Thread: Booker introduces bill to legalize marijuana nationwide

Booker introduces bill to legalize marijuana nationwide

By MATT FRIEDMAN
08/01/2017 10:22 AM EDT

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker is proposing a far-reaching bill that would both legalize marijuana at the federal level and encourage states to legalize it locally through incentives.

The New Jersey Democrat’s bill, called the Marijuana Justice Act, has virtually no chance of passage in the Republican-controlled Congress and in a presidential administration that’s decidedly anti-marijuana.

“You see these marijuana arrests happening so much in our country, targeting certain communities — poor communities, minority communities — targeting people with an illness,” Booker, the former mayor of Newark, said in a Facebook Live rollout of his legislation.

The bill would legalize marijuana at the federal level and withhold federal money for building jails and prisons, along with other funds, from states whose cannabis laws are shown to disproportionately incarcerate minorities.

Under the legislation, federal convictions for marijuana use and possession would be expunged and prisoners serving time for a marijuana offense would be entitled to a sentencing hearing.

Those “aggrieved” by a disproportionate arrest or imprisonment rate would be able to sue, according to the bill. And a Community Reinvestment Fund would be established to “reinvest in communities most affected by the war on drugs” for everything from re-entry programs to public libraries.

Eight states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana.

“They’re actually seeing positive things coming out of that experience. Now I believe the federal government should get out of the illegal marijuana business,” Booker said, adding that it “disturbs” him that Attorney General Jeff Sessions has signaled that the federal government may take a harder line on marijuana.

Booker's bill comes as New Jersey considers legalizing marijuana. Legislative leaders have expressed support for a bill introduced by Democratic state Sen. Nicholas Scuatri. Democratic gubernatorial nominee Phil Murphy — the heavy favorite to be elected governor — has said he would sign such a bill.

Gov. Chris Christie, who leaves office in January, has vowed to veto any marijuana legalization bill. The Republican governor also chairs a presidential commission on opioid addiction.

Marijuana legalization advocates were thrilled with Booker’s proposal.

“This is the single most far-reaching marijuana bill that’s ever been filed in either chamber of Congress,” Tom Angell, chairman of the group Marijuana Majority, said in a statement. "More than just getting the federal government out of the way so that states can legalize without [Drug Enforcement Administration] harassment, this new proposal goes even further by actually punishing states that have bad marijuana laws.

"Polls increasingly show growing majority voter support for legalization," he said. "So this is something that more senators should be signing onto right away."

http://www.politico.com/states/new-j...ization-113716

Marijuana Justice Act of 2017


Read it @ https://www.scribd.com/document/3552...ce-Act-of-2017

Zero chance of passage.

Hope it passes, I think it has a great chance, it should pass, long over-due. The War on Weed has caused far more harm that the Weed itself. Time to stop the craziness.

Originally Posted by Judy

Hope it passes, I think it has a great chance, it should pass, long over-due. The War on Weed has caused far more harm that the Weed itself. Time to stop the craziness.

I seriously doubt the bill even gets out of committee, much less to the floor for a vote. The Republican dominated U.S. House of Representatives will never support it.

Let me preface this - I (really/truly) have no first hand knowledge of marijuana. I have, however, talked to a lot of young and some older people about it.

There are some, like myself, who chill at the thought of drugs. I came reluctantly to the admission that maybe we should consider legalizing all drugs.

Most of them tell me, marijuana used sensibly, could go a long way to replacing a lot of expensive medications given for stress, depression, pain, etc.

Which of course, is the main reason it will never get passed.

There will be some who will abuse it, but think of all the prescription drug abuse and the effects it has had on our society, our economy, our families.

When I used to help a friend liquidate estates, almost always there would be bottles of medications, as many as a dozen they had been taking.

If the members of our Congress are true representatives of the American People, they will end the War on Weed and perhaps have some sensible regulations handled by the STATES. 2% of our population since 1913 when the first study was conducted have drug addiction issues, just as some have addiction to cigarettes, alcohol, sex, and other habits. Criminalizing this has never made sense to me. Regulating where appropriate has always made sense to me, but not to the extent that the laws or regulations create more crime, violence, addiction and so forth than the item regulated.

I'm like you, nntrixie, and have never tried or used any recreational drugs, but I have friends who have and some who still do, mostly weed, they work hard, make money, have families, raised great kids who went to college and got good and sometimes even great jobs, are wonderful people, and there is just no valid reason to treat them like criminals because of the misguided War on Drugs. I think all drugs should be legalized, regulated, taxed with the FairTax, and part of the taxes collected used to fund the regulation enforcement and provide free rehab on demand without stigma for anyone who wants or needs it. But because marijuana, the least harmful of all, is 70% of the drug business, I am thrilled to see at least an end to the War on Weed by the federal government, leaving the rest of it up to the States to manage and decide.

Republicans always known for the common sense solutions to big issues and problems need to get behind this bill and pass it with strong majority votes so the President will sign it and end this stupidity of the War on Weed that so far has only benefited foreign drug cartels while ruining and compromising the lives of millions and millions of Americans.

nntrixie wrote (excerpt):

There will be some who will abuse it, but think of all the prescription drug abuse and the effects it has had on our society, our economy, our families.

So you think legalizing heroin, marijuana, mescaline, LSD, ecstasy, and cocaine is going to somehow help society, our economy, and our families? Sorry, I'm not following your logic on this. If you think prescription drug abuse is a problem, can you even begin to imagine how legalizing schedule 1 drugs would exacerbate those problems? The negative impact to our society, economy, and families would be unfathomable.

Okay, the argument was worth debating when we were talking only about marijuana, however, now that it's been branched into legalizing all drugs ........ not a discussion worth having (IMO).

Originally Posted by MW

Okay, the argument was worth debating when we were talking only about marijuana, however, now that it's been branched into legalizing all drugs ........ not a discussion worth having (IMO).

Believe me, I do understand what you are saying.

OK, I'm open to some ideas.

Right now, illegal drugs are causing all manner of murder and mayhem and is costing the taxpayers tons and tons to money to fight this 'war on drugs'.

AND it's not working!!!

So what is the answer?

Also, the one thing we have to admit, the drug pusher in this country is not the big black guy driving a black SUV with lots of bling bling on, the kid on the corner with his pants around his behind, or the hispanic covered with tattoos,or the redneck pushing meth. These are just little cogs.

The drug profits go all the way up the food chain. The real pushers, who enable and benefit, are way up there, sitting in board rooms and making those laws that seem to get more and more 'tough', but in essence do nothing.

Even those who would never actively facilitate drugs are making money. Think about the banks. That money has to be 'cleaned' somewhere.

Think about it, drugs is quite possibly the most lucrative industry in the world. No way are the big guys not going to get in on that action. The best way to keep up the profits is to keep it illegal.

So what is the alternative - business as usual is devastating.

Will more people get hooked - chances are they will. Maybe, though less people, police as well as dealers will get killed.
Maybe less people will get killed, robbed or mugged for money to buy drugs. Maybe!!

Lots of people are being killed, lots of taxpayer dollars are being spent to make matters worse quite often.