Erin Burnett on whether the Feds will legalize marijuana.
An estimated $20 billion in tax revenues could be collected.
Rep. Jared Polis and Rep. Earl Blumenauer are leading the legislative charge.
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Rep. Polis Questions Eric Holder on Medical Marijuana Enforcement
Dec. 8, 2011
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Why Congress Might Legalize Marijuana - This Time
Salon
In 1973, Oregon rode the hippie wave to became the first state in the country to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana. Within five years, eight other states had followed, but momentum soon lagged, and then reversed in the Reagan era.
Lately, however, it’s beginning to feel like the ’70s again, with numerous polls showing a majority of Americans in favor of legalizing marijuana and the recent referenda in Colorado and Washington to do just that.
Earl Blumenauer voted on that first decriminalization bill 40 years ago in Oregon — as a “child legislator,” he jokes — and now that he’s in Congress representing the state, he thinks we’re approaching a moment where things are about to speed up very quickly for drug policy reform advocates.
“It’s just come to a head,” he told Salon Thursday afternoon. “This is largely going to be resolved in the next five years.”
Blumenauer, along with Colorado Democratic Rep. Jared Polis, introduced legislation this week to make the federal government treat cannabis like alcohol and let states decide whether to keep it illegal. And they think they have a real chance of getting somewhere this time.
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Related links:
- President Pothead Is Sending People To Prison
- 9 juiciest details from Barack Obama's days as a pothead
- Could Raise More Than $20 Billion In Taxes
- Bipartisan Hemp, Medical Marijuana Bills Introduced in Congress (List of Co-Sponsors)
- Gallup POLL: Half The Country Favors Legalizing Marijuana
Barry Choomba Claus
