cannabisnews.com: Maine Governor Vetoes Voter-Approved MJ Bill
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Maine Governor Vetoes Voter-Approved MJ Bill
Posted by CN Staff on November 04, 2017 at 06:33:47 PT
By Katie Zezima
Source: Washington Post
Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R) on Friday vetoed a bill that would legalize recreational marijuana, nearly a year after residents voted to set up a system to sell and regulate the drug.In a letter, LePage said the law would set up a bifurcated system of recreational and medical sales — which are legal in Maine — of marijuana in the state. Allowing all adults to purchase marijuana also would violate federal law, LePage said. The governor said that while the Obama administration said it would not enforce federal marijuana law, the Trump administration has said it has concerns about legal marijuana. LePage said he sought guidance from Attorney General Jeff Sessions on the matter.
“Until I clearly understand how the federal government intends to treat states that seek to legalize marijuana, I cannot in good conscience support any scheme in state law to implement expansion of legal marijuana in Maine,” LePage wrote.LePage wrote that if the state were to create what amounts to a new industry in the state, “we need assurances that a change in policy or administration at the federal level will not nullify those investments.”The governor also cited the significant impact of the opioid crisis in the state. Overdose deaths increased for five straight years, soaring nearly 40 percent in 2016, when 378 people died.“The dangers of legalizing marijuana and normalizing its use in our society cannot be understated,” LePage wrote. “Sending a message, especially to our young people, that some drugs that are still illegal under federal law are now sanctioned by the state may have unintended and grave consequences.”Maine residents were asked if they wanted to legalize marijuana in a ballot question last year. The measure passed by only about 4,000 votes. The referendum called for a sales and regulation system to be set up by the end of 2017.The state legislature sent LePage a bill written by a special committee last month. Katie Zezima is a national correspondent covering drugs, guns, gambling and vice in America. She covered the 2016 election and the Obama White House for The Post. Source: Washington Post (DC)Author: Katie ZezimaPublished: November 3, 2017Copyright: 2017 Washington Post CompanyContact: letters washpost.com Website: http://www.washingtonpost.com/ URL: http://drugsense.org/url/RQN2mI2WCannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml
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Comment #13 posted by Runruff on November 09, 2017 at 08:26:09 PT
Time well wasted!
Thanx FoM, been busy fighting for my freedom but otherwise things are cool.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #12 posted by FoM on November 09, 2017 at 06:48:13 PT
Runruff
It's wonderful to see you and I like your poem!
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #11 posted by Runruff on November 09, 2017 at 01:07:22 PT:
Jeff Sessions
Ode to the Elfin Cop So the top cop who don't like pot Seems to have forgotWhen you sang for congressLike a caged little songstress You lied 'cause you have been boughtSo there sits our Keebler elfSo darn full of himselfSaying pot smokers are no goodThey don't work and don't do as they shouldBut he may go to prisonThis I heartily hail To see justice served and this demon in jail
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Comment #10 posted by Hope on November 05, 2017 at 23:01:48 PT
Thank you, Sam Adams
I'm glad to see your opinion on this situation. I did, and still do, actually, find it confusing."In a letter, LePage said the law would set up a bifurcated system of recreational and medical sales — which are legal in Maine — of marijuana in the state".... and this... "LePage said he sought guidance from Attorney General Jeff Sessions on the matter." So he didn't veto the legalization the voters called for? Just a bunch of stuff some legislators wrote up that actually took away from legalization as it already is in Maine?
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Comment #9 posted by Sam Adams on November 05, 2017 at 16:41:31 PT
more Maine
here is a better description of what's going on up there - remember the "implementation bill" is actually a hostile re-write of the law just passed by voters last fall:http://www.pressherald.com/2017/11/03/lepage-vetoes-marijuana-bill/>>If the implementation bill fails to overcome the veto, the ballot-box law, officially known as the Marijuana Legalization Act, would remain in effect. But a moratorium on the commercial aspects of that law would remain in effect until February 2018, meaning that Maine residents could continue to possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis or grow up to six mature plants, but cannot legally buy or sell it until the moratorium lapses or an implementation bill is adopted.The regulatory bill is generally more conservative than the voter-approved legislation – its tax rate is two times higher, it prohibits gifting of marijuana, it eliminates license preferences for medical marijuana caregivers, sets a two-year residency requirement for license applicants, and prohibits drive-up windows, online sales and home delivery. It also requires towns to “opt in” to the adult-use market rather than opt out, which observers describe as an obstacle to industry growth.
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Comment #8 posted by Sam Adams on November 05, 2017 at 16:37:28 PT
Maine
just wondering if you guys are aware of this bill actually was. I'm glad that it was vetoed, it was horrible.The law that voters enacted by referendum is currently the law of the land. People are alllowed to grow and possess cannabis NOW. Sales become legal on Feb. 1st, 2018 with a tax rate of 10%.The bill that was vetoed would have doubled the tax rate, massively reduced the number of plants it's legal to grow at home, and also banned cannabis sales in every town in the state, unless the town governments voted to "opt-in" to sales.And the legislature called this an "implementation bill". The law the voters enacted was turnkey and needed absolutely no changes or additions to take effect. This bill repealed many sections of the law just passed by voters. Now that it's dead we can at least hope for something better. If the legislature and governor can't agree on changes then hopefully no changes to the law will occur.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #7 posted by Hope on November 05, 2017 at 16:28:50 PT
Mi Capitán!
So good to see your wisdom and knowledge gracing these pages again. You are missed!
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #6 posted by kaptinemo on November 05, 2017 at 05:30:22 PT:
Sessions in the docket on cannabis? Speed the day!
Ol' Jeffie's public comments about cannabis consumers may just come back to bite him in a big way; what comes around, goes around.I've been saying for years, decades, really, that the defenders of the indefensible have been given a free ride with regards to not paying penalties for disseminating lies about cannabis to the public when those lies form the foundation of its prohibition. A court case where the proponents of prohibition are forced to testify under oath, with a threat of perjury if they repeat their lies as testimony, a court case where prohibition, itself is placed on trial, is what has always been needed to end this madness. The historically provable racist and unscientific basis for cannabis prohibition can mow be hauled up in a legal venue and exposed for the kind of intellectual and fiscal fraud it is, a fraud that has destroyed countless lives and has cost the taxpayers hundreds of billions - if not a trillion - dollars, as cannabis prohibition is the cornerstone of the foundation of drug prohibition...and the massive erosion of our civil rights needed to enforce it. The legal ramifications of a successful legal dissection and invalidation of cannabis prohibition will in turn cause the laws, themselves to be null-and-void...which is why the prohibs have fought tooth and nail to keep this out of court for decades. Given how much corruption has been unearthed in the Justice Department recently (corruption that enables cannabis prohibition to endure for as long as it has), and how that corruption has stained politics in this country, obstructing something as popular as ending cannabis prohibition may be seen as the last straw to an electorate that is fed up with the lies, and proving that politically in State after State by voting to end prohibition.
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Comment #5 posted by Hope on November 04, 2017 at 22:15:18 PT
LePage represents something besides the people.
"Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R) on Friday vetoed a bill that would legalize recreational marijuana, nearly a year after residents voted to set up a system to sell and regulate the drug."LePage should be removed from office. He is not the King of Maine.
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Comment #4 posted by The GCW on November 04, 2017 at 08:14:29 PT
Garry Minor,
Thanks for that news and link. I looked at it and like the direction... One question is, how long before this actually gets into the courtroom? That often means years...Should pull the vampires into the courtroom Monday.
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Comment #3 posted by The GCW on November 04, 2017 at 08:06:45 PT
Towing political party line / ignoring citizens
Some republicans are seeing the light, however, repub politicians by and large, are guilty of some backwards thinking regarding the relatively safe and extremely popular plant cannabis.*Using the opiate issue to perpetuate cannabis prohibition is backwards thinking; cannabis helps alleviate that problem, not exacerbate it.*Waiting to see, "how the federal government intends to treat states that seek to legalize marijuana," is backwards when acknowledging facts which indicate in no regard has the federal government pushed back any state that has moved forward on this issue. FURTHER, the more states move forward, the more solidarity preventing the feds...*Any attempt to delay a legal regulation system simply forces the illegal regulation system to continue; it's not like Americans are sitting around waiting with intention of doing without cannabis.-0-These type of republican politician's actions make sense when We realize it's not the citizens who support the politician; it's the political machine. The dog responds to who fills their bowl, who replaces their year old yacht etc...
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Comment #2 posted by Garry Minor on November 04, 2017 at 07:57:52 PT:
LePage said he sought guidance from .........
..... Attorney General Jeff Sessions on the matter. Meanwhile;Jeff Sessions to Stand Trial in Cannabis De-SchedulingFor the very first time in history the United States Government will have to answer to the judiciary about the scheduling of cannabis and its unconstitutionality. Jeff Sessions, the DEA, and the DOJ will all have to stand trial according to the judge overseeing their case. This is the first time that a trial to legalize cannabis has proceeded past the normal attempts at dismissal. All of the defendants will have to get recorded depositions. This is great news for the plaintiffs in the case which include Army combat veteran, Jose Belen, former NFL player Marvin Washington, 11 year old Alexiss Bortell who uses cannabis to treat her epilepsy, Jagger Cotte. ..... It appears this is how the Jeff Sessions legacy is about to be written. Instead of doing the right thing, his Justice Department will be forced to recognize the rights through the court system. http://floridamarijuana.net/breaking-news-jeff-sessions-dea-stand-trial-federal-lawsuit-de-schedule-cannabis/#commentsWe'll see!Kaneh Bosm
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Comment #1 posted by Vincent on November 04, 2017 at 07:35:06 PT:
Jerk
Is the Governor allowed to do that, to go against the will of the people?
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