Old And In The Way

The House Democratic leadership is downright geriatric and steeped in plenty of old discredited ideas. They are roadblocks to marijuana legalization, primarily because they fear to make it any kind of a priority for the party. Steny Hoyer will be 79 in June. Nancy Pelosi turns 78 in March. Jim Clyburn will be 77 in July. The designated successor to take over the House Democratic leadership-- a corrupt Wall Street whore and the Queens machine boss, Joe Crowley-- is considered a young kid; he turns 55 in March. None of them are pushing legalization, primarily because they grew up when that was considered terribly radical and politically dangerous. It now longer is, but no one has told them. A new poll from NBC News and the Wall Street Journal found that 60% of Americans support legalizing recreational marijuiana and that 'a broad majority of Democrats-- 73%-- supported legalization, as well as 64% of independents. By contrast, only 43% of Republican respondents said they supported legalization." Among Trump voters, only 37% back legalization. If Democrats want to turn out their base and stoke enthusiasm, getting behind legalization is not a bad idea.

Age made a significant difference in the likelihood that respondents would support legalization, with support dropping as the age of respondents rose. Seventy-three percent of respondents aged 18-34 supported legalization, compared to 67 percent of those aged 35-49, and 54 percent aged 50-64. But among those 65 or older, only a minority supported legalization, at 38 percent.

...As support for legalization has increased, Americans have continued to view marijuana as relatively safe when compared with alcohol, tobacco and sugar. In 2014, 8 percent of respondents to the poll ranked marijuana as the most dangerous substance in the group, a share which held about steady at 9 percent in the latest survey.

In this election year, a number of groups in states from Michigan to Missouri are looking to put marijuana legalization initiatives on the ballot. State legislators have also begun introducing bills after Vermont became the first state to legalize marijuana through its legislature rather than through a ballot initiative.

Progressives are particularly prone to favor legalization and to see it as a political plus, not something to fear. The ActBlue thermometer on the right shows a list of progressive candidates who are campaigning on legalization. Right now there is legislation in both the House and the Senate, introduced by Barbara Lee, Ro Khanna and Cory Booker That would remove marijuana from the federal scheduling system, which is the basis for its federal criminalization-- very much like the bill Bernie introduce in 2015, although this bill goes even further. This one encourages legalization on the state level by leveraging "federal funds to incentivize legalization in states that have enforced laws against marijuana in a way that disproportionately impacts low-income people and people of color"-- which is actually every state.

The measure addresses the two layers of prohibition. Under current federal law, pot remains illegal even in states that have legalized-- creating big barriers to states that have legalized, including restrictions on business tax deductions and access to banking. But whether marijuana is legal, decriminalized, or illegal at the state or local level is decided through state or local law-- meaning that a city or state could conceivably keep marijuana illegal even if the federal government removes all its own restrictions.

“This is the single most far-reaching marijuana bill that’s ever been filed in either chamber of Congress,” Tom Angell, head of the pro-legalization Marijuana Majority, said in a statement. “More than just getting the federal government out of the way so that states can legalize without DEA harassment, this new proposal goes even further by actually punishing states that have bad marijuana laws.”

The legislation would also be retroactive, so it would automatically expunge federal marijuana use and possession crimes from people’s records and let those currently serving time in prison for marijuana use or possession petition for resentencing. And it’d create “a community reinvestment fund” that Booker’s office said would go toward job training, reentry services, and community centers, among other programs.

...[There is] stiff opposition in Congress, where most members remain publicly opposed to legalization, and the Trump administration, which has vowed to crack down on states that have legalized marijuana within their borders.

As of this morning there are 23 co-sponsors in the House, all Democrats:

• Ro Khanna (D-Silicon Valley)
• Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Houston)
• Steve Cohen (D-Memphis)
• Bobby Rush (D-Chicago)
• Earl Blumenauer (D-Portland)
• Danny Davis (D-Chicago)
• Jared Polis (D-Boulder)
• Hakeem Jeffries (D-BrooklynQueens)
• Pramila Jayapal (D-Seattle)
• Yvette Clarke (D-Brooklyn)
• Marcia Fudge (D-Cleveland/Akron)
• Donald Payne (D-Newark)
• Bennie Thompson (D- Jackson, MS)
• Frederica Wilson (D-South Florida)
• Mark Pocan (D-Madison)
• Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii)
• Jamie Raskin (D-suburban DC)
• Rail Grijalva (Tucson)
• Jared Huffman (D-Marin County)
• Jerry McNerney (D-Stockton)
• Lou Correa (D-Anaheim/Santa Ana)
• Joe Crowley (D-Queens/Bronx)
• Don Beyer (D-Arlington & Fairfax counties)

Hint to Barbara Lee: ask Ted Lieu and Beto O'Rourke; they'' both sign on. Jim McGovern? Jerry Nadler? José Serrano? Jimmy Gomez? Maxine Waters? Ruben Gallego? There are plenty of more co-sponsors out there.

How about another perspective on the benefits of marijuana?This isn't going to change many elderly Republicans' attitudes but everyone else... There are cannabis strains thatactually improve peoples' sex lives.

A recent study published recently in the Journal of Sexual Medicine suggests that people, who use more cannabis, are having more sex than those who use less or not at all. In fact out of the 50,000 people who participated in an annual Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey found that compared to non-users, those who used cannabis daily have about 20 percent more sex! Another study found that women became more aroused when watching erotic films when they had cannabinoids found in cannabis in their system, because weed seems to heighten overall sensory experiences.

THC Design, the leading breeder and cultivator of premium, safe, estate-grown cannabis in California, has curated a few of the top cannabis strains to help with some sexual dysfunction.

• THC Design XJ-13 is a Sativa-dominant hybrid crossbred between Jack Herer and G13 Haze. This strain balances high levels of THC with low levels of CBD, making it an optimal option for sex and daytime relief. This strain is fresh with uplifting notes of lemon, tangerine and pine and offers anxiety, depression and pain relief.

• THC Design Platinum GSC is an award-winning potent hybrid crossed with OG Kush, Durban Poison, and a third unknown strain. Platinum GSC has sweet notes of sweet candy, berry and fruity spiciness. The strain leaves users happy, euphoric, uplifted and slightly sleepy, and is great for “getting it on” as well as for managing migraines, stress, severe pain, nausea, swelling, and other physical and mood-related symptoms.

• THC Design Sour Diesel, a fast-acting strain believed to be descended from Chemdawg 91 and Super Skunk, has a strong spicy diesel-like aroma that is perfect to help get your juices flowing, uplift your spirit, increase energy, and for feeling happy, euphoric, energetic and relaxed.

• THC Design Kosher Kush THC Design Kosher Kush is famous for its enticing flavor and high potency and producing staggering levels of THC with some samples testing over 29 percent. Known as one of the most odiferous OG kush-related strains, it has a unique, yet familiar smell reminiscent of rich earth and fruit, and is considered by many to be one of the tastiest smokes around. After sex, this strain will allow your body to transcend into a state of serenity, thereby draining your mind of all worries. The high experienced is typical of many heavy indica strains, producing pronounced relaxation and pain relief, with sleep often following close behind.

• THC Design Dosidos has a sweet addicting minty cookie flavor accented by fresh lime and pine and a powerful 28-30% THC level. Dosidos gives the user a cerebral rush of euphoric energy that lasts for only a few moments before fading into a sedative, uplifted and sleepy relaxation making it great for pre- and post-sex.

• THC Design Purple Punch combines Larry OG and Grandaddy to bring consumers a relaxing head and body high. With smells of grape and blueberry candy, this strain is great for getting your body in the mood and relieving stress and minor aches and pains.