The new version of the legislation has not yet been made public, according to Marijuana Moment. But when originally introduced, the bill was seen as an alternative to the Marijuana Opportunity and Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, a federal cannabis legalization measure supported by many Democrats. The MORE Act was refiled in September by Representative Jerrold Nadler, the ranking member on the House Judiciary Committee, with co-sponsorship from 33 fellow Democrats.

Under the original version of Mace’s bill, cannabis would be removed from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, and the states would be allowed to take the lead on marijuana legalization and regulation for their jurisdictions. At the federal level, cannabis would be regulated like alcohol, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture responsible for regulating growers while medical uses would be overseen by the Food and Drug Administration.

House Lawmakers Introduce Bipartisan Marijuana Legalization BillThe STATES Reform Act also ensures safe harbor for state medical marijuana programs and patient access to medicinal cannabis. The legislation also specifically protects the use of medical cannabis as a treatment for arthritis, cancer, chronic pain, sickle cell disease, HIV/AIDS and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Criminal justice reform provisions of the bill include the release of prisoners convicted of federal nonviolent cannabis-related offenses and the expungement of records of such convictions. Cartel members, agents of cartel gangs, or those convicted of driving under the influence will not be eligible for relief, however. Mace’s office estimated that approximately 2,600 federal prisoners would be released if the legislation is signed into law.

  • SinningStromgald@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    Two questions:

    • Can I grow some in my house for my use?
    • Will it retroactively release those in prison for marijuana convictions?

    If the answers are yes then I am all for it.

    • Not_mikey@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      Depends on the state. This is just for removing the federal law against marijuana, states can and probably will still have laws against it. So it’ll be up to the state to decide on those two questions, the trend though has been yes to both of them. Looks good for people convicted federally:

      Criminal justice reform provisions of the bill include the release of prisoners convicted of federal nonviolent cannabis-related offenses and the expungement of records of such convictions

      But that’s probably a small amount of cases pertaining to people crossing state lines with marijuana. Most offenses would probably be at the state level.

      • shasta@lemm.ee
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        8 months ago

        The bigger benefit is that federal employees living in states that have legalized it will finally be able to enjoy it

        • Fonderthud@lemm.ee
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          8 months ago

          Also anyone working federal contract workers won’t have to be worried. My company no longer drug tests because I’m employed in a legal state but the company prohibits pot use and will drug test if the federal contracts asks for it.

    • EatYouWell@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      Texas already has medicinal marijuana, and public opinion on the matter is in favor of legalization.

      I think once Abbot realizes how much tax revenue he can squeeze out of it, he’ll support it.

      • Zombiepirate@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        The Texas medical program is a joke though.

        I think Abbott cares more about winning Evangelical votes than enriching the State; after all, the revenue isn’t a secret. Colorado has had recreational for over a decade.

        • EatYouWell@lemmy.world
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          8 months ago

          It really isn’t. My doctor runs a clinic in a very rural area and had no problem getting set up or prescribing/filling for it.

          It just requires a doctor be willing to jump through the red tape.

          Not to mention that you can just buy D9 edibles in vape shops since congress changed the thc content limit.

          • Zombiepirate@lemmy.world
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            8 months ago

            Not to mention that you can just buy D9 edibles in vape shops since congress changed the thc content limit.

            Yeah, the loophole for THCa is really closer to recreational than the current medical system is, though admittedly I haven’t looked into it in a few years.

            It’s still embarrassing for the State to keep it in a quasi-legal (and therefore open to disruptions based on the whims of local LE). Selective enforcement is one of the worst offenses of the War on Drugs.

    • snooggums@kbin.social
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      8 months ago

      Looks like the STATES version is an attempt to keep it medical at the federal level instead of just regulating it like alcohol.

  • NocturnalMorning@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    I don’t understand the point of regulating marijuana growing at all. Seems like just another way for the government to make excuses to find another tax revenue stream

    • comador @lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      Regulation is in the Public’s Interest. Sure, you may see it as a Government revenue stream, but it has merit. Regulating industries results in:

      • Better, quality products
      • Preventing price fixing and monopolies
      • Promoting growth and innovation without fear of competitive retaliation
      • To ensure the true costs and benefits are reflected in the market

      TL;DR: We wouldn’t want the marijuana mafia price fixing our weed man.

      • Cethin@lemmy.zip
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        8 months ago

        I agree for industrial, but small scale it shouldn’t be. If you want to just grow some for your use, and maybe some for friends/family/neighbors or whatever not for profit, you should be allowed to.

        • SheDiceToday@eslemmy.es
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          8 months ago

          You can currently brew your own alcohol, so I highly doubt that marijuana wouldn’t see a similar system. I think where I am the limit is 50 gallons a year of wine, not sure on beer. If marijuana has similar rules, you could grow enough for yourself and your neighborhood street’s personal use for a year.

          • Cethin@lemmy.zip
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            8 months ago

            Most places it’s legal the limit is pretty low to grow your own though. It’s not close to consistent with the alcohol ruling.

    • EatYouWell@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      You don’t want marijuana farmers using toxic chemicals to increase yield. You also want the end product regulated so people don’t start dying like they did with the EVALI incident.

      Regulation is a great thing when it’s not abused.

      • NocturnalMorning@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        I’m mostly referring to growing your own stuff. The government likes to try to regulate how much of your own stuff you can grow

        • comador @lemmy.world
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          8 months ago

          I live in CA and have family in CO, both states have legal pot growing. Here in CA you can grow as much as you want for your own consumption. That is, for yourself and your family. You just can’t sell it without regulation.

          I can walk into a dispensary right now and buy as many seeds, seedlings or recreational pot/gummies/gum/brownies/drops as I want and no one will bat an eyelash.

          Making it regulated federally will not change that one bit.

          edit: Exact law in CA says we can grow 6 usable plants at any given time, but I’ve never heard of that being enforced unless they are arrested for something else. That’s also not, regulation, that’s just the law here:

          https://www.ilovegrowingmarijuana.com/states/growing-marijuana-california/#:~:text=Do I Need A Medical Marijuana Card in Cali?

          • AstridWipenaugh@lemmy.world
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            8 months ago

            In CO it’s 6 plants per household adult, only 3 can be flowering at a time. That’s plenty for anyone. But if it’s somehow not, you can get a bigger allowance with a med card. But there’s no enforcement unless you get busted for something else. I’ve only heard of busts for 50+ illegal plants.