A Reminder of Our Rights

Come and Toke It - Uncle Sam's Wanting You to Vote

 

In its unique way, the United States of America's political architecture allows for change from the individual Citizens. The Constitution grants the ability to create amendment's through the various levels (local, state, and federal) of the Legislative branch, allowing for a more fluid and stable form of social change in terms of governance and law, as well as protection for this mechanism.

With this in mind, it requires true and continued effort from the Citizens to force social changes which uphold and respect our beliefs. Additionally, the defense and respect of these changes must also come from the highest levels of elected leadership, to ensure these changes can happen and remain so within their respective communities.

Please keep the 10th amendment of the U.S. Constitution in mind: 

"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

Currently, the Congressional Cannabis Caucus is the primary proponent of using state's rights to advance the acceptance of medicinal and recreational usage at the Federal level. Utilizing the 10th amendment (State's Rights), and further defended by the Rohrabacher–Blumenauer amendment, We the People have the ability to control our states legal stance towards the issue.

The original text of the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer amendment has been updated with the Presidents approval of the Federal Budget on May 5th, 2017 and now reads:

“None of the funds made Available in this Act to the Department of Justice may be used, with respect to any of the States of Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, or with respect to the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico to prevent any of them from implementing their own laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of medical marijuana.”

On February 7th, 2017, another bill was proposed, H.R. 975, known as the "Respect State Marijuana Laws Act of 2017". This bill is an attempt to amend the Controlled Substances Act. It reads:

"Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the provisions of this subchapter related to marihuana shall not apply to any person acting in compliance with State laws relating to the production, possession, distribution, dispensation, administration, or delivery of marihuana."

The bill currently is being "Referred to the Subcommittee on Health" since February 10th, 2017. 

The following links will provide you with some additional information beyond what has been linked above: