Yesterday Barney Frank and Jared Polis co-sponsored Republican Congressman Ron Paul’s bill to allow states to “legalize, regulate, tax and control marijuana without federal interference.”
Did you hear that Andrew “Smokey the Bear” Sullivan? It’s time to pass the dutchy on the left hand side!
But why would gay lawmakers wanna promote the sticky icky icky?
Former Queerty editor and all around fabulous bitch Andrew Belonsky has some thoughts:
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
In abstract terms, medical marijuana and gay rights aren’t that different. They’re both fine examples of federalism: gay equality has civil unions, employment non-discrimination, and a rare marriage law, while medical marijuana contest decriminalization, legalization, dispensaries and taxation.
Belonsky goes on to say that he expects marijuana legalization to sweep the country before marriage equality because marijuana has a tangible business side via dispensaries, because marijuana legalization appeals to anti-war types who have tired of the “War on Drug’s” violence, and because weed has medical use without as many moral hangups as same-sex marriage.
Maybe Frank and Polis figure no one will care about keeping queers from marrying and holding jobs if they’re all busy eating Cheezy Poofs in their undies and watching Adult Swim…. like Andrew Sullivan probably does.
ousslander
I agree with barney Frank. wonders never cease. happy inhaling!
christopher di spirito
States, cities, and towns make tremendous amounts of money prosecuting men and women who get busted for pot possession. Once they’re part of the judicial system, fines are levied and if jailed, complex parole requirements attach. If parole is violated, more fines are levied and states, cities, and towns make even more ca$h.
Keeping pot illegal protects this revenue stream. Pot will never be legalized in the USA.
Politically Incorrect Thug
@christopher di spirito: I respectfully disagree, Chris. I witnessed the near-legalization of pot back in the late 70s, only to be quashed by lawmakers due to the meteoric rise in use of cocaine in the 80s. But now common sense seems to be prevailing, respectable pols and doctors are speaking out in favor of it, and judges are issuing less harsher punishments. The legalization of it as a medical tool is a step in the right direction, and I suspect (hope) that it’ll be legit by 2020.
Libertarian Larry
All I know is that when I was a kid, they promised we’d have picture-phones and legal pot by the time I was 21. Well, I’m now in my 40’s, and sure, there’s Skype, but where’s my damn picture-phone?!? And my legal weed?!? I blame it on racism and sexism and homophobia.
LandStander
@christopher di spirito: Actually, I am inclined to disagree with you as well. Taxpayers spend between $7.5 and $10 BILLION arresting and prosecuting individuals for marijuana. This does not include the money we spend to actually KEEP them in jail once they are there. If made legal, tax revenues from pot sales would actually bring IN $6.2 BILLION.
These amounts far exceed the money currently collected by fines levied against marijuana users now.
Pot is not illegal because we make a bunch of money off it being illegal. We LOSE tons of money in the war against pot, actually….This is well known….Try pressure from the timber industry, the paper industry, the oil industry, the cloth industry, the pharmaceutical industry, etc.
This information can be found in a plethora of places, here’s just one example. Its by Jeffery Miron, a Harvard University professor of economics.
http://www.prohibitioncosts.org/mironreport.html
christopher di spirito
@Politically Incorrect Thug: And what about the powerful alcohol lobby in Washington DC, who is diametrically opposed to pot legalization? Who will go up against them? Willie Nelson?
LandStander
@christopher di spirito: “And what about the powerful alcohol lobby in Washington DC”
Oh yeah, I forgot to add the alcohol lobbyists 🙂
Politically Incorrect Thug
@christopher di spirito: Granted, the fucking beer lobby alone has enough power to make medical marijuana look like legalized heroin, which is a shame, but I still maintain that with the backing of more and more national politicians, the country will come around to acknowledging its need for weed. It took politicians more than a decade to get Prohibition repealed, so we’ll see. As someone who’s pushing 50, I for one would prefer to smoke rather than drink, considering the after-effects of alcohol; the shit’s like poison to me these days.
GayGOP
I never thought I would be thankful for the crazies of the GOP to be in control of the House, but this bill probably, and thankfully so, will not make it even out of subcommittee.
Activist Cat
Help the bill pass – Sign the petition to “Change the Schedule of Cannabis, Cannabis Laws, and Drug Czar Laws”.
Read and sign the petition at
http://www.change.org/petitions/change-the-schedule-of-cannabis-cannabis-laws-and-drug-czar-laws
Each signature sends an email petition letter to both Senators and the House Representative of the signer. After you sign send an email invite, share on facebook or twitter from the petition page.
Be sure your Representatives know you want change!
Then contact Chairman Lamar Smith of the House Judiciary Committee said he would not even consider the proposal. http://lamarsmith.house.gov/
Jeffree
I’ve never touched the stuff* but alcohol is at least 80x more likely to kill you than pot.
Legalize & tax it!
*Secondhand only (Ma, non mi credete?)
Hiya Ma & Pop.
Jeffree
I’ve never touched the stuff* but alcohol is at least 80x more likely to kill you than pot.
Legalize & tax it!
*Secondhand only (Non mi credete?)
Hiya Ma & Pop.
Ruhlmann
One day soon the recreational use of pot will be legal in Canada. I am not sure I want it that way as a weighed gram costs only $10. Once the government gets their mitts on it that will sky rocket and get sin taxed like alcohol and tobaco. As it is they rarely prosecute for anything under an ounce so personally I like things the way they are. I like a good single malt scotch for socialising but nothing beats good bud when you’re fucking your buddy.
the crustybastard
I don’t disagree in principle, but in the midst of our shared civil rights crisis, shouldn’t THESE TWO in particular be busying themselves with something…useful?
EgadsNo
2306 which would allow states to decide for themselves is being
blocked by Rep Lamar Smith (R) of Texas. This is a man who in the
current cycle has taken money for his campaign from:
$20,000 : National Beer Wholesalers Assn.
$15,000 : Schering-Plough Corp (merged with MERCK)
$11,000 : Altria Group (formerly Philip Morris)
$10,500 : Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America
$8,000 : Eli Lilly & Co (prozac + cancer drugs)
$8,000 : Amgen Inc ( drugs for dealing/w chemo )
$7,000 : National Community Pharmacists Assn
$5,000 : GlaxoSmithKline
$5,000 : Constellation Brands (Beer&Wine (B&W))
$4,800 : Republic National Distributing (B&W).
(according to http://www.opensecrets.org/pol…
This is the same man who says he will not even consider allowing it
to pass and is the head of the committee. Surely you can see the
conflict of interests when marijuana is proven to lower consumption use
of tobacco and alcohol- while offering a plethora of medical benefits.
According the US Department of Justice National Drug Intelligence
Center- issued a report entitled “The Economic Impact of Illicit Drug
Use on American Society” Which said in 2007 we lost $193,000,000,000.00
fighting a war on drugs on a state and federal level. That is JUST ONE
YEAR. No wonder the DEA who so strongly opposes marijuana continues to
try to play the American public as fools. Marijuana accounts for 49%
of all arrests and according to the report near 150 billion goes to
police/courts/prisons fighting drugs.