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Arizona Marijuana Activists Turn In 420000 Signatures To Qualify Legalization Measure For Ballot7/1/2020 The Ohio Senate has approved a bill to double the amount of marijuana that is decriminalized in the state and reduce criminal penalties for many other drug crimes. Following months of delays due to the coronavirus pandemic, the measure cleared both a committee and the full body on Tuesday. The floor vote was 24–5. While possession of small amounts of cannabis would still be illegal in Ohio, people caught with up to 200 grams of marijuana (about seven ounces) would face no arrest or jail time under the measure, SB 3. Instead, they’d receive a civil citation and pay a fine of $150. “Among other criminal justice changes, SB 3 would reduce the sentences for several marijuana offenses, including by doubling the amount of marijuana that is decriminalized,” Karen O’Keefe, the Marijuana Policy Project’s director of state policies, told Marijuana Moment. Existing Ohio law already classifies possession of up to 100 grams (about 3.5 ounces) of marijuana as a “minor misdemeanor.” Offenses are penalized with citations and civil fines of $150. By law, officers are only supposed to arrest people for cannabis if they refuse to provide identification, won’t sign the citation or pose a health and safety risk, but critics note that those exceptions open the door to discriminatory police enforcement. Under SB 3, simple possession would remain a minor misdemeanor, but the qualifying limits would increase. In addition to the new 200 gram cap for marijuana flower, the limit on hash would rise from 5 grams to 10 grams. The bill states that citations for those offenses would not constitute a criminal record or need to be reported on “any inquiries contained in any application for employment, license, or other right or privilege.” Anything over the decriminalized amount limits would still incur criminal penalties, such as arrest, possible jail time and a criminal record. SB 3 would, however, downgrade the criminal designations for greater amounts of cannabis. For flower, 200 grams to 400 grams would be a fourth-degree misdemeanor under the bill, while 400 to 1,000 grams would be a first-degree misdemeanor. For hash, 10 grams to 20 grams would qualify as a fourth-degree misdemeanor, and 20 grams to 50 grams would be a first-degree misdemeanor. Possession of other drugs would see downgrades under the bill, too, lessening many felony charges to misdemeanors. Judges in some circumstances would be able to pause criminal cases or even dismiss them entirely for defendants who complete drug treatment programs. “We believe that we have found the appropriate mark in the sand,” one of the bill’s co-sponsors, state Sen. Sean O’Brien (D), told The Columbus Dispatch a day before the vote. “I think the overarching goal of the bill is to take small amounts of possession that are clearly for personal use and make that a misdemeanor,” Senate President Larry Obhof ® said. “That’s really been one of the bigger sticking points over the last year as we’ve considered this. What is really the right amount for personal use versus at what number do we then say, ‘You’re not really using this. You’re a trafficker.’ We’re trying to work that out.” O’Keefe at Marijuana Policy Project applauded the Senate’s passage of the bill Tuesday but lamented that lawmakers still see cannabis as a police matter at all. “While these are welcome reforms, Ohio lawmakers should listen to their constituents and legalize marijuana,” she told Marijuana Moment. “There is no need for any police-civilian interaction around simple possession of marijuana. Issuing fines for cannabis possession wastes governmental resources and opens the door to unequal policing and abusive encounters. Ohio should follow Michigan’s lead and legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana for adults.” Advocates at the beginning of the year intended to put legalization on Ohio’s ballot this November, filing a formal initiative proposal in early March. The effort stalled, however, as the COVID-19 outbreak and resulting social distancing measures made signature gathering all but impossible. Another group of activists, working to put marijuana decriminalization measures on 14 municipal ballots in Ohio, asked the U.S. Supreme Court to force state officials to allow electronic signature gathering during the pandemic, but the justices did not take up the case. Ohio voters in 2015 roundly rejected a push to legalize marijuana for adult use, but some think that’s a poor indicator of the state’s interest in legalizing commercial cannabis. The 2015 measure drew criticism at the time even from traditional allies of reform, many of whom criticized the proposal’s licensing provisions that would give a near monopoly on cultivation to the same investors who had funded the ballot initiative.
Despite the slow progress on cannabis reform represented by Senate Bill 3, criminal justice reform advocates praised the bill’s passage by the Senate as a timely response to the issues facing American communities today. Holly Harris, executive director of the Justice Action Network, said the measure “was not written in this moment, but it is the rare bill that is truly meeting the moment.” “It will help reduce the prison population, leaving far fewer people at risk during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Harris said. “It will save up to $75 million in critical taxpayer dollars as the state deals with a fiscal crisis, and it will eliminate unnecessary interactions with the criminal justice system for minor drug offenses as we work to improve relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve.”
Photo courtesy of Max Pixel Marijuana Moment is made possible with support from readers. If you rely on our cannabis advocacy journalism to stay informed, please consider a monthly Patreon pledge. Original Article Source: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/arizona-marijuana-activists-turn-in-420000-signatures-to-qualify-legalization-measure-for-ballot/ via Tumblr Arizona Marijuana Activists Turn In 420,000 Signatures To Qualify Legalization Measure For Ballot
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The Ohio Senate has approved a bill to double the amount of marijuana that is decriminalized in the state and reduce criminal penalties for many other drug crimes. Following months of delays due to the coronavirus pandemic, the measure cleared both a committee and the full body on Tuesday. The floor vote was 24–5. While possession of small amounts of cannabis would still be illegal in Ohio, people caught with up to 200 grams of marijuana (about seven ounces) would face no arrest or jail time under the measure, SB 3. Instead, they’d receive a civil citation and pay a fine of $150. “Among other criminal justice changes, SB 3 would reduce the sentences for several marijuana offenses, including by doubling the amount of marijuana that is decriminalized,” Karen O’Keefe, the Marijuana Policy Project’s director of state policies, told Marijuana Moment. Existing Ohio law already classifies possession of up to 100 grams (about 3.5 ounces) of marijuana as a “minor misdemeanor.” Offenses are penalized with citations and civil fines of $150. By law, officers are only supposed to arrest people for cannabis if they refuse to provide identification, won’t sign the citation or pose a health and safety risk, but critics note that those exceptions open the door to discriminatory police enforcement. Under SB 3, simple possession would remain a minor misdemeanor, but the qualifying limits would increase. In addition to the new 200 gram cap for marijuana flower, the limit on hash would rise from 5 grams to 10 grams. The bill states that citations for those offenses would not constitute a criminal record or need to be reported on “any inquiries contained in any application for employment, license, or other right or privilege.” Anything over the decriminalized amount limits would still incur criminal penalties, such as arrest, possible jail time and a criminal record. SB 3 would, however, downgrade the criminal designations for greater amounts of cannabis. For flower, 200 grams to 400 grams would be a fourth-degree misdemeanor under the bill, while 400 to 1,000 grams would be a first-degree misdemeanor. For hash, 10 grams to 20 grams would qualify as a fourth-degree misdemeanor, and 20 grams to 50 grams would be a first-degree misdemeanor. Possession of other drugs would see downgrades under the bill, too, lessening many felony charges to misdemeanors. Judges in some circumstances would be able to pause criminal cases or even dismiss them entirely for defendants who complete drug treatment programs. “We believe that we have found the appropriate mark in the sand,” one of the bill’s co-sponsors, state Sen. Sean O’Brien (D), told The Columbus Dispatch a day before the vote. “I think the overarching goal of the bill is to take small amounts of possession that are clearly for personal use and make that a misdemeanor,” Senate President Larry Obhof ® said. “That’s really been one of the bigger sticking points over the last year as we’ve considered this. What is really the right amount for personal use versus at what number do we then say, ‘You’re not really using this. You’re a trafficker.’ We’re trying to work that out.” O’Keefe at Marijuana Policy Project applauded the Senate’s passage of the bill Tuesday but lamented that lawmakers still see cannabis as a police matter at all. “While these are welcome reforms, Ohio lawmakers should listen to their constituents and legalize marijuana,” she told Marijuana Moment. “There is no need for any police-civilian interaction around simple possession of marijuana. Issuing fines for cannabis possession wastes governmental resources and opens the door to unequal policing and abusive encounters. Ohio should follow Illinois’ lead and legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana for adults.” Advocates at the beginning of the year intended to put legalization on Ohio’s ballot this November, filing a formal initiative proposal in early March. The effort stalled, however, as the COVID-19 outbreak and resulting social distancing measures made signature gathering all but impossible. Another group of activists, working to put marijuana decriminalization measures on 14 municipal ballots in Ohio, asked the U.S. Supreme Court to force state officials to allow electronic signature gathering during the pandemic, but the justices did not take up the case. Ohio voters in 2015 roundly rejected a push to legalize marijuana for adult use, but some think that’s a poor indicator of the state’s interest in legalizing commercial cannabis. The 2015 measure drew criticism at the time even from traditional allies of reform, many of whom criticized the proposal’s licensing provisions that would give a near monopoly on cultivation to the same investors who had funded the ballot initiative.
Despite the slow progress on cannabis reform represented by Senate Bill 3, criminal justice reform advocates praised the bill’s passage by the Senate as a timely response to the issues facing American communities today. Holly Harris, executive director of the Justice Action Network, said the measure “was not written in this moment, but it is the rare bill that is truly meeting the moment.” “It will help reduce the prison population, leaving far fewer people at risk during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Harris said. “It will save up to $75 million in critical taxpayer dollars as the state deals with a fiscal crisis, and it will eliminate unnecessary interactions with the criminal justice system for minor drug offenses as we work to improve relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve.”
Original Article Source: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/ohio-senate-votes-to-expand-marijuana-decriminalization-to-cover-200-grams/ via Tumblr Ohio Senate Votes To Expand Marijuana Decriminalization To Cover 200 Grams The Ohio Senate has approved a bill to double the amount of marijuana that is decriminalized in the state and reduce criminal penalties for many other drug crimes. Following months of delays due to the coronavirus pandemic, the measure cleared both a committee and the full body on Tuesday. The floor vote was 24–5. While possession of small amounts of cannabis would still be illegal in Ohio, people caught with up to 200 grams of marijuana (about seven ounces) would face no arrest or jail time under the measure, SB 3. Instead, they’d receive a civil citation and pay a fine of $150. “Among other criminal justice changes, SB 3 would reduce the sentences for several marijuana offenses, including by doubling the amount of marijuana that is decriminalized,” Karen O’Keefe, the Marijuana Policy Project’s director of state policies, told Marijuana Moment. Existing Ohio law already classifies possession of up to 100 grams (about 3.5 ounces) of marijuana as a “minor misdemeanor.” Offenses are penalized with citations and civil fines of $150. By law, officers are only supposed to arrest people for cannabis if they refuse to provide identification, won’t sign the citation or pose a health and safety risk, but critics note that those exceptions open the door to discriminatory police enforcement. Under SB 3, simple possession would remain a minor misdemeanor, but the qualifying limits would increase. In addition to the new 200 gram cap for marijuana flower, the limit on hash would rise from 5 grams to 10 grams. The bill states that citations for those offenses would not constitute a criminal record or need to be reported on “any inquiries contained in any application for employment, license, or other right or privilege.” Anything over the decriminalized amount limits would still incur criminal penalties, such as arrest, possible jail time and a criminal record. SB 3 would, however, downgrade the criminal designations for greater amounts of cannabis. For flower, 200 grams to 400 grams would be a fourth-degree misdemeanor under the bill, while 400 to 1,000 grams would be a first-degree misdemeanor. For hash, 10 grams to 20 grams would qualify as a fourth-degree misdemeanor, and 20 grams to 50 grams would be a first-degree misdemeanor. Possession of other drugs would see downgrades under the bill, too, lessening many felony charges to misdemeanors. Judges in some circumstances would be able to pause criminal cases or even dismiss them entirely for defendants who complete drug treatment programs. “We believe that we have found the appropriate mark in the sand,” one of the bill’s co-sponsors, state Sen. Sean O’Brien (D), told The Columbus Dispatch a day before the vote. “I think the overarching goal of the bill is to take small amounts of possession that are clearly for personal use and make that a misdemeanor,” Senate President Larry Obhof ® said. “That’s really been one of the bigger sticking points over the last year as we’ve considered this. What is really the right amount for personal use versus at what number do we then say, ‘You’re not really using this. You’re a trafficker.’ We’re trying to work that out.” O’Keefe at Marijuana Policy Project applauded the Senate’s passage of the bill Tuesday but lamented that lawmakers still see cannabis as a police matter at all. “While these are welcome reforms, Ohio lawmakers should listen to their constituents and legalize marijuana,” she told Marijuana Moment. “There is no need for any police-civilian interaction around simple possession of marijuana. Issuing fines for cannabis possession wastes governmental resources and opens the door to unequal policing and abusive encounters. Ohio should follow Illinois’ lead and legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana for adults.” Advocates at the beginning of the year intended to put legalization on Ohio’s ballot this November, filing a formal initiative proposal in early March. The effort stalled, however, as the COVID-19 outbreak and resulting social distancing measures made signature gathering all but impossible. Another group of activists, working to put marijuana decriminalization measures on 14 municipal ballots in Ohio, asked the U.S. Supreme Court to force state officials to allow electronic signature gathering during the pandemic, but the justices did not take up the case. Ohio voters in 2015 roundly rejected a push to legalize marijuana for adult use, but some think that’s a poor indicator of the state’s interest in legalizing commercial cannabis. The 2015 measure drew criticism at the time even from traditional allies of reform, many of whom criticized the proposal’s licensing provisions that would give a near monopoly on cultivation to the same investors who had funded the ballot initiative.
Despite the slow progress on cannabis reform represented by Senate Bill 3, criminal justice reform advocates praised the bill’s passage by the Senate as a timely response to the issues facing American communities today. Holly Harris, executive director of the Justice Action Network, said the measure “was not written in this moment, but it is the rare bill that is truly meeting the moment.” “It will help reduce the prison population, leaving far fewer people at risk during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Harris said. “It will save up to $75 million in critical taxpayer dollars as the state deals with a fiscal crisis, and it will eliminate unnecessary interactions with the criminal justice system for minor drug offenses as we work to improve relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve.”
Photo courtesy of Max Pixel Marijuana Moment is made possible with support from readers. If you rely on our cannabis advocacy journalism to stay informed, please consider a monthly Patreon pledge. Original Article Source: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/virginias-marijuana-decriminalization-law-officially-takes-effect/ via Tumblr Virginia’s Marijuana Decriminalization Law Officially Takes Effect Denver-based marijuana edibles producer Dixie Brands said it will change its name in a move to separate itself from the historic context of the word “Dixie” and to “stand shoulder to shoulder with the Black community.” The 10-year-old Denver-based company, which has operations in six states, announced the move on its website and social media. […] Marijuana edibles maker Dixie Brands changing name to avoid causing ‘pain’ is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs Original Article Source: https://mjbizdaily.com/marijuana-edibles-maker-dixie-brands-changing-name-to-avoid-causing-pain/ via Tumblr Marijuana Edibles Maker Dixie Brands Changing Name To Avoid Causing ‘pain’ Only two entities in Louisiana – both colleges – are authorized to produce medical marijuana for patients, and Southern University on Wednesday is expected to join Louisiana State in rolling out its first product line. Southern’s product debut is also an industry landmark because the Baton Rouge university is the only historically Black college in […] Second medical marijuana provider in Louisiana poised to roll out products is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs Original Article Source: https://mjbizdaily.com/southern-university-poised-to-roll-out-medical-marijuana-products-in-louisiana/ via Tumblr Second Medical Marijuana Provider In Louisiana Poised To Roll Out Products Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed into law a bill that replaces the 3% THC cap with a per-patient limit of 4.5 grams of THC for a 90-day period, but it’s unclear how much the move will boost the state’s heavily regulated medical cannabis market. The provision is a much weaker version of a measure that […] Iowa governor signs bill expanding medical marijuana THC formula is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs Original Article Source: https://mjbizdaily.com/iowa-governor-signs-bill-expanding-medical-marijuana-thc-formula/ via Tumblr Iowa Governor Signs Bill Expanding Medical Marijuana THC Formula Retail sales of medical and recreational cannabis in the United States are on pace to eclipse $15 billion by the end of 2020, an increase of approximately 40% over 2019 sales figures, according to exclusive projections from the 2020 edition of the Marijuana Business Factbook. Total U.S. sales could rise as high as $37 billion […] Exclusive: US retail marijuana sales on pace to rise 40% in 2020, near $37 billion by 2023 is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs Original Article Source: https://mjbizdaily.com/exclusive-us-retail-marijuana-sales-on-pace-to-rise-40-in-2020-near-37-billion-by-2023/ via Tumblr Exclusive: US Retail Marijuana Sales On Pace To Rise 40% In 2020, Near $37 Billion By 2023 Three dozen members of the House of Representatives introduced a resolution on Tuesday calling for an inquiry into the possible impeachment of Attorney General William Barr because he “abused the power of his office” to improperly investigate marijuana businesses and allegedly engaged in other unlawful conduct. The resolution, which is being led by Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN), states that the attorney general “has taken deliberate actions that violate the rights of the American people, assault the principle of impartial administration of justice, and undermine the constitutional structure of separation of powers across three co-equal branches of Government.” It says that Barr “abused the power of his office to initiate pretextual antitrust investigations into ‘unpopular’ American corporations in the cannabis, automobile, and technology industries.” That allegation comes from a Justice Department whistleblower who publicly revealed this month that 10 antitrust investigations targeting cannabis companies were launched at the direction of the attorney general, who was said to have made the decision based on his personal animus for the industry. “He’s using antitrust not for the purpose of helping consumers and businesses that might be disadvantaged by monopoly, but doing it as a vehicle for his social policies, which is unheard of,” Cohen told Marijuana Moment in a phone interview, referring to the attorney general. The whistleblower didn’t see “any practices that are antitrust in nature, but they said the problem was on the fifth floor, which is where Barr’s office resides and apparently he doesn’t like marijuana so he went after them,” the lawmaker said.
At a House Judiciary Committee hearing last week, the whistleblower argued that there wasn’t an appropriate basis for the investigations, which at one point accounted for one-third of Justice Department Antitrust Division cases. The department’s Office of Professional Responsibility, to which the complaint was referred, ultimately concluded that no rules had been violated in ordering the investigations, regardless of the allegation about Barr’s prejudice. That said, the matter is also separately being looked into by the inspector general, according to a June memo. “I think it’s just unfortunate what they’re doing,” Cohen said of the memo. While the new resolution states that other unrelated “investigations misused the resources Congress appropriated for the Department of Justice to harass and intimidate companies based on President Donald J. Trump’s whims and without a proper legal predicate for such investigations,” the whistleblower specified that the marijuana-specific inquiries were connected to Barr’s alleged bias, not the president’s. However, he did make clear that department resources were wasted and questioned the factual basis for the investigations. All told, across six of the 10 investigations for which data are available, 5,965,000 documents were produced by the cannabis companies under inquiry. A small fraction were actually reviewed by Justice Department personnel. “Attorney General Barr has undermined our judicial system and perverted the rule of law,” Cohen said in a press release. “Barr obstructs justice by favoring the President’s friends and political allies. He abuses his power by using the Department of Justice to harass, intimidate and attack disfavored Americans and the President’s political opponents. My oath to support and defend the Constitution compels me to confront this corruption.” He and the measure’s 35 cosponsors are asking for the Judiciary Committee to explore the potential for impeachment proceedings for the attorney general. Those cosponsors include Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Ed Perlmutter (D-CO), Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and Maxine Waters (D-CA). Of course, the marijuana allegations represent just one part of a broader rationale for a congressional inquiry. The lawmakers also criticized the nation’s top law enforcement official for his role in directing the disassembly of protestors in Washington, D.C., his move to clear former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn of criminal charges and the controversial firing on a federal judge, among other matters. Cohen also talked to Marijuana Moment about a point he made during last week’s Judiciary Committee hearing on the Barr allegations about how cannabis criminalization fosters distrust between communities of color and police, as black and brown people are significantly more likely to be arrested for a marijuana offense compared to white people despite comparable rates of consumption. “It’s a street crime. There are dealers, but most individuals get busted on the street smoking a joint and that’s when police and African Americans come in contact,” he said. “African Americans are anywhere from six or seven to 10 times as likely to get arrested for smoking marijuana as caucasians, and yet there’s no indication that they necessarily smoke at any greater numbers. It’s a breeding ground for this discontent because anybody that gets busted for smoking marijuana is going to have a chip on their shoulder towards the law enforcement, towards society and towards the structure, the establishment, that allows such to happen.” Advocates and lawmakers have made similar arguments in recent weeks as Congress has debated policing reform amid the civil unrest that’s emanated from recent police killings of black Americans. They’ve said that policing reform should be coupled with a conversation about changing marijuana policies to mitigate unnecessary law enforcement interactions. The congressman said the issue reminds him of the 1995 song “Ain’t Hurtin’ Nobody” by John Prime. “When I hear that song, I kind of think about people smoking marijuana,” he said. “‘Ain’t hurtin’ nobody, ain’t hurtin’ no one.’” While no lawmakers ultimately filed cannabis amendments to the House-passed policing bill, there’s still time left in this Congress to take up standalone marijuana legislation. Cohen said it’s “possible” the House will take up the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act before the end of session, but he raised doubts about its prospects in the Senate. “It’s certainly gotten to be more bipartisan in the House,” he said. “The Senate is a little slower to respond on some of these things, and this is one where they’ve been slower to respond. And [Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)] is good on hemp, but that’s about as far as he goes.” Read the text of the resolution to launch in impeachment inquiry into the attorney general below: Barr Resolution by Marijuana Moment on Scribd
Marijuana Moment is made possible with support from readers. If you rely on our cannabis advocacy journalism to stay informed, please consider a monthly Patreon pledge. Original Article Source: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/did-a-tennessee-senator-take-a-state-car-to-buy-marijuana-at-an-illinois-dispensary/ via Tumblr Did A Tennessee Senator Take A State Car To Buy Marijuana At An Illinois Dispensary? Attorney Generals Marijuana Merger Investigations Could Get Him Impeached Under New Resolution6/30/2020 Three dozen members of the House of Representatives introduced a resolution on Tuesday calling for an inquiry into the possible impeachment of Attorney General William Barr because he “abused the power of his office” to improperly investigate marijuana businesses and allegedly engaged in other unlawful conduct. The resolution, which is being led by Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN), states that the attorney general “has taken deliberate actions that violate the rights of the American people, assault the principle of impartial administration of justice, and undermine the constitutional structure of separation of powers across three co-equal branches of Government.” It says that Barr “abused the power of his office to initiate pretextual antitrust investigations into ‘unpopular’ American corporations in the cannabis, automobile, and technology industries.” That allegation comes from a Justice Department whistleblower who publicly revealed this month that 10 antitrust investigations targeting cannabis companies were launched at the direction of the attorney general, who was said to have made the decision based on his personal animus for the industry. “He’s using antitrust not for the purpose of helping consumers and businesses that might be disadvantaged by monopoly, but doing it as a vehicle for his social policies, which is unheard of,” Cohen told Marijuana Moment in a phone interview, referring to the attorney general. The whistleblower didn’t see “any practices that are antitrust in nature, but they said the problem was on the fifth floor, which is where Barr’s office resides and apparently he doesn’t like marijuana so he went after them,” the lawmaker said.
At a House Judiciary Committee hearing last week, the whistleblower argued that there wasn’t an appropriate basis for the investigations, which at one point accounted for one-third of Justice Department Antitrust Division cases. The department’s Office of Professional Responsibility, to which the complaint was referred, ultimately concluded that no rules had been violated in ordering the investigations, regardless of the allegation about Barr’s prejudice. That said, the matter is also separately being looked into by the inspector general, according to a June memo. “I think it’s just unfortunate what they’re doing,” Cohen said of the memo. While the new resolution states that other unrelated “investigations misused the resources Congress appropriated for the Department of Justice to harass and intimidate companies based on President Donald J. Trump’s whims and without a proper legal predicate for such investigations,” the whistleblower specified that the marijuana-specific inquiries were connected to Barr’s alleged bias, not the president’s. However, he did make clear that department resources were wasted and questioned the factual basis for the investigations. All told, across six of the 10 investigations for which data are available, 5,965,000 documents were produced by the cannabis companies under inquiry. A small fraction were actually reviewed by Justice Department personnel. “Attorney General Barr has undermined our judicial system and perverted the rule of law,” Cohen said in a press release. “Barr obstructs justice by favoring the President’s friends and political allies. He abuses his power by using the Department of Justice to harass, intimidate and attack disfavored Americans and the President’s political opponents. My oath to support and defend the Constitution compels me to confront this corruption.” He and the measure’s 35 cosponsors are asking for the Judiciary Committee to explore the potential for impeachment proceedings for the attorney general. Those cosponsors include Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Ed Perlmutter (D-CO), Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and Maxine Waters (D-CA). Of course, the marijuana allegations represent just one part of a broader rationale for a congressional inquiry. The lawmakers also criticized the nation’s top law enforcement official for his role in directing the disassembly of protestors in Washington, D.C., his move to clear former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn of criminal charges and the controversial firing on a federal judge, among other matters. Cohen also talked to Marijuana Moment about a point he made during last week’s Judiciary Committee hearing on the Barr allegations about how cannabis criminalization fosters distrust between communities of color and police, as black and brown people are significantly more likely to be arrested for a marijuana offense compared to white people despite comparable rates of consumption. “It’s a street crime. There are dealers, but most individuals get busted on the street smoking a joint and that’s when police and African Americans come in contact,” he said. “African Americans are anywhere from six or seven to 10 times as likely to get arrested for smoking marijuana as caucasians, and yet there’s no indication that they necessarily smoke at any greater numbers. It’s a breeding ground for this discontent because anybody that gets busted for smoking marijuana is going to have a chip on their shoulder towards the law enforcement, towards society and towards the structure, the establishment, that allows such to happen.” Advocates and lawmakers have made similar arguments in recent weeks as Congress has debated policing reform amid the civil unrest that’s emanated from recent police killings of black Americans. They’ve said that policing reform should be coupled with a conversation about changing marijuana policies to mitigate unnecessary law enforcement interactions. The congressman said the issue reminds him of the 1995 song “Ain’t Hurtin’ Nobody” by John Prime. “When I hear that song, I kind of think about people smoking marijuana,” he said. “‘Ain’t hurtin’ nobody, ain’t hurtin’ no one.’”
While no lawmakers ultimately filed cannabis amendments to the House-passed policing bill, there’s still time left in this Congress to take up standalone marijuana legislation. Cohen said it’s “possible” the House will take up the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act before the end of session, but he raised doubts about its prospects in the Senate. “It’s certainly gotten to be more bipartisan in the House,” he said. “The Senate is a little slower to respond on some of these things, and this is one where they’ve been slower to respond. And [Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)] is good on hemp, but that’s about as far as he goes.” Read the text of the resolution to launch in impeachment inquiry into the attorney general below: Barr Resolution by Marijuana Moment on Scribd
Marijuana Moment is made possible with support from readers. If you rely on our cannabis advocacy journalism to stay informed, please consider a monthly Patreon pledge. Original Article Source: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/attorney-generals-marijuana-merger-investigations-could-get-him-impeached-under-new-resolution/ via Tumblr Attorney General’s Marijuana Merger Investigations Could Get Him Impeached Under New Resolution Three dozen members of the House of Representatives introduced a resolution on Tuesday calling for an inquiry into the possible impeachment of Attorney General William Barr because he “abused the power of his office” to improperly investigate marijuana businesses and allegedly engaged in other unlawful conduct. The resolution, which is being led by Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN), states that the attorney general “has taken deliberate actions that violate the rights of the American people, assault the principle of impartial administration of justice, and undermine the constitutional structure of separation of powers across three co-equal branches of Government.” It says that Barr “abused the power of his office to initiate pretextual antitrust investigations into ‘unpopular’ American corporations in the cannabis, automobile, and technology industries.” That allegation comes from a Justice Department whistleblower who publicly revealed this month that 10 antitrust investigations targeting cannabis companies were launched at the direction of the attorney general, who was said to have made the decision based on his personal animus for the industry. “He’s using antitrust not for the purpose of helping consumers and businesses that might be disadvantaged by monopoly, but doing it as a vehicle for his social policies, which is unheard of,” Cohen told Marijuana Moment in a phone interview, referring to the attorney general. The whistleblower didn’t see “any practices that are antitrust in nature, but they said the problem was on the fifth floor, which is where Barr’s office resides and apparently he doesn’t like marijuana so he went after them,” the lawmaker said.
At a House Judiciary Committee hearing last week, the whistleblower argued that there wasn’t an appropriate basis for the investigations, which at one point accounted for one-third of Justice Department Antitrust Division cases. The department’s Office of Professional Responsibility, to which the complaint was referred, ultimately concluded that no rules had been violated in ordering the investigations, regardless of the allegation about Barr’s prejudice. That said, the matter is also separately being looked into by the inspector general, according to a June memo. “I think it’s just unfortunate what they’re doing,” Cohen said of the memo. While the new resolution states that other unrelated “investigations misused the resources Congress appropriated for the Department of Justice to harass and intimidate companies based on President Donald J. Trump’s whims and without a proper legal predicate for such investigations,” the whistleblower specified that the marijuana-specific inquiries were connected to Barr’s alleged bias, not the president’s. However, he did make clear that department resources were wasted and questioned the factual basis for the investigations. All told, across six of the 10 investigations for which data are available, 5,965,000 documents were produced by the cannabis companies under inquiry. A small fraction were actually reviewed by Justice Department personnel. “Attorney General Barr has undermined our judicial system and perverted the rule of law,” Cohen said in a press release. “Barr obstructs justice by favoring the President’s friends and political allies. He abuses his power by using the Department of Justice to harass, intimidate and attack disfavored Americans and the President’s political opponents. My oath to support and defend the Constitution compels me to confront this corruption.” He and the measure’s 35 cosponsors are asking for the Judiciary Committee to explore the potential for impeachment proceedings for the attorney general. Those cosponsors include Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Ed Perlmutter (D-CO), Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and Maxine Waters (D-CA). Of course, the marijuana allegations represent just one part of a broader rationale for a congressional inquiry. The lawmakers also criticized the nation’s top law enforcement official for his role in directing the disassembly of protestors in Washington, D.C., his move to clear former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn of criminal charges and the controversial firing on a federal judge, among other matters. Cohen also talked to Marijuana Moment about a point he made during last week’s Judiciary Committee hearing on the Barr allegations about how cannabis criminalization fosters distrust between communities of color and police, as black and brown people are significantly more likely to be arrested for a marijuana offense compared to white people despite comparable rates of consumption. “It’s a street crime. There are dealers, but most individuals get busted on the street smoking a joint and that’s when police and African Americans come in contact,” he said. “African Americans are anywhere from six or seven to 10 times as likely to get arrested for smoking marijuana as caucasians, and yet there’s no indication that they necessarily smoke at any greater numbers. It’s a breeding ground for this discontent because anybody that gets busted for smoking marijuana is going to have a chip on their shoulder towards the law enforcement, towards society and towards the structure, the establishment, that allows such to happen.” Advocates and lawmakers have made similar arguments in recent weeks as Congress has debated policing reform amid the civil unrest that’s emanated from recent police killings of black Americans. They’ve said that policing reform should be coupled with a conversation about changing marijuana policies to mitigate unnecessary law enforcement interactions. The congressman said the issue reminds him of the 1995 song “Ain’t Hurtin’ Nobody” by John Prime. “When I hear that song, I kind of think about people smoking marijuana,” he said. “‘Ain’t hurtin’ nobody, ain’t hurtin’ no one.’” While no lawmakers ultimately filed cannabis amendments to the House-passed policing bill, there’s still time left in this Congress to take up standalone marijuana legislation. Cohen said it’s “possible” the House will take up the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act before the end of session, but he raised doubts about its prospects in the Senate. “It’s certainly gotten to be more bipartisan in the House,” he said. “The Senate is a little slower to respond on some of these things, and this is one where they’ve been slower to respond. And [Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)] is good on hemp, but that’s about as far as he goes.” Read the text of the resolution to launch in impeachment inquiry into the attorney general below: Barr Resolution by Marijuana Moment on Scribd
Marijuana Moment is made possible with support from readers. If you rely on our cannabis advocacy journalism to stay informed, please consider a monthly Patreon pledge. Original Article Source: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/treasury-department-issues-updated-guidance-on-hemp-banking-rules/ via Tumblr Treasury Department Issues Updated Guidance On Hemp Banking Rules |