Clinton vows to re-schedule cannabis

[Aegeon]

Hillary is blowing non-THC laced smoke up everyone's collective ass about this. She is great at pandering though so there are people that love to hear this and she knows it. It would be great if she actually could get MJ rescheduled, and I would 100% support it, but she doesn't have that power.

Uh, you appear to be blunt simply flat out mistaken on this point.

Crucially while it appears the current legislation on this matter mentions marijuana as a potential schedule 1 drug, it makes it clear that the executive branch has the power to change it to a different schedule designation. (Basically a drug can be determined to be exempted or better belong to a different scheduling level by basically the US Attorney and General and the Health and Human Services Secretary both of whom Hillary would be in charge of appointing if elected President. For that matter Hillary would retain the potential power to fire either of them if she became fed up with how they were acting towards desired policy goals.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Removal_of_cannabis_from_Schedule_I_of_the_Controlled_Substances_Act

(It probably wouldn't happen overnight given the apparent process, but it could happen reasonably quickly if the executive branch really wants to resolve the issue.)

While theoretically most likely a Republican Congress could try to fight the decision in court, especially a Schedule II designation would be highly unlikely to ultimately be overturned given the evidence that marijuana has potential medical uses which could be pointed to by now.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Uh, you appear to be blunt simply flat out mistaken on this point.

Crucially while it appears the current legislation on this matter mentions marijuana as a potential schedule 1 drug, it makes it clear that the executive branch has the power to change it to a different schedule designation. (Basically a drug can be determined to be exempted or better belong to a different scheduling level by basically the US Attorney and General and the Health and Human Services Secretary both of whom Hillary would be in charge of appointing if elected President. For that matter Hillary would retain the potential power to fire either of them if she became fed up with how they were acting towards desired policy goals.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Removal_of_cannabis_from_Schedule_I_of_the_Controlled_Substances_Act

(It probably wouldn't happen overnight given the apparent process, but it could happen reasonably quickly if the executive branch really wants to resolve the issue.)

While theoretically most likely a Republican Congress could try to fight the decision in court, especially a Schedule II designation would be highly unlikely to ultimately be overturned given the evidence that marijuana has potential medical uses which could be pointed to by now.

I'm not mistaken whatsoever. Hillary doesn't possess that power, so don't try to twist my statement into something that isn't true. Sure, maybe she can appoint someone that will overturn it. I'd support that 100% because I believe that MJ as a schedule 1 drug is complete and utter BS. I just don't buy in to her pandering hype while looking for votes.

Show me the money. I'll be happy to admit I'm wrong on this point. In fact, I'll be ecstatic. Don't expect it to happen though, at least not by Hillary's hand. Time will tell.

 

[Aegeon]

I'm not mistaken whatsoever. Hillary doesn't possess that power, so don't try to twist my statement into something that isn't true. Sure, maybe she can appoint someone that will overturn it. I'd support that 100% because I believe that MJ as a schedule 1 drug is complete and utter BS. I just don't buy in to her pandering hype while looking for votes.

This seems like semantic quibbling or a failure to recognize how the executive branch works in practice. Hillary can specifically make agreeing with rescheduling medical marijuana as a schedule II drug as a precondition for her appointing someone to the positions in question. (The fact that unlike judicial appointments the President can fire them, means they almost always won't ultimately outright go against the President's wishes on any specific issue, especially in relation to a campaign promise. Generally the understanding is if they get fed up enough with carrying out policies they don't support they should resign.)

In other words, unlike many political promises which require legislation and Congressional support so its more understandable if it is ultimately is not carried out, this would be one that Hillary would be truly clearly outright violating her pledge if this does not ultimately happen.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

This seems like semantic quibbling or a failure to recognize how the executive branch works in practice. Hillary can specifically make agreeing with rescheduling medical marijuana as a schedule II drug as a precondition for her appointing someone to the positions in question. (The fact that unlike judicial appointments the President can fire them, means they almost always won't ultimately outright go against the President's wishes on any specific issue, especially in relation to a campaign promise. Generally the understanding is if they get fed up enough with carrying out policies they don't support they should resign.)

In other words, unlike many political promises which require legislation and Congressional support so its more understandable if it is ultimately is not carried out, this would be one that Hillary would be truly clearly outright violating her pledge if this does not ultimately happen.

We will see if that actually happens. I'll be very happy if it does but don't be disappointed if Hillary wriggles out of her promise in order to kow-tow to whomever at the moment, as I expect she will. Prove me wrong that you're not the spineless snake I believe you to be, Hillary. You might actually gain some respect in the process.

 

[nickqt]

I'm not mistaken whatsoever. Hillary doesn't possess that power, so don't try to twist my statement into something that isn't true. Sure, maybe she can appoint someone that will overturn it. I'd support that 100% because I believe that MJ as a schedule 1 drug is complete and utter BS. I just don't buy in to her pandering hype while looking for votes.

Show me the money. I'll be happy to admit I'm wrong on this point. In fact, I'll be ecstatic. Don't expect it to happen though, at least not by Hillary's hand. Time will tell.

Hillary does possess that power. Anyone she appoints serves at her pleasure. If they do not do what she wants, they will then "resign".

You're attempting to quibble out of being incorrect.

Keep on keepin' on, champ.

 

[glenn1]

Not interested in justifying the use of pot. Was interested in the double standard you appeared to be employing. Objectively, at least when abused, alcohol seems to cause more problems than any amount of pot use.

Seems to be true from my experience. Don't know if there is actual research on the long-term health effects of copious MJ use but it's probably safe to say from mere anecdotal evidence that alcohol is worse. And obviously driving while intoxicated on alcohol is a big problem which hopefully won't be the case with MJ should it be rescheduled or decriminalized.

 

[Jhhnn]

Hillary is blowing non-THC laced smoke up everyone's collective ass about this. She is great at pandering though so there are people that love to hear this and she knows it. It would be great if she actually could get MJ rescheduled, and I would 100% support it, but she doesn't have that power. As far as not interfering in States that decide to make MJ legal, didn't Obama make a similar promise?

At least she's not pandering to nativism, bigotry & fear.

Clinton's statement is also entirely in keeping with the 2016 DNC platform that calls for a pathway to legalization.

 

[Sonikku]

What we need is a president willing to acknowledge that the drug war failed and needs to be brought to an end. The solution is worse than the problem at this point.

 

[amenx]

Its pretty impressive she is saying these things during an election. Unheard of for a major candidate who is already going to win.

This is probably why: "US pot smokers DOUBLED in less than 3 years: Now 33 million Americans smoke cannabis - and half the country has tried it".

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/a...ans-smoke-cannabis-half-country-tried-it.html

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

you forgot to mention that the biggest difference between schedule 1 and schedule 2 is that schedule 1 drugs are seen as having zero medical benefits. i agree that marijuana should be schedule 5 but what Hillary said is a step in the right direction and allows for medical studies nationwide.

If the issue is that she is allowing only medical research then sure, however the legal aspect of use has been a problem forever and this does nothing significant. Ignoring people breaking the law and causing us to be in violation of international treaties isn't the best way to go about dealing with that problem IMO.

 

[Genx87]

Obama will hopefully steal that thunder before leaving office...

Obama had his chance but failed last week. I will eagerly await Clinton doing this. But wont be surprised if it never gets done.

 

[retrospooty]

This is probably why: "US pot smokers DOUBLED in less than 3 years: Now 33 million Americans smoke cannabis - and half the country has tried it".

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/a...ans-smoke-cannabis-half-country-tried-it.html

I think what you mean is that based on that poll, US pot smokers that admit to smoking pot doubled in less than 3 years

 

[bshole]

Obama had his chance but failed last week. I will eagerly await Clinton doing this. But wont be surprised if it never gets done.

And I really don't understand why. The only reason I can think of for pots illegality is that it gives cops a plausible excuse to stop black people. There could be a profit motive in there as well for law enforcement. My son is a sophomore in high school and smoking pot. His entire fucking school appears to be smoking. Apparently it is far easier to get than alcohol.

 

[Genx87]

And I really don't understand why. The only reason I can think of for pots illegality is that it allows a cops a plausible excuse to stop black people. There could be a profit motive in there as well for law enforcement. My son is a sophomore in high school and smoking pot. His entire fucking school appears to be smoking. Apparently it is far easier to get than alcohol.

We still have a massive segment of society who believe in the drug war. Luckily over time they will literally die off. Clinton is part of this generation. She is also an authoritarian. Authoritarians dont like giving up power. Even if they know that power is stupid. I have high hopes(pun intended) she will reschedule it and keep the feds off the states backs. But I also think she is pandering to Sanders supporters. So I will not be surprised if this never happens.

 

[bshole]

We still have a massive segment of society who believe in the drug war. Luckily over time they will literally die off. Clinton is part of this generation. She is also an authoritarian. Authoritarians dont like giving up power. Even if they know that power is stupid. I have high hopes(pun intended) she will reschedule it and keep the feds off the states backs. But I also think she is pandering to Sanders supporters. So I will not be surprised if this never happens.

I agree with you on this on every single point.

 

[K1052]

We still have a massive segment of society who believe in the drug war. Luckily over time they will literally die off. Clinton is part of this generation. She is also an authoritarian. Authoritarians dont like giving up power. Even if they know that power is stupid. I have high hopes(pun intended) she will reschedule it and keep the feds off the states backs. But I also think she is pandering to Sanders supporters. So I will not be surprised if this never happens.

Moving to Schedule II is a pretty small ask and I think she'll do it. Hopefully she also keeps the Fed's nose out of state legalization/decriminalization/medical initiatives to at least the same degree that Obama has. At some point Congress really must amend the Controlled Substances Act to at least decriminalize if not outright legalize. I think this will probably happen in the next 10 years as more states implement medical programs or simply legalize on their own initiative.

 

[woolfe9998]

I think she'll do it because for both of the Clintons, what matters most is what they perceive as politically advantageous. Pot legalization is trending as heavily favored. She will want to be re-elected so she'll go along with the polling trends.

 

[retrospooty]

I think she'll do it because for both of the Clintons, what matters most is what they perceive as politically advantageous. Pot legalization is trending as heavily favored. She will want to be re-elected so she'll go along with the polling trends.

Better to do the right thing for the wrong reason than to do the wrong thing for any reason.

 

[1prophet]

Obama has done more to advance the cause of legalization than any of his predecessors when he refused to halt legalization & retail cannabis in CO & WA.

That's really unequivocal.

And he has the power to do it now saving Hillary having to do an about face and not worry about republicans since they are in disarray,

 

[DrPizza]

Obama had his chance but failed last week. I will eagerly await Clinton doing this. But wont be surprised if it never gets done.

Upon some reflection, perhaps missing his chance was intentional. For all practical purposes, everyone except those not living in reality expects that Hillary is going to be the next President. Perhaps by deferring the rescheduling to occur under her administration, it's like a free "look at the positive effects this has had on society" for her reelection campaign in 4 years (or for the election campaign of the Democrat running in 4 years.) Based on the Colorado experiment, it will be hard for the Republicans to point a finger at any stats and say "look at the harm!" The net outcome is likely to be very positive for society.

LOL, on second thought, the Republicans will tie the "GDP growth was under 3% every year under Clinton because people smoking pot were unmotivated to work harder."

 

[bshole]

Better to do the right thing for the wrong reason than to do the wrong thing for any reason.

ABSO FUCKING LUTELY!!!! Sig worthy!

 

[Thump553]

We still have a massive segment of society who believe in the drug war. Luckily over time they will literally die off. Clinton is part of this generation. She is also an authoritarian. Authoritarians dont like giving up power. Even if they know that power is stupid. I have high hopes(pun intended) she will reschedule it and keep the feds off the states backs. But I also think she is pandering to Sanders supporters. So I will not be surprised if this never happens.

Hey it was us boomers (now in our sixties and seventies) the popularized pot so it is kind of silly to blame opposition on age. In any event waiting for the opponents to die off is stupid, better idea is to work on people to change public opinion.

Very interesting change from 1992 when Bill admitted he had tried pot but expressly denied inhaling it. So we are making some progress. And if gay rights tells us anything the majority opinion change can happen very rapidly.

 

[Jhhnn]

We still have a massive segment of society who believe in the drug war. Luckily over time they will literally die off. Clinton is part of this generation. She is also an authoritarian. Authoritarians dont like giving up power. Even if they know that power is stupid. I have high hopes(pun intended) she will reschedule it and keep the feds off the states backs. But I also think she is pandering to Sanders supporters. So I will not be surprised if this never happens.

Always with the negative attributions, huh?

Clinton is an early Boomer, like me. She understands that no matter how one feels about the WoD that cannabis never should have been part of that. Unlike other recreational drugs, cannabis is non-lethal & not much of a real player in the realms of public health & public safety.

She's been there as reality has unfolded, probably knows people from her younger days who've been tokers for 50 years. She's probably been to some of the same kind of hard drug related sad funerals I've attended, as well.

She knows that cannabis prohibition needs to be set aside for the good of the Country & the People. Cannabis use has gone on long enough & is sufficiently widespread that it's become part of our culture, top to bottom. We don't need the divisiveness of this particular bit of authority for its own sake nor the hypocrisy behind it.

 

[Jhhnn]

I think she'll do it because for both of the Clintons, what matters most is what they perceive as politically advantageous. Pot legalization is trending as heavily favored. She will want to be re-elected so she'll go along with the polling trends.

Follow the Will of the People? Heal a huge social schism that never should have existed?

Kee-rist. Next thing you know she'll be going on about how we're stronger together or some such.

 

[bshole]

At least she's not pandering to nativism, bigotry & fear.

Clinton's statement is also entirely in keeping with the 2016 DNC platform that calls for a pathway to legalization.

I love a pathway to legalization that takes decades as opposed to when it became illegal in a few weeks. Why is it so easy to take freedom and so fucking hard to give it back?