NORML News
NYT: NORML LTE published ‘A Case for Making Marijuana Legal, and Regulated’
Congrats to Paul Armentano for getting his LTE published in the NYT!
US Attorney General Calls To Cut Federal Mandatory Minimum Drug Sentences
Overcrowded prisons, racial disparities and social and economic burdens are some reasons US Attorney General Eric Holder called for changes in the Mandatory Minimum Drug Sentences that have landed hundreds of thousands of non violent drug users in jail. Read more about it here.
Current 2013 legislative session the busiest in recent memory.
Colleagues,
It is not hyperbole to state that the 2013 legislative session has been the busiest in recent memory for marijuana law reform legislation. Below is a brief summary of some of the more significant statewide reform bills that have: a) been enacted into law, b) are awaiting final passage from the Governor’s office, or c) are pending floor votes within the coming days.
A full summary of pending state and federal reform measures is available at: http://www.norml.org/act.
ENACTED LAWS:
Colorado - HB 1317, HB 1318 Summary: Establishes regulations regarding the commercial production and retail sales of cannabis to those over age 21; proposes excise tax and sales tax rates for commercial production and retail sales of cannabis; tax rates must be approved by voters Status: Both measures signed into law on May 28 http://blog.norml.org/2013/05/31/colorado-governor-signs-historic-measures-creating-legal-and-regulated-marijuana-market/
Kentucky - SB 50 Summary: Encourages state-sponsored hemp research; establishes regulations regarding the licensed… Continue reading
“Marijuana Finally Legalized” Should Be The Headline
Reprinted with permission by Caz Loth.
“Marijuana finally legalized,” is the headline that should be appearing on the front page of newspapers across the country instead of, “The biggest bust in the county,” or “$100K seized in pot bust.” One of the most diversely useful plants on the planet has been co-opted by governments to make money. That’s the simple explanation. Its one more lesson in control when free beings can be told how to self medicate by a power that is out mostly for its own good and often to the detriment of its citizens. How we have allowed a small group of individuals, police, lawyers, judges, correctional facilities and drug dealers to monopolize the benefits of this extremely valuable plant through prohibition is hard to understand.
No government should be able to regulate what plants the citizens of the planet use. All the plants on the planet were… Continue reading
Hamilton County TN Grand Jury Recommends Legalizing Pot
CHATTANOOGA, TN (WRCB) - Legalizing marijuana is always a hot topic and for the first time in history, national research shows the majority of people in favor of it.
The Hamilton County Grand Jury for the first quarter of the year just concluded. After hearing more than 600 cases, they submitted recommendations to Judge Rebecca Stern, that they think would improve the county’s criminal justice system.
That’s standard procedure, but there’s one recommendation that’s getting a lot of attention and it has to do with legalizing certain amounts of marijuana.
Tennessee is one of 26 states that makes no exception to marijuana; medical or recreational, it’s against the law.
“I don’t think it should be legalized because our people are acting foolish enough right about now, so just adding it to make it legal, everybody would be trying to get it then and we don’t need it,” Chattanooga resident Kathryn… Continue reading
NEW Web Documentary - Drug War & Mass Incarceration
Sent to us from Allen St. Pierre at NORML.
One of our country’s most pressing social issues is one that is often overlooked. Michelle Alexander’s best-selling book, The New Jim Crow, reveals the hidden effects of the war on drugs and issues surrounding mass incarceration. The book has become the leading voice on these problems and has invigorated a community of activists across the country.
The latest episode of BOOKD explores The New Jim Crow and features a range of luminary voices on the book including rapper and activist Talib Kweli, Asha Bandele of the Drug Policy Alliance, and others. “Our system of mass incarceration threatens to undermine everything we’ve worked for to get to this point in this country,” says Kwelib. “If you think of the whole 200 years that this nation’s been in existence, we’ve incarcerated more people in the last… Continue reading
State Lawmakers’ Advice on Promoting Medical Cannabis and Industrial Hemp in Tennessee.
The founder of Tennesseans for Medical Cannabis NOW, came to the NORMLTN monthly meeting inviting us to join a group meeting several TN legislators on Tuesday, March 5th, 2013 as part of Medical Cannabis and Industrial Hemp Advocacy Day.
Several NORMLTN members jumped at the opportunity and we learned as much as we shared during our 15-30 minute appointment with each legislator. What I learned, is it’s not that hard to make a face-to-face appointment with your representative, share info about medical marijuana (MMJ) and ask for advice on how to move the issue forward.
Some legislators were knowledgeable and also curious about laws and statistics from medical marijuana friendly states. Others were willing to hear our stories about extreme prison time for medical use and relief for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress and other medical disorders.
Most were willing to offer ideas for our cause but cautious about having… Continue reading
