The elephant in the room is named Biden. Even if this gets past the senate, is there any reason to think that the president would sign it? The bill sure isn't veto-proof.
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/biden-remains-opposed-to-mar...
U.S. Senate Democrats roll out draft bill to legalize weed
71–80 of 89 posts
Re: U.S. Senate Democrats roll out draft bill to legalize weed
#72I hope this means it can be purchased online and mailed easily. Right now municipalities have taken the opportunity to tax it overzealously, and we could use some competition on that front.
Do you not think that municipalities will still find a way to collect that? Remember the fight over state sales tax w/internet purchases a few years ago?
Either way more competition is good, and competition doesn't have to be across state lines. Right now it is possible to drive over to the next county with lower sales taxes/fees.
I can save $42.50 on my next iphone simply by buying it in the county where my job is, before I head home.
Re: U.S. Senate Democrats roll out draft bill to legalize weed
#73>>He added that marijuana use needs more research. I wish that we had this same attitude towards chemicals sprayed on crops where it seems to be everything is fine until proven to be harmful. Yet with weed it is harmful until proven safe. Also, I suspect there is plenty of research on the safety of weed edit: to all of those arguing that there may be/ are dangers to weed, I don't disagree. How about the fact that I c…
As someone who is extremely pro-legalization (and pro-decriminalization of all drugs) I still think this is perfectly reasonable. We know rough bounds on the safety of cannabis/THC (probably safer than tobacco and alcohol, probably not a good idea if you have a family history of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, or if you’re very young) but we don’t really know in depth what the long-term effects are like, for differ…
We do need more research, sure - but in the absence of such, the default stance should be permissive, not restrictive (in general, not just for cannabis).
Re: U.S. Senate Democrats roll out draft bill to legalize weed
#74Earlier quoted context omitted.
The brain is developing until around 25, so if anything, the age should be higher if the intent is to prevent unsafe use.
That would also then apply to other legal drugs, such as alcohol, no? Does alcohol not affect a developing brain in people under 25?
Yes, alcohol has an effect on developing brains as well, although the brain is less malleable as you approach that age. https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-24173194
Re: U.S. Senate Democrats roll out draft bill to legalize weed
#75I find it amusing that "weed" is on the same tier of drugs as Heroin, LSD, MDMA and it is an entire class above Cocaine, fentanyl, oxycodone [1]. Schedule I drugs — High abuse potential. — There is no accepted use for these drugs in medical practice. — They cannot be prescribed. — Drugs include heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and mescaline. Schedule II drugs — High potential for abuse and dependence. — Gene…
While we're at it, why is LSD in the same tier as heroin? It's far safer than that, or even cocaine, and it has therapeutic uses.
Re: U.S. Senate Democrats roll out draft bill to legalize weed
#76Why not leave this to the states to decide?
That's what this does: > States will control the possession, production, or distribution of cannabis, the draft says, while shipping marijuana into states that have not legalized it will be prohibited. As opposed to the status quo where in principle the federal government could decide to prosecute... shall we say "marijuana market participants"? in states where it is legal.
Well, not quite, since it still comes with a bunch of federal restrictions like that 10 oz limit. Letting the states decide would mean that feds get out of the game entirely on this.
Re: U.S. Senate Democrats roll out draft bill to legalize weed
#77> would expunge federal non-violent marijuana crimes, further medical research and allow cannabis companies access to essential financial services. Sounds like all good things but I dont see how this will make it through such a divided senate where obstructionism is the de-facto opposition strategy.
I think putting the opposition party on the record on this issue is part of the strategy because it is seen as broadly popular.
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Re: U.S. Senate Democrats roll out draft bill to legalize weed
#78Earlier quoted context omitted.
I don't disagree but I do think if we're talking about smoking something we do want to find out if it has any of the associated risks smoking tobacco does. There are similarities and differences and as far as I know not a good conclusion on that topic.
Putting any burnt solids in your lungs is almost certainly bad. However, this bill isn't about smoking, it's about possession and commercialization.
And you could certainly create a nuanced bill that understands that weed edibles don't share any risk of lung cancer with smoked weed.
Re: U.S. Senate Democrats roll out draft bill to legalize weed
#79Earlier quoted context omitted.
Voting, moving out, getting medical care, and marriage generally don't negatively impact your body and brain. Alcohol, weed, cigarettes, etc. all do some kind of damage to your body. If anything we should raise cigarettes to 21. And yes, even weed, especially smoking weed, does damage to your body, even if it's massively less than the other two I said. (And getting drafted... well that should just go away all togethe…
then coca cola and energy drinks like monster/red bull should be for 21 too?
Banning sugar and caffeine would be tough.
For sugar, what do you actually ban? Added sugar? There's plenty of sugar in fruits, especially when you juice them. How do you enforce this? Seems like a nightmare to figure out.
Caffeine is interesting. It's actually physically addictive. I can't find any studies on long term effects of caffeine in children, though.
And, of course, there's exactly 0 support to do any of that, which can't be ignored. Probably a better use of everyone's time to improve health education.
Re: U.S. Senate Democrats roll out draft bill to legalize weed
#80I find it amusing that "weed" is on the same tier of drugs as Heroin, LSD, MDMA and it is an entire class above Cocaine, fentanyl, oxycodone [1]. Schedule I drugs — High abuse potential. — There is no accepted use for these drugs in medical practice. — They cannot be prescribed. — Drugs include heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and mescaline. Schedule II drugs — High potential for abuse and dependence. — Gene…
It's because of a broken feedback mechanism. Officially, it has no therapeutic uses, which means medical research is not sanctioned. Without medical research you can't discover therapeutic uses. And when someone does do the research, that research is by definition unsanctioned, so it's not officially recognized. Catch-22.
The same reasoning means the original classification of "high abuse potential" is difficult to overturn as well.