Discussion: The REPUBLICAN Party XVII

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

House Republicans May Have Accidentally Legalized Weed in D.C.

In an effort to block Washington, D.C. from decriminalizing pot possession — a law it passed on its own back in March — House Republicans led by Maryland Rep. Andy Harris may have accidentally legalized it.

Congress, as you may recall, has the D.C. government under its thumb, and may intervene whenever it feels like if the district does something it doesn't approve of. In this case, the city made possession of up to an ounce of pot punishable only by a $25 fine, and Harris amended a spending bill to forbid the city from spending money to "enact or carry out any law, rule, or regulation to legalize or otherwise reduce penalties associated with the possession, use, or distribution [of marijuana and other drugs] for recreational use."

The hole in Harris's scheme, as laid out by the Washington Post, is that the pot law will likely go into effect sometime next month, before the bill and its Senate companion have a chance to be voted in. And if the Harris amendment does pass, D.C. will be left with a law that decriminalizes pot with no money behind it to fund going after defenders.

From the Post:

But the officials familiar with the matter said the amendment could prevent the police department from printing citations, prevent cops from writing and processing them, and prevent the city government from adjudicating them. The upshot is that there might be no penalty for minor marijuana possession, they said.

Pedro Ribeiro, a spokesman for D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray, took the opportunity to jab at Congress for sticking its fingers in district affairs: "This potential unintended consequence only underscores why Congress should not meddle in local D.C. laws."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...marijuana-possession-in-d-c/?tid=pm_local_pop

This is hilarious! Gotta love it when bureaucratic red tape does something cool

 

[SV Fan]

"This potential unintended consequence only underscores why Congress should not meddle in local D.C. laws."

I have to agree with this, I have no clue why Congress wastes it time trying to govern Washington DC. If you believe in getting Big Government out of people's lives how about making a bill that Washington makes it's own rules.

 

[Schlosser85]

That's hilarious. It's kind of scary how often satirical parodies of government and the real thing are completely indistinguishable.

 

[Kelly]

Well, Congress is off next week....so we at least have a week off from this "idiot congress"...of course the President could sign a few Executive Orders to screw up the whole week off thing...

 

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

GOP Candidate Convinced His Opponent Is a "Body Double or a Robot"

http://forums.superherohype.com/showpost.php?p=29158265&postcount=318

 

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

Mississippi Tea Party Leader Commits Suicide After Conspiracy Arrest

The Clarion-Ledger reports that Mark Mayfield, the Mississippi Tea Party leader recently arrested on conspiracy charges, has died from an apparent suicide. He was the vice chairman of the Mississippi Tea Party, and he actively campaigned against re-elected Sen. Thad Cochran. According to WAPT, he shot himself in the head.

Mayfield was arrested in May for conspiring with political activist Clayton Kelly and high school soccer coach Richard Sager to photograph Cochran's bedridden wife in her nursing home. The three allegedly planned to use the photo as part of an anti-Cochran video. Cochran has been accused by extreme conservatives at Redstate and elsewhere of abandoning his ailing wife for his younger assistant. The photo, presumably, was supposed to illustrate that claim.

Kelly, an aspiring political blogger, allegedly took the photo. Mayfield's role in the scandal was still being investigated at the time of his death. He was 57.

http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2014/06/27/mark-mayfield-dead/11456769/

Those are some pretty dirty political tricks

 

[wiegeabo]

 

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

If Medical Marijuana Is Legalized, You Can Thank The Tea Party

Politics makes strange bedfellows—except for the Tea Party, which doesn't sleep with anyone. The Conservative movement has defined itself by its "no compromise" approach toward politics. So, why did Tea Party members of Congress support Democrats on a key vote on medical marijuana?

A total of 49 Republicans joined Democrats in supporting legislation, co-sponsored by Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) and Sam Farr (D-CA), which prevents federal agents from stopping the implementation of state medical marijuana laws. Similar legislation has recently been introduced in the Senate, bringing this one step closer to becoming law.

Even longtime supporters of the legislation were surprised by the 219-189 vote in the House of Representatives. And, they were more surprised by the legislation's supporters. One would have expected moderate Republicans to have cast the deciding votes. Instead, most of the backers were GOP members of Congress who came from "deep red districts" that are the base of support for politicians like Sarah Palin and Michelle Bachmann.

John Hudak, an expert in governance studies at the Brookings Institution, explains what brought these political rivals together:

For liberals, the marijuana issue is about civil rights, criminal justice and access to healthcare, among other motivators. Many see government prohibition of marijuana as misguided as government's prior prohibition of alcohol. Conservatives see this issue as one of states' rights and a means of reducing the role of federal influence.

After spending years criticizing ObamaCare as government coming between a patient and her doctor, Republicans see prohibitions on medical marijuana as similar interference. Pushing the feds to take a hands-off approach is consistent with both liberal and Tea Party ideologies.

However, this is more than just a principled stand. Members of Congress see the writing on the wall. Public support for medical marijuana has never been higher. The Marijuana Policy Project has recently cited national polls from Fox News and CBS News that show that more than 80 percent of Americans support medical marijuana. The Marijuana Policy Project also cites state polls of support for medical cannabis from a diverse set of states including Idaho (61 percent), Kentucky (78 percent), Maryland (72 percent), New York (82 percent), Ohio (73 percent) and Texas (69 percent).

Public support like this gives many in Congress the political cover to assert their principles — on civil rights, on the 10th Amendment, on health care freedom, etc. And on at least one issue, that political cover makes bipartisan best friends out of liberals and the Tea Party.

http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/208492-bipartisanship-brought-to-you-by-the-tea-party

So this is the one issue that won't have to deal with the usual political gridlock. Very weird, I would never have guessed it

 

[Persistence]

I know quite a few Republicans at work who think marijuana should be decriminalized. I don't find it that shocking.

 

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

My dad is a staunch republican and I was surprised to hear he thinks medicinal marijuana is a-okay in his book which blew my mind considering all the talking to's I got for smoking when I was a teen. Historically the R's have been against marijuana ever since the War on Drugs days. But a lot of the hippies are older now too so that could have an impact

 

[Persistence]

Well, I'm sure most parents would discourage underage drinking even if its legal once you turn 21. Marijuana is a drug at the end of the day not as harmful as alcohol, but it still has some negative impacts that responsible parents want to isolate their kids from. I know many business-friendly, libertarian-type Republicans at work don't see the big deal about decriminalizing it and taxing it to some extent.

True, some Republicans support blue and sobriety laws, but its usually at the state or community level for which they can enforce it. Just because someone considers something a vice or undesirable activity doesn't mean they think the federal government should have a function in banning it.
Some of these type of 'sin' laws, especially at the federal level, were supported by liberals.
Lot of the supporters of the federal Prohibition movement were feminists/women suffragists.

Ultimately, a lot of the Rs who are against medical marijuana are neo-cons who have ties to the federal incarceration industry and military industrial complex, which have their own ulterior motives. It's a self-centered business move, not an enforcement of some moral agenda. Unfortunately, some neo-con Republicans have played on both sides of the "War on Drugs" and do profit off the supply and incarceration of drug use.

 

[summerteeth]

Well, I'm sure most parents would discourage underage drinking even if its legal once you turn 21. Marijuana is a drug at the end of the day not as harmful as alcohol, but it still has some negative impacts that responsible parents want to isolate their kids from. I know many business-friendly, libertarian-type Republicans at work don't see the big deal about decriminalizing it and taxing it to some extent.

While I agree with everything else you wrote and favor legalization. Marijuana should not be compared to alcohol, they are different drugs with different risks associated. While alcohol can be a very powerful drug, lead to alcoholism and lead to violence or drunk driving if it is enjoyed responsibly there really isn't a problem. You can enjoy a glass of beer or wine a day and be fine. Now if you smoke marijuana once a day on the other hand you can change how your brain develops. There's plenty wrong with marijuana.

http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2014/04/16/casual-marijuana-use-may-damage-your-brain/

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

While I agree with everything else you wrote and favor legalization. Marijuana should not be compared to alcohol, they are different drugs with different risks associated. While alcohol can be a very powerful drug, lead to alcoholism and lead to violence or drunk driving if it is enjoyed responsibly there really isn't a problem. You can enjoy a glass of beer or wine a day and be fine. Now if you smoke marijuana once a day on the other hand you can change how your brain develops. There's plenty wrong with marijuana.

http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2014/04/16/casual-marijuana-use-may-damage-your-brain/

Alcohol kills 40,000 people every year.

Cannabis causes brain abnormalities in people under the age of 25. But it's much safer than alcohol for the vast majority of adults (people over 25 years old).

There are hardly any good reasons people above the age of 25 should be allowed to drink alcohol but not smoke cannabis.

Then you have hundreds of medicinal uses, thousands of industrial uses and tens of billions of dollars wasted. Just to keep a natural plant outlawed that's safer than alcohol, cigarettes and prescription drugs.

It's ridiculous.

 

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

Co-signed

Anyone that thinks booze is safer than weed is sorely mistaken

 

[Kelly]

I don't necessarily think that that is a great reason as TO LEGALIZE IT.

It's almost like we are saying, hey alcohol kills 40,000 per year...but people high on weed driving in their cars won't kill near as many....so its not as bad.

Just not a strong argument IMO.

I, however, wouldn't necessarily care if we legalize marijuana....BUT, I think Washington State and Colorado will both tell you that they probably would have liked to have tied up a few loose ends as in "how much is too much?" when driving? Weight vs. amount in the system? etc.... I would say we would be smarter to decriminalize FIRST....which many states, including Texas oddly enough have been doing, and it is working to take care of the problems that many are saying are reasons why we should legalize.....taking care of prison overpopulation, keeping young men in urban areas out of prison, and hopefully working taking care of their families, etc. I just think we need to really tighten up some areas. I like a 25 age limit, that is a good place to start...

I have quite a few neighbors that smoke the stuff...they are good people, they chill at home, and seeing them on some weekends OH HELL NO, I don't want them driving a vehicle. AND I say the same thing for about twice as many people when it comes to alcohol. We have great facts on how it impacts the brain, etc...etc...etc...but the unknowns could mean lives. I'd rather take our time, and do it right.

 

[Thundercrack85]

It's not a particularly compelling argument in a conversation, but legally, it's pretty damn concrete.

Our current law is based on the notion that marijuana is a harmful substance which can hurt individuals, and the community. But the fact that there is a much more dangerous substance widely and legally available undermines the (legally dubious) existing laws.

These current laws came about thanks to a mixture of racism, corporate interests, greed, and ignorance. They are indefensible, at least, as long as alcohol remains a legal substance.

Of course, calling for the criminalization of alcohol is political suicide now.

 

[Thundercrack85]

It's sort of like outlawing crossbows, but keeping semiautomatic firearms legal.

That does not compute. They either both have to go, or neither.

 

[Kelly]

It's not a particularly compelling argument in a conversation, but legally, it's pretty damn concrete.

Our current law is based on the notion that marijuana is a harmful substance which can hurt individuals, and the community. But the fact that there is a much more dangerous substance widely and legally available undermines the (legally dubious) existing laws.

These current laws came about thanks to a mixture of racism, corporate interests, greed, and ignorance. They are indefensible, at least, as long as alcohol remains a legal substance.

Of course, calling for the criminalization of alcohol is political suicide now.

I think that there are some stronger arguments that will take it further is all I'm saying.

 

[Thundercrack85]

So far the main one seems to be "I like to get high, and don't want to go to jail".

Your mileage may vary on whether that's more compelling. Certainly seems to be more effective though.

 

[Marvolo]

So far the main one seems to be "I like to get high, and don't want to go to jail for consuming a plant.".

Your mileage may vary on whether that's more compelling. Certainly seems to be more effective though.

Fixed. At the end of the day that is the absurdity of it. Jail time for non violent people consuming a plant is nonsensical. No one should be put at risk of rape, assault, and death and held against their will for consuming a plant.

 

[Siby]

Actually consuming plants can be very harmful. Take Digitalis (Foxglove) for example can be harmful to a person if ingested. There are a lot of common plants like Azaleas, Ficus, Oleander, etc that are also harmful to people.

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

Actually consuming plants can be very harmful. Take Digitalis (Foxglove) for example can be harmful to a person if ingested. There are a lot of common plants like Azaleas, Ficus, Oleander, etc that are also harmful to people.

Yeah but cannabis is a non-toxic.

So maybe saying "it's ridiculous to lock people up for ingesting a non-toxic plant" would be more accurate.

Or better yet a non-toxic plant that treats diabetes, cancer, epilepsy, PTSD, neuropathic pain, AIDS, Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis, etc.

Cannabis is possibly one of the most useful natural substances on Earth once you consider the medicinal and industrial uses. Yet law enforcement treats it worse than alcohol and cigarettes which kill millions globally ever year.

It honestly boggles the mind...Bizarro world.

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

I know quite a few Republicans at work who think marijuana should be decriminalized. I don't find it that shocking.

Most conservatives think cannabis should remain illegal.

Most independents, moderates and liberals support legalization.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/majority-of-americans-now-support-legal-pot-poll-says/

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

I don't necessarily think that that is a great reason as TO LEGALIZE IT.

It's almost like we are saying, hey alcohol kills 40,000 per year...but people high on weed driving in their cars won't kill near as many....so its not as bad.

Just not a strong argument IMO.

.

Actually the "safer than alcohol" campaign was one of the most successful pushes for legalization in the United States.

As far as fatalities from driving, no one is advocating stoned driving be legal but it's been proven that in places where medical cannabis is legal traffic fatalities go down because people substitute alcohol for cannabis.


http://healthland.time.com/2011/12/02/why-medical-marijuana-laws-reduce-traffic-deaths/

Cannabis legalization also reduces suicides and violent crimes.

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/5044397

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown...-may-reduce-suicide-rates-traffic-fatalities/

 

[Kelly]

Actually the "safer than alcohol" campaign was one of the most successful pushes for legalization in the United States.

As far as fatalities from driving, no one is advocating stoned driving be legal but it's been proven that in places where medical cannabis is legal traffic fatalities go down because people substitute alcohol for cannabis.


http://healthland.time.com/2011/12/02/why-medical-marijuana-laws-reduce-traffic-deaths/

Cannabis legalization also reduces suicides and violent crimes.

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/5044397

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown...-may-reduce-suicide-rates-traffic-fatalities/

What is the data from that assumption on the campaign. What has worked in states like Texas, which are your harder states for marijuana legalization to take hold has been decriminalization. AND, I'm not asking to be argumenative, I would really like to see the data on that....

i totally understand that no one is advocating driving stoned...lol, I apologize if that was insinuated in my post. BTW, I'm am all for legalization, I just would like us to be smart in doing so.....SOMETHING we were NOT, when alcohol was legalized. Because of technology we have a MUCH BETTER CHANCE of getting it right with marijuana.

AND AS FAR AS MEDICAL MARIJUANA USE....legalize that nationwide now....I have no problem with that whatsoever.