Tag Archives: Would
Nevada Bill Would Protect Medical Marijuana Patients from Unscientific DUI Law
Last week, legislators in the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services heard compelling testimony on Assembly Bill 351. This modest and sensible bill would exempt Nevada’s medical marijuana patients from the state’s unscientific limit on how much THC they can have in their systems while driving.
For medical marijuana patients – who can legally consume marijuana – prohibiting small amounts of THC from showing up in blood tests is patently unfair. Active THC can remain in the bloodstream for days after consumption, even when it does not affect a person’s ability to drive. In effect, many medical marijuana patients are prohibited from driving because of this unfair law. Assemblyman William Horne aims to change this in his bill.
Assemblyman William Horne
Nevada’s patients should not be prohibited from driving simply because they benefit from the use of medical marijuana. DUI’s should be based on impairment – not whether drivers have a legal substance in their bloodstream.
If you are a Nevada resident, please send a message to members of the Senate committee and voice your support for this bill!
Proposals Would Legalize Marijuana in Ohio
As poll numbers show Ohioans are growing increasingly comfortable with the idea of marijuana use, a Youngstown Democrat wants to give people the chance to make the drug fully legal in Ohio.
Rep. Robert F. Hagan has made a few attempts over the years to persuade his colleagues to allow for the use of medical marijuana in Ohio, and each effort has died a quiet death. A spokesman for Speaker William G. Batchelder, R-Medina, declined to comment on the pair of proposals Hagan introduced yesterday.
One is a bill that would allow patients with certain chronic conditions such as cancer or sickle-cell anemia to use marijuana for treatment. Eighteen other states have approved similar measures.
“In addition to the studies that show marijuana to be a valuable treatment option for chronic pain, nausea and seizure disorders, I have heard countless stories of how cannabis has made a difference in the lives of people who are sick or dying,” Hagan said.
His other proposal, modeled after an amendment recently passed in Colorado, would ask voters to approve allowing people 21 or older to purchase and use marijuana. The drug could be sold only by state-licensed establishments and would be subject to a 15 percent excise tax.
“With billions upon billions spent on the war on drugs with little progress to show for it, it is time for more-sensible drug policy in this country,” Hagan said, arguing that the revenue could help restore cuts to education and local governments.
It takes a three-fifths vote for the legislature to put an issue on the ballot.
A recent Saperstein Associates poll of more than 1,000 Ohioans for The Dispatch found that legalizing medical marijuana was overwhelmingly favored, 63 percent to 37 percent, but making pot completely legal was opposed by a 21-point margin.
Martin D. Saperstein, head of the Columbus polling firm, noted that surveys in other states are finding growing acceptance of legalizing marijuana, especially if it would be regulated and taxed.
The Ohio Ballot Board last year approved language for two medical-marijuana issues, though neither appears likely to collect the 385,000 signatures needed to qualify for the November ballot. One group has reorganized, calling itself OhioRights.org, and plans to submit a new petition that will include legalized growing of hemp, a plant related to marijuana.
Source: Columbus Dispatch (OH)
Author: Jim Siegel, The Columbus Dispatch
Published: Friday May 3, 2013
Copyright: 2013 The Columbus Dispatch
Contact: letters@dispatch.com
Website: http://www.dispatch.com/
Cannabis News – Medical Marijuana, Hemp, Marijuana News, Cannabis
Puerto Rico bill would legalize up to an ounce for adults 21 and up
Things could get even lovelier on the little island of Puerto Rico. Last week, a bill was introduced at the Capitol that would legalize possession of an ounce of marijuana for adults 21 and up.
Sen. Miguel Pereira, who sponsors the bill, is a former federal prosecutor who says the war on marijuana is a win-less effort. He said that possession cases are wasting government money and said that as many as 80 percent of people in jail are there for nonviolent crimes.
Senate Bill 517 would simply remove the penalties for marijuana possession for up to an ounce. It does not allow for cultivation, or discuss any sort of regulated cannabis industry. In support, activist took to the streets on Saturday, marching through San Juan with banners, yelling for legalization support.
Not everyone is in support, though, and there seems to still be some dated ideas on cannabis in the Puerto Rico legislature. “It’s outrageous that someone who was elected by the people tries to use his position to cause addiction, sicken and destroy Puerto Rican society,” Sen. Itzamar Pena said to USA Today.
Police say that legalizing marijuana – even just small amounts for personal use – would only encourage violence on the island of about 3.7 million.
But other officials seem open to the idea. Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla says he doesn’t have a problem with open debate and that the idea has it’s merits. But he also added that it’s not a priority for him or his administration right now.
Puerto Rico isn’t the only Caribbean island considering easing up on the ganja penalties. According to USA Today, Jamaican officials are also reviewing their policies and have considered decriminalization of small amounts – a move that has support from several political and religious leaders.
Possession of any amount of cannabis is a felony charge in Puerto Rico with between two and five years in jail and up to a $ 5,000 fine. A second offense could net you up to 10 years for any amount an additional $ 5,000 fine. Paraphernalia possession – which the bill does not address – is also a felony punishable by up to five years and $ 5,000.
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New Darksiders owner would like to work with former devs
Nordic Games announced its purchase of the Darksiders license yesterday, but the publisher and distributor will not be developing the series, nor any of its other THQ acquisitions. Owner and CEO Lars Wingefors told Eurogamer he is already looking into external partners.
“We are not a developer,” Wingefors said. “We should not create a sequel [to Darksiders]. We need to find the best creative team to look into a sequel. We will look into various options to make sequels.”
The “best-suited [studio] in the world to make a sequel” is Crytek USA, Wingefors said, as it is staffed mostly by former Vigil Games developers. But both it and Nordic Games have their own priorities and agendas, so it’s too early to talk about potential arrangements there.
Crytek USA simply wished Nordic the best in a statement provided to Eurogamer, though some of its employees have posted hopeful messages on Nordic’s message board.
Either way, Nordic does not have THQ’s millions to throw around making a game like Darksiders II. But Wingefors thinks that shouldn’t be a roadblock.
“We have to find creative solutions to make a game of that size. I’m not worried. If you have a great product and an idea, I’m normally good at finding a solution to it.”
Bill Introduced To Congress Would Create A National Commission On Federal Marijuana Policy
Erik | Apr 19, 2013 | Comments 0
United States Representative Steve Cohen has introduced legislation in Congress that would create a federal commission to evaluate the current cannabis policies.
Congressman Cohen
Furthermore, the commission in question would search for ways to resolve the current conflict between federal laws that prohibit cannabis and states with laws that have legalized cannabis for medical or recreational dedications.
President Obama reportedly stated back in December of this year that there is a need for a discussion in Congress about how to reconcile state and federal cannabis laws. The time for that discussion is now.
“We have clearly reached a point where the American people want marijuana prohibition to end,” proclaims Steve Fox, national political director for the Marijuana Policy Project.
“It is no longer a question of whether the federal government should allow states to enact their own marijuana policies,” Fox declared. “Of course, it should. The question now is how to reconcile state and federal laws. This Commission bill proposes a study and a discussion that is long overdue.”
The legislation at hand would launch a National Commission on Federal Marijuana Policy which would “undertake a comprehensive review of the state and efficacy of current policies of the Federal Government toward marijuana in light of the growing number of States in which marijuana is legal for medicinal or personal use…”
The commission would be comprised of a total of 13 members: 5 members would be chosen via the president; 2 members would be appointed by the Speaker of the House; 2 more members would be selected by the House minority leader; another 2 appointed by the Senate majority leader; and the final 2 members would be hired by the Senate minority leader.
“Regardless of your views on marijuana, it’s important that we understand the impact of current federal policy and address the conflict with those state laws that allow for medicinal or personal use of marijuana,” avowed Congressman Cohen. “A national commission would provide us with the information we need to create sensible policy going forward.”
Stay tuned to The 420 Times for any updates concerning Congressman Cohen’s legislation and for all you cannabis community news.
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