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[GK86]

Link.

In what advocates describe as an historic first, a trio of senators plan to unveil a federal medical marijuana bill Tuesday.

The bill, to be introduced by Senators Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), would end the federal ban on medical marijuana and implement a series of reforms long sought by advocates. They include downgrading its status with the Drug Enforcement Agency from Schedule 1 to Schedule 2, allowing doctors to recommend its use in some cases to veterans, expanding access to researchers and making it easier for banks to provide services to the industry.

The Compassionate Access, Research Expansion and Respect States (CARERS) Act would “allow patients, doctors and businesses in states that have already passed medical marijuana laws to participate in those programs without fear of federal prosecution,” according to a joint statement from the senators’ offices. The bill will also “make overdue reforms to ensure patients – including veterans receiving care from VA facilities in states with medical marijuana programs – access the care they need.”

The proposal will be unveiled at a 12:30 p.m. press conference on Tuesday, which will be streamed live here. Patients, their families and advocates will join the senators at the press conference.

The announcement was met with praise by advocates.

“This is a significant step forward when it comes to reforming marijuana laws at the federal level,” Dan Riffle, director of federal policies for the Marijuana Policy Project, said in a statement. “It’s long past time to end the federal ban,” said Michael Collins, policy manager for the Drug Policy Alliance, said in a statement. Both describe the introduction of the bill as a first for the Senate.

Advocates are riding a wave of success in recent years, with voters in four states — Alaska, Colorado, Oregon and Washington — approving the legalization of the drug for recreational use. The idea has made significant gains in public opinion as well. In December, Congress for the first time in roughly a decade of trying approved an amendment that bars the Justice Department from using its funds to prevent states from implementing their medical marijuana laws — a significant victory for proponents of the practice.

Potential Republican presidential candidates Rand, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) have all said they support states’ rights to legalize pot, though they themselves disagree with the policy.

In recent years, several national polls have found majority support for legalizing marijuana. Differences are typically highly split by age — the young tend to disproportionately support such policies.

Medical marijuana has been approved to varying degrees in 23 states and D.C.

 

[Crud]

DOIT PASS IT.

 

[Orbis Tabula]

Medical Marijuana Bill is a pretty unusual nickname. Who are these senators introducing him to?

"Nice to meet you! My name is William, but my friends, well they just call me Medical Marijuana Bill."

 

[Jarate]

 

[ponpo]

Marijuana is schedule 1? lol.

Though IIRC schedule 2 can't have renewable prescriptions so having a medical marijuana 'card' or whatever still sounds weird.

Fentanyl card / dispensaries pls.

 

[esms]

I wish we could skip straight to legalization, but I'll take this.

 

[Mix Master]

i think i now have glaucoma.

 

[The Llama]

I really don't see it passing, but its certainly interesting.

 

[FeenixRising]

Medical Marijuana Bill is a pretty unusual nickname. Who are these senators introducing him to?

"Nice to meet you! My name is William, but my friends, well they just call me Medical Marijuana Bill."

boo

 

[commedieu]

boo

+1

 

[Diablos]

Probably has a 1 in 3 chance of going anywhere in the Senate, and even if it did the House would not have anything to do with it.

Maybe in another 10 years.

 

[TheAbsolution]

This is a great step. Pass it.

 

[kris.]

Realistically speaking, if this were to pass, could I get a card for my ADHD? I dunno how this stuff works, but I have a friend who smokes daily because, as she says, it helps her a lot with controlling her ADHD and clearing her head and I've been keen on trying it but terrified of actually smoking cuz police and laws and stuff.

 

[Orbis Tabula]

boo

+1

I'll be here all week!

 

[antonz]

I am all for it. If they aren't going full legalization I want a proper system in place then. Stubbing your toe is not an excuse to get a medical marijuana card. System is too easily exploitable in states where it is in action.

California's entire system is a joke and they knew it and said don't worry we will fix it after it passes. Yeah sure.

 

[Acerac]

I'll be here all week!

I laughed, but I'm a sucker for bad puns.

 

[BreezyLimbo]

1 Repub and 2 Demos are introducing? It might have a chance!

 

[indigo-cyclops]

Pass it, then move on to bigger and better things. Full legalization. Let's finally do this.

 

[Emperor_Uriel]

A potential step in the right direction, but I won't get my hopes up.

 

[phanphare]

pass that shit to the left!

 

[Acorn]

Won't this be shut down hard by republicans? Gotta keep those private prisons happy.

 

[RumblingRosco]

1 Repub and 2 Demos are introducing? It might have a chance!

My thoughts as well. Seeing people from both parties initially supporting it gives me a little hope here.

Good work Rand Paul? Never thought I'd say that.

 

[toadsworth]

I just want to be able to smoke when I get home from work without fear of getting arrested or losing my job. Absolutely insane that this is a 'schedule 1 drug' while meth is schedule 2 and xanax schedule 4.

 

[NYCmetsfan]

1 Repub and 2 Demos are introducing? It might have a chance!

Have you been paying attention?

 

[SocksAndShoes]

Good work Rand Paul? Never thought I'd say that.

Even a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while.

 

[davepoobond]

Boehner isn't on THAT high horse.

 

[BreezyLimbo]

Have you been paying attention?

Of course!

 

[Davey Cakes]

I just want to be able to smoke when I get home from work without fear of getting arrested or losing my job. Absolutely insane that this is a 'schedule 1 drug' while meth is schedule 2 and xanax schedule 4.

The drug that's four times the strength of Vicodin is Schedule 2.

It's messed up.

Legal marijuana on the federal level needs to happen for many reasons. Medical marijuana is a start.

 

[Valnen]

Full legalization or nothing, please. There is no reason we shouldn't be able to just go buy some at the grocery store.

 

[Jackben]

Full legalization or nothing, please. There is no reason we shouldn't be able to just go buy some at the grocery store.

Baby steps, amigo. This would not even be happening if not for the legalization efforts in several individual states over the past 5 years.

 

[Ahasverus]

Spoiler

I'm going to Oregon anyway

 

[ShadowKingpin]

Keep up the momentum!!

 

[GK86]

Full legalization or nothing, please. There is no reason we shouldn't be able to just go buy some at the grocery store.

No way full legalization would go through even if they proposed a bill for it.

 

[AbsolutBro]

Full legalization or nothing, please. There is no reason we shouldn't be able to just go buy some at the grocery store.

Then you would get nothing.


This bill is mainly to remove the discrepancy where a state has legalized medical marijuana, but the federal ban remains in place. Removing the federal ban eliminates the issue of feds crashing into a state party.

I'm all for this, especially as it enjoys bipartisan support from the outset.

 

[wenis]

i think i now have glaucoma.

I have that night blindness.

 

[Anoregon]

Have you been paying attention?

Obama should come out as against it, that way he can guarantee 100% republican support.

 

[Thaedolus]

They include downgrading its status with the Drug Enforcement Agency from Schedule 1 to Schedule 2

Schedule 2 is still way too high. Schedule 1/2 drugs are essentially treated the same by the DEA, Schedule 1 drugs simply have "no known medical uses."

 

[IISANDERII]

 

[RBK]

If it passes:

 

[fawaz]

Do insurance companies pay for medical marijuana? Because I can see them putting a lot of money against this.

 

[O C]

Come on America, legalise this shit already! We don't have a change in hell of getting weed legalised in the UK, even though it should be due to financial benefits alone!

Lead the way so the UK will follow.

 

[GaimeGuy]

Realistically speaking, if this were to pass, could I get a card for my ADHD? I dunno how this stuff works, but I have a friend who smokes daily because, as she says, it helps her a lot with controlling her ADHD and clearing her head and I've been keen on trying it but terrified of actually smoking cuz police and laws and stuff.

Why is your friend self-medicating, and why are you trying to?

 

[hokahey]

Why is your friend self-medicating, and why are you trying to?

Why not? There's a reason people want this legal for medicinal purposes.

 

[apocalidiot]

Why is your friend self-medicating, and why are you trying to?

What the hell are you talking about?

 

[Crisco]

This is dumb, and basically maintains the current system where privileged individuals can smoke all the weed they want while the rest get jailed. Decriminalization at the federal level and let the individual states decide how "legal" they want to make it. That's the only thing that will ever work.

 

[Damaniel]

Marijuana is schedule 1? lol.

Though IIRC schedule 2 can't have renewable prescriptions so having a medical marijuana 'card' or whatever still sounds weird.

Fentanyl card / dispensaries pls.

Indeed it is - apparently, marijuana is just as dangerous as cocaine (oh wait, that's Schedule 2), or meth (Schedule 2 as well). It was put there for completely stupid reasons, and even if it's not fully legalized it should be pulled out of Schedule 1 and put somewhere more appropriate - probably Schedule 3 based on demonstrated medical utility.

1 Repub and 2 Demos are introducing? It might have a chance!

Rand Paul is the Republican signed on. He's more of a libertarian than a straight conservative Republican - he'll be skewered by his more socially conservative party members. I hate the guy, but the more allies in the push for legalization, the better. Medical is merely a stepping stone (it worked in Oregon and Washington), but we need full legalization so we can move on to dealing with bigger problems.

 

[fuzzyset]

I heard Obama wants to force me to vaccinate my kids with marijuana.

 

[Princess Carl]

I heard Obama wants to force me to vaccinate my kids with marijuana.

Tite

 

[majik13]

I am all for it. If they aren't going full legalization I want a proper system in place then. Stubbing your toe is not an excuse to get a medical marijuana card. System is too easily exploitable in states where it is in action.

California's entire system is a joke and they knew it and said don't worry we will fix it after it passes. Yeah sure.

You cant really abuse cannabis though, like you can we other legal substances. so its not like it's a big deal. I think its great to have better access and to know what you are buying than the alternative. It can improve well being for most people even if there isnt a significant medical need.

 

[JustenP88]

Realistically speaking, if this were to pass, could I get a card for my ADHD? I dunno how this stuff works, but I have a friend who smokes daily because, as she says, it helps her a lot with controlling her ADHD and clearing her head and I've been keen on trying it but terrified of actually smoking cuz police and laws and stuff.

I've got ADHD and it works alright for me at times when I'm not really doing anything. No way in hell I'd feel comfortable doing it at work though. It mellows me out quite a bit but wouldn't help me be productive.

The main reason I take it is because my ADD prescription makes it crazy hard to sleep and puts me on edge all day. Without the greenery, I'm lying in bed staring at the ceiling until 4AM. With it, I vape a bit a couple hours after work, I calm down (I'm no fun to be around on the Madderall), and I can fall asleep whenever the hell I want and wake up the next day feeling great. I started smoking almost nightly around 2 months ago and my quality of life has changed drastically.

I had insomnia problems pre-adderall, btw (it just amplifies the issue). I was an occasional smoker in late high school/college and it did wonders for my sleeping then too. Anyone who votes against this bill is a heartless piece of shit. There are millions out there with infinitely worse problems than mine who would benefit greatly from this relatively benign drug.