To my knowledge, only two national candidates for president in 2012 have spoken before NORML on the subject of marijuana legalization. Newly-Libertarian candidate Gov. Gary Johnson in 2010 and longtime Republican candidate Rep. Ron Paul. Now, after some digging, we’ve found Rep. Paul speaking at the NORML National Conference 23 years ago.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson scored the zinger of the FOX / YouTube GOP debate when he said, “My neighbor’s two dogs have created more shovel-ready jobs than President Obama.” (It was the one question he didn’t answer first with “balance the budget”.) But one issue important to Gov. Johnson, Rep. Paul, and apparently the debate audience, marijuana, was all but ignored in the debate.

The debate, streamed live on YouTube, was the first to feature both Gov. Johnson and Rep. Paul, two candidates who have strongly denounced the “War on Drugs”. During breaks for the candidates, the coverage featured analysts who presented data from Google on search engine trends. One feature, a “word cloud”, showed the prevalence of terms used in the questions submitted by Americans for the candidates. As the debate entered the segment on “Social Issues”, the word cloud showed three words most prominently: gay, marriage, and marijuana. The analysts pointed out the “social conservative” / “libertarian” divide in the Republican Party.

Despite the popularity of marijuana among the queries no candidates were asked any questions pertaining to the “War on Drugs”. Candidates, especially Texas Gov. Perry, were grilled about border security, but no candidate or moderator mentioned how the “War on Drugs” has created massacre conditions just south of our border. Numerous candidates pledged their support of the 10th Amendment, for the rights of the states to make their own decisions regarding health care (“Obamacare”, they call it), yet no candidate or moderator mentioned how that would apply to sixteen states that have made a decision regarding medical use of cannabis. And the bookending issue of the debate – creating jobs – was discussed endlessly without any recognition of the industry created by medical marijuana and the huge potential of a domestic hemp industry.

But FOX and the Republicans didn’t ignore the “Social Issues” entirely. When a gay soldier serving in Iraq appeared by video to ask the candidates if they would roll back recent gains in recognizing the right of soldiers like him to serve openly, members of the audience openly booed and jeered. Support the troops!… unless they’re gay.

With our umpteenth petition to the White House once again leading the pack among all petitions submitted, it’s nice to remember that dismissing the call of millions of Americans for marijuana legalization is still a bi-partisan practice.

Note to American cops: This is NOT how you harvest bud for smoking.

Texas Republican Ron Paul and a coalition of 25 co-sponsors are once again seeking to allow for the commercial farming of industrial hemp.

House Bill 1831, The Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2011, would exclude low potency varieties of marijuana from federal prohibition. If approved, this measure will grant state legislatures the authority to license and regulate the commercial production of hemp as an industrial and agricultural commodity.

Several states — including North Dakota, Montana, and Vermont– have enacted regulations to allow for the cultivation of hemp under state law. However, none of these laws can be implemented without federal approval. Passage of HR 1831 would remove existing federal barriers and allow states that wish to regulate commercial hemp production the authority to do so.

“We are pleased to see the re-introduction of the Industrial Hemp Farming Act in Congress. Vote Hemp is currently working with a Democratic Senator who is preparing to introduce companion legislation in the Senate in support of industrial hemp farming,” says Vote Hemp President, Eric Steenstra. “It is due time for the Senate as well as President Obama and the Attorney General to prioritize the crop’s benefits to farmers and to take action like Rep. Paul and the cosponsors of H.R. 1831 have done. With the U.S. hemp industry valued at over $400 million in annual retail sales and growing, a change in federal policy to allow hemp farming would mean instant job creation, among many other economic and environmental benefits,” adds Steenstra.

According to a 2005 Congressional Resource Service report, the United States is the only developed nation that fails to cultivate industrial hemp as an economic crop. As a result, U.S. companies that specialize in hempen goods — such as Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps, Patagonia, Nature’s Path, and Nutiva — have no choice but to import hemp material. These added production costs are then passed on to the consumer who must pay artificially high retail prices for hemp products.

Previous versions of The Industrial Hemp Farming Act were introduced, but failed to receive a public hearing or a committee vote. Please write your members of Congress today and tell them to end the federal prohibition of industrial hemp production. For your convenience, a prewritten letter will be e-mailed to your member of Congress when you enter your contact information below.

For more information about industrial hemp, please visit:http://www.votehemp.org.

Thank you for assisting NORML’s federal law reform efforts.

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Support The Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2011

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Hemp Headlines

1. Michigan’s zero-tolerance for cannabis metabolites comes into play in trial of man in vehicular manslaughter case
2. NPR study takes a look at the economic changes in Humboldt County following medical marijuana and an impending statewide legalization vote
3. Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) re-introduces the Industrial Hemp Farming Act.

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• Roots Monday: Uncle Bummer & the Midnight Strummers – “Ballad of Humboldt”

NORML Board of Directors

• Keith Stroup, NORML’s Founder and current Legal Counsel, addresses the future of legalization with California’s initiative.

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• The rise of paramilitary SWAT raids in America

Republican Ron Paul is once again seeking to allow for the commercial farming of industrial hemp.

House Bill 1866, The Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2010, would exclude low potency varieties of marijuana from federal prohibition. If approved, this measure will grant state legislatures the authority to license and regulate the commercial production of hemp as an industrial and agricultural commodity.

Several states — including North Dakota, Montana, and Vermont– have enacted regulations to allow for the cultivation of hemp under state law. However, none of these laws can be implemented without federal approval. Passage of HR 1866 would remove existing federal barriers and allow states that wish to regulate commercial hemp production the authority to do so.

In a statement delivered on May 9 to the House of Representatives, Rep. Paul said: “I first introduced the Industrial Hemp Farming Act (HR 1866) five years ago to end the federal government’s ban on American farmers growing industrial hemp. In this time, the industrial hemp industry has grown much larger. Despite its American history, industrial hemp is the only crop that we can buy and sell but not farm in the United States. The federal government should change the law to allow American farmers grow this profitable crop as American farmers have through most of our nation’s history. Please cosponsor the Industrial Hemp Farming Act and join me in celebrating Hemp History Week.”

According to a 2005 Congressional Resource Service report, the United States is the only developed nation that fails to cultivate industrial hemp as an economic crop. As a result, U.S. companies that specialize in hempen goods — such as Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps, Patagonia, Nature’s Path, and Nutiva — have no choice but to import hemp material. These added production costs are then passed on to the consumer who must pay artificially high retail prices for hemp products.

Previous versions of The Industrial Hemp Farming Act were introduced, but failed to receive a public hearing or a committee vote. Please write your members of Congress today and tell them to end the federal prohibition of industrial hemp production. For your convenience, a prewritten letter will be e-mailed to your member of Congress when you enter your contact information below.

For more information about industrial hemp, please visit:http://www.votehemp.org.

Thank you for assisting NORML’s federal law reform efforts.
Support The Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2010

Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act H.R.2835 was introduced June 11, 2009 by Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) along with Mr. Blumenauer, Mr. Farr, Mr. McDermott, Mr. Paul, Ms. Woolsey, Mr. Rohrabacher, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Thompson of California, Mr. George Miller of California, Mr. Stark, Mr. Hinchey, Mr. Olver, and Ms. Baldwin

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c111:1:./temp/~c111WNKdlj::

Along with Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults Act of 2009 H.R.2943 was introduced June 18, 2009 by Rep. Barney Frank along with Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Paul, Mr. Rohrabacher, and Mr. Hinchey

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c111:2:./temp/~c111gyz2zY::

Congressman Barney Frank is author of the States’ Rights to Medical Marijuana Act (H.R. 2592), an attempt to stop federal government from intervening with states’ medical marijuana laws. He has consistently voted for the bipartisan Hinchey-Rohrabacher amendment, annually proposed by Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) and Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), that would prohibit the United States Department of Justice from prosecuting medical marijuana patients.

In March 2008, he proposed the Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults Act of 2008 (HR 5843), which would decriminalize small amounts for personal use of the drug. Congressman Brank Frank commented on legislation to remove federal criminal penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use stated “In a free society a large degree of human activity is none of the government’s business. We should make criminal what’s going to hurt other people and others than that we should leave it to people to make their own choices.”

Cosponsors [as of July 16, 2009]
Rep. Tammy Baldwin [D-WI]
Rep. Earl Blumenauer [D-OR]
Rep. Steve Cohen [D-TN]
Rep. Peter DeFazio [D-OR]
Rep. Keith Ellison [D-MN]
Rep. Sam Farr [D-CA]
Rep. Bob Filner [D-CA]
Rep. Raul Grijalva [D-AZ]
Rep. Maurice Hinchey [D-NY]
Rep. Michael Honda [D-CA]
Rep. Dennis Kucinich [D-OH]
Rep. James McDermott [D-WA]
Rep. James McGovern [D-MA]
Rep. George Miller [D-CA]
Rep. James Moran [D-VA]
Rep. John Olver [D-MA]
Rep. Ronald Paul [R-TX]
Rep. Jared Polis [D-CO]
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher [R-CA]
Rep. Steven Rothman [D-NJ]
Rep. Fortney Stark [D-CA]
Rep. Michael Thompson [D-CA]
Rep. Robert Wexler [D-FL]
Rep. Lynn Woolsey [D-CA]

Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults Act of 2009
June 24, 2009

Dear Colleague,

Last Thursday, we reintroduced HR 2943, the Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults Act of 2009, which would remove federal penalties for the personal use of 100 grams (3.5 ounces) of marijuana by responsible adults. This bill was introduced as H.R. 5843 during the 110th Congress. The Act would not affect existing state or local laws, or any federal laws prohibiting the cultivation, sale for profit, or the import and export of marijuana.

Polls show that a majority of Americans favor the reduction of penalties for individuals who possess and use marijuana within certain limits. It is clear that as misinformation regarding the drug continues to be corrected, more people are moving to support its decriminalization. At this critical juncture in our economic history, we can no longer afford to spend money on a drug enforcement program that the public no longer supports, and which consumes law enforcement’s valuable resources and time. The federal government should remove the current conflict with state law and allow states to decide on these matters for themselves. Twelve states already have laws that significantly reduce penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana, in many cases providing for a mere civil fine. The states are: California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, and Oregon.

WHAT THE BILL WILL NOT DO

• It would not affect federal laws prohibiting the sale of marijuana for profit, import and export of marijuana, or manufacturing (cultivating) marijuana.
• It would not legalize major drug dealing or create obstacles for agents of the federal government seeking to prevent major drug dealing.
• It would not affect any state or local laws and regulations.
• It would not alter the legal status of marijuana as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et. seq.).

Please join us in supporting common-sense legislation that will bring federal law up to date. If you would like to become a cosponsor of Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults Act of 2009, please contact Pilar Falo in Congressman Barney Frank’s office; Adam Dick in Ron Paul’s office; Jeff Vanderslice in Congressman Dana Rohrabacher’s office or Namrata Mujumdar in Congressman Maurice Hinchey’s office.

Rep. Barney Frank
Rep. Ron Paul
Rep. Maurice Hinchey
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher

SALEM (Oregonian) — When the history of the 2009 Legislature is written, it may record that this was the year lawmakers put Oregon in the industrial hemp business.

The Senate voted 27-2 Friday to approve a bill that clears the way for hemp to be grown and processed in Oregon if and when the federal government gives growers a green light.

Senate Bill 676 still must pass in the House before the session ends later this month. But its sponsor, Sen. Floyd Prozanski, says he’s convinced it will pass.

The bill would authorize the production, possession and commerce of industrial hemp and products. It would put the state Department of Agriculture in charge of regulating growers.

A couple of Republican senators who are also farmers voted in favor of the bill. Sen. Larry George, R-Sherwood, groused that “this may be the only way we can pay the taxes you all have passed.”

And Sen. Jeff Kruse, R-Roseburg, complained: “This may be the only crop left for me.”

Sen. Jason Atkinson, R-Central Point, had a question for Prozanski: Do they make a hemp brownie mix?

Well, yes, Senator Atkinson, you could use hemp seeds in the recipe for brownies.  They’d taste just like any other brownies but be much healthier for you.

Oh, wait, you’re making a joke about cannabis brownies.  Just after Senator Prozanski explained that hemp is not psychoactive.  Ha ha.

This bill would have Oregon join eight other states (Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Montana, North Dakota, Vermont and West Virginia) that have approved the farming of industrial hemp, just as soon as the federal government allows it.

You can help the federal government allow these states to grow industrial hemp by pushing your representative to support Rep. Ron Paul’s Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2009.

Moving Towards Tobacco Prohibition

Last week, another bill was passed and signed into law that takes more of our freedoms and violates the Constitution of the United States. It was, of course, done for the sake of the children, and in the name of the health of the citizenry. It’s always the case that when your liberty is seized, it is seized for your own good. Such is the condescension of Washington.

The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act will give sweeping new powers over tobacco to the FDA. It will require everyone engaged in manufacturing, preparing, compounding, or processing tobacco to register with the FDA and be subjected to FDA inspections, which is yet another violation of the Fourth Amendment. It violates the First Amendment by allowing the FDA to restrict tobacco advertising in multiple ways, as well as an outright ban on advertising any cigarettes as light, mild or low-tar. The FDA will have the power of pre-market reviews of all new tobacco products, and will impose new user fees, meaning taxes, on manufacturers and importers of tobacco products. It will even regulate the amount of nicotine in cigarettes.

My objections to the bill are not an endorsement of tobacco. As a physician I understand the adverse health effects of this bad habit. And that is exactly how smoking should be treated – as a bad habit and a personal choice. The way to combat poor choices is through education and information. Other than ensuring that tobacco companies do not engage in force or fraud to market their products, the federal government needs to stay out of the health habits of free people. Regulations for children should be at the state level. Unfortunately, government is using its already overly intrusive financial and regulatory roles in healthcare to establish a justifiable interest in intervening in your personal lifestyle choices as well. We all need to anticipate the level of health freedom that will remain once government manages all health care in this country.

Actions in Congress such as this tobacco bill are especially disconcerting after we thought we were beginning to see some progress in drawing down the wrong-headed and failed war on drugs. A majority of Americans now think marijuana should be legal, taxed and regulated, according to a recent Zogby poll and over 70 percent are in favor of allowing medicinal use of marijuana. Bills like this take us down exactly the wrong path. Instead of gaining more freedom with marijuana, we are moving closer to prohibiting tobacco. Our prisons are already bursting with non-violent drug offenders. How long will it be before a black market in tobacco fills the prisons with non-violent cigarette smokers?

Hemp and tobacco were staple crops for our founding fathers when our country was new. It is baffling to see how far removed from real freedom this country has become since then. Hemp, even for industrial uses, of which there are many, is illegal to grow at all. Now tobacco will have more layers of bureaucracy and interference piled on top of it. In this economy it is extremely upsetting to see this additional squeeze put on an entire industry. One has to wonder how many smaller farmers will be forced out of business because of this bill.

The measure, entitled an “Act to Remove Federal Penalties for Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults,” would eliminate federal penalties for the personal possession of up to 100 grams (over three and one-half ounces) of cannabis and for the not-for-profit transfer of up to one ounce of pot – making the prosecutions of these offenses strictly a state matter.

Under federal law, defendants found guilty of possessing small amounts of cannabis for their own personal use face up to one year imprisonment and a $1,000 fine.

Passage of this act would provide state lawmakers the choice to maintain their current penalties for minor marijuana offenses or eliminate them completely. Lawmakers would also have the option to explore legal alternatives to tax and regulate the adult use and distribution of cannabis free from federal interference.

To date, thirteen states have enacted laws ‘decriminalizing’ the possession of marijuana by adults. Minor marijuana offenders face a citation and small fine in lieu of a criminal arrest or time in jail.

“The federal government has much more important business to attend to than targeting, arresting and prosecuting adults who use marijuana responsibly,” NORML Executive Director Allen St. Pierre said. “This is an issue that ought to be handled by the states, not the Feds.”

According to nationwide polls, three out of four voters believe that adults who possess marijuana should not face arrest or jail, and one out of two now say that cannabis should be regulated like alcohol.

The reintroduction of the Frank/Paul bill comes one week after the duo reintroduced HR 2835, The Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act of 2009 – which seeks to halt federal interference in states that have enacted medical marijuana laws – and just days after Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL) called for federal legislation to sentence certain first-time marijuana offenders to 25 years in prison.

“The US Congress has a definite choice,” said St. Pierre. “They can choose the path of compassion, fiscal responsibility, and common sense by supporting Barney Frank’s and Ron Paul’s efforts, or they can continue down America’s failed drug war path by endorsing Rep. Kirk’s draconian legislation. It is abundantly clear which direction the voters wish to go; will their elected officials follow?”

Additional information about the ‘Act to Remove Federal Penalties for Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults’ is available at NORML’s Take Action Center.