Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-CA) and Congressman Justin Amash (R-MI) have reintroduced HR 4816: The Stop Civil Asset Forfeiture Funding for Marijuana Suppression Act.
The measure restricts civil asset forfeiture funds from being used for the Drug Enforcement Agency’s Domestic Cannabis Eradication / Suppression Program. The bill would prohibit the transfer of property that would be used for cannabis eradication from a federal or state/local agency and ensures precious federal resources are not wasted on marijuana eradication.
With the Justice Department having rescinded Obama-era directives limiting the federal government’s involvement in marijuana states, and with the future of the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer amendment uncertain, it is essential that elected officials address this measure and halt officials from taking civil actions against state-compliant operators who have never even been convicted of a crime.
Now that one in five Americans resides in a jurisdiction where the adult use of cannabis is legal under state statute, and the majority of citizens reside someplace where the medical use of cannabis is legally authorized, it’s more important than ever to defang the DEA.
Click here to send a message to your Representative to encourage them to support this bill.
Upon introduction, Rep. Lieu said:
“The Federal Government has a responsibility to spend taxpayer money wisely. Instead, AG Jeff Sessions would rather waste federal dollars by attacking marijuana, which has been legalized either for medical or recreational use in the majority of states in the U.S. The DEA’s Domestic Cannabis Eradication/Suppression Program is a waste of time and money and runs contrary to the will of the people.”
Upon introduction, Rep. Amash said:
Civil asset forfeiture is an unconstitutional practice whereby the government takes people’s property without due process. The DEA’s use of proceeds acquired through civil asset forfeiture to expand marijuana enforcement—a state-level issue—makes the already unacceptable practice even worse. I’m pleased to introduce the Stop Civil Asset Forfeiture Funding for Marijuana Suppression Act along with Rep. Lieu to end this program.
Rep. Lieu additionally included a message from NORML Political Director Justin Strekal in his announcement of the bill:
“Never in modern history has there existed greater public support for ending the nation’s nearly century-long experiment with marijuana prohibition. With eight states and the District of Columbia now having legalized its personal use and 30 states having legalized medical marijuana, it is time that the DEA cease interfering with state-legal programs and stop wasting taxpayer dollars that would be better directed at going after the pill-mills contributing to the nations opioid crisis.”
So many wonderful bills coming out! Great to hear! Let’s get it passed!
Sidenote: and hurry up, Vermont!
We (Vermont) did it!
Did Sessions and the Feds realize the extent of the backlash that would be unleashed when he released his statement wanting to go backwards?
Did the Feds do it to make the states react, on purpose?
They can’t allow legal weed and still go after Sanctuary Cities.
Right?
They have now unleashed a states rights monster. States rights is already a big trend. This is great for all of us. This will hopefully spur it on.
Let’s have a constitutional convention. Make the Feds balance the budget, AND, legalize weed.
A constitutional convention is legally superior to federal law.
@ John O.
No, we don’t want a stinking constitutional convention. That’s right wing nut job horseshit.
You lunatic. Go back to Russia.
Make the Feds balance the budget. Guess you didn’t hear–the GOP just added $1.4 Trillion to the deficit.
and it is a momentous occasion, whether they like to believe it or not. They shall see this soon enough:
http://www.wcax.com/content/news/Pot-bill-ready-for-governors-signature-469949623.html
Before all the negative naysayers cry “this will never pass” remember that before Democrats take Congress in November that they have to stand for something first. And standing against legal robbery? Thats something to vote for!
http://youtu.be/ePKhHLCW26M
https://www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/22047318/Washington_et_al_v_Sessions_et_al
Clicked and sent.
I also called the offices of two of my Reps this morning, Michelle Lujan Grisham and Ben Lujan, asking them to consider co-sponsoring some of the House bills currently in process, or at least to support them. They were:
HR 4779
HR 1227
HR 2020
HR 975
The office people for both Reps were polite and attentive. Lujan’s office person told me that he generally supports most MJ legislation. Both of course said they’d pass along my message.
Nice!
The American People do not want to live in a police state, under fascist rule, no matter what plans Trump and the Republican party have for us.
The masses of American people want marijuana to be decriminalized, so how about for a change the politicians listen and do what they deserve instead of chasing the pill pushing dollar. It’s time to stop arresting children and adults for marijuana, destroying families and taking American family’s savings to bake loved ones out of jail. Enough is enough.
To prevent America from becoming a fascist police state like Russia, you must vote!
You can verify your voter registration status at:
http://www.vote.org
You can register to vote there, too; or here:
http://norml.org/action-center/item/register-to-vote
asset forfeiture + jail sentence = unconstitutional double jeopardy
Petition to Jeff Sessions to stop his crusade against marijuana and state autonomy by the Democratic Attorney General’s Association:
https://petitions.signforgood.com/stopyourantimarijuanacrusade/
Once again… not because Jeff Sessions is going to stop his overeach until he is either indicted, voted out with Trump or both, but because when Democrats take Congress this year (which does mean replacing Pete Sessions) we have to show not just what we are against but what we stand for.
Julian, thanks for the link. Message duly sent.
ALERT: hide your stash and keep supplies low in dispensaries tonight:
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/government-shutdown-let-sessions-attack-medical-marijuana/
“Ending funding for marijuana supression” appears unlikely to happen until Republican Representative Pete Session is replaced by a Democratic in his Dallas district in November.
With all this pending bad news I thought this little link would cheer us up:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/chris-christie-reportedly-turned-away-054441746.html
Ol Chrispi Kreme tried to use VIP access at airport security now that he’s no longer Governor and was escorted by police back to the regular line.
While the new Democratic Governor of NJ announces he will legalize marijuana, Christi was denied special access to transportation like his own personal self-inflicted Bridgegate.
We’ll take small victories when we can. 🙂
I would’ve given anything to see the look on Krispy’s face when the guard told him to get in line with the little people. The article I read also mentioned that he will lose his personal govt-funded police guard sometime this year too. Color Krispy’s world blue.
If we don’t pay attention to the details, Bud, than White House Councels don’t have the balls to say “No, or I resign!” 🙂
Sessions USSR agent seeking US turmoil.
Why in the name of Magu cant’t we just get marijuana off the Schedule of federal controlled substances, this would be a sagacious and prudent move and eliminate so many of the problems and controversies. Being married to a Jeff Sessions clone it causes much marital discord for me if the law changed it would help my personal situation.