A ‘President Bernie Sanders’ could end the federal marijuana ban without Congress — here’s how

[UglyGreed]

The Democratic 2016 contender has urged an end to US opposition to the substance.

When Vermont senator Bernie Sanders called for an end to federal marijuana prohibition this week before an audience of college students, he went further than any major national presidential candidate before him.

“It’s the first time a presidential candidate has made such a forthright statement on legalization,” said Michael Collins, deputy director at Drug Policy Action. “[It’s a] a fairly big nail in the coffin of prohibition.”

But that’s not the only reason his declaration was significant. While many proposals from Sanders and other candidates may not actually come to fruition under any president because they rely on the cooperation of Congress, ending federal prohibition is something a President Sanders could achieve.

That’s because a process exists that requires only the executive branch of government.

http://www.rawstory.com/2015/11/a-president-bernie-sanders-could-end-the-federal-marijuana-ban-without-congress-heres-how/comments/#disqus

[Vincardog]

1. The President can reschedule marijuana with the strokeof his pen. Where is Obama?

[Fumesucker]

3. Still looking for those comfortable shoes evidently

[Autumn]

2. As could the current democratic president, with the stroke of his pen.

Kudos to Bernie for his wisdom. This is the right thing to do.

[Uncle Joe]

4. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, UglyGreed.

[beam me up scottie]

5. K & R

[postatomic]

6. Not exactly (from your link)

“In a nutshell, administrative rescheduling begins when an actor – the secretary of Health and Human Services or an outside interested party – files a petition with the attorney general or he initiates the process himself,” John Hudak, a Brookings Institute fellow in Governance Studies, and research assistant Grace Wallack wrote earlier this year.

After this petition has been filed, it is considered by the Food and Drug Administration, but could also be examined by the Drug Enforcement Administration. After receiving one or both reviews, the attorney general can recommend rescheduling marijuana or removing it entirely from the federal government’s control. If she decides such a move is warranted, the federal rule-making process is initiated, in which public input is sought and the president makes a final determination on whether to execute the proposal.

Removing marijuana from the Schedule wouldn’t legalize marijuana on a national level, but removing the federal prohibition and officially kicking the matter to states would “be a huge boost to the movement”, Collins said.

and........

But only Sanders seems to be advocating taking marijuana off the Schedule entirely, although campaign staff did not respond to a Guardian request to clarify his position.