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Marijuana Industry News March 15, 2013
International Leaders Want U.S. to Go After Legal Pot in Colorado and Washington…
Even as it is clear a vast majority of Americans wish to see marijuana laws reformed, the Federal government has resisted. One of the most complex situations for federal authorities is permitting legalized marijuana while abiding by international treaties. In 1961, the U.S. took part in the U.N. Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. Officially we are expected to uphold our part as a party of this agreement. However, the United States has not exactly been weighed down by the past burdens of international treaty. Raymond Yans, president of the International Narcotics Control Board, recently said that federal law (where marijuana is still illegal, despite state laws on the contrary) was “good, but insufficient.” The momentum has clearly shifted and now fewer politicians in the United States seems inclined to come on to national airwaves and voice support for the continued and failed War on Drugs. Whether or not it is correct on the part of the American people, we typically do not respond well to the U.N. lecturing us. If Raymond Yans decides to come to America and give a speech on how he feels a 50 year old treaty is more important than suffering patients, or individual liberties, it should make for excellent television.
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Mass. Attorney General Dismantles Ban on Dispensaries…
Due to a successful ballot initiative by residents, Massachusetts is one of the newest states to approve the use of medical marijuana. Of course, controversy soon followed. Even before any dispensaries have opened, local municipalities have enacted bans. However, outright bans have been ruled illegal by the attorney general. A spokesperson for the Massachusetts attorney general’s office said “The act’s legislative purpose could not be served if a municipality could prohibit treatment centers within its borders, for if one municipality could do so, presumably all could do so.” However, local municipalities will have considerable power in overseeing dispensaries. They will be able to set out guidelines as to where dispensaries can be located, such as requiring they be a certain distance from schools, parks etc. This represents a major victory for patients as other states have adopted medical marijuana legislation, only outlaw dispensaries. This leaves the program in limbo. Most patients cannot be depended on to cultivate their own effective and safe medicine without the help of dispensaries.
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Governor Andrew Cuomo Includes Marijuana in NY State Budget Discussions…
Last year, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo decided to shift his hard line view on marijuana reform. The second generation New York governor ran his 2010 campaign with a seemingly inflexible view on marijuana. However, clarifying New York’s decriminalization law from the 1970s has been gaining momentum, especially in New York City. While possession of less than 25g is supposed to yield a civil citation (ticket), a loophole has allowed police to slap harsher charges. However, if marijuana is in plain view, then the offense is escalated to a misdemeanor charge. A tactic known as “Stop and Frisk”, easily allows police to capitalize on the loophole. Officers will tell someone to take marijuana out of their pocket, police can then arrest the individual for having it in “plain sight”, even as they were following the instructions of the officer. The tactic tends to disproportionately target young Hispanic and African Americans even as white teens smoke marijuana in higher numbers, and represent more of the general New York population. Governor Andrew Cuomo was initially mocked for proposing a solution to “Stop and Frisk”. He has argued that “plain sight” and concealed possession should both result in a civil citation charge. The proposal has gained popularity as communities have grown weary from seeing their teens jailed, and having criminal charges following them for the rest of their lives. Brooklyn Democrat, Karim Camara, echoed the growing sentiment and told reporters “We’re not only punishing the individual; we’re punishing society.” Mr. Camara cited how difficult it is for teens with a criminal record to get into college. Additionally, measures that would save the state money (especially post Sandy) are getting their time in the limelight. As New York state enters into bitter budget negotiations, Governor Cuomo appears to be holding at least a semi hard line on reforming marijuana law. It is not yet clear how this will play out politically and if this will force state republicans to accept the change in marijuana law.
Anti-Marijuana Propaganda from the Mid-20th Century
For over 70 years Marijuana has been illegal in the United States. In that time, the powers-that-be have used many forms of propaganda to maintain their control over people’s fear of cannabis in order to prevent the reforms happening today. Initially, the fear and hatred of marijuana was stirred up by Henry J. Anslinger and his cunning use of racism and bigotry. Anslinger and William Randolph Hearst (Hearst publishing) preyed upon the feelings of the white majority and ideas of miscegenation (white women + not-white men). They also made sure people feared a minority uprising, led by unstoppable drugged-out berserker pot-heads. To this day there are still people who fear this, and push for continuing anti-marijuana legislation. However, one fear cannot be stoked continuously for 70 years. As time went by new fears were co-opted and put to use for the war on drugs.
Cannabis and hemp were made illegal in the 1930’s, but hemp was then re-allowed in World War 2 because of its industrial use. After the war ended the ban was reinstated and something else was needed to enforce it. Enter the threat to National Security. That’s right, after the Nazis were defeated and ideas of Superior Races were less popular the country needed something else to unify it. America had a new enemy… Communism! After the war, Anslinger continued to consolidate power into the government apparatus that would eventually become the DEA. With Senator Hale Boggs as his partner, President Harry Truman was convinced that drugs were being utilized by Communist China to subvert Americans and undermine our democracy. In 1951 Truman signed the Boggs Act which imposed strict penalties for violating the import/export laws pertaining to drugs. Part of these penalties were tough mandatory minimum prison sentences. In 1961, Anslinger had JFK used the US influence at the UN to push for an anti-drug convention that eventually saw over 100 countries agree to make marijuana illegal. It would not be the last time that national security would be used as a scapegoat for anti-drug sentiment. All of this helped build the reaction to the counterculture of the 1960’s and 70’s.
In the 1980’s and 90’s, most anti-drug PSA’s (Public Service Announcement) were focused on the negative effects of drugs on the mind, body and social ties. Anybody remember the “This is your brain on drugs” video with the smashed egg? Well, after the terror attacks of September 11, that type of ad moved to the back burner in favor of a terror and drugs cocktail. Many drugs are produced and exported by terror-supporting organizations (not going to debate that here) but once again cannabis was also targeted in these ads. So the teenager buying a bag from his dealer (which was probably grown domestically, in some backwood) is now helping Al-Qaeda to blow up airplanes and shoot marines. One particular PSA shows two men debating the truth of this. The skeptic says he doesn’t believe it, and the other guy says “It’s true,” repeatedly until the other man is convinced. There’s no evidence offered, or even a counterargument. He maintains his position and eventually the other guy is converted. As a 30-second tv spot makes a strong emotional impression, which is the crux of most propaganda. Facts are distorted in order to evoke an emotional response, which has been proven to create a stronger impression than just a factual argument… so far.