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Articles Tagged marijuana

1. Issue Spotlight: Marijuana

   by rachna on June 10, 2013

   Throughout early American history, marijuana use was legal under both federal and individual state laws. In fact, from 1850 to 1941, cannabis was included in the United States Pharmacopoeia as a recognized medicinal. By the end of 1936, however, all 48 states had enacted laws to regulate marijuana.

   The federal government's first attempt to regulate marijuana, the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, made possession or transfer of cannabis illegal throughout the US, but for medical and industrial uses. An excise tax was established for these permitted uses. In 1969, the Supreme Court held the Marijuana Tax Act to be unconstitutional. In 1970, with President Nixon's urging, Congress passed the Controlled Substances Act placing marijuana in Schedule I—the most restrictive of five categories for substances with "no currently accepted medical use"—along with heroin, LSD, peyote and psilocybin (mushrooms). Drugs of abuse with recognized medical uses, including opium, cocaine and amphetamine, were assigned to Schedules II through V based on their potential for abuse. (Source: Congressional Research Service.)

   Marijuana and Hemp Legislation

   In November 2012, Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalize marijuana use. Meanwhile, 18 states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws allowing for the medical use of marijuana. California led the way in 1996 when its voters passed Proposition 215, legalizing medical marijuana. This state-level activity may prompt greater interest in federal marijuana legislation. Already, nearly a dozen bills have been introduced in the US Congress -- and Congress needs to hear from its constituents.

   • HR 2240 The Small Business Tax Equity Act: to allow tax deductions and credits relating to expenditures in connection with marijuana sales conducted in compliance with State law.
   • HR 1523 The Respect State Marijuana Laws Act: would prevent the federal government from continuing to prosecute residents who are acting in accordance with their state’s marijuana laws, according to the bill sponsor.
   • HR 1635 Establishing the National Commission on Federal Marijuana Policy.
   • HR 784 The States’ Medical Marijuana Property Rights Protection Act: To amend the Controlled Substances Act so as to exempt real property from civil forfeiture due to medical-marijuana-related conduct that is authorized by State law.
   • HR 710 The Truth in Trials Act: would allow individuals accused of violating federal marijuana laws to offer evidence in federal court that their use of medical marijuana followed state medical marijuana laws, according to the bill sponsor.
   • HR 689 The States' Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act: To provide for the rescheduling of marijuana and for the medical use of marijuana in accordance with the laws of the various States.
   • HR 501 The Marijuana Tax Equity Act: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for the taxation of marijuana.
   • HR 499 The Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act: To decriminalize marijuana at the Federal level, to leave to the States a power to regulate marijuana that is similar to the power they have to regulate alcohol.
   • HR 525 The Industrial Hemp Farming Act: To amend the Controlled Substances Act to exclude industrial hemp from the definition of marihuana. (And S 359.)

   Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill doesn't imply a POPVOX endorsement in any way. Rather, we're simply trying to offer one more way to stay informed of an overwhelmingly complex legislative system.

2. Issue Spotlight: Marijuana

   by rachna on August 12, 2012

   Throughout early American history, marijuana use was legal under both federal and individual state laws. In fact, from 1850 to 1941, cannabis was included in the United States Pharmacopoeia as a recognized medicinal. By the end of 1936, however, all 48 states had enacted laws to regulate marijuana.

   The federal government's first attempt to regulate marijuana, the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, made possession or transfer of cannabis illegal throughout the US, but for medical and industrial uses. An excise tax was established for these permitted uses. In 1969, the Supreme Court held the Marijuana Tax Act to be unconstitutional. In 1970, with President Nixon's urging, Congress passed the Controlled Substances Act placing marijuana in Schedule I—the most restrictive of five categories for substances with "no currently accepted medical use"—along with heroin, LSD, peyote and psilocybin (mushrooms). Drugs of abuse with recognized medical uses, including opium, cocaine and amphetamine, were assigned to Schedules II through V based on their potential for abuse. (Source: Congressional Research Service.)

   Thanks for weighing in with your Members of Congress using POPVOX -- and please share this Issue Spotlight with your friends and networks.

   Issue Spotlight: Marijuana, Medical Marijuana and Hemp

   Marijuana and the Law

   • HR 2306 Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act limits the application of Federal laws to the distribution and consumption of marihuana.
   • HR 6134 Truth in Trials Act provides an affirmative defense for the medical use of marijuana in accordance with the laws of the various States.

   Medical Marijuana

   • HR 1983 States’ Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act provides for the rescheduling of marijuana and for the medical use of marijuana in accordance with the laws of the various States.
   • HR 6335 States' Medical Marijuana Property Rights Protection Act amends the Controlled Substances Act so as to exempt real property from civil forfeiture due to medical-marijuana-related conduct that is authorized by State law.
   • S 3368 Amends the Food and Nutrition Act to prohibit the provision of funds made available to carry out that Act in any State that allows income deductions for controlled substances, including medical marijuana.
   • HR 1985 Small Business Tax Equity Act amends the tax code to allow a deduction for expenses in connection with the trade or business of selling marijuana intended for patients for medical purposes pursuant to State law.
   • HR 1984 Small Business Banking Improvement Act allows States to certify a business as legitimate for purposes of a financial institution’s suspicious activity reporting requirements, facilitate unambiguous compliance of such businesses with State law, and provide regulatory relief for financial institutions.

   Hemp

   • HR 1831 Industrial Hemp Farming Act amends the Controlled Substances Act to exclude industrial hemp from the definition of marihuana.
   • S 3501 Amends the Controlled Substances Act to exclude industrial hemp from the definition of marihuana.

   Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill doesn't imply a POPVOX endorsement in any way. Rather, we're simply trying to offer one more way to stay informed of an overwhelmingly complex legislative system.