Bernie talks marijuana

[pinebox]

This is something that other candidates are pretty much silent on. However, Bernie isn't.
http://www.rawstory.com/2015/09/bernie-sanders-vows-to-strike-down-absurd-federal-marijuana-money-laws/

“I support marijuana use for medical purposes,” Sanders continued, “and we’re exploring the pluses and minuses — of which there are both — of moving more aggressively on that issue.”

“Do you believe that it is the purview of the federal government to legislate the criminalization of marijuana?” Walker asked.

“What the federal government can do is say to the state of Colorado that if you choose to vote to legalize marijuana, we will allow you to do that without restrictions,” said Sanders.

“As I understand it,” he said, “in Colorado, people who run marijuana shops can’t put their money in banks, for example. That’s a violation of federal law. So I think there are things that the federal government can do that would make it easier for states that want to go in that direction to be able to do so.”

Being a Coloradoan, I have seen what legalization has done to my state. Sure, there are those who will always be against it but in reality, my state has clocked in more tax revenue from pot, $70 million last year alone, than it did from liquor. http://time.com/4037604/colorado-marijuana-tax-revenue/

I've never used the stuff in my life but when you have figures like this below, it would be nice to hear other candidates speak up about it but I highly doubt we will and we already know Hillary's position on legalization.

According to the Colorado Department of Revenue, the state has received nearly $70 million in tax revenue from marijuana from July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015, easily beating the nearly $42 million in taxes on alcohol. Colorado also has a unique tax structure that created a marijuana tax holiday as a result of the state raising too much in pot taxes. On September 16th, the state waived tax collection for one day for certain marijuana transactions.

[SonderWoman]

1. Hillary stated in 2014:

She's open to legalizing medical marijuana and would end federal raids on dispensaries.

[Bluenorthwest]

3. Of course when we talk about Colorado or Oregon or Washington or Alaska it's fully legalized, not

just medical but recreational as well and it is not future tense, it is a done deal. She's open to doing what we've already done, and that's not much to recommend her around here. What Bernie is saying is much more on point in terms of the reality on the ground outside in the Western part of the nation.

[pinebox]

6. She is?

I'm reading otherwise. http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/05/03/hillary-clinton-weighs-in-on-marijuana-and-you-may.aspx

"On recreational [use], you know, states are the laboratories of democracy. We have at least two states that are experimenting with that right now. I want to wait and see what the evidence is."

Hmmmm that doesn't sound so much in favor as it is as taking a wait & see approach.

"I don't think we've done enough research yet. Although I think for people who are in extreme medical conditions and have anecdotal evidence that it works, there should be availability under appropriate circumstances. But I do think we need more research, because we don't know how it interacts with other drugs. There's a lot we don't know."

That right there is a position that many Republicans take. Just sayin'. More research? It's been researched for decades.

[FSogol]

2. Other candidates have spoken up

Democratic presidential candidate Martin O’Malley touts his progressive cannabis law reform history in a press release announcing a marijuana legalization listening session in Denver, Colorado, this Thursday. The event will be held at the office of Vicente Sederberg, a law firm that has been instrumental in legalizing and regulating cannabis in Colorado. Could this be an early signal Governor O’Malley will call for a repeal to federal cannabis prohibition?

Governor O’Malley, who does have a good history on marijuana policy, could be sensing an opportunity to garner support among Democratic primary voters (who overwhelmingly support sensible federal marijuana laws) and increase his name recognition by being the first presidential mainstream candidate to clearly and unequivocally call for marijuana legalization, while Bernie Sanders and REDACTED being the closest to do so thus far.

(Redacted refers to a GOP shithead, not worth mentioning here.)
Whole article here
http://marijuanapolitics.com/presidential-candidate-governor-omalley-to-hold-cannabis-legalization-listening-session/

BTW, As Governor of Maryland, O'Malley decriminalized small amounts of marijuana and allowed for medical marijuana.

[Bluenorthwest]

4. And yet I read that Maryland is still in the process and patients should have access next year

http://www.baltimoresun.com/health/maryland-health/bs-hs-medical-marijuana-20150626-story.html

[FSogol]

5. Maybe because Governors are not dictators?

O'Malley couldn't run for reelection due to term limits. If the legislature takes it time creating rules and regulations, take it up with Hogan who has done little to push the point.