Bernie Sanders Backs Bill To Punish States With Bad Marijuana Laws

[Donkees]

APR 19, 2018 @ 08:47 AM

On Thursday, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is signing on as a cosponsor of the Marijuana Justice Act, introduced last year by Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ).

The Marijuana Justice Act, if passed, would not only remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act so that states could legalize without federal interference, but would also withhold funding from states that maintain criminalization and continue racially disproportionate arrest and incarceration rates for cannabis.

The legislation would also direct federal courts to expunge prior marijuana convictions and would allow people punished under disproportionately enforced cannabis laws to file civil lawsuits against those states.

During his run for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination, Sanders became the first major contender to endorse legalization. He also filed legislation in the 114th Congress that would have simply removed cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act.

Earlier this year, he launched an online petition calling on the federal government to "end its failed war on drugs."

https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomangell/2018/04/19/bernie-sanders-backs-bill-to-punish-states-with-bad-marijuana-laws/#2df67a7629d0

[NurseJackie]

1. Marijuana Justice Act was introduced LAST year by Sen. CORY BOOKER (D-NJ).

By the way... the Marijuana Justice Act was introduced LAST year by Sen. CORY BOOKER (D-NJ).

It's good to see the DEMOCRAT Cory Booker taking the lead on this. I wonder why it took Sanders so long to decide he wanted to sign-on.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

3. Maybe because Bernie had a buzz on and vegged out?!

[NurseJackie]

4. Ha!! :-D

[Qutzupalotl]

6. He also filed legislation in the 114th Congress

“He also filed legislation in the 114th Congress that would have simply removed cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act.”

[Jim Lane]

21. I wonder something different

You write: "I wonder why it took Sanders so long to decide he wanted to sign-on."

There are 47 Dems-with-a-D-after-their-names in the Democratic caucus. Of those, the official record at https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/1689/cosponsors shows that Booker is the sponsor, with Wyden and Gillibrand as cosponsors along with Bernie.

By my math, that leaves 44 Dems-with-a-D-after-their-names who have not signed on.

I wonder what's taking them so long -- even longer than Bernie, in fact. The people (disproportionately black) who are in prison on pot charges might even value action over party identification.

[NurseJackie]

24. I guess that's one way to try and put a positive spin on an absurdly written headline.

By my math, that leaves 44 Dems-with-a-D-after-their-names who have not signed on.

I guess that's one way to try and put a positive spin on an absurdly written headline. By anyone's math, his very tardy arrival is hardly justification for a headlines (and multiple posts) that boastfully attempt to portray him as a brave trailblazer.

By my math, that leaves 44 Dems-with-a-D-after-their-names who have not signed on.

Oh good lord!

Well, try not to fret too much over that. I promise that if any of them start to receive the same type of disproportionate praise (in spite of their tardiness and unwillingness to ACTUALLY take the lead) I'll criticize that as well.

I wonder what's taking them so long -- even longer than Bernie,

Uh-huh... I see what you're trying to do. I know exactly what this is about. It ain't working.

[GeorgeGist]

2. I think all states should have laws against ...

Bad Marijuana.

[Brogrizzly]

17. Here here!

[NCTraveler]

5. Booker is building his coalition and network.

Setting the stage to get things done when we regain control. Good to see Sanders supporting his legislation.

[NurseJackie]

8. It's always a good idea to follow people who have better ideas.

Cory Booker is a DEMOCRAT that I trust and admire. I like his demeanor. I could easily see him as our party's presidential nominee someday.




PS: He looks good in a suit and he has an adorable smile, too!

[NCTraveler]

10. I think Booker is a great voice for our party.

"PS: He looks good in a suit and he has an adorable smile, too!"

[Demsrule86]

31. I love Booker...he is great. Like to see him with say Sherrod Brown...don't care who is the nominee.

what a team.

[NCTraveler]

11. Here is the house version.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/4815

[Demsrule86]

32. I love Booker. He is wonderful.

I saw him on Rehab Addict...where he was working to revitalize Newark when he was mayor. He was passionate, adorable and a fierce advocate for the people. Ad yes he does look great in a suit.

[pandr32]

19. Too bad the thread title didn't say "Sanders backs Booker's bill..."

Cory Booker shouldn't be written off the header.

[progressoid]

7. +1

[Chakaconcarne]

12. And that is a bad thing?

[mac56]

14. See also: "The Way Things Work."

[askyagerz]

15. If others didnt follow someone else's lead

There sure would be a lot of single votes out there.

[Donkees]

13. Facebook LIVE: ''Honored @SenSanders joined my bill''

Link to tweet

[BoneyardDem]

18. Sanders look absolutley thrilled lol n/t

[Autumn]

16. He introduced the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2015

in the Senate on 11/04/2015.

Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2015

This bill amends the Controlled Substances Act to remove marijuana and tetrahydrocannabinols from the list of Schedule I (high abuse potential, no accepted medical use, and severe safety concerns) controlled substances. However, the bill prohibits shipping or transporting marijuana interstate or from any foreign country into a U.S. jurisdiction in which its possession, use, or sale is prohibited.

Additionally, the bill amends the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act to eliminate marijuana as a controlled substance under such Act.

[Exotica]

20. the less Bernie posts I see, the better I feel, all round

pro or anti

He is just too divisive to even care about at a direct personal level. He has some (not all) good ideas, but he is a horrid messenger. So many of his subalterns seem like pure disruptors and haters. I do NOT do cults of personality, no matter who it is, not even Obama and Hillary, let alone Bernie.

If Bernie helps to put Trump and the horrific Rethuglican Congress to the electoral and legislative sword, then all the best I wish. If not, he can sod off. Same thing I would say for and to anyone who is a serious candidate for our party (is Bernie even for us? not sure given his constant attacks).

I support Democrats, as the alternative is death and hate from most levels.

[JCanete]

22. that doesn't sound that accurate since you seem to care at a personal level, but this was not

a divisive action, and I applaud Booker for crafting legislation that is probably not the favorite of the pharmaceutical industry. This is one of those threads where we could...almost but not quite... have avoided that divisiveness so plaguing us apparently.

[Demsrule86]

23. Legally you can't punish states...Obama couldn't punish those who refused to expand

Medicaid and president Asshhole couldn't punish California over sanctuary cities...don't understand why this is even presented as it goes nowhere.

[Jim Lane]

25. Withholding federal funding may be on a different footing

When Congress wanted a national speed limit of 55 mph, the enforcement mechanism was that states refusing to impose such a limit would lose some or all of their federal highway funding. I think that was challenged in court and I think the states lost, but I'm not sure. When the issue is federal funding that aids law enforcement, withholding the funding from states that are (in Congress's view) misusing their law enforcement money doesn't seem wholly out of line.

The compulsory Medicaid expansion in the ACA required the states to spend some of their own money, which is why it was held unconstitutional on federalism grounds.

[Demsrule86]

30. As another poster noted, this won't pass because of the punitive nature of the bill.

I don't see the point. Although I am all for legalization.

[jberryhill]

26. Sure you can - it simply depends on context

Every state's drinking age is 21. Many used to be 18. Do you remember how that happened?

[Demsrule86]

28. They took away road money...that is different. But neither Pres. Obama nor Trump were

able to do this...they didn't fund road projects...not the same as fining or other punitive actions...this won't work and is a waste of time. I am all for legalizing weed.

[Abu Pepe]

27. The punishment part assures its non passage.

How about a clean rescheduling bill first ?

[Demsrule86]

29. That is true. I object to this and other bills put out there with no hope of passage-waste of time.

[Abu Pepe]

33. It is possible we could get a rescheduling bill to pass a GOP Congress

If its something a super majority of Dems support and that a substantial minority of Repubs do as well. Trump might even sign it just to fuck with Jeff Sessions. If you start telling states what to do on the other direction you lose all the GOP and a more than a few Dems.

Next year will be the time to tackle at racial disparities. When we have the votes.

[Demsrule86]

34. I do not believe legalization will happen at the federal level...it will happen in the states.

Congress is broken.