As Washington state begins to implement a historic marijuana legalization initiative, some members of Congress are drafting bills that would end the federal government's 75-year prohibition on pot.
Do you think the federal government should legalize recreational marijuana use? Why or why not? Tell us in the comments section.
The Associated Press reports that U.S. Reps. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon and Jared Polis of Colorado, both Democrats, are working on bills that would direct the federal government to regulate marijuana similar to the way it handles alcohol.
Blumenauer's bill would also establish a 50-percent federal tax on the first point of sale for marijuana and tax producers and importers $1,000 each year.
"You folks in Washington and my friends in Colorado really upset the apple cart," Blumenauer told the AP. "We're still arresting two-thirds of a million people for use of a substance that a majority feel should be legal. ... It's past time for us to step in and try to sort this stuff out."
Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Justice has largely remained silent on how it plans to respond to Washington's new marijuana law. Gov. Jay Inslee met last month with U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and said he was encouraged by the discussion.
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I spent 5 years in Federal Prison for a marijuana offense. The memorable day that I met with the parole panel, I asked, "When pot becomes legal, what will my 5 years spent in prison have meant?" Their response, "That is a very philosophical question. We don't deal with philosophy in this office." Case closed...go back to your cell. When the 5 years were gone, I walked out and never looked back. But, I know to this day, there are thousands of Americans still rotting in jail over a plant. I wrote about the escapades that led to my imprisonment...my book: Shoulda Robbed a Bank I would be honored by your review.
With all of the rhetoric surrounding the marijuana debate, the concept most overlooked: Freedom of the individual. “…over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign”.” — from the essay On Liberty by John Stuart Mill What happened to, "This is a FREE country"? That is what we have been telling the rest of the world for decades. Please, let us live up to it. Lead by example.
Over 500 of the nation’s top economic professors have shared their opinion in supporting the removal of prohibition and imposing the taxation and regulation of marijuana as a way to slow the federal deficit. Marijuana prohibition is costing America upwards of $20 billion annually. The hemp industry would not only create jobs, it would free up court time and jail space for real criminals among many other benefits. The list could go on. Sign the petition in the video description. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_tUy6fylQs
And I mean local city govts particularly. If we can make beer and wine at home, we should be able to grow weed
That may be one of the reasons 'moonshine' is still made today. I have had a few opportunities to try 'shine,'....and everytime it was very good. But, it's still not Jack Daniel's Old Number 7.
Oh, and apples are much better as a portable snack, but oranges make better juice.
FYI, no, I don't smoke pot, and I don't mind if you do. Christopher Plambeck
I also think these folks would be glad to pay taxes like any other small business, knowing that they would be treated like any other person that creates something of value. There are always going to be "Bootleggers", but how much have those guys hurt the alcohol business?