The cannabis question in Trump's America

BlackLivesMatterThe results of the Nov. 8 elections really indicate the schizophrenic nature of American political culture at this moment. Amid the fear and loathing over the election of the fascistic Donald Trump as president, big gains were registered for cannabis freedom. Voters in California approved Proposition 64, legalizing  up to an ounce for those 21 and older, and allowing individuals to grow up to six plants. The measure also permits retail sales and imposes a 15% tax. Similar measures passed in Massachusetts, Maine and Nevada, bringing the percentage of Americans living in states where cannabis is legal for adults up from five to 20 percent. Only Arizona's Proposition 205 was rejected by the voters.


Voters in Florida, North Dakota and Arkansas all approved medical marijuana initiatives. Montana also saw a victory, as voters passed Initiative 182, expanding the state's medical marijuana program, and loosening bureaucratic restrictions.

There were also several ballot initiatives concerning the death penalty—and here the results were not good. California voters rejected Proposition 62, which would have abolished the death penalty in the state—while narrowly approving the rival Proposition 66 to "streamline" the execution process under the slogan "mend it, don't end it." 

In Oklahoma, voters approved an amendment that adds a death penalty provision to the state constitution, giving lawmakers the power to use any method of execution not explicitly banned by the US Constitution. In Nebraska, voters overturned the state's ban on the death penalty, nullifying a 2015 vote by the state legislature.


So the herb is winning greater elbow room, even as law-and-order reaction is on march. And how will Trump handle the growing cannabis economy and legalization push? Typically, he's talked out of both sides of his mouth about it. He's said he's behind medical marijuana, and that recreational use should be left to the states—but also that Colorado is "a real problem."

It is possible to imagine him taking a tolerant position on laissez-faire capitalist grounds. It is probably easier to imagine him capitulating to the religious right and launching a wholesale federal assault on the cannabis industry, ironically abrogating states' rights.

In any event, cannabis is on a roll now. That gives us a lever to pry open a bigger debate on questions of social and economic justice related to prohibition and the war on drugs. The challenge will be to build real solidarity between our movement for herbal freedom and the Black Lives Matter protests that are sure to continue, and the civil disobedience campaign against the Dakota Access pipeline—now now facing a greater threat of repression.

Meanwhile, activists have launched a last-ditch effort to prevent Trump from taking office by pressuring his pledged electors to buck him as a threat to democracy and the republic. A general revolt of the Electoral College is unprecedented in American history—but then, so is the election of someone like Donald Trump. The Electoral College votes Dec. 19, so the clock is ticking. It is admittedly a longshot but it is not impossible. Campaigners are using the hashtags #NotMyPresident and #ElectoralNullification.

Cross-post to High Times

Graphic:  Checkin Trapps

 

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Bill Weinberg on the schizophrenic political moment in the USA

Global Ganja Report's picture

Bill Weinberg speaks on the final episode of Cannabis Consciousness Radio on Humboldt County's KMUD Radio about Proposition 64, Trump fascism and #ElectoralNullification.

Comment by Global Ganja Report on Nov 24th, 2016 at 6:13 am

Maine pot shops delayed

Global Ganja Report's picture Maine Gov. Paul LePage on Jan. 27 signed the marijuana moratorium bill into law, just three days before recreational marijuana becomes legal in Maine. The bill allows personal marijuana use but restricts retail sales for one year, at which time the governor and legislature will have had time to set out a proper regulatory structure for the drug. LePage, despite signing the bill, was displeased with the legislature's failure to include two provisions: one providing $1.6 million for costs of promulgating rules, and the other switching marijuana oversight from the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (ACF) to the Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations (BABLO). As a result, LePage issued an executive order delegating oversight of cannabis from ACF to BABLO. LePage also stated "no rules will be promulgated until the Legislature allocates money to fund the rulemaking process." (Jurist)
Comment by Global Ganja Report on Feb 1st, 2017 at 3:18 am

New Hampshire decriminalizes cannabis possession

Global Ganja Report's picture New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu on July 18 signed a bill to decriminalize cannabis possession, removing criminal penalties for up to three-quarters of an ounce of herb or up to five grams of hash. With the law’s passage, all of New England has now a decriminalized cannabis, Marijuana Majority noted on Twitter. (Leafly)

A measure to legalize cannabis in neighboring Vermont was vetoed by Gov. Phil Scott earlier this year. (The Hill, May 24)
Comment by Global Ganja Report on Aug 2nd, 2017 at 12:43 am

Progress in New England

Global Ganja Report's picture Vermont now seems poised to pass a bill legalizing recreational cannabis. Republican Gov. Phil Scott, who vetoed a previous version of the bill last May, has said he will sign a new draft. If signed, the law would go into effect July 1. (Jezebel) And New Hampshire might be next, after its House of Representatives voted Jan. 9 to legalize recreational marijuana. (Jurist)
Comment by Global Ganja Report on Jan 11th, 2018 at 6:19 am

Vermont legalizes

Global Ganja Report's picture Vermont became the ninth state to legalize recreational marijuana and the first to do so by legislation on Jan. 22 after Gov. Phil Scott signed the bill passed earlier this month. (Jurist)
Comment by Global Ganja Report on Jan 24th, 2018 at 4:55 am

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