Welcome to this week’s edition of the NORML legislative roundup!
At the federal level, aside from a few absurd comments by Attorney General Sessions and new cosponsors to HR 975 and HR 1227, things have been pretty quiet.
At the state level, it is quite a different story. We have continued to see a marked rise in the number of bills introduced pertaining to marijuana, crossing the 1,500 mark. From hearings on marijuana legalization in Maryland to social clubs passing the Senate in Colorado to hemp passing the both chambers in the New Mexico statehouse, at every level we are making progress.
Below are the bills from around the country that we’ve tracked this week and as always, check http://norml.org/act for legislation pending in your state.
Don’t forget to sign up for our email list and we will keep you posted as these bills and more move through your home state legislature and at the federal level.
Thanks for all you do and keep fighting,
Justin
Priority Alerts
Federal
End Prohibition: Representatives Tom Garrett (R-VA) and Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) have introduced bipartisan legislation, HR 1227, to exclude marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act, thus leaving states the authority to regulate the plant how best they see fit.
The “Ending Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2017” eliminates federal criminal penalties for possessing and growing the plant. This legislation gives states the power and flexibility to establish their own marijuana policies free from federal interference.
Join The Caucus: With public support for reforming marijuana laws at an all time high, Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Jared Polis (D-CO), and Don Young (R-AK) have formed the first-ever Congressional Cannabis Caucus to develop and promote sensible cannabis policy reform and work to ease the tension between federal and state cannabis laws.
Click here to email your Member of Congress to urge them to join the newly formed Cannabis Caucus
Colorado
Colorado State Senator Bob Gardner and Representative Dan Pabon have introduced legislation that is headed to the Senate Business, Labor and Technology committee on Tuesday, March 1, 2017. SB 184: The Marijuana Membership Clubs and Public Use Bill, will provide Colorado municipalities with the regulatory framework needed to allow responsible adults the option to socially consume marijuana in a membership club away from the general public.
Last November, voters In California and Maine approved public marijuana consumption through Proposition 64 and Question 1, but haven’t settled on rules. This means Colorado could be first out of the gate with statewide regulations for pot clubs.
Update: SB 184 passed the full Senate on Thursday, March 9, by a vote of 25-10 and will now be sent to the House. Gov. Hickenlooper has promised to veto the bill if passed in its current version.
CO Resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of this effort.
Connecticut
Multiple pieces of legislation to legalize the adult use of marijuana and to regulate its commercial distribution is pending in both the state House and Senate.
Update: Lawmakers have scheduled a pair of hearings in March to debate these various legalization proposals. Members of the Public Health Committee heard testimony on Tuesday, March 7. Members of the Judiciary Committee will hear testimony on Wednesday, March 22.
CT Resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of this effort.
Kansas
Legislation is pending, House Bill 2152, to permit qualified patients access to marijuana or extracts containing CBD and low levels of THC.
The measure would permit patients with Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, multiple sclerosis, post-traumatic stress disorder or a condition causing seizures, including those characteristic of epilepsy, to possess marijuana or extracts containing no more than three percent THC. The measure also seeks to establish rules governing the state-licensed cultivation of low-THC marijuana strains and the preparation of products derived from such strains.
KS Resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of this effort.
Maryland
HB 1236 and it’s companion bill SB891 would amend the Maryland Constitution to ensure citizens have the right to possess, smoke, and cultivate marijuana.
The Amendment would also require the General Assembly to establish a regulatory structure for “the transfer of cannabis by purchase or sale.”
If enacted, the law would legalize the possession of up to two ounces and the cultivation of up to six plants.
Update: The House held a hearing about HB 1236 on March 3 at 1pm, and a hearing about SB 891 on March 2 at 1pm.
MD Resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of this effort.
Nevada
Senate legislation is pending, SB 236, to regulate the social use of cannabis.
The measure allows select businesses to apply for licensing to permit adult marijuana use on their premises. It would also allow event organizers to seek permits to allow adult use at specific events.
To date, private adult use of marijuana is permitted, but only in a private residence. Passage of SB 236 establishes a regulatory framework to permit adults the option to consume cannabis at specified public places or events.
NV Resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of this effort.
New Hampshire
Legislation is pending in the New Hampshire House, HB 215, to establish a commission to study the legalization, regulation, and taxation of marijuana.
Police in New Hampshire arrest some 2,900 individuals annually for simple marijuana possession offenses. The continued criminalization of adult marijuana use is out-of-step with the views of New Hampshire adults, 62 percent of whom now endorse legalizing and regulating cannabis, according to a 2016 WMUR Granite State Poll.
Update: HB 215 passed the House on Thursday, March 8 on a voice vote. It will now be referred to the Senate.
NH Resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of this effort.
Additionally, Multiple bills are pending before lawmakers to expand the pool of patients eligible to qualify for medical marijuana therapy.
In particular, these measures would permit patients with conditions like chronic pain and post-traumatic stress to obtain legal access to marijuana.
Update: Bills to add chronic pain (HB 157) and PTSD (HB 160) to the list of qualifying conditions for medical marijuana have passed the House. They will now be referred to the Senate.
NH Resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of this effort.
New Mexico
Legislation is pending, Senate Bill 258, to reduce penalties for minor marijuana possession offenses.
The measure eliminates criminal criminal penalties for the possession of up to one-half of one ounce of cannabis, reducing the offense to a $50 fine. Under present law, this offense is classified as a criminal misdemeanor punishable by up to 15 days in jail and criminal record.
Update: A Senate substitute version of SB 258 was passed 33 to 9 by members of the Senate. The amended version of the bill now awaits action by the House.
NM Resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of this effort.
Oregon
Legislation is pending in the Senate, SB 863, to limit the federal government from acquiring data regarding adults and patients who legally purchase marijuana under state law.
The emergency legislation, which would take immediate effect, mandates that retailers and dispensaries do not maintain customers’ purchase and/or personal identification records beyond 48 hours.
Sponsors of the bipartisan measure say the privacy protections are in response to recent statements by the Trump administration with regard to a possible enforcement crackdown in adult use marijuana states.
OR Resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of this effort.
Tennessee
Rep. Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby, and Sen. Steve Dickerson, R-Nashville, are sponsoring the legislature’s most concerted effort to legalize medical use of marijuana.
Under present law, the possession of any amount of marijuana is punishable by up to one year in jail and a $250 fine.
Update: SB 1119 and SB 673 were debated by members of the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 7.
TN Resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of this effort.
Texas
Legislation has been introduced for the 2017 legislative session to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.
House Bill 81, filed by Representative Joe Moody and cosponsored by Representative Jason Isaac, seeks to amend state law so that possessing up to one ounce of marijuana is a civil violation, punishable by a fine – no arrest, no jail, and no criminal record. Under current state law, first-time marijuana possession offenses are classified as a criminal misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $2,000.
Update: HB 81 is scheduled for a hearing on Monday, March 13. Starting at 8am if you happen to be in the state capitol in Austin you can get within the capitol steps Wi-Fi in order to register your support of HB 81.
TX Resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of this effort.
Vermont
Rep. Samuel Young has introduced H. 490 to regulate the commercial and retail marijuana market.
H. 490 establishes a regulated system whereby adults may legally obtain marijuana from state-licensed retail providers and sellers.
Statewide polling reports that a majority of Vermont voters support legalizing and regulating marijuana. According to a RAND Corporation study, regulating the commercial sale of cannabis in Vermont would generate $20 million to $75 million annually in new tax revenue.
VT Resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of this effort.
West Virginia
A coalition of Senate lawmakers have introduced legislation, SB 386, which seeks to establish the West Virginia Medical Cannabis Act — a state-sponsored program that will permit qualified patients to obtain medical cannabis from licensed dispensaries. A House version of the bill, HB 2677, is also pending.
Passage of the bill establishes a commission tasked with developing “policies, procedures, guidelines, and regulations to implement programs to make medical cannabis available to qualifying patients in a safe and effective manner.”
WV Resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of this effort.
Additional Actions To Take
Arkansas
House Bill 1580 imposes a special eight percent statewide tax upon medical marijuana sales. This tax would be in addition to the imposition of existing state and local taxes.
While NORML generally does not oppose the imposition of fair and reasonable sales taxes on the commercial sales of cannabis for recreational purposes, we do not support such excessive taxation on medical sales. Most other states that regulate medical cannabis sales do not impose such taxes and Arkansas patients should not be forced to pay these excessive costs.
AR Resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of this effort.
District of Columbia
Councilman David Grosso has re-introduced the Marijuana Legalization and Regulation Act. First introduced in 2014, DC voters overwhelmingly approved the ballot measure.
The bill will legalize marijuana use for adults over the age of 21 and will allow the city to tax and regulate a commercial market. Due to DC’s unique charter in Congress, however, this provision of the law was gutted in 2014.
DC Resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of this effort.
New Hampshire
House legislation is pending, HB 472, to permit qualified patients to cultivate their own medicine.
Under present law, qualified patients must purchase cannabis from one of a handful of state-licensed dispensaries.
House Bill 472 allows patients to cultivate up to two mature plants and up to 12 seedlings at one time.
Update: Members of the House of Representatives have passed HB 472. It now awaits action by the Senate.
NH Resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of this effort.
New Mexico
Governor Susana Martinez has vetoed House Bill 144, which sought to establish a hemp research program in compliance with provisions in the federal Farm Bill explicitly authorizing states to engage in licensed activity involving hemp absent federal reclassification of the plant. The Governor provided no public explanation for he veto.
A similar provision, Senate Bill 6, now awaits action from the Governor. Members of the House and Senate have previously passed the measure by votes of 58 to 8 and 37 to 2.
NM Resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of this effort.
Washington
Legislation is before lawmakers, House Bill 2064, to amend state law so that industrial hemp is not longer classified under the state’s uniform controlled substances act.
If passed, hemp plants will no longer be regulated as a controlled substance.
Update: HB 2064 has unanimously passed the House and awaits action in the Senate.
WA Resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of this effort.
Thank you again Justin for pulling all these links together. Taking Action and letting our legislators know how their voting constituents feel about the decisions they will make is the single most important thing we can do as members of NORML and as citizens of what’s left of our Democratic Republic. Everyone Act Now.
And thanks for quoting me on the wifi at the Texas state capitol; I myself am going to renew my driver’s license Monday so I can get close enough to register support for HB 81. There’s parking east of the capitol on San Jacinto. If someone else is driving there’s a spot even closer South East of the capitol. Make it a stoned-in-action lunch hour. If you are healthy enough to represent the people who need marijuana most, registering takes all of 5 minutes from your vehicle and back. We could seriously do this… decriminalize marijuana out of the House Committee in the state of Texas… on a stoned lunch hour.
If Governor Abbott wants to save face with the poison that put him in office more than children suffering from seizures then he will veto. Or he could just let the bill ride and not sign it at all… And perhaps even save his soul. Dan Patrick can rot in Hell. Visit your state Senator.
We can make big waves and clean a lot of dirty water with a single drop of disinfecting soap: But someone has to start the scrubin…
https://www.texastribune.org/2017/02/16/texas-lawmakers-disagree-houston-moves-decriminalize-marijuana/
And if your Congressman is Christian:
“‘Lord when did we see you hungry, or thirsty or sick, or naked or in prison and bring you food, clothing or medicine?’ And the Lord said, ‘Even what you did for the least of these, my brethren, you did it for Me.'”
-Mathew, 25-44
Texas:
The Senate version SB 269 needs our help to get out of committee:
Senate bill 269 has reached the Senate Health Committee. Contact Senate Health Committee Chairman Sen. Shwertner here:
http://action.mpp.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=20841
Senate Bill 170 to decriminalize marijuana in the State of Texas has also reached committee:
http://action.mpp.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=20838
Key points for Criminal Justice Committee Chairman Whitmire linked above:
1). This will create jobs by keeping productive nonviolent Texans in the workforce.
2). Allow law enforcement to focus on real crimes like rape and murder
3). Dont forget to mention SB 380 to eliminate asset forfeitures without due process:
http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/85R/billtext/html/SB00380I.htm
Imagine the federal monies that can be saved, by de-criminalizing marijuana.
Imagine the real medical possibilities, that have yet to be discovered by expanding the legal and insurance support?
Truly honorable, all the states. Frankly, prison-state New Mexico is a PROBLEM. Here is my email to Representative Clemente Sanchez, who also voted AGAINST marijuana reforms in the workplace.
Like I said nearly exactly one year ago, and like I say ONCE AGAIN this year, Mr. Sanchez, you CANNOT stop legalization forever. Last year we had four states, NOW we have EIGHT. Legalization of marijuana WILL COME to New Mexico, whether you, your morals, your governor, your prison wardens and sheriffs, like it or not. Marijuana IS coming, to New Mexico, to Grants, and to every city, and every state. You can claim morals all you want, that is your right, sir. But THIS TIME, legalization is not going away. Not even the Federal government can stop the FUTURE now. So go ahead. Vote NAY/NO again NEXT year. That is your right. But be it duly noted, we shalt not fail again. So, enjoy staying stuck in the past, New Mexico. While other states enjoy embracing a better FUTURE.
THANK YOU.
Anonymous, Michigan.
On track for full and total legalization of marijuana in 2018.
Let’s hope New Mexico comes on board for legalization. I am about to email the governor herself and also Hugh Hewitt, after reading a recent NORML post. Disgusting. However, my friends, it is comforting to see that Sesssions, in MY opinion, seems confused about how to address this situation, that of LEGALIZATION. We have come so far, that far. Stand strong, and let’s continue our fight for legalization! Shout out to my people at Northwest Ohio NORML. In the city I grew up in. M
Matt,
Nice action, friend. That was a great email to Sanchez, respectful yet firm. Motivates me to get a few emails off myself.
NORML editors,
Thanks once again for the convenient links. I’ve duly signed ’em.
“Oregon
Legislation is pending in the Senate, SB 863, to limit the federal government from acquiring data regarding adults and patients who legally purchase marijuana under state law.
The emergency legislation, which would take immediate effect, mandates that retailers and dispensaries do not maintain customers’ purchase and/or personal identification records beyond 48 hours.
Sponsors of the bipartisan measure say the privacy protections are in response to recent statements by the Trump administration with regard to a possible enforcement crackdown in adult use marijuana states.”
Awesome. We need more of this.
Very interesting progress in the capitol of Texas today. With SXSW underway it felt like I could have gotten to the capitol faster in a bycicle.
And for future reference, the link for instructions on registering our support for a bill in a Texas committee is:
https://www.mytxlegis.legis.state.tx.us/hwrspublic/about.aspx
The direct link once youre within wifi range outside the capitol is
http://hwrs.house.state.tx.us
It was a beautiful day to register support for HB81 to decriminalize marijuana in the great state of Texas and drive away to eat on some patio restaurant and wash it down with a cold beer… but I discovered that many of the tab buttons are not accessible from an i phone, like the “Finish” button.. I didnt bring a laptop so in order to support HB81 I had to find the House kiosk inside the labrynth of the capitol. Holy $#!+ that was not easy. I ended up lost in Rep. Eddie Lucio III’s office (D-Brownsville) and thanked him for Sponsoring HB 2107 to legalize medical marijuana in Texas. Then I got lost again and ended up in my state Senator Buckingham’s office urging her to support the Senate version of the MJ bill, SB269. This time I caught her in office, but as I greeted her, her staff member Chris intercepted us. (Its so hard to stay polite, but I had my kids with me, so…) She was standing right behind him when I asked for her “Dr’s opinion” of the peer reviewed evidence I submitted in support of SB269. Chris told me to “check updates on facebook,” to which I replied “I dont facebook. I book face to face. When is the Senator available?”
I’ll update here on the progress.
So it turns out the kiosks for House committee registration are right outside the hall for my Representative Jason Isaac’s office way downstairs in E2. On my way to thank Isaac for cosponsoring HB81, there were several members of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition there with KSAT 12, FOX 10 and another camera rolling interviews down the hall.
https://www.google.com/amp/www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Texas-Lawmakers-Consider-Decriminalizing-Marijuana-416043893.html%3Famp%3Dy
Houstons’ DA decriminalizing is igniting media attention around HB81 like Ive never seen before. I think we’ll pass committee.
I found out the reason why Rep. Isaac (R-Dripping Springs) is so supportive of marijuana reform: He met with voting constituents whose children have epilepsy that showed him marijuana works to stop their seizures. If there if there is any doubt that citizen lobbying works, there’s your answer.
Update on HB81 to decriminalize marijuana in the state of Texas:
After watching the hearing last night, only one DA out of Odessa opposed the bill, which fell under the attention of Vice Chair of the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee Todd Hunter who also happens to be the chair of the Calendar Committee who decides to see if State bills see a House floor vote:
http://gritsforbreakfast.blogspot.com/2017/03/path-cleared-for-reduced-pot-penalties.html?m=1
This is how decrim was killed in the House last time. But Hunter’s comments about how little opposition there was… no Sherriff’s Association, no city council, no neighborhood watch program… just one measely DA from Odessa?
This is the best chance of decrim of marijuana getting a House floor vote that Texas has ever seen.
I’ve been telling you guys that our teabagger queen, Susana Martinez, is a prohibitionist asshole. We won’t have freedom here in NM until her terrible reign is over (in less than 2 years). Just to remind everyone who’s forgotten, she was busted by the press engaging in drunken revelry with her entourage in some Santa Fe hotel about a year ago. She tried to throw her weight as governor around, but it backfired. Her administration has been riddled with corruption, and several members have already been forced to resign. As Drumpf would put it: “Sad.”
The relationship between alcohol and cannabis is more social than pharmaceutical; by which I mean, we live in an “alcoholic” society, with all the rationalizations and denials that accompany alcoholism, writ large across America.
We live in a society that views cannabis as “bad” even while celebrating alcohol — indeed, even drunkenness — as good, clean, wholesome fun.
I’m a recovering alcoholic. I quit drinking in 1991; but it’s taken me a lifetime to see the world “right side up”; to see the bias in our society that accepts the kinds of “drunken revelry” you speak of as normal behavior, if maybe only a bit excessive.
There’s the hypocrisy that we can all see; but harder to see, sometimes, is the social bias toward alcohol in our society that frames our perceptions in ways that we are not always aware of.
I accept the things you say about Martinez, and wouldn’t defend such corruption; she needs to go. But I only add that she herself may be a victim of our society’s alcoholic agenda.
I hope, for her sake personally, that she quits drinking and starts smoking pot — in her own best interest.
Just to toss out a case in point: You will probably remember the TV show “Cheers” (with real-life stoner activist Woody Harrelson! As an interesting aside note.) “Cheers” was a big hit in the 1980’s, I believe it was. I liked the show myself.
But consider the bias of a culture in which such a popular show is shown so widely, and watched in so many families’ homes, and accepted so uncritically as mainstream entertainment…
…and contrast that thought with the difficulties we are having now legalizing cannabis clubs — now, in 2017, in states like Colorado, where cannabis is legal for both “medical” and “recreational” use. This should be a non-issue, and yet it’s still on the fence. Why?
I suggest the underlying cause is our alcoholic culture which I spoke about earlier.
I did click the action tab for Denver cannabis clubs. Here is the maddening, non-responsive fluff I got back from Lois Court, regarding SB-184:
Thank you for contacting me, Mark.
As with all bills, I’ll consider information I get from experts, input from constituents
like you, what my colleagues have to say about this bill, and any amendments that might be added as it goes through the process. I’ll then make my decision based on the information I gather, and the final version of the bill.
Thanks again for sharing your thoughts – I appreciate it – Lois
Lois Court
State Senator
District 31
303 866-4861
Mark,
I feel for people who struggle with alcoholism–several people I’m close to have to contend with that very thing. I may have had to as well, but for the terrible headaches. My wife always said those headaches were a blessing in disguise.
Mark, many good points here. I actually don’t care whether or not Martinez drinks–I hate her hypocrisy.
The day after she was first elected Gov, 6 years ago, she proclaimed that Rec MJ would never be passed on her watch; she also made noises about going after MMJ!
When the Dems, who control this state, pushed back hard, she quickly retreated on the MMJ issue.
Like you, Mark, I am a former drinker. From ages 16 to about 35 I regularly went to the bars (at least on weekends). But it was headaches that cured me of that bad habit. I never realized back when I was drinking that I was probably allergic to booze, be it beer, wine, hard stuff. I just cursed the fact that my hangovers were always far worse than everyone else’s. Now I realize it was my body saying, “Sorry Bud, that drug’s not for you.”
But, thankfully, I still have pot. I like it’s effects ten times better anyway. So I don’t miss booze at all (except for the social aspect and taste–loved the taste of beer).
I too love the taste of beer but haven’t bought a 12-ouncer in 40 years. Rather risk ridicule rescuing an ounce or two from the garrrrbage.
.
How about we agitate for a miniplastic 2-ounce shirtpocket “airliner” bottle– tax free and/or other industry incentives– for (hempfortified) beer and wine just like they have for hard stuff? (Besides, there are interesting craft reuses for those little bottles. They’ll be nicknamed Armentanoes and Paul will get a $1.5-mil Knowitwell Prize to spend helping us ganjageeks!)
Alright Mexweed, settle down; Some of us are still trying to purge the image of you drinking leftover beer from out of the garbage since when you last posted that comment about a year ago. (You said “Garrrrrbage”. How bout “brrrrr… STOP!”)
For anyone who doesn’t regularly post here, Mexweed has some of the most genuinely inciteful perspectives on marijuana legalization I have ever read, and is an avid research-link to Big Tobacco and marijuana prohibition (thanks for the link between Big Tobacco and Sessions BTW). I may not understand all of the acronyms… generally…
…but for fucks sake Mexweed, youre scaring me! Drinking beer from the garbage?! Im worried youre one of the paranoid schitzophrenics posting here thats homeless with a pension plan and a smart phone!
🙂
(FYI, if youre homeless and schizophrenic you cant afford NOT to smoke weed!)
Ok, laughs aside, lets get clear on alcohol and marijuana: Weed moderates excessive alcohol consumption!
First, lets agree everyone’s metabolism and tolerance for everything is different. You may have missed that point, Mexweed; Evening Bud expressed that he is allergic to alcohol. (So sorry to hear that BTW. I didnt know that was possible, but then look at Gary Busey…) But thats fair enough; I almost linked a trial study of marijuana to a self-identified schizophrenic on this webpage before realizing the study specifically excluded schizophrenics. So we all make mistakes. 😉
But back to weed and alcohol… of which I both enjoy… yet one helps us make wise decisions and the other? Well… lets just say that we dont have to decide how were getting home before we start consuming marijuana. And consuming marijuana is a great way to sober up at the end of a great party! And life is all about choices, right?
@ Mexweed,
Now and then, when I get the urge badly, I’ll break down and drink a beer, usually with a salami sandwich or something. But the headache invariably comes–usually about halfway through the friggin’ bottle of beer!
Mark, a small addendum here, lol.
I didn’t actually go the bars at age 16!! I meant that I began drinking at that age. But I could grow a full mustache by my junior year in h.s., and was usually the one tasked with scoring the case of beer, as they didn’t check I.D. back then as they diligently do today. And I quickly figured out which bars or package liquors were better to walk into to score beer and which ones were better to drive up to. (My system usually worked, too.)
But honestly I don’t miss drinking. I could do pretty stupid shit now and then when sauced.
I do appreciate hearing your views on alcohol compared to herb. Thank you, and thanks to all who spoke on this. Good points all.
I think Mason Tvert nailed it politically with his SAFER organization, and then later with MPP: “Marijuana is safer than alcohol. Fact.”
That’s the fact our society needs to accept at this time. That’s where we’re at socially. The statement pretty much covers it, and it’s irrefutable.
I’m not “against” alcohol, by no means; I’m not a drug prohibitionist, and I have no wish to be a hypocrite. But alcohol can be dangerous to anybody, alcoholics and social drinkers alike — and for those around them. And for alcoholics of my type, as a result of our innate inability to control our drinking, we pose a particularly high risk to ourselves and others. For me, quitting was both the only possible solution, and yet seemingly impossible.
Weed could never have “made” me quit drinking; but once I did quit drinking, weed has been a real help, and a healer.
Robin Williams, himself an alcoholic, put it very well when he said, “Look, some people… just shouldn’t drink. And you know who you are!”
Hand goes up here.
Thank god for cannabis!
Julian,
Yes, allergies are a strange thing. I’m also allergic to Vitamin-E and Zinc. For years, I had nurses and even a doctor tell me that I couldn’t be allergic to a vitamin. I’ve noticed in recent years that they don’t say that to me anymore. My mom never could drink alcohol because of headaches, and one of my uncles, her brother, the same thing. I stubbornly drank for 20 years before the headaches became too bad.
But at least I can indulge in MJ, so it’s all good.
What I want to know….when is somebody going to stand up and ask sessions where he is getting his info, what does he have to back up what he says. These questions should be asked in public so everyone can see what an uninformed relic he is, while also reminding him about how many people alcohol kills… What medical use does alcohol have Jeff? Besides sterilization…. How come we haven’t heard this on a pie conference yet?
….. Press conference lol
What about Minnesota and their 3 bills?
[Paul Armentano responds: Action alerts for Minnesota’s legalization bills are online at: norml.org/act.]