multiple bills introduced in Washington good news for MMJ proponents

from the NORML email update

Washington, DC: A bi-partisan coalition of United States House lawmakers have introduced multiple measures in Congress to reform federal marijuana laws.

House Bill 1983, The Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act, ensures that medical cannabis patients, caregivers, or third-party providers in states that have approved its use will no longer have to fear arrest or prosecution from federal law enforcement agencies. It states, "No provision of the Controlled Substances Act shall prohibit or otherwise restrict in a State in which marijuana may be prescribed or recommended by a physician for medical use under applicable State law."

Says the bill's primary sponsor, Rep Barney Frank (D-MA): "The time has come for the federal government to stop preempting states' medical marijuana laws. For the federal government to come in and supersede state law is a real mistake for those in pain for whom nothing else seems to work. This bill would block the federal prosecution of those patients who reside in those states that allow medical marijuana."

House Bill 1984, The Small Business Banking Improvement Act of 2011, provides that state-authorized medical marijuana businesses have full access to banking services by amending the federal Bank Secrecy Act. The measure is sponsored by Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO), who states: "When a small business, such as a medical marijuana dispensary, can't access basic banking services they either have to become cash-only -- and become targets of crime -- or they'll end up out-of-business. In states that have legalized medical marijuana, and for businesses that have been state-approved, it is simply wrong for the federal government to intrude and threaten banks that are involved in legal transactions."

Finally, House Bill 1985, The Small Business Tax Equity Act of 2011, amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a deduction for expenses in connection with the trade or business of selling medical cannabis pursuant to state law. Says the bill's lead sponsor, Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA): "Our tax code undercuts legal medical marijuana dispensaries by preventing them from taking all the deductions allowed for other small businesses. While unfair to these small business owners, the tax code also punishes the patients who rely on them for safe and reliable access to medical marijuana prescribed by a doctor. The Small Business Tax Equity Act would correct these shortcomings."

In May, Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), a co-sponsor of both H.R. 1984 and H.R. 1985, also reintroduced H.R. 1831, The Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2011, which would exclude low potency varieties of marijuana from the federal Controlled Substances Act. The measure has 25 Congressional co-sponsors and is presently before the both the House Judiciary and the Energy and Commerce Committees.

So long as Republicans control the House, there will be no legislative progress on this issue.

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Originally Posted by HighPopalorum

So long as Republicans control the House, there will be no legislative progress on this issue.

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I would hope that party lines wouldn't define the issue. It seems that some of these protections and access to banking are something that those further right could get behind.

I would hope...

you can't effectively tax or monitor the finances of an entity that can't use a bank. I bet this will be supported by the R's. State's rights is (are) a Republican 'value'.

pot makes for strange politics. should be interesting.

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Originally Posted by copobo

I bet this will be supported by the R's.

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How much you wanna bet? :cool: Drug policy has never been an area where Republicans cleave to their states rights credo any more than they profess fiscal conservatism w/r/t the military and entitlements. Both are convenient fictions to be taken up and put aside as the political exigencies of the moment require.

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Originally Posted by HighPopalorum

So long as Republicans control the House, there will be no legislative progress on this issue.

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Paul is a Republican isn't he?

Of course, but not one who sets party policy or ever will.

You can read and track the progress of the bills with these links:

H.R.1983 -- States' Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act (Introduced in House - IH)

H.R.1984 -- Small Business Banking Improvement Act of 2011 (Introduced in House - IH)

H.R.1985 -- Small Business Tax Equity Act of 2011 (Introduced in House - IH)

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Originally Posted by HighPopalorum

Of course, but not one who sets party policy or ever will.

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"Ever" is a long time my friend. And there is another Paul behind this one. It doesn't matter if he sets party policy presently. If his views presage those of the republican party of the future, after he's long dead, thats the best I can hope for. And I do have some hope for that.

"Ever" is not a long time when the man in question is 75 years old. Rand Paul opposes legalization as well as medical marijuana, although he admits it should be left to the states. While I agree with most of Ron Paul's positions, I don't think Rand is cut from the same cloth. He certainly hasn't been a vocal supporter of drug reform, as his father, Polis and Barney Frank have.

Still, I share your hope that the party will move in a libertarian direction. I had hoped the TP would have this affect, but it hasn't happened.