Join Dozens Of Student Drug Policy Reform Advocates On Capitol Hill

 
[Source: Johnny Green, The Weed Blog]

SUPPORT AND AWARENESS

Marshaling strong bi-partisan support has never been more critical for moving legislation through Congress. That’s why Students for Sensible Drug Policy is proud to bring together national leaders from all across the political spectrum who agree on one thing: the government’s prohibition of marijuana has failed.

Please consider joining dozens of student drug policy reform advocates on Capitol Hill at the conclusion of SSDP’s Federal Marijuana Lobby Day for a reception featuring special guest speakers Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) and conservative stalwart Grover Norquist. We will be celebrating the successes of the lobby day, sharing stories, and comparing notes.

• Capitol Hill Reception Following SSDP’s Federal Marijuana Lobby Day – featuring Grover Norquist and Congressman Jared Polis
• 4-6pm, Monday June 17, 2013
• Room B369, Rayburn House Office Building
• Find this event on Facebook.

More information: http://ssdp.org/events/federal-marijuana-lobby-day/

New York: Lawmakers Likely To Debate Marijuana Decriminalization Measure

 [Source: NORML]

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo reaffirmed his commitment to decriminalize the public possession of 15 grams or less of marijuana during his 2013 State of the State address. Governor Cuomo had previously announced his support for a similar legislative proposal in 2012, but state lawmakers failed to act on it.

Under state law, the private possession of up to 25 grams of marijuana is a non-criminal civil citation, punishable by a $100 fine. By contrast, the possession of any amount of cannabis in public view is classified as a criminal misdemeanor [NY State Penal Law 221.10].

In 2011, New York City law enforcement spent $75 million arresting approximately 50,000 minor marijuana offenders under Penal Law 221.10. Many of these offenders had marijuana on their person, and only revealed the cannabis publicly after being ordered by police to empty their pockets during 'stop-and-frisk' searches. According to the Governor's office, 94 percent of arrests for small amounts of marijuana in the state are in New York City. Over 85 percent of those charged were either African American or Latino.

The public supports this reform measure, recent polling from Sienna College found that 63% of New York State residents supported decriminalizing the possession of 15 grams or less of marijuana in public view to a fine only violation.

Equalizing cannabis penalties will save taxpayer dollars, protect citizens against illegal searches, and reduce unwarranted racial disparities in arrests.

NORML will continue to update you in the coming weeks as this proposal moves forward.

Illinois: House Committee Approves Industrial Hemp Bill

 
 [Source: NORML]

Legislation to legalize the licensed cultivation of industrial hemp, House Bill 2668, has been approved by the Illinois House Agriculture and Conservation Committee in a 9-8 vote. The measure now awaits action from the full House. You can read the full text of House Bill 2668 here.

The United States is the only developed nation that fails to cultivate industrial hemp as an economic crop, according to a 2005 Congressional Resource Service (CRS) report. Hemp is a distinct variety of the plant species cannabis sativa that contains only minute (less than 1%) amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. Farmers worldwide grow hemp commercially for fiber, seed, and oil for use in a variety of industrial and consumer products, including food and clothing. House Bill 2668 would allow Illinois to authorize a licensed, statewide hemp industry.

Please use the pre-written letter below to contact your Representative to urge him or her to vote "yes" on HB 2668 and support industrial hemp in Illinois. NORML will keep you updated as this legislation moves forward. You can find further information on this measure from Illinois NORML here.

Illinois: House Committee Approves Industrial Hemp Bill Article

World Water Day is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater..

[Source: Instagram]

Around the world, more than 780 million people live without ready access to clean, safe drinking water. For the 85% of the world’s population that lives in the driest half of the planet, existing resources are becoming increasingly scarce.

To raise awareness about issues affecting water and how we access it, the United Nations has designated March 22 as World Water Day.

Among the organizations participating in this year’s World Water Day is charity: water (@charitywater), which drills water wells in small towns around the world. To raise awareness, charity: water is hosting a “water walk” in Times Square to demonstrate how difficult it is to carry water across long distances.

Instagram World Water Day Article Here

World Water Day is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater


Take a stance...become aware and support the cause!

Legal Cannabis Dispensaries – The Future of Colorado

[March 16, 2013 By Michelle Schmeer]

The legalization of medical marijuana in a number of states over the past few years has been a huge victory, to be sure, but there is still a long way to go as far as marijuana being legalized for recreational use, but not as far as you may think.  Colorado is one of two states to lead the path to legalization and now they are gearing up to get everything situated so that the state can begin to benefit from taking this unprecedented step.  One thing that will have to be worked out is how marijuana can be obtained, which also means working out how it will be sold.  So far it seems that the methods of moving and obtaining will be done through legal cannabis dispensaries, rather than private individual dealers.  This leads to numerous questions as to how and by whom the dispensaries will be run.  And a few of those questions are particularly important to have answered before it comes time to start buying or selling legal marijuana in Colorado.


Review some of the issues that are being questioned by going clicking here

Colorado House Judiciary Committee Passes Marijuana DUI Bill – House Bill 1114

 

[Source: Medical Jane; by MJ Zach]

Colorado’s House Judiciary Committee passed House Bill 1114 in an 11-0 vote on Tuesday night. Under the new bill, drivers caught with 5 nanograms of THC in their blood stream would be considered to be ‘driving under the influence of marijuana’.

Although this is not the first time a marijuana DUI bill has been introduced to the Colorado legislature, previous attempts have been criticized and shot down. Opponents have argued that the 5-nanogram limit is too strict for regular pot smokers, especially medical marijuana patients who rely on the plant as a daily medicine.

Some argue there is no way to tell whether someone is too high to be behind the wheel, and the limit is completely subjective. Tyron Link, a medical marijuana patient in Colorado, told The Denver Channel, “It doesn’t make me impaired now if I haven’t smoked since yesterday. We’re not even going by scientific evidence at all. We’re just saying, ‘Oh, lets pick 5 nanograms.’”

Marijuana DUI Bill continued...

 

Flash Mob: One Billion Rising in Denver, CO

The Biggest Mass Global Action To End Violence Against Women & Girls In The History Of Humankind

[Source: http://onebillionrising.org/]

 

One Billion Rising is the beginning of the new world ignited by a new energy. It is not the end of a struggle but the escalation of it. NOW is the time to enact change. This is NOT an annual holiday, we are not waiting until 14 February 2014. NOW is the time to harness the power of your activism to change the world!

If you want to know where to direct your energies right now, you can stage a
V-Day benefit in your community - visit vday.org/our-work/college-community-campaigns today!

ONE BILLION RISING IS:
A global strike
An invitation to dance
A call to men and women to refuse to participate in the status quo until rape and rape culture ends
An act of solidarity, demonstrating to women the commonality of their struggles and their power in numbers
A refusal to accept violence against women and girls as a given
A new time and a new way of being