Sign Bernie Sanders’ Let States Make Marijuana Legal Petition

   

Fresh off the heels of the announcement that Bernie Sanders would call for the removal of marijuana from the controlled substances list, his campaign has started a petition demanding that states be able to legalize cannabis without restrictions. De-scheduling cannabis has long been desired by the cannabis community, but that goal seemed unlikely as most of the debate surrounding rescheduling marijuana at a lower schedule. Currently, marijuana is laughably classified as a Schedule I drug under United States Code:

(1) Schedule I.—

(A) The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse.
(B) The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.
(C) There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision.
Removing cannabis from the list of controlled substances would, among other things, completely prohibit the DEA from targeting any marijuana businesses acting within state law; allow marijuana businesses to utilize banking services; correct the 280e issue that prevents marijuana businesses from deducting expenses as other businesses are allowed; and allow for medical cannabis research to proceed without the current bureaucratic red tape that stifles research today.

SIGN THE PETITION

Let States Make Marijuana Legal

Someone in the United States is arrested every minute on marijuana charges. Too many Americans have seen their lives destroyed because they have criminal records as a result of marijuana use. That’s wrong. That has got to change.

Bernie favors removing marijuana from the list of controlled substances regulated by federal law. Under Bernie’s proposal, people in states which legalize marijuana no longer would be subject to federal prosecution for using pot. Owners of stores that sell marijuana could fully participate in the banking system, like any other business.

States which want to regulate marijuana would remain free to do so the same way local laws now govern sales of alcohol and tobacco. Bernie would continue to allow federal law enforcement officials to arrest and prosecute drug dealers for trafficking in marijuana sales.

Add your name to stand with Bernie to let states make marijuana legal.

And on Twitter today:

 

The cannabis law reform community has received a lot of good news recently, from here and abroad. Senator Sanders has just added extra fuel to the fire and surely there will be even more members of the cannabis community and industry that will #FeelTheBern after today.

(Featured photo credit:Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

Anthony, a longtime cannabis law reform advocate, was Chief Petitioner and co-author of Measure 91, Oregon's cannabis legalization effort. He served as director of both the New Approach Oregon and Vote Yes on 91 PACs, the political action committees responsible for the state's legalization campaign. As director of New Approach Oregon, Anthony continues to work towards effectively implementing the cannabis legalization system while protecting small business owners and the rights of patients. He sits on the Oregon Marijuana Rules Advisory Committee and fights for sensible rules at the legislature as well as city councils and county commissions across the state. Anthony helps cannabis business comply with Oregon's laws and advises advocates across the country. He also serves as content director of both the International Cannabis Business Conference and the Oregon Marijuana Business Conference, helping share the vision of moving the cannabis industry forward in a way that maintains the focus on keeping people out of prison and protecting patients. He was a member of the Oregon Health Authority Rules Advisory Committee, assisting the drafting of the administrative rules governing Oregon’s state-licensed medical marijuana facilities. He first co-authored and helped pass successful marijuana law reform measures while a law student at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law. He passed the Oregon Bar in 2005 and practiced criminal defense for two years before transitioning to working full-time in the political advocacy realm. His blogs on Marijuana Politics are personal in nature and don't speak for or reflect the opinions of any group or organization.