How to get marijuana for the state of Nebraska?

[Saint Nick]

I was wondering if anyone here had any tips on how to get this. I wanted to start working with NORML and maybe also create a non-profit organization dedicated to informing people from all walks of life about the pros and cons of medicinal marijuana. I also do understand that Nebraska is a relatively strong Republican state and this may not fly right away.

Does your state have medicinal marijuana? How did your state achieve it?

Thanks for any useful information or tips on how to get started. All of you flamers will be ignored.

 

[LunarRay]

I was wondering if anyone here had any tips on how to get this. I wanted to start working with NORML and maybe also create a non-profit organization dedicated to informing people from all walks of life about the pros and cons of medicinal marijuana. I also do understand that Nebraska is a relatively strong Republican state and this may not fly right away.

Does your state have medicinal marijuana? How did your state achieve it?

Thanks for any useful information or tips on how to get started. All of you flamers will be ignored.

Well, considering we ARE talking about Nebraska, I'd say the best thing to do is lobby you Congresspeople to remove Marijuana from the Federal Drug Listing thus allowing for Californians to travel to Nebraska and use their medicine [Article 4, Section 1 of our Constitution]. Once the farmers there get a wiff of the goings on they'll be ready to pass anything. They won't believe just how well they can feel.

 

[Patranus]

It would probably be best not to discuss breaking federal law on a public message board.

 

[ra990]

It would probably be best not to discuss breaking federal law on a public message board.

That's idiotic. He has not said anything about breaking laws.

 

[dawp]

It would probably be best not to discuss breaking federal law on a public message board.

he's talking about changing federal law, not breaking it

 

[ayabe]

he's talking about changing federal law, not breaking it

Patranus gets high off of Drudge and ammunition, so he's a little sensitive to what others do the in the privacy of their own homes.

 

[Moonbeam]

Patranus gets high off of Drudge and ammunition, so he's a little sensitive to what others do the in the privacy of their own homes.

Pay no attention to Patranus. For him to light up he's have to swallow his arms.

 

[dawp]

Pay no attention to Patranus. For him to light up he's have to swallow his arms.

actually i think someone slipped him some acid and he was never quite the same after that.

 

[LunarRay]

It would probably be best not to discuss breaking federal law on a public message board.

Assuming you were tired when you read my post, I'll elaborate. If our OP wants to illuminate his fellow citizens and in the process enable folks to consume medicinal marijuana, he'd be informed to know that regardless of what the State Law may be regarding that, it is the Supremacy Clause of Our US Constitution that controls. IOW, at the moment it is illegal under Federal Law to have marijuana in any form in one's possession! In California it is legal, if you have the medical certification, etc., to use marijuana but you can be arrested by Federal Authorities in California for having it in any form because the Federal Statutes hold that it is a dangerous drug. I think it is a class 2 drug according to the DEA. Federal Law trumps State Law.

IF the Federal Law is changed to allow for Medicinal Marijuana then regardless of the law of Nebraska I'd opine that a Californian legally enabled to hold and consume marijuana may do so in Nebraska under Article 4 section 1 of our US Constitution.

 

[Saint Nick]

Well, considering we ARE talking about Nebraska, I'd say the best thing to do is lobby you Congresspeople to remove Marijuana from the Federal Drug Listing thus allowing for Californians to travel to Nebraska and use their medicine [Article 4, Section 1 of our Constitution]. Once the farmers there get a wiff of the goings on they'll be ready to pass anything. They won't believe just how well they can feel.

I think this is a great place to start. However, you say remove it from the Federal Drug Listing...that doesn't make it legal right? You're saying that it would ONLY allow people from current medicinal using states to use their medicine in Nebraska, correct?

Also...medicinal marijuana is covered under Federal? I thought it was a state thing...thats why some states have it and most don't. If it were for medicinal purposes under federal law, wouldn't we be able to use it as medicine everywhere in the US?

Thanks for the replies everyone!

 

[LunarRay]

I think this is a great place to start. However, you say remove it from the Federal Drug Listing...that doesn't make it legal right? You're saying that it would ONLY allow people from current medicinal using states to use their medicine in Nebraska, correct?

Also...medicinal marijuana is covered under Federal? I thought it was a state thing...thats why some states have it and most don't. If it were for medicinal purposes under federal law, wouldn't we be able to use it as medicine everywhere in the US?

Thanks for the replies everyone!

Think Gay Marriage...
IF the Feds [SCOTUS] conclude there is no Federal Issue then it is up to the States to enable it. Generally, State Law follows Federal Law. ATM, Nebraska State Law considers Marijuana illegal (I presume). So, if the Feds remove it from the illegal drug classification the States may keep it there... just like Gay Marriage.
But, yes Californian can go to where ever and drive and be married and etc... but like the Federal Marriage Act, a State may elect to not recognize the legal Gay marriage of some State if they choose to and Congress has that power to so indicate and I'd imagine they'd say that...

 

[shira]

I think this is a great place to start. However, you say remove it from the Federal Drug Listing...that doesn't make it legal right? You're saying that it would ONLY allow people from current medicinal using states to use their medicine in Nebraska, correct?

Also...medicinal marijuana is covered under Federal? I thought it was a state thing...thats why some states have it and most don't. If it were for medicinal purposes under federal law, wouldn't we be able to use it as medicine everywhere in the US?

Thanks for the replies everyone!

Federal law doesn't distinguish among the reasons that marijuana is consumed: All consumption of the drug is illegal.

However, Attorney General Eric Holder announced that medical marijuana users won't be prosecuted by the justice department in states that have legalized medical use. Thus, getting a medical marijuana initiative on the Nebraska ballot is probably the best action you can take.

 

[LunarRay]

Federal law doesn't distinguish among the reasons that marijuana is consumed: All consumption of the drug is illegal.

However, Attorney General Eric Holder announced that medical marijuana users won't be prosecuted by the justice department in states that have legalized medical use. Thus, getting a medical marijuana initiative on the Nebraska ballot is probably the best action you can take.

It is still illegal under Federal Law notwithstanding what the AG says he may do... His job is not to be selective in what law he prosecutes but to treat all crime as crime....
What happens if the next AG says 'go get em'?
I maintain, the first thing to do is get it off the Federal illegal drug rolls.. then get the State to legalize it or at worst do both at the same time... Remember, if you get arrested for a Federal Crime and they can't indict on that they may use RICO or even the Drug law to get at you......

 

[Moonbeam]

It is still illegal under Federal Law notwithstanding what the AG says he may do... His job is not to be selective in what law he prosecutes but to treat all crime as crime....
What happens if the next AG says 'go get em'?
I maintain, the first thing to do is get it off the Federal illegal drug rolls.. then get the State to legalize it or at worst do both at the same time... Remember, if you get arrested for a Federal Crime and they can't indict on that they may use RICO or even the Drug law to get at you......

The best way to get drug laws changed is to allow the people who are alive today that oppose it to die and be replaced by voters who were not rendered brain dead by fear that somebody else is having fun.

How some asshole can tell somebody else what they can use is really beyond imagination, a pack of simpering idiots telling somebody they can't explore their own inner psyche with drugs. The first asshole that tried that should have been shot and all the crap of Prohibition, prison, drug wars, drug kings, criminal enterprises around drugs, jails that cost a fortune full of people exercising their rights, etc, would have never happened.

 

[squirrel dog]

you could start a petition , get it signed by a lot of people and get that to the most liberal politico there . The support for legalazation should be the realization that a lot of tax money would come in to state coffers.

 

[Saint Nick]

The best way to get drug laws changed is to allow the people who are alive today that oppose it to die and be replaced by voters who were not rendered brain dead by fear that somebody else is having fun.

How some asshole can tell somebody else what they can use is really beyond imagination, a pack of simpering idiots telling somebody they can't explore their own inner psyche with drugs. The first asshole that tried that should have been shot and all the crap of Prohibition, prison, drug wars, drug kings, criminal enterprises around drugs, jails that cost a fortune full of people exercising their rights, etc, would have never happened.

I think its interesting you mention that. Because a lot of people I have talked to said I am going to have to wait a good 25-30 years until all of the current politicians that are in now are dead or out of office so that they can be replaced.

I don't think I need to wait that long. But, it will be a time consuming process and require a lot of effort to pull Nebraska together to get this.

By creating my non-profit organization, I wanted to start TV ads and maybe getting some billboard spots. Its going to make all of the Republicans upset, but I've got to get the word out there. I wish I had some good material that I could present to people.

 

[shira]

It is still illegal under Federal Law notwithstanding what the AG says he may do... His job is not to be selective in what law he prosecutes but to treat all crime as crime....
What happens if the next AG says 'go get em'?
I maintain, the first thing to do is get it off the Federal illegal drug rolls.. then get the State to legalize it or at worst do both at the same time... Remember, if you get arrested for a Federal Crime and they can't indict on that they may use RICO or even the Drug law to get at you......

If this were possible right now, I'd agree. But there's clearly no consensus yet for legalizing medical marijuana; until that occurs, it's going to be impossible to change federal law on this.

Working at a state level makes sense. If (say) 25 states legalize medical use, and there's no evidence of significant MJ-related health problems among medical users in those states, a future administration is going to find it AWFULLY difficult to justify re-imposing the "prosecute everyone" approach - that would come across as nannyish, controlling, and arbitrary.

Also, as "legal" states continue to have no problems, other states will be emboldened to legalize. Which will pave the way for medical legalization at the federal level.

 

[Moonbeam]

If this were possible right now, I'd agree. But there's clearly no consensus yet for legalizing medical marijuana; until that occurs, it's going to be impossible to change federal law on this.

Working at a state level makes sense. If (say) 25 states legalize medical use, and there's no evidence of significant MJ-related health problems among medical users in those states, a future administration is going to find it AWFULLY difficult to justify re-imposing the "prosecute everyone" approach - that would come across as nannyish, controlling, and arbitrary.

Also, as "legal" states continue to have no problems, other states will be emboldened to legalize. Which will pave the way for medical legalization at the federal level.

No clear consensus means no politician will take a stand against the norm. He or she will avoid the subject as much as possible. One might lose a vote. I think mass civil disobedience both in terms of use, refusal to convict regardless of guilt, etc, might speed the process, but that too requires people who care about changing the shit hole we got ourselves in. People just don't really care much about anything. They are trained to obey and go with the norm.

 

[Moonbeam]

I think its interesting you mention that. Because a lot of people I have talked to said I am going to have to wait a good 25-30 years until all of the current politicians that are in now are dead or out of office so that they can be replaced.

I don't think I need to wait that long. But, it will be a time consuming process and require a lot of effort to pull Nebraska together to get this.

By creating my non-profit organization, I wanted to start TV ads and maybe getting some billboard spots. Its going to make all of the Republicans upset, but I've got to get the word out there. I wish I had some good material that I could present to people.

Personally, I would focus on education, not on pushing people to change the law. I would educate on the costs of the drug war, the relative safety of smoking pot, the economic benefits of legalization, for medical and tax reasons, etc, as an additional income crop, hemp production, etc. Further, I would point out how alcohol is not much different, etc. If one simply deals with the facts, the fact that marijuana is illegal looks to be insane. Educated people often reject being personally insane and attitudes over time will change.

There are huge interests in keeping pot illegal. People are invested in prisons, the police makes tons of money and confiscate property, politicians get votes on fear, the alcohol industry wouldn't like the competition, etc.

 

[Saint Nick]

How do you guys think I could go about collecting information proving that taxing medicinal marijuana sales gives income to the state, or shows a decrease in crime rate, or a decrease in over the counter drug use or other drug abuse?

Any tips there? I might compare our state to a few other medicinal marijuana states to prove the case. Are there any reasons this wouldn't work?

 

[LunarRay]

How do you guys think I could go about collecting information proving that taxing medicinal marijuana sales gives income to the state, or shows a decrease in crime rate, or a decrease in over the counter drug use or other drug abuse?

Any tips there? I might compare our state to a few other medicinal marijuana states to prove the case. Are there any reasons this wouldn't work?

I don't use Marijuana so I don't know what they did here in California but I'd bet the fact that there are JAMA publications on the medicinal issue and many countries support it [See Wikipedia] might be a place to start... along with an email to the organizers of what ever the Prop was to legalize it.

 

[LunarRay]

Shira,
We see this issue from different places, I guess.
I see a Federal Law barring everyone from using it for any reason. I won't violate that law for any reason!... I don't care what the AG said. I trust me ... not them!

To get the States to pass a law to enable the medicinal use has to be done anyhow so perhaps you're right. But, as I said, I'd not use it. I could easily qualify to do so. It is not legal to use so I won't. I didn't do anything in California to secure the Prop passage except to vote in favor of legalizing it.

 

[LunarRay]

The best way to get drug laws changed is to allow the people who are alive today that oppose it to die and be replaced by voters who were not rendered brain dead by fear that somebody else is having fun.

I don't see the difference tween Marijuana and Oxycodone or Hydrocodone or Oxymorphone... except marijuana has many other uses that WORK... I've seen it work and do so very well.
To have to wait for idiots to die off is not a reasonable way to move a product into the mainstream. I can't imagine a sentient being saying Booze is better to get high on... when the conversation is medical use for Parkinsons or HIV or AIDS or Chronic pain or ... etc.. That is what Bilbray (my congressidiot) said to me... He is usually reasonable... but he has blinders on, I guess. I told him he didn't stike me as being unable to answer a direct question with a direct answer... he got ticked.. as I walked away...

 

[Double Trouble]

"Medicinal use". Riiiiiiiiiight. I can see from some of the posts here that you guys have indulged in a little too much "medicine" a little too often

 

[LTC8K6]

There's such a hatred of tobacco smoke that I wonder how mj smoke would be treated if it became legal to smoke joints? While there doesn't seem to be as strong a link to lung cancer, mj smoke still contains all the garbage of tobacco smoke and more of it, so it's no better for your lungs.

I mean, we have folks suing over tobacco smoke from the neigbor's yard, from the neighbor's apartment, and smoking restrictions nearly everywhere. People really hate smokers.

That plus the fact that you don't necessarily need to smoke mj for the medical benefits, you can ususally get those benefits via a pill form. It's often not really necessary to use your lungs as an air filter to get the benefits of mj.

Anyway, I always wonder how the tobacco nazis are supposed to accept second hand smoke that can make them high as well as dirty up their lungs. :biggrin: