Florida Lawmakers Move to Legalize Recreational Marijuana

Shane Trejo

Two bills introduced in Florida would authorize marijuana to be taxed and regulated similar to alcohol, legalizing the plant, and effectively nullifying the federal prohibition on the same.

Senate Bill 1176 (S.1176) and House Bill 1297 (H.1297), introduced Sen. Dwight Bullard and Rep. Randolph Bracy, respectively, would make Florida the first state to legalize marijuana for recreational purposes through the legislature rather than the popular vote should either pass into law.

The bills would allow individuals aged 21 or older to do the following:

(a) Use, possess, or transport marijuana accessories and up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana.
(b) Transfer or furnish, without remuneration, up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and up to 6 seedlings to a person who is 21 years of age or older.
(c) Possess, grow, cultivate, process, or transport up to 6 marijuana plants, including seedlings, and possess the marijuana produced by the marijuana plants on the premises where the plants were grown.
(d) Purchase up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana, up to 6 seedlings, and marijuana accessories from a retail marijuana store.

States Move to Shield Themselves from Federal Gun Control Enforcement

Paul Lawrance

Both state legislatures in Arizona and Montana this week have passed bills that would shield themselves from any federal gun control measures that could be pressed upon the states in the future.

Both Senate Bill 1330 (SB1330), which passed in Arizona, and House Bill 203 (HB203) passing in Montana would prohibit state agencies and employees from enforcing federal gun control that restricts ownership of a personal firearm, firearm accessory or ammunition.

Virginia House Votes 96-4 to Take Second Step Against NDAA Indefinite Detention

Michael Boldin

Today, the Virginia House of Delegates passed a bill to push back against federal indefinite detention powers. The vote was 96-4.

In 2013, Virginia was the first state to pass legislation in response to the indefinite detention powers purportedly authorized in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2012, still active today. That law was a first step, limited in scope, forbidding state agencies, in some situations, from cooperating with some federal attempts to exercise the indefinite detention provisions written into sections 1021 and 1022 of the National Defense Authorization Act.

For 2015, House Bill 2144 (HB2144), sponsored by Del. Benjamin L. Cline (R-Rockbridge), takes things two steps beyond simply refusing to cooperate with federal agents in the event of indefinite detention in Virginia. It sets the stage to create the type of leverage and attention D.C. would not want public if it refuses to cooperate with the state of Virginia.

Obama's DEA Launches Massive Raids on Legal Marijuana

Youtube


Enter your email address to subscribe to our newsletter:


Delivered by FeedBurner

Be the Change! Share this using the tools below.

Colorado Marijuana legalization has more projected votes than Obama and Romney

Jesse Warren image

J.G. Vibes

The debates may still be on every television channel and the artificially generated hype may be just as heavy as every other election year, but more and more people are starting to see the two major political parties as being just two heads on the same beast. 

Just this week Time‘s Mark Halperin published a copy of the 21-page agreement that the Obama and Romney campaigns negotiated establishing the rules for this month’s debates, further exposing the fraud of the electoral system.

People are beginning to understand that fundamental changes need to take place in society for any kind of peace or freedom to be achieved, and that those changes are not going to come from the top down, they can only come from the bottom up. However, there are some states where people have the ability to vote to repeal certain oppressive laws in regards to the drug war, and these measures are actually becoming more popular than the candidates themselves. 

Informed juror saves marijuana dispensary owner from prison

J.G. Vibes

It was almost jury nullification, but not quite. Jason Andrews is a California Medical Marijuana dispensary owner who provides free cannabis to terminally ill patients, and for the past two years he has been facing state charges on Sales and Trafficking of Marijuana, in a state where medical marijuana is legal. Andrews even has all of the required government licensing, and complies with all of the regulations, his operation is 100% legal.

Earlier this year his case was to be decided in court, and things really weren’t looking good for him. Luckily, there was one juror who was informed about the power of jury nullification, and tried his best to convince the jury to rule in favor of the defense, seeing that the charges against Andrews were not only unjust, but also illegal, even according the state. The other jurors would not comply, but juror 101 stood his ground and refused to allow the rest of the jury to put Andrews away.

Washington Marijuana Legalization Measure In Strong Position

Phillip Smith
Stop The Drug War

A little more than a month out from Election Day, Washington state's I-502 marijuana legalization, regulation, and taxation initiative looks to be well-positioned yet to actually win at the ballot box, with powerful supporters, lots of money, and a healthy lead in the polls. But it's not a done deal yet.

Sponsored by New Approach Washington, I-502 would legalize the possession of up to an ounce of marijuana by adults 21 and over, but not allow them to grow their own. Instead, it would create a scheme of licensed, taxed, and regulated commercial marijuana cultivation, processing, and retail sales under the eye of the state liquor control board. Medical marijuana patients are exempted from its provisions.

I-502 polled at 57% support two weeks ago, up three points from a June poll. Meanwhile, opposition to the initiative is declining in those polls, from 37% in June to 34% this month.

Oakland Protesters Tell Obama to 'Fight Crime, Not Cannabis'

Image source - Drug War Chronicle

Phillip Smith

Stop The Drug War

Several hundred -- perhaps as many as a thousand -- medical marijuana patients, providers, and supporters took to the streets of Oakland Monday afternoon to put President Obama on notice that they are extremely unhappy with his administration's crackdown on dispensaries. The president arrived at the Fox Theater in downtown Oakland for a fundraising event later Monday evening.

The crowd was up in arms over the federal offensive that has seen hundreds of California dispensaries shuttered by threats of asset forfeiture or criminal prosecution since the state's four US Attorneys announced the joint offensive last fall. But it was even more incensed by the May raids on Richard Lee's Oaksterdam University and last week's issuance of asset forfeiture lawsuits aimed Harborside Health Center, the nation's largest medical marijuana dispensary.

Final Senate Version of TSA Bill Authorizes Invasive Groping

Paul Joseph Watson
Infowars

Despite Texas lawmakers claiming otherwise, the final Senate version of a bill that purports to criminalize invasive pat downs actually authorizes the TSA to continue groping travelers, mandating only that they need “reasonable suspicion” to indicate that the person may be carrying a prohibited object, which could easily be claimed if the person sets off a metal detector or refuses to undergo a full body scan.



Essentially, after weeks of federal threats and deliberate sabotage, the legislation passed by the Senate last night gives the TSA carte blanche to continue business as usual, because the language of the bill is completely toothless.

Texas Senator Compares TSA Fight To Revolutionary War

Stand-off over TSA grope-down bill another “come and take it” moment for Texas

Sen. Dan Patrick

Paul Joseph Watson
Prison Planet

The Texas Senator at the forefront of the fight against invasive TSA pat-downs has likened the stand-off between state and federal authorities over a bill that would criminalize TSA groping to the revolutionary war against Mexico, calling the situation a “Come and Take It” moment once again for Texas.

In a message to constituents welcoming Governor Rick Perry’s decision to place SB 29 on the agenda of a special legislative session, State Senator Dan Patrick, the leading sponsor of the bill, said that Texas would prevail in the battle against the feds and become the “symbol of freedom and liberty for the rest of the nation.”

“And like the Texas Revolution it was our citizens rising up to make their voice heard. It just makes us remember why we love Texas,” wrote Patrick, adding, “This is a “Come and Take It” moment once again for Texas.”

“For those who ask how can a state pass a law that trumps federal law, there is no federal law requiring these invasive searches. It is simply TSA policy. As a legislator I have a right and a duty to protect our citizens liberty. We should not be threatened or bullied by the Federal Government simply because we choose to stand up for our rights,” said Patrick.

Is Your Governor For Sale to the EPA?

Cassandra Anderson
Morph City

Congress failed 3 times to pass laws (HR 2421, S. 1879 and S. 787) for federal control over almost all water, so the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers are declaring jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act.

Currently, waters with a 'significant nexus' to 'navigable waters' are covered under the Clean Water Act (CWA). The EPA is now trying to assert that the CWA "protects" (controls) traditional navigable waters, interstate waters, adjacent wetlands, tributaries, and 'other waters' which account for just about all water except swimming pools (see page 5).

Lisa Jackson, EPA Administrator

In this video from 2009, Lisa Jackson admits that she doesn't know what the EPA jurisdiction is for navigable waters or wetlands, and then she says that she does need legislation to clarify the matter! That legislation has already failed 3 times because it is an affront to individualism and property rights. Additionally, several Supreme Court rulings limit EPA power.

Arizona Gov. Brewer seeks federal shutdown of state medical marijuana program

Russ Belville
NORML

Funny how when it’s immigration, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer claims states rights and opposes federal interference, but when it’s the state voting for medical marijuana, she invites federal interference.

(East Valley Tribune) Saying she fears people could wind up in legal trouble, Gov. Jan Brewer on Tuesday ordered the state attorney general to get a federal court to rule whether Arizona can implement its medical marijuana law. 

[S]he said a letter from Dennis Burke, the U.S. Attorney for Arizona, to her state health chief appeared to be a warning that anyone involved — from patients and dispensary operators to landlords and even state health officials — could wind up being prosecuted by his office.

H.J. Res. 62: Amending The Constitution To End States Rights?

Wiki Commons

Marti Oakley, Contributing Writer

Activist Post 

H.J. Res. 62, Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to give states the right to repeal Federal laws and regulations when ratified by the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States. 

Sounds like a great deal . . . right?  Wrong!  The states already have the right to repeal Federal laws and regulations.  It is called nullification under the 10^th Amendment. 

Or, states can refuse to contract with the Federal government or any of its privately owned corporate agencies, thereby refusing the contract and any of its provisions (regulations or laws).

Secondary to this action, is the refusal to accept any Federal funding offered to implement what is usually a series of laws or regulations, (these being written by unelected bureaucrats, lobbyists and other interested stakeholders), meant to deprive you of your rights, intrude on your privacy, interfere with your right to engage in business and otherwise reduce and abrogate your constitutionally protected freedoms.

Treasured Landscapes: An Act…to steal land from the states

Dees Illustration

Marti Oakley, Contributing Writer 
Activist Post

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), a for-profit federal corporation, issued a memo laying out its plans to seize 10 million additional acres across the Western states including, Nevada, Oregon, Wyoming, California, and Utah.  The federal government already claims ownership or control of 84% of Utah and at least 68% of Nevada. The document clearly lays out the propaganda to be used in this land theft, referring to the theft as saving national treasures, pristine areas, treasured landscapes, etc.. Sounds really peachy until you get to the part about mining and natural resources, to be stolen at the same time.

Concealing their identity under the appearance of a “public agency”, BLM uses congress and the executive branch to not only hide what it really is and what it is doing, but to make it appear legitimate; lawful, legal.  It is a deception that has gone on since 1906 when the Antiquities Act was passed, which BLM now is claiming as its enabling legislation.   The 1906 Act was only 296 words long and said nothing about how to perpetrate theft of states lands and their accompanying natural resources.

The question immediately arises in my mind; “How can the BLM claim ownership of land? Doesn’t the Constitution expressly deny the central government ownership of any land other than insular possessions, territories and the ten square mile parcel of land ceded to it for its existence?” Yes it does, but the Bureau of Land Management is a privately owned corporation and is not bound by constitutional restraints.

Obama Ends States Rights For Medical Marijuana

Paul Armentano, Deputy Director
NORML

The Obama administration’s position on medical marijuana, circa 2009 (via the Ogden memo to all United States attorneys):

“The prosecution of significant traffickers of illegal drugs, including marijuana, and the disruption of illegal drug manufacturing and trafficking networks continues to be a core priority in the Department’s efforts against narcotics and dangerous drugs, and the Department’s investigative and prosecutorial resources should be directed towards these objectives. As a general matter, pursuit of these priorities should not focus federal resources in your States on individuals whose actions are in clear and unambiguous compliance with existing state laws providing for the medical use of marijuana.”

Federal Wolves - State's Rights

Idaho State Rep. Phil Hart 
Hart 4 Legislature

Today there are many issues that confront our political institutions. We are living in interesting times. For state governments the big issues are balancing budgets and federal government encroachment. And for the state of Idaho, the face of federal government encroachment is that of a Canadian Gray Wolf.

Under the authority of the Endangered Species Act, in the mid-70s Washington D.C. bureaucrats began to contemplate the introduction of wolves into parts of the so called lower 48 states. The reason that this was even a possibility was because the original settlers of the country, who had lived with wolves, decided to get rid of them. Such people will tell you that wolves are a menace, and dangerous on top of that.

Over the objections of the Idaho Legislature, the governor of Idaho, and Idaho’s congressional delegation, in 1995 the federal Fish and Wildlife Service introduced 35 Canadian Gray Wolves into central Idaho. A like number of wolves were introduced into Yellowstone Park in Wyoming, just across the Idaho border.

The plan was to protect this population of Gray Wolves such that their numbers would increase to 300 and at least 30 breeding pairs across the three state region of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. The Idaho Legislature, with a gun to its head, agreed to this scheme in a 2002 Wolf Management Plan it ratified; while at the same time passing a resolution stating that its real desire was to remove the wolves from Idaho all together. The DC bureaucrats were going to introduce the wolves no matter what the state of Idaho wanted; and the negotiated 2002 Wolf Management Plan reflected Idaho’s effort to at least have a say in the process.