Senate Votes To Double Fines, Jail Time For Pot Brownies

[MaryJ]

Senate Votes to Double Fines, Jail Time for Pot Brownies

Published on 07-30-2010

 

 

By Mike Whitney - BLN Contributing Writer

 

Last night the United States Senate voted to double the penalties for the nation’s newest existential threat: brownies made with marijuana!

 

The Senate unanimously passed Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)’s “Saving Kids from Dangerous Drugs Act of 2009″ (S. 258) that targets pot brownies and other marijuana edibles preferred by some medical marijuana patients. The bill next moves to the House; if it passes that chamber, anyone making pot brownies or similar products could be subject to double the fines and jail time for regular marijuana.

 

This bill’s passage marks a step backwards for Congress, which this week also passed the Fair Sentencing Act that reduced the sentencing disparities between cocaine and crack from 100:1 to 18:1. Now we have a new disparity: pot brownies and other marijuana edibles are now treated as something twice as bad as just distributing marijuana.

 

“Candy Flavored Meth”

 

Marijuana prohibitionists often hide behind vague threats to children, and DiFi’s bill is no different. Her “Saving Kids from Dangerous Drugs Act” is framed to make politicians afraid to oppose. “How dare you voted against saving kids from dangerous drugs?”

 

But DiFi doubled down on the “Reefer Madness”-style hysteria. In championing this bill, Feinstein raised the spectre of “candy flavored meth” as the target of her bill. Something tells me that once, sometime, somewhere, someone claimed to have found candy-flavored meth, probably cut with pixie stix. DiFi ran with this to cover for her true target: marijuana edibles.

 

Really? Pot Brownies?

 

Yep. While DiFi’s public line was all “candy flavored meth,” the bill is written broadly enough that pot brownies and other marijuana edibles can be grouped into the law. She mentioned marijuana products in her support of the legislation, of course, but she sought to distract. Here’s the relevant text of the bill:

 

(1) UNLAWFUL ACTS- Except as authorized under this title, including paragraph (3), it shall be unlawful for any person at least 18 years of age to knowingly or intentionally manufacture or create, with intent to manufacture, create, distribute, or dispense, a controlled substance listed in schedule I or II that is–

 

‘(A) combined with a candy product;

 

( marketed or packaged to appear similar to a candy product; and

 

‘© modified by flavoring or coloring the controlled substance with the intent to distribute, dispense, or sell the controlled substance to a person under 18 years of age.

 

‘(2) PENALTIES- Except as provided in section 418, 419, or 420, any person who violates paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be subject to–

 

(A) 2 times the maximum punishment and at least 2 times any term of supervised release

 

The text singles out “candy products,” which is a broad grouping; it also specifies products “modified by flavoring or coloring,” which expands the scope of the law. While the bill is ostensibly aimed at distributing drugs to people under the age of 18, it’s broad enough to pose serious problems for both medical marijuana patients and for dispensaries selling these products to patients.

 

What’s DiFi got against pot brownies? Prop 19.

 

Feinstein’s was one of the first bills introduced in the Senate in 2009, and sat idle after it was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. That is, until California’s Prop 19 to legalize marijuana started gaining momentum in the spring.

 

Dianne Feinstein is one of the most vocal opponents to Prop 19. Thought she’s not up for reelection, like other Democratic opponents of legalization in California, Feinstein not only opposes Prop 19, but is actively supporting the campaign to defeat the initiative. In order to help the cause of marijuana prohibitionists, she started to move her anti-pot brownie bill.

 

How did the bill pass?

 

A member of the Judiciary Committee, DiFi started to push Chairman Pat Leahy to move the bill through the committee. While the bill didn’t go anywhere for 16 months, DiFi had the Judiciary Committee consider the bill on May 27, which passed it on June 17. Then, with the August recess approaching,

 

At first, the bill wasn’t supposed to go anywhere. But within the last 36 hours, the picture shifted. Firedoglake was ready with an organizing alert to mobilize opposition to the bill. (Though the excellent Students for Sensible Drug Policy were out early with an action to the Senate.) Then, late yesterday, the Senate passed the bill through unanimous consent. Not only did no sane Democratic Senator step up to put a hold on the bill, no Senators even voted against it.

 

Do do we really need to put more people in jail for marijuana?

 

Absolutely not. More people are arrested for marijuana possession than any violent crime combined. Blacks and Latinos are unfairly targeted with marijuana arrests; while whites make up a third of marijuana users, relatively few are in prison. Moreover, since 1984, the country’s prison population has quadrupled. Half of our prisoners are in for drug offenses. We now have 5% of the world’s population, and 25% of its prisoners.

 

This week Congress voted to reduce sentencing disparities and to reduce prison populations. At a time when the country is taking significant steps to tackle this important issue, Dianne Feinstein and the Senate voted to increase those numbers for… marijuana brownies.

 

What’s next?

 

This is one of the many subversive attacks on marijuana legalization by prohibitionists opposing Prop 19. DiFi is only happy to oblige. Countering the prohibitionists will require a massive movement of organized action to give Prop 19 the support it deserves in California. But it goes beyond this election: much needs to be done to sustain activism and organizing in every state that will be voting on marijuana legalization and reform in 2010, 2012, and beyond.

 

blacklistednews.com/news-9920-0-15-15--.html

[greenbuddha]

Now people are going to get busted for those packaged Seven-Eleven brownies you can buy on almost every city block'

 

Leo: "I can see you disguised your marijuana brownie in this Seven-Eleven wrapper.... Very clever but you're busted... It's promotion time for me and you're my ticket to the top, Baby."

 

It just gets weirder and weirder with no end in sight.

 

All that tax money wasted on idiocy.

 

WOW!!!!

[Zombiefied]

Think of how much it will cost the tax payers to do drug testing on every sucker, candy bar, brownie, cookie... that a LEO thinks might be a infused one....

[herb green]

Surreal...

 

Who are these PEOPLE!!!!

 

Its got to be a conspirisy against Medical marijuana

 

Just now this a problem...hmmm

 

Yeah, RIGHT!!!!!

 

Anyway...these browines and muffins are delicious...really tasty

 

But not exacty health food...the doses ...well they doses get pretty dialed but perhaps ...people will have to become hash eaters

 

What disturbs me is this is directed a Medical Marijuana patients

 

And not even quasi-recreational MMJ patients...Its pointed at the true medical user

 

That's disturbing news...

[+420Atheist]

Even Dems in the Senate seem to be far right. While the nation is moving toward legalization our government continues to support big pharmaceutical companies. This will probably even open it up to police saying Simpson oil has changed the flavor of the marijuana.

[Guest Wayne]

Even Dems in the Senate seem to be far right. While the nation is moving toward legalization our government continues to support big pharmaceutical companies. This will probably even open it up to police saying Simpson oil has changed the flavor of the marijuana.

The legislature, including most democrats fear the people and the people's effort to regain control. Just a first step in wresting it back from the voters and requiring voter's to select from pre-packaged choices of representatives and senators who knows better than we what is best for us. I see little reason for them not to succeed, especially with our help. That's why getting in peoples faces with dispensaries and the like is so very important to their efforts. We can and will do our part.

[+420Atheist]

It is interesting when I sent email to both the senators on this issue I never got a response. Normally they send some generic noncommittal response intended to appease either side of the arguement.

[jester]

Senate Votes to Double Fines, Jail Time for Pot Brownies

Published on 07-30-2010

 

 

By Mike Whitney - BLN Contributing Writer

 

Last night the United States Senate voted to double the penalties for the nation’s newest existential threat: brownies made with marijuana!

 

The Senate unanimously passed Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)’s “Saving Kids from Dangerous Drugs Act of 2009″ (S. 258) that targets pot brownies and other marijuana edibles preferred by some medical marijuana patients. The bill next moves to the House; if it passes that chamber, anyone making pot brownies or similar products could be subject to double the fines and jail time for regular marijuana.

 

This bill’s passage marks a step backwards for Congress, which this week also passed the Fair Sentencing Act that reduced the sentencing disparities between cocaine and crack from 100:1 to 18:1. Now we have a new disparity: pot brownies and other marijuana edibles are now treated as something twice as bad as just distributing marijuana.

 

“Candy Flavored Meth”

 

Marijuana prohibitionists often hide behind vague threats to children, and DiFi’s bill is no different. Her “Saving Kids from Dangerous Drugs Act” is framed to make politicians afraid to oppose. “How dare you voted against saving kids from dangerous drugs?”

 

But DiFi doubled down on the “Reefer Madness”-style hysteria. In championing this bill, Feinstein raised the spectre of “candy flavored meth” as the target of her bill. Something tells me that once, sometime, somewhere, someone claimed to have found candy-flavored meth, probably cut with pixie stix. DiFi ran with this to cover for her true target: marijuana edibles.

 

Really? Pot Brownies?

 

Yep. While DiFi’s public line was all “candy flavored meth,” the bill is written broadly enough that pot brownies and other marijuana edibles can be grouped into the law. She mentioned marijuana products in her support of the legislation, of course, but she sought to distract. Here’s the relevant text of the bill:

 

(1) UNLAWFUL ACTS- Except as authorized under this title, including paragraph (3), it shall be unlawful for any person at least 18 years of age to knowingly or intentionally manufacture or create, with intent to manufacture, create, distribute, or dispense, a controlled substance listed in schedule I or II that is–

 

‘(A) combined with a candy product;

 

( marketed or packaged to appear similar to a candy product; and

 

‘© modified by flavoring or coloring the controlled substance with the intent to distribute, dispense, or sell the controlled substance to a person under 18 years of age.

 

‘(2) PENALTIES- Except as provided in section 418, 419, or 420, any person who violates paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be subject to–

 

(A) 2 times the maximum punishment and at least 2 times any term of supervised release

 

The text singles out “candy products,” which is a broad grouping; it also specifies products “modified by flavoring or coloring,” which expands the scope of the law. While the bill is ostensibly aimed at distributing drugs to people under the age of 18, it’s broad enough to pose serious problems for both medical marijuana patients and for dispensaries selling these products to patients.

 

What’s DiFi got against pot brownies? Prop 19.

 

Feinstein’s was one of the first bills introduced in the Senate in 2009, and sat idle after it was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. That is, until California’s Prop 19 to legalize marijuana started gaining momentum in the spring.

 

Dianne Feinstein is one of the most vocal opponents to Prop 19. Thought she’s not up for reelection, like other Democratic opponents of legalization in California, Feinstein not only opposes Prop 19, but is actively supporting the campaign to defeat the initiative. In order to help the cause of marijuana prohibitionists, she started to move her anti-pot brownie bill.

 

How did the bill pass?

 

A member of the Judiciary Committee, DiFi started to push Chairman Pat Leahy to move the bill through the committee. While the bill didn’t go anywhere for 16 months, DiFi had the Judiciary Committee consider the bill on May 27, which passed it on June 17. Then, with the August recess approaching,

 

At first, the bill wasn’t supposed to go anywhere. But within the last 36 hours, the picture shifted. Firedoglake was ready with an organizing alert to mobilize opposition to the bill. (Though the excellent Students for Sensible Drug Policy were out early with an action to the Senate.) Then, late yesterday, the Senate passed the bill through unanimous consent. Not only did no sane Democratic Senator step up to put a hold on the bill, no Senators even voted against it.

 

Do do we really need to put more people in jail for marijuana?

 

Absolutely not. More people are arrested for marijuana possession than any violent crime combined. Blacks and Latinos are unfairly targeted with marijuana arrests; while whites make up a third of marijuana users, relatively few are in prison. Moreover, since 1984, the country’s prison population has quadrupled. Half of our prisoners are in for drug offenses. We now have 5% of the world’s population, and 25% of its prisoners.

 

This week Congress voted to reduce sentencing disparities and to reduce prison populations. At a time when the country is taking significant steps to tackle this important issue, Dianne Feinstein and the Senate voted to increase those numbers for… marijuana brownies.

 

What’s next?

 

This is one of the many subversive attacks on marijuana legalization by prohibitionists opposing Prop 19. DiFi is only happy to oblige. Countering the prohibitionists will require a massive movement of organized action to give Prop 19 the support it deserves in California. But it goes beyond this election: much needs to be done to sustain activism and organizing in every state that will be voting on marijuana legalization and reform in 2010, 2012, and beyond.

 

blacklistednews.com/news-9920-0-15-15--.html

this is bloody insane!! my doctor agreed eating is the healthiest way to go. i never believed smoking was particularly healthy. doc says i'm right.

[wingdings]

Im going to make some brownies tomorrow. LAND OF THE FREE! LAND OF THE TREE!

[Tomas_Dexter]

crap!!! only a matter of time before mrs fields in the mall gets raided....

[greenbuddha]

Even Dems in the Senate seem to be far right. While the nation is moving toward legalization our government continues to support big pharmaceutical companies. This will probably even open it up to police saying Simpson oil has changed the flavor of the marijuana.

 

 

The amount of money the 'Big Pharmaceutical' companies send to politicians for reelection would startle and amaze most people if they knew about it.

 

The only hope is for us 'independent thinkers' to form working alliances and support and VOTE in LARGE groups for the issues and politicians we think will help us.

 

Money runs our government, don't EVER think it is otherwise.

 

This, I believe is also why Obama has not done more on the things he promised to do when we voted him in. Shake up TOO many things and your money dries up from the large companies and you don't get reelected.

 

Just my own humble opinion, but I'm sticking to it.

 

And I'll VOTE accordingly this November.

 

Don't forget to VOTE IN THE PRIMARY TOMORROW!!!

[69AARVIPER]

Does any one have Any suggestions? On Who the right people to Vote into Public Office TODAY!!! That have our Best Interest in Mind! They Are in there somewhere i need to be well pointed !?! I want to use my right to vote today and make wise Chooses. Help!!

[bobandtorey]

Does any one have Any suggestions? On Who the right people to Vote into Public Office TODAY!!! That have our Best Interest in Mind! They Are in there somewhere i need to be well pointed !?! I want to use my right to vote today and make wise Chooses. Help!!

 

 

virg@votevirg.com;

[Shadeleaf]

Does any one have Any suggestions? On Who the right people to Vote into Public Office TODAY!!! That have our Best Interest in Mind! They Are in there somewhere i need to be well pointed !?! I want to use my right to vote today and make wise Chooses. Help!!

 

MiNorml has been composing a list by county.

 

MiNorml