Scofflaws Paved the Way for
Legal Marijuana
Posted By: zoidberg, 4/19/2021 4:59:45 PM
Most Americans now favor legalizing marijuana, including large majorities across the political spectrum. Just this year, New Mexico, New York, and Virginia have eliminated state bans and opened the door to legal markets in the stuff. Even Congress is considering federal legalization (though the White House isn't necessarily on board). Via the ballot box and through legislation, authorities in the United States are reforming the treatment of marijuana and those who enjoy its use. But, as is so often the case, the impetus for change came much earlier—from scofflaws who did as they pleased, normalized the use of an
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Most Americans now favor legalizing marijuana, including large majorities across the political spectrum. Just this year, New Mexico, New York, and Virginia have eliminated state bans and opened the door to legal markets in the stuff. Even Congress is considering federal legalization (though the White House isn't necessarily on board). Via the ballot box and through legislation, authorities in the United States are reforming the treatment of marijuana and those who enjoy its use. But, as is so often the case, the impetus for change came much earlier—from scofflaws who did as they pleased, normalized the use of an
Public support for marijuana legalization has reached a new high. According to pollsters at Quinnipiac University, 69 percent of all Americans and clear majorities in every demographic group now favor the legalization of marijuana. That's up from 51 percent of Americans who said they favored legalization in 2012, the first year Quinnipiac included questions about marijuana in their national surveys, and up from 60 percent who backed legalization in 2019. (Snip) Support isn't just growing, it is broadening. The Quinnipiac poll found that 78 percent of self-identified Democrats, 62 percent of self-identified Republicans, and 67 percent of self-identified independents favor legalization.
An Atlanta high school that bears the name of a Confederate Army general who was a leader of the Ku Klux Klan will be renamed for Hank Aaron, the Hall of Famer who broke baseball’s career home record and challenged racial barriers. The Atlanta Board of Education voted unanimously Monday to change the name of Forrest Hill Academy, named after Nathan Bedford Forrest, to Hank Aaron New Beginnings Academy. School district policy requires a five-year waiting period after the death of a notable person unless the vote to change the name of a school building is unanimous.
Do immigrants bring with them the worst attributes of the countries they left behind? (Snip) In their new book, Wretched Refuse?: The Political Economy of Immigration and Institutions, the Cato Institute's Alex Nowrasteh and Texas Tech University's Benjamin Powell take an exhaustive look at the data and find that destination countries not only benefit economically from immigration but that key markers of liberal democracy—such as support for the rule of law and limited government, belief in private property rights, and trust in government—improve when newcomers arrive en masse.
Rep. Justin Amash (L–Mich.) on Thursday introduced a bill to end civil asset forfeiture, which allows the government to take property from someone without ever charging them with a crime. Law enforcement on the local, state, and federal levels can seize assets if they were thought to be used in connection with illegal activity. That's often based solely on suspicion, though. Many people never receive their items back, even if they were acquitted or never charged in the first place. Since 2000, state and local governments have robbed people of more than $68 billion.
Drugs Declare Victory in War on Drugs
14 replies
The 2020 elections delivered a resounding victory for drug policy reformers, who won everywhere their proposals were put to a vote. Across the country, in red and blue states, on both coasts and in between, in the Midwest and the Deep South, voters passed ballot initiatives that not only continued to reverse marijuana prohibition but also broke new ground in making drug laws less punitive and more tolerant. New Jersey's approval of marijuana legalization was expected. Preelection surveys consistently put public support above 60 percent, although the actual margin of victory was a few points bigger than the polls suggested
‘Conservative’: A Term Up for Grabs
15 replies
Twenty-five years ago, I met Scott Morris, when we both worked at The Weekly Standard. He asked, “What kind of conservative are you? What is the basis of your conservatism?” I attempted a couple of answers, which did not satisfy him. Scott was an intellectual, who had studied philosophy, including over in Oxford. Finally, I said to him, “Look, Scott, I’m a simple fellow: I just hate the Reds. Hate, hate, hate the Reds.” He laughed and laughed, and let me off the hook, for a while.
Israel could become the third country in the world to legalize marijuana for recreational use under a plan recently announced by the government. The recommendations from an interministerial committee call for the introduction of implementing legislation by the end of the month. Legalization would take effect nine months after the bill is approved by the Knesset, Israel's parliament. "It's time to make progress and legalize cannabis in Israel," said Justice Minister Avi Nissenkorn. "This is a significant, holistic and responsible reform, which shows the State of Israel isn't ignoring reality and is going in the footsteps of developed countries."
The third time wasn't the charm for the Pentagon, which has once again failed to successfully complete an audit. Thomas Harker, the Pentagon's comptroller, told Reuters that it could be another seven years before the department can pass an audit—something that it has never accomplished. Previous attempts in 2018 and 2019 turned up literally thousands of problems with the Pentagon's accounting system and millions of dollars' worth of missing equipment.
As Americans head to the polls more divided than ever on social and economic issues, there’s one thing they’re actually coming together on: cannabis. Much has been made of whether a victory for Democratic nominee Joe Biden, or a potential liberal sweep in the Senate, could bolster marijuana companies. But initiatives on the ballot in a handful of conservative states show Republicans are increasingly on board with legalization as well — perhaps paving the way for an end to federal prohibition, no matter who controls Washington.
About That George Floyd
Judge Judy Video 7 replies
Judge Judy Video 7 replies
One of the bits of fake news currently making the rounds on the geriatric circuit purports to show George Floyd, at age 17, on the Judge Judy show, where he admits to being a carjacker. The message — that he was a rotten SOB and more or less deserved what happened to him at the hands of Minneapolis police — is impossible to miss. That the video is a misrepresentation would be obvious to anybody with any knowledge of the basic facts of the case.(Snip)If you tell somebody a lie they want to hear, then you do not have to worry
The prevalence of immunity to the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 may be much higher than previous research suggests according to an intriguing new study by researchers associated with Karolinska Institute in Sweden. In addition, a new German study by researchers associated with the University Hospital Tübingen in Germany reports that people who have been previously infected with versions of the coronavirus that cause the common cold also have some immunity to the COVID-19 virus. If these reports stand up to further scrutiny, it would be very good news because they suggest that the pandemic could be over sooner
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Former President George W. Bush said Sunday during an interview with “CBS Evening News” anchor Norah O’Donnell that he felt former President Donald Trump lacked the “humility” necessary to be an effective leader. In the interview that aired on “CBS Sunday Morning,” O’Donnell said, “Though he has refrained from criticizing his successors, he told us there’s a clear difference between him and former President Donald Trump.” Discussing Trump, Bush said, “I feel a responsibility to uphold the dignity of the office. I did then, and I do now. And I think it’s undignified to want to see my name in print all the time.” CORRECTION*
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter on Tuesday in the death of George Floyd. The jury deliberated for four hours on Monday and seven and a half hours on Tuesday before reaching a verdict, according to CNN. It was allowed to consider all three charges against Chauvin and returned a guilty verdict on all three. (Tweet) Chauvin was fired by the Minneapolis Police Department on May 26, 2020, the day after he knelt on Floyd’s neck for almost nine minutes. Video taken by an onlooker showed the entire
Breaking: Democrats Making Shocking Move,
Will Back Petition to Censure Maxine Waters,
Will Lose Chair 39 replies
Will Back Petition to Censure Maxine Waters,
Will Lose Chair 39 replies
A growing number of congressional Democrats are so furious at Maxine Waters for inciting violence in Minneapolis that they are supporting joining Republicans and censuring Waters which will result in her dismissal as chairwoman of the House Financial Services Committee.
Over the weekend while on the ground in Brooklyn Center, Minneapolis, Waters encourage Democrats to get “confrontational” and to “make sure that they know we mean business.”“We’re looking for a guilty verdict. We’re looking for a guilty verdict. And we’re looking to see if all of this [inaudible] that took place and has been taking place after they saw what happened to George Floyd,” Waters said.
CNN host Chris Cuomo began his Friday monologue with a frustrated rant about a lack of police reforms following the shootings of two young black males, saying that nothing will change until white children start getting killed.As he began, Cuomo recounted several recent shootings, including one in Indianapolis at a FedEx facility on Thursday in which the young white male gunman, Brandon Hole, killed eight people and wounded several others before killing himself, before going on to suggest that the frequency of the incidents has created an ‘us versus them’ mentality that is now gripping much of society.Cuomo then told the audience they are aware of what will really change
In case you missed this report after the election— (Photo) An email previously released by WikiLeaks reveals that a Dominion Voting advisor met with John Podesta during Hillary Clinton’s campaign to discuss ways that they could help to defeat Donald Trump.In 2018, Dominion Voting announced that it had been acquired by its management team and Staple Street Capital, a New York-based private equity firm, who was being advised by Kirkland & Ellis LLP.During Clinton’s campaign, according to an email chain released by WikiLeaks, Kirkland & Ellis LLP partner Kamran S. Bajwa met with John Podesta while offering “anything” to help defeat Donald Trump.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi defended Rep. Maxine Waters urging protesters to "get more confrontational" over the weekend in the event that Derek Chauvin is acquitted of murder for the death of George Floyd, saying the Democratic congresswoman does not need to apologize. Over the weekend, Waters, D-Calif., said protesters in Minnesota should "stay on the street and get more active."
Dr. Anthony Fauci opined Sunday about the surge of gun violence in the United States and described the spike in shootings as an issue of public health.
Speaking to CNN host Dana Bash on “State of the Union,” Fauci was asked to comment on whether he believes gun violence is a public health emergency.
“Myself, as a public health person, I think you can’t run away from that,” Fauci replied. “When you see people getting killed, I mean, in this last month it’s just been horrifying what’s happened. How can you say that’s not a public health issue?"
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-G announced an effort Sunday to expel Rep. Maxine Waters from Congress after she told protesters in Minnesota to "get more confrontational" if Derek Chauvin isn't convicted of murdering George Floyd. In a statement released by her office, Taylor Greene accused the California Congresswoman of inciting "Black Lives Matter domestic terrorists to fire gunshots at National Guardsmen in Minnesota" after she spoke in Brooklyn Center, which has become a flashpoint for protests following the fatal police shooting of Daunte Wright. "I'll be introducing a resolution to expel Rep. Maxine Waters from Congress for her continual incitement of violence," a statement from Taylor Greene's office reads.
Just days before President Biden kicks off a climate summit with world leaders, the United Nations World Meteorological Organization released a report Monday warning that “time is fast running out” to keep global temperatures in check. Titled “State of the Global Climate 2020,” the report finds that concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere continued to climb in 2020, despite lockdowns imposed to slow the spread of COVID-19. Last year, the report notes, was the third warmest on record, worsening the melting of glaciers and sea ice, the acidification of the world’s oceans and the severity of wildfires and hurricanes.
President Joe Biden is currently exploring the idea of canceling federal student loan debt, awaiting memos on how much he can do legally.The Biden White House tasked Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona to explore the issue, effectively stalling immediate action on the issue as activists increasingly push for him cancel the debt.
White House chief of staff Ron Klain said Biden has not made a decision on the issue either way, as he is waiting for the policy memos.“Hopefully we’ll see that in the next few weeks, and then he’ll look at that legal authority; he’ll look at the policy issues around that and he’ll make a decision,”
Rioting is a frequent phenomenon, complete with a professional traveling cadre that moves into a city when a spark ignites anger – as most recently happened in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. (snip) Poor Blacks burning their own neighborhoods hurts the (nonprofessional) rioters and their families and is a burden that does not affect most people. It also doesn’t win a lot of friends among the supposedly oppressed people the itinerant professional rioters seek to lead.
Now, we are seeing signs that the urge to riot will be directed from above at the affluent and comfortable, a property destruction analog of the slogan “Eat the rich”
Ace New York Times reporters pin
vaccine hesitancy among conservatives
to their belief in 'hoaxes' 30 replies
vaccine hesitancy among conservatives
to their belief in 'hoaxes' 30 replies
Remember Pauline Kael? She's the famous Manhattan film critic who apocryphally said that she couldn't understand how anyone could vote to re-elect President Nixon in 1972, because she didn't know anyone. (Actually -- she did know one, but lost track of him.) She "lived in a rather special world," as she put it.
Well, the New York Times still lives there, and appears to like being mired in the same Mr. Magooism.
Latest nonsense from those heights comes from a big data-journalism-driven piece with three bylines and four contributors on vaccine hesitancy around the U.S., concluding that it's all those troglodytes who voted for President Trump
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Tomorrow is 4/20. "Useless laws weaken the necessary laws." – Montesquieu