Tag: decriminalization of marijuana

Arizona Sells Over $1.23 Billion of Marijuana During First Year of Legalization

Guest Post by Martin Armstrong

The state of Arizona saw $1.23 billion in sales after legalizing recreational marijuana one year ago. This figure does not include December’s final reporting. Medical marijuana accounted for $703 million in purchases while recreational produced $528 million. The state will collect over $196 million on those earnings, with a good percentage going to education.

The Marijuana Excise Tax will contribute $92.9 million to community colleges and health departments, while $7.3 million will go toward an education sales tax. “Rarely does an industry produce over $1.2 billion in revenue in its first year. This number shows that the legalization of cannabis is something Arizonans believe strongly in and the many benefits it contributes to the state’s economy,” Samuel Richard, the executive director of the Arizona Dispensaries Association, said in a press release.

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Binding Little Jeff

Guest Post by Eric Peters

In some states, it is illegal to drive faster than 70 on the highway. But in Texas, you can legally drive as fast as 85 on some highways. Because the federal government no longer dictates how fast you’re allowed to drive in any state.

For about 20 years – from 1974 to 1994 – the feds did exactly that. It was called the National Maximum Speed Limit (NMSL) and informally known as Drive 55.

Everywhere.

Those of us who suffered under it remember it well.

Ostensibly, the NMSL was imposed as a fuel conservation measure but it was enforced as a saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaafety issue. Rates of travel that were legal – and presumably, safe – were made illegal (and unsafe) overnight, literally – by federal fiat. 

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Warring on Some Drugs

Guest Post by Eric Peters

An irony of the War on Some Drugs is that legal drugs – most notoriously, the pain medication oxycodone – are more of an objective threat to people’s health than illegal ones like marijuana, which can be used to treat the same conditions, but without the life-threatening (and ending) downsides.

Opioids – which are derived from opium – are often prescribed as painkillers. They’re effective, but the downside is they are enormously addictive. And – unlike marijuana – they can literally kill you.

Marijuana is also a very effective pain killer – but without the lethal downsides.

It is impossible to “OD” on pot.

Or even to become addicted.

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I_S VISITS A LEGAL MARIJUANA SHOP

After going out to breakfast this morning I walked down the street to check out my first legal weed shop in person. I was curious to find out if the prices for weed on priceofweed.com in states where it had been legalized were based on legal purchases or black market because their website does not say. I walked there mostly because I don’t want my license plate recorded (if that kind of thing is going on) but it is colder than a well diggers ass out there at 7 degrees above zero!

The place was clean and neat with no hint of marijuana aroma at all. Called Smokane, it looked a bit like a white sterile hospital room with jewelry display cases. There was a chalk board menu of their products on the wall which isn’t really helpful unless you are familiar with the hundreds of different strains that exist. They break things down by type which falls into sativa (head high) and indica (body high) and hybrids which supposedly offer aspects of both.

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NYPD Union Leader: Reducing Marijuana Arrests is “Beginning of the Breakdown of a Civilized Society”

Guest Post by Adam Dick
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Reported efforts to begin following through on New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s 2013 election promise to reduce marijuana arrests in the city has distressed Sergeants Benevolent Association police union President Ed Mullins. Mullins is quoted Wednesday in the New York Post lamenting that “If the current practice of making arrests for both possession and sale of marijuana is, in fact, abandoned, then this is clearly the beginning of the breakdown of a civilized society.”

The city’s apparent move to reduce the number of marijuana arrests comes soon after an October joint report of the Drug Policy Alliance and the Marijuana Arrest Research Project publicized that the number of marijuana possession arrests in New York City were on track to remain the same under de Blasio’s leadership, or even increase, compared to arrests under Michael Bloomberg, the preceding mayor.

Of course, the truth is that there is nothing civilized about arresting people and throwing them in jail for making the choice to use, buy, or sell marijuana. Such choices have been tolerated or accepted in much of the world for centuries and were legal under United States law for the majority of the nation’s history. US legal prohibitions and punishments were imposed in the 20th century, including with the enactment of laws such as the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 and marijuana’s inclusion in schedule one of Controlled Substances Act of 1970, thus applying the most expansive level of prohibition to actions involving the plant. In contrast, looking further back to the origins of the US, we find that Founding Fathers grew hemp on their farms, including George Washington at Mount Vernon and Thomas Jefferson at Monticello.

A time traveler from the American 1800s, when marijuana and other now-illegal drugs were legally grown, bought, sold, and ingested, would likely find perplexing the comment that it is uncivilized to refrain from arresting and jailing people for such peaceful activities and commerce. Indeed, such a time traveler would probably immediately recognize that it is instead the police-state approach exhibited in Mullins’ comment and demonstrated each day in the enforcement of the drug war that is uncivilized.

But, Mullins need not talk with a time traveler; he can witness himself in the states of Colorado and Washington, and soon more American jurisdictions, that even legalizing marijuana is not a step away from civilization.

It is hard to believe that Mullins really believes his dire warning. Instead, as with the response of other drug war beneficiaries to marijuana prohibition rollbacks, Mullins is probably making his Chicken Little pronouncement in a desperate attempt to keep the war on marijuana easy money flowing in spite of the apparently unstoppable move toward nationwide marijuana legalization. Mullins is a police union leader after all.

Mullins also reveals a broader agenda behind his support for continuing the high number of New York City marijuana arrests when he comments in the Post article, “If we’re not making marijuana arrests, then we may not pop someone who has a warrant on them or who committed felony crimes.” Indeed, the drug war exception to the Fourth Amendment and to similar state restraints on police action has proven a convenient path to abusing people with impunity. And, when you put enough people through the wringer, you will find a person here and there with a warrant or who you can book for a crime.

One of those “crimes” the Post article reports is often uncovered in the city’s marijuana policing is illegal gun possession—a victimless crime just like marijuana possession.

As a candidate, de Blasio both criticized Bloomberg for being too severe in the pursuit of marijuana law violators and said, “amen for what [Bloomberg] did on gun control. I think we should go the next step.” Might the next step include replacing the marijuana pretext for city police abusing people with a gun pretext? We can hope not. But, the city taking that step may give Mullins some hope for preserving the warped “civilized society” he cherishes—at least in New York City.

BECAUSE I GOT HIGH – PHILLY DECRIMINALIZES WEED

SSS rant in 3,2,1….

Marijuana Decriminalization Takes Effect in Philadelphia

Marijuana Decriminalization Takes Effect in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA, PA — The City of Philadelphia’s new fine structure for handling marijuana possession charges takes effect today.

This will largely stop the procedure of using custodial arrests — handcuffs and holding cells — for small amounts of cannabis. Philadelphia Police will begin issuing civil citations instead — $25 for possession of up to 30 grams of marijuana and $100 fine for smoking in public.

Legislation to enact the policy shift was sponsored by Councilman James Kenney after he spoke with Chris Goldstein, NA Poe and Anne Gemmell of PhillyNORML.

PhillyNORML has been reporting on the disturbing racial disparity of marijuana arrests since 2008. Using data from the Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting System we found that more than 80% of those arrested were African American. No other crime in the city, including possession of heroin and cocaine, showed this trend.

The were two committee hearings and a full Council session with testimony from members of the public, community groups and advocacy organizations. The full City Council ultimately passed Bill 140377-A in a 14-2 vote. Mayor Michael Nutter was initially resistant to the change, but then he embraced the new policy.

During the official signing of the bill in September Councilman Kenney said:“ We hope young people will be spared the life-altering consequences of a criminal record, such as limited job prospects, inability to obtain student loans or even join the armed services.”

Mayor Nutter commented that, “the punishment needs to be proportionate to the crime, and these are common sense changes that will have a positive impact on many Philadelphians.”

Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey has vowed to implement the measure.

PhillyNORML activist and US Marine Corps combat veteran Mike Whiter will receive the first citation on the morning of October 20th.

Whiter negotiated with PPD Chief Inspector Joe Sullivan and Civil Affairs department head Captain Stephen Glenn to engage in the peaceful action. Whiter, an underground medical cannabis patient, wants to demonstrate the proper procedure for both sides during a police encounter.

“I want to symbolically thank Philadelphia now that I can medicate in my city without fear of being thrown in jail and having a criminal record,” said Whiter. “Decriminalization is a huge step, but it is not enough. Pennsylvania desperately needs a medical marijuana program.”

Comedian and activist NA Poe welcomed the change. “The fact that marijuana advocates and the police can work together to find common ground on this issue shows the groundbreaking progress that has been made in our city.”

PhillyNORML co-chair Chris Goldstein said the policy shift is a significant milestone. “We join other cities like Washington DC in dismantling the institutional racism that has been inherent to marijuana prohibition. This is a win-win for cannabis consumers and for the entire city. Few policies can save millions of dollars and serve the cause of social justice. Reducing marijuana penalties does both.”

PhillyNORML is hosting a victory party on Friday October 24, 2014 at The Legendary Dobbs on South Street. Featuring local bands Bong Hits for Jesus, Little War Twins and more along with speeches from activists. The event is a fundraiser for PhillyNORML to work on statewide marijuana decriminalization.