington the first states to permit recreational marijuana sale and use. Medical-marijuana laws have been around in some states for more than a decade.
California was the first state to legalize medical marijuana in 1996. With the addition of Massachusetts, which passed a medical-marijuana ballot initiative on Tuesday, 18 states and the District of Columbia now have such laws on their books.
The medical marijuana business was worth $1.7 billion in 2011 and growing, according to a study by financial-analysis firm See Change Strategy.
The federal government does not recognize states' authority to legalize marijuana under any circumstances, however. It has targeted some medical-pot businesses for violations of the 40-year-old Controlled Substances Act, which classifies the drug a Schedule 1 narcotic, meaning it is considered addictive and with no medical value.
The Justice Department on Wednesday said its marijuana enforcement policies remained unchanged. "We are reviewing the ballot initiatives and have no additional comment at this time," its public statement said.
A Justice Department spokeswoman did not respond to a request for additional comment related to banking activity.
DEA WARNS BANKS
Under President Barack Obama, federal authorities have focused enforcement efforts on large commercial medical marijuana operations that generate a lot of money. In some cases, federal money-laundering and forfeiture laws have been used against such businesses.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began warning banks and credit card companies away from medical marijuana businesses four years ago, and many, if not all, have responded by closing the businesses' accounts. Even small regional banks that once publicly embraced the industry have abandoned it.
Some medical marijuana businesses pose as traditional medical clinics to open bank accounts, or clandestinely misuse existing personal or business accounts.
U.S. attorneys offices in states with medical marijuana laws have had a large degree of autonomy in determining when to bring criminal prosecutions for marijuana-related infractions of the Controlled Substances Act.
In 2010, Californians considered legalizing the recreational use of marijuana. While the measure ultimately failed, prior to the vote U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder vowed to aggressively prosecute "organizations that possess, manufacture or distribute marijuana for recreational use".
After Tuesday's votes, the Justice Department and individual U.S. attorneys offices will have to clarify their intentions with regard to enforcing the federal marijuana ban in Colorado and Washington, former federal enforcement officials said.
The recreational marijuana measures in both states will allow pot to be sold at state-licensed stores.
However, former Justice Department officials said that financial institutions, even those in Colorado and Washington State risk possible criminal or civil penalties for doing business with pot shops.
Once the states have begun their licensing processes, financial institutions may need to update their reviews on existing business customers by ensuring they are not on lists of state-licensed marijuana stores, the sources said.
-
worldcitizen1723
- Posts: 1122
- Joined: Mon 1st Mar 2010 12:10 am
Re: Lawmakers To Announce Introduction of Marijuana Legaliza
Colorado attorney general casts doubt on taxes for legalized pot
Nov 8 (Reuters) - Colorado's Republican attorney general said the state cannot collect taxes of up to 15 percent on pot sales without further voter approval, casting doubt on how quickly a new state measure legalizing recreational marijuana can be implemented.
Colorado Attorney General John Suthers has said that he would implement a voter-approved constitutional amendment legalizing the recreational use of marijuana by adults, although he personally opposed it. But he said the language of the measure conflicts with the state's Taxpayer Bill of Rights.
Washington state and Colorado became the first in the nation to legalize recreational marijuana on Tuesday, putting both states on a possible collision course with the federal government, which says pot remains an illegal narcotic under U.S. law. A similar move to legalize pot in Oregon failed.
But in a blow to backers of Colorado's pot legalization measure, Suthers faulted the pro-pot campaign for telling voters the state would tax pot sales and raise up to $40 million a year for schools.
"In fact, Amendment 64 did not comply with required language under the Taxpayers Bill of Rights and no such tax will be imposed," Suthers said in a statement on Wednesday, citing a 1992 law that bars state officials from raising taxes without a vote of the people.
He said the state legislature would have to approve a tax of up to 15 percent on pot sales and then put that before voters.
The text of Colorado's amendment, which was approved by over 54 percent of state voters, said the legislature would have to impose a special tax of up to 15 percent on the drug.
But Suthers' office said the measure did not contain the precise language called for under the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, which specifies that voters must be asked "Shall ... taxes be increased" a certain amount of dollars per year.
PROPONENTS DO NOT EXPECT PROBLEMS
Both the measures in Washington state and Colorado would allow individuals to have up to an ounce of pot and call on state officials to create a system to regulate and tax cannabis, which would be sold to adults over age 21 at special stores.
Brian Vicente, co-director of the campaign team behind the measure, said he does not anticipate any problems.
"It's just unfathomable that the legislature would not act on this direct mandate from Colorado voters to tax marijuana sales," he said, adding that voters would approve the tax when it comes before them next year, in advance of the first recreational pot stores opening in the state in 2014.
"We would remind the governor as well as Attorney General Suthers that they work for the people of Colorado, not the federal government, so they need to respect the will of the voters," Vicente said.
Eric Brown, a spokesman for Colorado's Democratic Governor John Hickenlooper, said the governor would speak by phone on Friday with U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder about the measure.
Hickenlooper, who also personally opposed the amendment, has pledged to respect the will of the voters.
Colorado House of Representatives speaker designate Mark Ferrandino, a Democrat, said on Thursday the legislature in 2013 would "move forward on the regulatory structure" for pot.
In Washington state, newly elected Attorney General Bob Ferguson, a Democrat who had opposed legalization, said he would also work to uphold the state's new pot laws.
"When the time is appropriate, I will meet with my staff and reach out to interested parties, including federal authorities, to develop a plan to move forward and defend the will of the people," he said in a statement.
The U.S. Justice Department has said in a statement that it is studying the initiatives and had no further comment. Federal authorities have in the past conducted raids at medical marijuana dispensaries in several of the 18 states that allow pot as medicine.
Nov 8 (Reuters) - Colorado's Republican attorney general said the state cannot collect taxes of up to 15 percent on pot sales without further voter approval, casting doubt on how quickly a new state measure legalizing recreational marijuana can be implemented.
Colorado Attorney General John Suthers has said that he would implement a voter-approved constitutional amendment legalizing the recreational use of marijuana by adults, although he personally opposed it. But he said the language of the measure conflicts with the state's Taxpayer Bill of Rights.
Washington state and Colorado became the first in the nation to legalize recreational marijuana on Tuesday, putting both states on a possible collision course with the federal government, which says pot remains an illegal narcotic under U.S. law. A similar move to legalize pot in Oregon failed.
But in a blow to backers of Colorado's pot legalization measure, Suthers faulted the pro-pot campaign for telling voters the state would tax pot sales and raise up to $40 million a year for schools.
"In fact, Amendment 64 did not comply with required language under the Taxpayers Bill of Rights and no such tax will be imposed," Suthers said in a statement on Wednesday, citing a 1992 law that bars state officials from raising taxes without a vote of the people.
He said the state legislature would have to approve a tax of up to 15 percent on pot sales and then put that before voters.
The text of Colorado's amendment, which was approved by over 54 percent of state voters, said the legislature would have to impose a special tax of up to 15 percent on the drug.
But Suthers' office said the measure did not contain the precise language called for under the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, which specifies that voters must be asked "Shall ... taxes be increased" a certain amount of dollars per year.
PROPONENTS DO NOT EXPECT PROBLEMS
Both the measures in Washington state and Colorado would allow individuals to have up to an ounce of pot and call on state officials to create a system to regulate and tax cannabis, which would be sold to adults over age 21 at special stores.
Brian Vicente, co-director of the campaign team behind the measure, said he does not anticipate any problems.
"It's just unfathomable that the legislature would not act on this direct mandate from Colorado voters to tax marijuana sales," he said, adding that voters would approve the tax when it comes before them next year, in advance of the first recreational pot stores opening in the state in 2014.
"We would remind the governor as well as Attorney General Suthers that they work for the people of Colorado, not the federal government, so they need to respect the will of the voters," Vicente said.
Eric Brown, a spokesman for Colorado's Democratic Governor John Hickenlooper, said the governor would speak by phone on Friday with U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder about the measure.
Hickenlooper, who also personally opposed the amendment, has pledged to respect the will of the voters.
Colorado House of Representatives speaker designate Mark Ferrandino, a Democrat, said on Thursday the legislature in 2013 would "move forward on the regulatory structure" for pot.
In Washington state, newly elected Attorney General Bob Ferguson, a Democrat who had opposed legalization, said he would also work to uphold the state's new pot laws.
"When the time is appropriate, I will meet with my staff and reach out to interested parties, including federal authorities, to develop a plan to move forward and defend the will of the people," he said in a statement.
The U.S. Justice Department has said in a statement that it is studying the initiatives and had no further comment. Federal authorities have in the past conducted raids at medical marijuana dispensaries in several of the 18 states that allow pot as medicine.
-
john quays
- Posts: 37
- Joined: Mon 1st Dec 2008 08:08 pm
- Location: France
Re: Lawmakers To Announce Introduction of Marijuana Legaliza
Uncle Ron wrote:Thx NSFE, some excellent news...
So then, Washington and Colorado in the West, and maybe next year ME/RI/VT?/MA? in the east....
Seems the rest of the country is about to get smoked out FROM BOTH SIDES.
Plant the seed, rock the need...
...
Only the word 'maybe' in this post traduces your habitual cynicism...
keep rocking Uncle Ron and maybe meet you in the Netherlands some time soon... love your posts
next...
the things you do to get it done
-
redeyezman
- Posts: 1285
- Joined: Fri 25th Feb 2011 01:59 am
Re: Lawmakers To Announce Introduction of Marijuana Legaliza
Fuck the banks. Don't need em, when ya can trade a shiny coin, for a sparkling plant . The fact that banks cant participate makes it that more tempting IMO...
. The fact that banks cant participate makes it that more tempting IMO...Shells sink. Dreams float.
-
worldcitizen1723
- Posts: 1122
- Joined: Mon 1st Mar 2010 12:10 am
Re: Lawmakers To Announce Introduction of Marijuana Legaliza
redeyezman wrote:Fuck the banks. Don't need em, when ya can trade a shiny coin, for a sparkling plant
+2. : >
-
worldcitizen1723
- Posts: 1122
- Joined: Mon 1st Mar 2010 12:10 am
Re: Lawmakers To Announce Introduction of Marijuana Legaliza
A standing ovation!
-
Stanky Danky
- Posts: 973
- Joined: Fri 27th Nov 2009 08:59 am
- Location: YOUR MOTHERS PANTIES
Re: Lawmakers To Announce Introduction of Marijuana Legaliza
Add Montana to the list.
Marijuana Advocate Submits Legalization Proposal in Montana
Nov 24, 2012
by lucy
Legalization
Marijuana advocate Barb Trego has submitted a 2014 ballot question to the secretary of state to make the recreational use of marijuana a constitutional right in Montana.
The proposal is the same one Trego submitted for the 2012 ballot, but she failed to collect enough signatures of support to get the proposal onto the general election ballot. This time around she decided to submit the proposal as early as possible so that she can have a long time to collect signatures.
In order to qualify for the 2014 ballot, Trego will have to collect signatures from 10% of qualified voters in the state. For the 2012 election, that was 48,674 signatures.
Under her proposal, two lines regarding marijuana use would be added to the Montana state constitution. The added lines would read, “Adults have the right to responsibly purchase, consume, produce, and possess marijuana, subject to reasonable limitations, regulations, and taxation. Except for actions that endanger minors, children or public safety, no criminal offense or penalty of the state shall apply to such activities.”
Trego is encouraged by the passage of marijuana legalization in Colorado and Washington, but understands that Montana is a different ballgame. “Montana’s always been different, so I don’t know if they’ll help or not,” Trego explained. “I think people are going to be more interested this time with the way they’ve done the medical marijuana law and the way it doesn’t work for anybody.”
During the November election, Montana voters upheld new changes to the state’s medical marijuana law that, overall, made it more difficult for patients to access their medicine. The restrictions were put forth originally by Republican state senator Jeff Essmann.
Essman does not believe Montana voters will approve of marijuana legalization. “The negative reaction that I heard in my district and most legislators heard in their districts two years ago to the proliferation of the medical marijuana storefronts indicates I do not think Montanans are ready for legalization of recreational marijuana,” he explained.
Marijuana Advocate Submits Legalization Proposal in Montana
Nov 24, 2012
by lucy
Legalization
Marijuana advocate Barb Trego has submitted a 2014 ballot question to the secretary of state to make the recreational use of marijuana a constitutional right in Montana.
The proposal is the same one Trego submitted for the 2012 ballot, but she failed to collect enough signatures of support to get the proposal onto the general election ballot. This time around she decided to submit the proposal as early as possible so that she can have a long time to collect signatures.
In order to qualify for the 2014 ballot, Trego will have to collect signatures from 10% of qualified voters in the state. For the 2012 election, that was 48,674 signatures.
Under her proposal, two lines regarding marijuana use would be added to the Montana state constitution. The added lines would read, “Adults have the right to responsibly purchase, consume, produce, and possess marijuana, subject to reasonable limitations, regulations, and taxation. Except for actions that endanger minors, children or public safety, no criminal offense or penalty of the state shall apply to such activities.”
Trego is encouraged by the passage of marijuana legalization in Colorado and Washington, but understands that Montana is a different ballgame. “Montana’s always been different, so I don’t know if they’ll help or not,” Trego explained. “I think people are going to be more interested this time with the way they’ve done the medical marijuana law and the way it doesn’t work for anybody.”
During the November election, Montana voters upheld new changes to the state’s medical marijuana law that, overall, made it more difficult for patients to access their medicine. The restrictions were put forth originally by Republican state senator Jeff Essmann.
Essman does not believe Montana voters will approve of marijuana legalization. “The negative reaction that I heard in my district and most legislators heard in their districts two years ago to the proliferation of the medical marijuana storefronts indicates I do not think Montanans are ready for legalization of recreational marijuana,” he explained.
Re: Lawmakers To Announce Introduction of Marijuana Legaliza
I was just reading the article and thought to post it, but see you have.Stanky Danky wrote:Add Montana to the list.
Marijuana Advocate Submits Legalization Proposal in Montana
Nov 24, 2012
by lucy
Legalization
Marijuana advocate Barb Trego has submitted a 2014 ballot question to the secretary of state to make the recreational use of marijuana a constitutional right in Montana.
The proposal is the same one Trego submitted for the 2012 ballot, but she failed to collect enough signatures of support to get the proposal onto the general election ballot. This time around she decided to submit the proposal as early as possible so that she can have a long time to collect signatures.
In order to qualify for the 2014 ballot, Trego will have to collect signatures from 10% of qualified voters in the state. For the 2012 election, that was 48,674 signatures.
Under her proposal, two lines regarding marijuana use would be added to the Montana state constitution. The added lines would read, “Adults have the right to responsibly purchase, consume, produce, and possess marijuana, subject to reasonable limitations, regulations, and taxation. Except for actions that endanger minors, children or public safety, no criminal offense or penalty of the state shall apply to such activities.”
Trego is encouraged by the passage of marijuana legalization in Colorado and Washington, but understands that Montana is a different ballgame. “Montana’s always been different, so I don’t know if they’ll help or not,” Trego explained. “I think people are going to be more interested this time with the way they’ve done the medical marijuana law and the way it doesn’t work for anybody.”
During the November election, Montana voters upheld new changes to the state’s medical marijuana law that, overall, made it more difficult for patients to access their medicine. The restrictions were put forth originally by Republican state senator Jeff Essmann.
Essman does not believe Montana voters will approve of marijuana legalization. “The negative reaction that I heard in my district and most legislators heard in their districts two years ago to the proliferation of the medical marijuana storefronts indicates I do not think Montanans are ready for legalization of recreational marijuana,” he explained.
For what it's worth, here's the link... http://news.nuggetry.com/marijuana-lega ... n-montana/
...
Pssst, another domino...
-
spidergawd
- Posts: 4420
- Joined: Sun 11th May 2008 09:21 pm
- Location: The Mars Hotel
Re: Lawmakers To Announce Introduction of Marijuana Legaliza
Thanks for the link to that site UR, quite an interesting place. It does seem that the pot "industry" has become a steamroller and if they want to stop it they're are going to have a hard time; but,,,,,,and theres a few of those,,,,the repression "industry" wont roll over so easy.
I think the Obama administration have had time to create some space around themselves, it took the first term to do that, and now they will be able to can expend some political capital on this issue. I think also that in a way that hiatus has been a good thing because it has given time for these 2 ballots to be passed, thereby underlining that legalisation is not as unpopular a move as might have been thought previously. Blah blah blah!!!!....... but you get it dont you
Iphone apps Theres a lot of dollars to be made and you yanks are good at that.
And I take my hat off to the US marihuana activists who just keep on keeping on, for anyone involved this must seem like a light at the end of the tunnel this time and it aint just another train coming.
I think the Obama administration have had time to create some space around themselves, it took the first term to do that, and now they will be able to can expend some political capital on this issue. I think also that in a way that hiatus has been a good thing because it has given time for these 2 ballots to be passed, thereby underlining that legalisation is not as unpopular a move as might have been thought previously. Blah blah blah!!!!....... but you get it dont you
Iphone apps
Theres a lot of dollars to be made and you yanks are good at that.And I take my hat off to the US marihuana activists who just keep on keeping on, for anyone involved this must seem like a light at the end of the tunnel this time and it aint just another train coming.
What a long strange trip it is.