An Executive Order decriminalizing cannabis

[dutch508]

Star Member NightWatcher (39,037 posts)
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100216315262

An Executive Order decriminalizing cannabis and expunging pot from criminal records would be nice.

It's legal to some extent in half the country. Its insane that we still have people getting thrown in jail for simple possession when half the people can buy it at a store today. Up to 40,000 people are incarcerated for simple possession.

This would shake shit up and excite the base ahead of a make or break election.

I'm glad that Biden wants to cut cancer rates in half in the next 25 years, but that is a long time off, probably unattainable, and not too politically exciting.

 

Buckeyeblue (3,921 posts)

2. I think the financial institutions are pushing for legalization

It's a huge business. Nationally chartered banks have stayed away, even in states where it's legal, probably because of regulatory concerns. But they want in. I suspect that the federal laws against pot will be overturned soon. I think the law will kick it to the states to decide.

Star Member hlthe2b (90,129 posts)

3. I have found it fascinating recently to hear many anti-vaxxers being opposed to pot and even CBD

Not sure how to reconcile that...

Star Member thucythucy (6,476 posts)

5. Is that even possible?

Can the president overturn legislation with an executive order?

I would think it would have to be Congress acting to repeal the relevant law.

What the president can do--perhaps--is issue pardons for everyone serving time for simple possession, but I'm not sure about that either. Back when the TFG was handing out pardons I thought people here commented on how presidential pardons don't apply to those accused of violating state laws.

Narrowing it down, he can pardon anyone convicted of simple possession in violation of federal law, which would be a start, assuming such people exist.

As for expunging criminal records, that might also be problematic. I thought that one condition for receiving a presidential pardon is an admission of guilt. Perhaps the president could expunge the records of those convicted of federal crimes--though I'm not even sure of that--but can the president expunge state records?

I think that some people advocate that the president issue this or that executive order to solve a problem or correct an injustice, when such a thing isn't possible. I'm recalling specifically conversations with left leaning friends insisting that President Obama could simply issue an executive order creating a single payer health care system, who were then pissed because he didn't.

It does us no good to hold our elected leaders to standards impossible to meet, which then can work to depress voter turnout.

 

Voltaire2 (9,955 posts)

7. Biden appears to have no appetite for

implementing policy by executive order. Too bad.

 

[67 Rover]

Star Member NightWatcher (39,037 posts)
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100216315262

An Executive Order decriminalizing cannabis and expunging pot from criminal records would be nice.

It's legal to some extent in half the country. Its insane that we still have people getting thrown in jail for simple possession when half the people can buy it at a store today. Up to 40,000 people are incarcerated for simple possession.

This would shake shit up and excite the base ahead of a make or break election.

I'm glad that Biden wants to cut cancer rates in half in the next 25 years, but that is a long time off, probably unattainable, and not too politically exciting.

Why the delay? Brandon said he was going to hire scientist dogs to cure cancer right?

[SVPete]

I'm glad that Biden wants to cut cancer rates in half in the next 25 years ...

Well, at least Brandon is setting goals well beyond his Presidency and lifetime, . His campaign pledge to stop Covid kind of backfired.

[67 Rover]

Well, at least Brandon is setting goals well beyond his Presidency and lifetime, . His campaign pledge to stop Covid kind of backfired.

Still waiting for the media to ask just what his plan was to "shut down Covid" that failed so spectacularly.

[SVPete]

Still waiting for the media to ask just what his plan was to "shut down Covid" that failed so spectacularly.

Just continuing what Trump had in motion and applying the same methods to new developments would have done well (not that stopping or shutting down Covid was going to happen ... that's not how viruses work). But Brandon had to do PR stunts, like the pointless week-long shut down of distributing the J&J vaccine, like vaccine mandates, like etc., not realizing that everything he did would backfire on him. Brandon is a clue-free zone unable to handle the idea of hiring experts smarter than he is.

[DUmpDiver]

I'm glad that Biden wants to cut cancer rates in half in the next 25 years, but that is a long time off, probably unattainable, and not too politically exciting.

What does legalizing a recreational drug have to do with curing a disease?

I get that pot can supposedly relieve some symptoms but that has nothing to do with finding a cure.

[Drafe Hoblin]

Star Member Emile (1,283 posts)

4. I hate to think it will end up being the GOP who will

legalize it. We need to do it now!

Nobody else can legalize it correctly if you're going to embark on that argument. 

Democrats have been all over the place. 

[jukin]

Voltaire2 (9,955 posts)

7. Biden appears to have no appetite for

implementing policy by executive order. Too bad.

Holy shit I just laughed coffee out of my nose.  That is gold Jerry, comedy gold!

[freedumb2003b]

The taxation of legal MJ is so high and the quality so low that the black market has exploded.

The same laws that enabled possession of it have also enabled the illegal growers.  I have watched news reports of huge swaths in the forests being taken over by unlicensed growers.  The growers do not care bc the only punishment they face is a ticket for around $1,000. Pretty tiny cost for huge returns.

[freedumb2003b]

Holy shit I just laughed coffee out of my nose.  That is gold Jerry, comedy gold!

Pedo Joe has issued 77 XOs since taking office: https://www.federalregister.gov/presidential-documents/executive-orders/joe-biden/2021

In his 1st year, Trump issued 55.  obozo 38.

[DLR Pyro]

Star Member Emile (1,283 posts)

4. I hate to think it will end up being the GOP who will

legalize it. We need to do it now!

it's always about "firsts" for them.

-The first black female VP
-The first black female SCOTUS Justice (brandon and the democrats torpedoed  Janice Rogers Brown in 2003 because they didnt want the GOP to nominate the first black female to the position)
-now they are looking to be the party to legalize weed because they don't want the GOP to do it.

It's all about optics for them

[DLR Pyro]

Pedo Joe has issued 77 XOs since taking office: https://www.federalregister.gov/presidential-documents/executive-orders/joe-biden/2021

In his 1st year, Trump issued 55.  obozo 38.

a large number of brandon's EOs were to get undo work that President Trump did.

[ADsOutburst]

This would shake shit up and excite the base ahead of a make or break election.

And what happens when people start seeing empty shelves where the pot is supposed to be, hmmm? 

[freedumb2003b]

a large number of brandon's EOs were to get undo work that President Trump did.

Still a dictator.

[Ralph Wiggum]

This issue of weed, which I don't give a damn about either way, is not solving any major problems in the country.  That is not a pressing issue to the American people except for the stoners who can't find a bag or a doobie on demand.

Meanwhile in real America, we're all worried about crime, the border, and inflation.  But keep tinkering around these unusual minor things, lefties...I'm sure it'll work out real good.

[SVPete]

This issue of weed, which I don't give a damn about either way, is not solving any major problems in the country.  That is not a pressing issue to the American people except for the stoners who can't find a bag or a doobie on demand.
...

Weed availability and legality is a pressing issue for many DU-folk.

[Ralph Wiggum]

Weed availability and legality is a pressing issue for many DU-folk.

And when my former state of Illinois and others legalized it, predictably they pissed and moaned about the taxes.

I'm very libertarian on this subject, even though I haven't imbibed in decades.  As they said on "South Park", there's a time and place for drugs, and that's called college.

[enslaved1]

The taxation of legal MJ is so high and the quality so low that the black market has exploded.

The same laws that enabled possession of it have also enabled the illegal growers.  I have watched news reports of huge swaths in the forests being taken over by unlicensed growers.  The growers do not care bc the only punishment they face is a ticket for around $1,000. Pretty tiny cost for huge returns.

Interesting.  I try and debate students who think they can blow off school and grow weed where or once it's legal, and one of my arguments is that their basement hydroponic plants can't touch a multimillion dollar company that has been buying and breeding the best seeds they can for years in legal states and countries waiting for more widespread legalization, cause I assumed that was most companies MO.  Never figured a legal company would be selling over taxed ditchweed.