Nearly eight months after Washington voters passed a binding cannabis legalization initiative with an impressive 55% showing, the federal government is still yet to have made any definitive public statements as to what it is going to do regarding what is now such a clear conflict: between established federal laws and customs prohibiting any use, cultivation or sale of cannabis, for whatever reason–personal, medical and banning domestically-cultivated industrial hemp–and states whose citizens are leading the way at apparently dismantling a certainly failed 75-year-old federal prohibition against cannabis.
Frustrated by a lack of federal response and political leaderships seven members of the Washington’s congressional delegation have written a letter to the Obama Administration (specifically Attorney General Holder, who told Congress in public testimony months ago that the administration would have public statements “soon”) seeking guidance and clarity.
The members of the Senate and Congress who’ve signed the letter are both Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray, as well as Representatives Adam Smith, Jim McDermott, Suzan DelBene, Denny Heck and Derek Kilmer.
Apparent opponents of reform, Representatives Rick Larsen, Dave Reichert, Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Doc Hastings did not sign onto the letter.
In other news regarding Washington moving forward with their cannabis legalization efforts as directed by the voters, the soon to be renamed ‘WA Liquor and Cannabis Control Board’, held public hearing yesterday that can be viewed and watched here:
Pay attention Washingtonians, here are some people that should be voted out ASAP since they are against the will of the people:
Representatives Rick Larsen, Dave Reichert, Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Doc Hastings
Even if there is no answer forthcoming about the situation surely an explanation of what they are waiting for is needed. If the federal government is waiting to see what the precise detail of the regulations are they should still be offering advice on what they find acceptable.
Both sides (those for legalisation and those against) should be demanding an answer on this issue. The lack of a decision or guidance from the federal government should cause an outcry irrespective of your views on cannabis. I think this is even more serious than the human rights abuses done in the name of the drug war since it has no justification whatsoever. As @Judy says – teach them and all future governments a lesson by using your votes to express discontent.
We all need to ask our (representatives); what is going on??? I did and funny I have not received a response. U.S. war on CANNABIS has cost $1 trillion and hundreds of thousands of lives – and for what?
To: Representative
The Government has told you and I, that Marijuana is a “Schedule one” controlled substance. Substances in this schedule have no currently accepted medical use in the United States, a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision, and a high potential for abuse.
The government actually holds patents for the medical use of the plant.
Please peruse US Patent 6630507 titled “Cannabinoids as antioxidants and neuroprotectants” which is assigned to The United States of America, as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Source info is: http://www.patentstorm.us/search.html?q=6630507&s.x=12&s.y=16
I must ask; what is going on??? The U.S. war on Marijuana has cost $1 trillion and hundreds of thousands of lives – and for what?
Thank you.
Well….if Eric Holder said soon…..then dont count on the Obama administration to act favorably for Washington state….just because Barracki smoked (and knows its harmless),doesnt mean he’ll do whats right for Washington…or any other state….REMEMBER WHAT MICHELLE LEONHART said (and God knows the head of the DEA should know) marijuana is just as dangerous as heroin or cocaine…….hilarious!!! Is anyone gonna smoke less based on state OR federal law….hell no!!!!!! HILARIOUS!
Still laughing….did we ever find out where Barry was the night of Benghazi? Im guessing he was out behind the “white” House burning one!
We need to keep push going.
We have made strives, and gained, and now is the time to pour it on, and not back off.
We are making this happen!
Make your voice heard!
In my search for clarity, I discovered that the very nature of marijuana prohibition is documented in the bible. Behold:
Jesus Himslef bathed in marijuana. Kaneh-bosem was the holy anointing oil (Exodus 30:22-23)
Prohibition is predicted in the Bible: “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter matters times, some shall… speak LIES and HYPOCRISY… commanding to abstain from meats.” –(“meats”: meaning “every herb bearing seed”-Genesis1:29-31) –“which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth (Paul:1, Timothy 4:1-3)
“Behold, I have given you every herb-bearing seed which is upon the face of all the earth…. to you it will be for meat.”…. And God saw what he had made, and, behold, it was very good. (Genesis1:29-31)
Even the word “Christ’ is Greek derived from the Hebrew word Messiah, which translated to English means “anointed one.” The anointing oil Kaneh-Bosem contained 9 pounds of cannabi$ flowers, and 1 hind, (about 6.5 liters) of olive oil as well as other herbs and spices. (Exodus 30:22-23)
“The twelve apostles are sent out among their fellow men casting out demons and anointing the sick with the oil.” (Mark 6:13)
Our government can’t even provide a viable explanation for cannabis prohibition. The Christian Science Monitor is going around sponsoring the hypocrisy of incarcerating children. Read this scripture:
“Lord when did we see the sick or in prison and came unto thee? “And the King will answer and say unto them, “Verily I say unto you, in as much as ye have done it unto one or of the least of these my brethren, ye have done to me.” (Mathew 25:39-40)
Like Judy said, let’s be sure to vote out those bums: Rick Larsen, Dave Reichert, Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Doc Hastings. They all need to be put out to pasture, where they can enjoy their dry martinis.
PS–Larsen’s a Democrat; the other three Republicans.
Yes Julian, cannabis is for the people. Who needs cannabis mega-corps? To counterpoint that Diego Pellicer guy, and provide incentive for the Feds to lighten up on cannabis enforcement (sorry for the pun), the State of Washington could volunteer to create a law declaring that corporations are forbidden to grow cannabis.
This guy we call president really is not about change at all. They operate by doing nothing they wait and wait hoping people give up. Same as holder wait wait wait. Obama the boom king what a joke and disappointment pretty sad.
Commenting on Thursday, Alison Holcomb opined that perhaps the feds are waiting to see what the regulations look like and “how we’re going to do this responsibly [in WA state] before weighing it.” Perhaps the feds will show toleration if complying with state laws. But as to a federal legal challenge, she does not see this as likely now, reasoning the feds would have done so far sooner before states began implementation.
Keith Henson
Pierce County NOIRML
It bothers me that the states feel the need to ask the federal government for permission to proceed. The voters of Washington decided already. The federal government needs to accept that.
Who needs guidance or clarity from the Feds? The guidance and clarity have come from the sovereign voters – whose decision over rules the Washington bureaucracy. The message to D.C. should be: we are lining up our police to defend our laws, if you think you can take us, go ‘head on. F* the Feds and the horse they rode in on. Federal policy has been to lock up as many black people as possible. The message should be fighting words, not wormy pleas seeking tolerance. F* the DEA and the U.S. attorneys and the chicken headed dog they rode in on, too. What are these wormy state officials going to do if the Feds say, hey, we are going to challenge this? I say fight, take as many of them out as possible, we will come from all over the country to fight with you.