UPDATED: DEA To Reclassify Marijuana, Effectively Legalizing Medical Cannabis, Report Says

[RussBLib]

It looks like it is going to happen! They will move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule II.

Not perfect, but this is REAL PROGRESS!!!

UPDATED: DEA To Reclassify Marijuana, Effectively Legalizing Medical Cannabis, Report Says
The DEA will officially reclassify cannabis as a prescription-only, Schedule II drug on Aug. 1, 2016, a report published a few hours ago claims. If true, that means medical marijuana could be legal by prescription — and perhaps only by prescription — in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the US territories. [UPDATED 6.20.2016]

more at link

[In_The_Wind]

1. It's a start. But, as for me, I want to grow one or two plants for personal use.

[img][/img]

[Bluenorthwest]

4. Here in Oregon you can grow four plants at home.

That's right now today. Go down to the store and buy some clones and off you go!

[In_The_Wind]

5. Let the good times roll.

[blondie58]

8. You can in my state of Colorado

We voted it in- even for recreational use. This is about time!

[In_The_Wind]

9. My state isn't there yet. Medical marijuana is being prescribed.

[mucifer]

2. Will that change the laws on how people are sentenced

for buying or selling? The laws are so bad now. I hope this helps.

[getagrip_already]

12. not likely

you can get a really bad felony for buying or selling prescription drugs without a prescription. In fact, you can be arrested and charged even if you have a script, but don't have the pharmacy bottle on you. Loose pills are a felony in many, many, states.

[Silver_Witch]

3. Such good news on this wonderful day!

Perhaps the world is still getting better dispite politics!

[malthaussen]

6. Gives a whole new meaning to "smoke-filled room."

Doubt it will do much to change the imprisonment of recreational users/sellers, but every little bit helps.

-- Mal

[Dustlawyer]

7. Where does the AMA stand?

This should help researchers, at least I hope so. There may still be laws blocking them from studying marijuana.

Still a far cry from where it needs to be so we must continue the fight unabated!

[OnlinePoker]

10. This was from last year

But scientific study of the medical uses of marijuana is ongoing. So far, evidence suggests that marijuana may be an effective treatment for chronic pain, neuropathic (nerve) pain, and muscle spasms due to multiple sclerosis or paraplegia.
...
In a state that allows the use of marijuana to treat medical conditions, however, a doctor may be able to certify its use.

http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=2338256

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

32. And marijuana has proven to be a natural anti-inflammatory

Inflammation is the primary cause of heart disease and is implicated in the development of some cancers.

http://www.medicalmarijuanainc.com/inflammation-2-medical-marijuana-research/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2828614/

[blondie58]

11. I don't have time to research it right now

But I think that charges have been lessened.
The Denver Post has a great section called 'the Cannabis' that talks specifically about marijuana.
I do know that the banks not accepting marijuana cash is a problem. Pot shops deal with a lot of cash. Just yesterday, there was a robbery in a pot shop.

Legalize it nationwide! We will have less drunk driving crashes and the sales of Fritos will soar!

[Laffy Kat]

28. Not sure, but the AMA is an organization of VERY conservative physicians.

I've worked for both private and academic docs., and I've never known even one who belonged to the AMA. That's why their recent stand on gun control really surprised me.

[AntiBank]

13. a bit of an aside. Here in Sweden we have some of the most draconian laws

and absolutely insane societal-wide paranoia against marijuana. It profoundly goes against the common view of this country as some sort of libertine nordic paradise. I cannot stress how deep it runs with even otherwise tolerant and permissive people here. The majority of people here treat marijuana users at almost the same level as hardcore meth and heroin junkies. It really has to be experienced to be believed. It's pathological and incredibly ingrained into the culture due to multiple decades of governmental propaganda.

[TonyPDX]

33. Wow, that's enlightening -- and frightening. n/t

[Spitfire of ATJ]

14. Let's make tobacco available by prescription only.

[Runningdawg]

17. Tobacco is a sacrament in my religion

How do you see that working? It won't. Another nail in the coffin of Native American religious tradition.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

21. I know what you mean. My family has Crow....

Their quest went from crossing the river to the sacred tobacco plant to passing the bong.

[Warren DeMontague]

34. Every once in a while, I read a post I wish I could rec.

This is one. Perfectly stated, I agree 100%.

People (competent adults) have a right to ingest what they want and do to their own minds what they want. Period.

I agree. Our bodies belong to ourselves, not the state, not "God". This is the basic cornerstone of liberty, IMHO, and it informs so much, not just the drug war but the right of terminally ill people to a pain free exit on their own terms, reproductive freedom, etc.

[SheriffBob]

25. great idea

I am a smoker. I think it should be treated as a schedule 1 drug.

[jtuck004]

15. The rats of WA state have made it easier to buy a gun and kill someone than to get mmj.

This in a place where it is so Democratic that people fart blue, and they put these corporate tools in charge. Thieving, lying assholes of the Weed and Liquor Control Board, owned by the corporations that want to make money from weed.

One of the staunchest advocates for patients here is a repub, who pointed a gun at a fella in a road rage incident. Such a nice fella that people paint swastikas on his campaign sign. Pro mmj, he had beaten every democratic challenger. Puts pictures of his Democratic candidates's house on his web site so his people can find it, if they want to. He's won at least twice that I remember.

For a few years it was very comfortable. Voters said the wanted mmj. People, as if they were respected adults, walked in with their heads up and got their meds. Now the weed control board has decided that adults can't do that. The lying hypocrites will let you walk into any recreational place and pay the gouged price they set after it is taxed 3 times - it's safe enough for them to pick your pocket, but they will leave you screaming in pain as a patient. It is now illegal to grow - at all - unless you give them your name and allow them to come out and inspect your home.

They are sending letters out now to the stores that have helped patients for years, telling them to close if they haven't go the corporate seal of approval.

It's too bad - they think they can simply pass laws by fiat, yet there are tens of thousands of grows out there, and the clowns at the board are too incompetent to do anything about it. They would have to inspect every closet in the state every 4 months. And I would bet
I'm not the only one who would sit through a trial and then simply find state unbelievable. Imagine what that is going to cost them., not to mention at the ballot box.

IDIOTS

They sure have fucked it up for real Democrats, but if that's how the party wants to be represented. I can't turn on people that haven't hurt me like that.

[blackspade]

16. Just the start.

But, it doesn't come close to addressing several critical components of the war on cannabis.

[phazed0]

18. Horrible news.

Still, the DEA and Gov't refuse to include facts and science in their decisions..

From DEA Website:

Schedule II drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with a high potential for abuse, with use potentially leading to severe psychological or physical dependence.

Yo, dumb fucks at the DEA... that isn't weed. How many damn proofs do you need.

So they reason that weed requires too many resources to enforce, so ya, Putting it on Schedule II is going to, what, take it off their radar?! Gimme a break... they still investigate and action against schedule II's.

Legalize it.

[CrispyQ]

19. The corpos will still drug test for pot, I'll bet. --nt

[leftofcool]

26. Yes, teachers, pilots, fire fighters etc...............

As they should be.

[6chars]

20. This article says the op article is not reliable

http://www.thedailychronic.net/2016/58940/no-dea-will-not-legalize-marijuana-august-1/

A weekly newspaper from Santa Monica, Calif., reported on Saturday that the “US Gov’t Will Legalize Marijuana on August 1,” claiming that “weed will soon be legal in all 50 states, with a prescription.”

According to the Santa Monica Observer, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) intends to reschedule cannabis from it’s current status as a Schedule I drug to that of a Schedule II.

However, the only source of this information is an anonymous lawyer with knowledge of the matter:

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will reclassify marijuana as a “Schedule Two” drug on August 1, 2016, essentially legalizing medicinal cannabis in all 50 states with a doctor’s prescription, said a DEA lawyer with knowledge of the matter.

Shouldn’t we be excited? Not quite, as this “news” is unlikely to be true. The entire article — which has since been cited as fact by several pro-cannabis blogs — is speculation and rumor from a source that is identified only as “The DEA Lawyer.”

continues

[alittlelark]

22. Trying to profit off of 'news'....

N CA marijuana interests are like the mob..... skip the middleman and get legal to grow your own....

[RussBLib]

24. Eh! I'm also seeing some things to cast doubt here

Could be too soon.

Looks like I might have been duped again.

[Lunabell]

27. This is a good step.

Next, we get it legalized for recreational use in Florida. LOL

[Faux pas]

30. I'm just happy that

I live in Oregon!

[cannabis_flower]

31. Cocaine

is schedule 2. It needs to be descheduled entirely. Like alcohol and tobacco.

[RussBLib]

36. The DEA responded to the rumors

Looks to me like they will do it, and I do agree with those of you who say it should be removed entirely from the Schedules, but I'll take this small step for now and hope and push for a bigger step later.

DEA Responds to Claim That Agency Will Reclassify Cannabis on August 1

As we've reported before, the DEA actually is expected to respond to a petition calling for the reclassification of cannabis. And in an interview with aNewDomain, DEA staff coordinator Russ Baer wouldn't confirm or deny the Observer's report, but gave several indications that rescheduling might happen.

Baer stressed the complexity of the cannabis plant, pointing out its hundreds of chemical actors, or cannabinoids. “Also, we are talking about synthetic THC, CBD (based treatments), oils, extracts edibles,” he said. The challenge for researchers and government agencies is to “identify the parts of the plant that might have benefit, and separating out (the beneficial) parts from the ones that aren’t beneficial or harmful.”

Baer also said the federal agency is interested in making cannabis research easier, which rescheduling would accomplish. “We do want to remove the roadblocks for research,” he said.

http://www.thestranger.com/slog/2016/06/21/24241870/dea-responds-to-claim-that-agency-will-reclassify-cannabis-on-august-1

[B Calm]

37. Nothing will stop legalization. Politicians on the wrong side will

slowly be voted out of office!

[pbmus]

38. And the sooner they get out of office the better...