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Chronicle AM -- July 24, 2014

Submitted by Phillip Smith on (Issue #845)
Consequences of Prohibition

There's dollar signs coming with marijuana legalization laws, Rand Paul moves to protect medical marijuana, but it's too late for one New York girl, there's a new opiate pain reliever out there (with a twist), and more. Let's get to it:

Chilean Senator Isabel Allende Bussi wants to legalize marijuana possession and cultivation. (wikimedia.org)
Marijuana Policy

Oregon Marijuana Legalization Could Generate $38.5 Million in Taxes in First Year, Report Says. An economic study commissioned by New Approach Oregon, the people behind the marijuana legalization initiative just approved for the November ballot, finds that legalization would produce $38.5 million in tax revenues in its first year.

Medical Marijuana

Rand Paul Files Medical Marijuana Amendment. US Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) today filed an amendment to Senate Bill 2569, the "Bring Jobs Home Act," that would explicitly allow states to pass medical marijuana laws despite the provisions of the federal Controlled Substances Act. The amendment would also bar prosecutions of patients and doctors for engaging in medical marijuana activities in states where it is legal.

New York Poster Child for Medical Marijuana Dies Without Her Medicine. Nine-year-old Anna Conte, whose family has been at the center of the Empire State medical marijuana debate, has died without ever gaining access to marijuana medicines that may have alleviated her condition. Conte suffered from Dravet Syndrome, which caused her to suffer hundreds of crippling seizures every day. The state passed a medical marijuana law last month, but it won't go into effect for another year and a half.

Minnesota Names Medical Marijuana Director. The state Department of Health has named department employee Michelle Larson the first-ever director of the Office of Medical Cannabis. She is charged with managing the office's staff and creating and implementing administrative policies for things like an application process for a manufacturer and a patient registry. The state's law limits medical marijuana to eight specified diseases or conditions and does not allow for the use of smoked marijuana.

Prescription Opiates

FDA Approves Oxycodone/Naloxone Combo Pain Reliever. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new opioid pain reliever that combines oxycodone and naloxone. Targiniq ER, produced by Purdue Pharma, the maker of Oxycontin, included naloxone to block the euphoric effects of oxycodone, making it less likely to be misused.

International

Poll Finds Strong Australian Majority for Medical Marijuana. A new ReachTel survey finds that nearly two-thirds of respondents support legalizing medical marijuana. Support was highest among people between 51 and 65. The poll comes as New South Wales inches toward approving medical marijuana.

Chilean Senators Propose Legalizing Marijuana Possession, Cultivation. Four Chilean senators have introduced a bill that would legalize the possession and cultivation of small amounts of marijuana for personal use, as well as for "therapeutic and spiritual reasons." The legislators include Sen. Isabel Allende Bussi, daughter of Salvador Allende, who died in the midst of a rightist military coup to overthrow him in 1973, and Juan Pablo Letelier, the son of Orlando Letelier, a Chilean politician assassinated by the Pinochet government in Washington, DC, in 1976.

Permission to Reprint: This content is licensed under a modified Creative Commons Attribution license. Content of a purely educational nature in Drug War Chronicle appear courtesy of DRCNet Foundation, unless otherwise noted.

Comments

Anonymous510000 (not verified)

These cruel, disgusting congressmen and women that are dragging their feet on changing Prohibition ought to be ashamed of themselves! Anna Conte had a chance, but thanks to the slow-as-molasses process they are subjecting everyone to, now she never will... This tortuous, malignant legislative course is sure to harvest many more victims.  It needs to stop. Now.

Thu, 07/24/2014 - 9:28pm Permalink
saynotohypocrisy (not verified)

In reply to by Anonymous510000 (not verified)

People they don't know just don't mean as much to them as their buddies, we've seen this before, when legislators become advocates for MMJ only after someone they care about needs it or benefits from using it illegally.

I don't know how Cuomo and the rest of the creeps who caused this delay can look at themselves in the mirror..

And as always, the alcohol free pass reigns.

Thu, 07/24/2014 - 10:45pm Permalink
ConservativeCh… (not verified)

They do it for the money (asset forfeiture). Here's an attempt to put a stop to that part of the equation:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-watch/wp/2014/07/25/rand-paul-introduces-bill-to-reform-civil-asset-forfeiture/

As to the morality of it all: It's time for all of us to start doing unto others as we would have them do unto us. None of us would want our kids put in jail over a little marijuana. None of us would want the police to confiscate and sell our parents' home because they grew a couple of plants to help with the aches and pains of growing old. Let's start treating other people the way we would want to be treated.

Fri, 07/25/2014 - 5:22pm Permalink
sicntired (not verified)

When the elder Kennedy had his brain tumor they admit they tried cannabis.Meanwhile,his cousin is the number one anti drug anti cannabis,even medical cannabis crusader in America.Also an ex oxy addict.There's still nothing worse than a reformed dope fiend hooker.All politicians are lower than any hooker.Even a two dollar crack whore has more class than a politician and a lot more honesty as well.In fact I apologize to any crack whore who read that.You are miles above any politician.

Fri, 07/25/2014 - 11:52pm Permalink

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