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Potential change in classification of pot is good, right?
There is momentum building in the House of Representatives to have marijuana reclassified from a Schedule I drug to Schedule II. This means for the first time Congress recognizes pot has medicinal qualities. Schedule I drugs have no medicinal uses at all. This had bipartisan support basically from Democrats in states that allow medical marijuana and a Republican from Alaska, which recently voted to allow for recreational marijuana...and Paul Rand just because he's a libertarian.
This really seems like a good thing, right? Well as far as I'm concerned mostly yes with a potential no. This is really uncharted territory for Congress. I can hear plenty of those opposed to it saying, "the science isn't in" and such. Has Congress ever made a law before to classify a drug? Congress did make alcohol totally illegal by getting an Amendment ratified then reversed that decision some years later, but it had nothing to do with classifying alcohol as a drug.
Honestly I don't see the majority of the House of Representatives passing an amendment to the current law (not 217 of them). Let's look at what would change anyway.
Pro: Marijuana is the only Schedule I drug wherein no research can be done on it unless it goes through a Public Health Service review. This law was established in 1999 by the federal government. No other Schedule I drug has to go through this extra step simply to be studied. The result is basically to make pot the hardest thing to study because no funding is there to study any positive things about pot. There's been plenty of funding to study only negative effects. If this new law passes that extra hurdle will be done away with.
Pro: According to current law, only the Federal Government is allowed to grow marijuana and thus control all research. Obviously others besides the Federal Government grow pot, but technically that is totally illegal. This new law would lift this restriction thus legally allowing real research to be done. By current law only the Federal Government can do any research on marijuana. This is the reason no positive medical things about marijuana has been accepted because all that research has been technically illegal and thus totally ignored as having any validity.
Pro: The Controlled Substances Act would be changed so states could set their own medical marijuana policies. Currently all sale, growing, possession, production and distribution of marijuana is 100% illegal under Federal law. The change to this act would protect states that allow medical marijuana. It will also allow patients, doctors and businesses to be part of state's medical marijuana programs without fear of being busted by the Feds.
Pro: The bill would remove marijuana with less than 0.3 percent THC from being scheduled altogether, allowing states to import CBD strains for patients who need it even if they don't allow for medical marijuana grows. In truth this is purely for the CBD use as 0.3% THC pot would do nothing. Well, OK, I guess you could smoke 50 pounds of it and you might get some effect, like barfing or something.
Pro: It would allow banking to be legal regarding the marijuana business. This is really a problem now as no US banks will touch anything dealing with pot because the Federal Government views it as drug money laundering which forces the entire business to be a cash only industry. Currently the Pot Barons of Colorado are moving money into banks in Canada as that country has no laws barring that so they can actually get loans and sell pot via credit and debit cards.
What do you think?
Latest Updates on Regional Meet-Up News Can Be Found Below the Orange Group Hug.
Let's Build Communities!
Our team is here to provide support and guidance to new and existing volunteer leaders of each regional and state group, helping them with recruiting, organizing and executing social and action events.
We invite you to join in this effort to build our community. There are many ways to pitch in.
If there isn't a group to join near you, please start one.
Instructions on HOW TO FORM A NEW DAILY KOS GROUP
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Where the Kogs Are: Index/Directory of the 130+ Localized Daily Kos Groups
THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY
by Egberto Willies ♥ for TexKos
by Chrislove ♥ for TexKos
We had a fantastic meet-up that will energize me for months to come. We had 80 of the most intrepid Texans to date. They braved extremely rare ice storms north of Austin. Bridges and major highways into Austin were closed the morning of our event.
The extreme weather was truly a problem but it was nice to see those who were able to show up. And based on the comments of the two diaries below, many attendees were equally energized and empowered.
All and all, it was a great day! Thanks to nomandates and Chrislove for helping to organize.
FTR: I was in Austin at exactly the same time in 2013 for the inaugural Texas Kos State Meet-up. I got a sunburn at the Zilker Park Kite Festival the next day. It was a gorgeous sunny day.
Here's one photo:
TexKos-Messing with Texas with nothing but love for Texans
Please visit Egberto's and Chrislove's diaries for many MORE photos! Enjoy! You can still REC both diaries. You can join TexKos by sending a Kosmail to nomandates.
Event Organizers! Please contact wink from Netrootsradio.com by KosMail to schedule airtime with them to live broadcast the date of your Event. Wink & Justice will then promote it on The After Show radio program!
Saturday, March 28th
Houston Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: Radical Eats
507 Westheimer Road • Montrose
ORGANIZER: Send Chrislove a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. nomandates
2. scott5js
3. cosette
4. jmbar2
5.
6.
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Maybees:
MarciaJ720
Mr. cosette
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Latest diary: Next Houston Area Kossacks Meet-Up: Saturday, March 28 (RSVP Today!)
Saturday, March 28th
Motor City Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: 5:00 PM
LOCATION: Taqueria Mi Pueblo
7278 Dix • Detroit (Corktown-ish)
ORGANIZER: Send peregrine kate a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. DoReMI
2. mideedah
3. BFSkinner
4. peregrine kate
5.
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Maybees:
ProvokingMeaning
ChemBob
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Latest diary: Michigan/Motor City Kossacks: Weekly Open Thread--Spring Meet-ups!
Saturday, March 28th
Four Corners Kossacks International Diplomatic Outreach Junket
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: Irish Embassy Pub
900 Main Ave • Durango
ORGANIZER: Send Thinking Fella a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. Thinking Fella
2. Hero Machine
3. red moon dog
4. ERRN
5. Mr. ERRN
6. Gary Norton
7. nzanne
8. msaztec
9. relleno
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Maybees:
LucyTooners
Mr. LucyTooners
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Latest diary: Four Corners Kossacks Meet-up: International Diplomatic Outreach
Sunday, March 29th
Seattle & Puget Sound Kos Meet-up
TIME: 12:30 PM
LOCATION: Pyramid Alehouse, Brewery and Restaurant
1201 First Ave S • Seattle
Cost: $20.00 for selective menu for a large group
ORGANIZER: Send John Crapper a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. John Crapper
2. John Crapper S.O.
3. Lefty Coaster
4. momomia
5. ratcityreprobate
6. doingbusinessas
7. doingbusinessas' daughter
8. Flamingogrrl
9. MiddleEaarth
10. TBone Apollo
11. LarisaW
12. bleeding blue
13. Gemina13
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Maybees:
Michael Foster Guest - Plant for the Planet Seattle
ActNowonClimate
Piren
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Latest diary: Meet-up Reminder & Skagit Valley Tulip Festival - Photo Diary
Saturday, April 18th
San Francisco Kos Welcomes blue jersey mom to Town
Potluck style BBQ
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: kimoconnor's garden
[Address given privately to RSVPs] • San Francisco
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. blue jersey mom
2. navajo - [2 bottles of wine]
3. side pocket
4. Mrs. side pocket
5. maggiejean
6. kimoconnor
7. dharmasyd
8. norm
9. remembrance
10. Glen The Plumber
11. TLO
12. Lorikeet
13. dsb
14. FogCityJohn
15. boatsie - [kitcherie]
16. lineatus
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Maybees:
slksfca
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Saturday, April 25th
Dallas Kos Meet-up!
Why: Margaritas, fajitas, burritos and other fine quality progressive company!
Part of the plan: discussing creating a "taskforce" of people ready to swoop down on the county courthouse when marriage equality reaches Texas to greet happy couples with roses and banners celebrating the new recognition of their unions!
TIME: Noon
LOCATION: Uncle Julio's Mexican Restaurant
4125 Lemmon Ave • Dallas
ORGANIZER: Send AndyT a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. AndyT
2.
3.
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Maybees:
tom 47
Chrislove
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Latest diary: Dallas Kossacks Meet Up April 25th
Saturday, April 25th
DAILY KOS CONNECTS KANSAS CITY
Our first regional Daily Kos gathering.
Join us for a day of camaraderie and progressive strategizing with Big Orange flavor. In a day-long seminar, learn how our Connect! Unite! Act! team maximized the Daily Kos forum to effect change in Kansas state politics. We are going to duplicate that effort across the nation. Participants will focus on organizing from the ground up.
You'll also get a chance to meet the blog's founder, Markos Moulitsas and some of the Daily Kos staff:
• Meteor Blades, Senior Political Writer
• Joan McCarter, Senior Political Writer
• David Nir, Political Director
• Jen Hayden, Social Media Editor
• Monique Teal, Activism Team Member
• Neeta Lind aka navajo, Director of Community Building
TIME: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
LOCATION: Alamo Drafthouse
1400 Main Street • Kansas City
SCHEDULE:
8:00 AM - Registration and Continental Breakfast
9:00 AM - Presentations, panels and Q&A's begin
Noon - Lunch served
1:30 PM - More presentations, panels and Q&A's
6:00 PM - After Party at nearby Anton's Taproom & Restaurant. We've reserved their Beer Garden, you'll need a wristband from the day event to get in.
REGISTER HERE: $30 registration fee at Eventbrite
Space will be limited to 200 seats.
Register now to secure your seat.
Benefactor level is also available if you plan to attend and buy a scholarship for someone, you and your attendee can have a front row seat. Angel level is also available if you can't attend but want to help someone else attend.
We've granted two scholarships! We have five more scholarships available thanks to our Benefactors and Angels. Please kosmail navajo if you need a scholarship to attend. |
Grow our network, unite our progressive communities, help win elections!
Saturday and Sunday, April 25-26, 2015
DKos Asheville's Roadtrip and Two-Day Retreat to Roanoke, Virginia
From randallt:
After seven successful and engaging meet ups, DKos Asheville's core members decided to take our next gathering on the road. The first reason was that our chef and benefactor for all our meet ups has been Gordon20024 and we wanted say thanks by traveling to be with him instead of having him drive to be with us. We asked and he was thrilled and so the idea was born. Another reason is that it offers us the opportunity to meet more Kossacks from around the region including Virginia and parts of North Carolina to the north and east of us.
Grow our network, grow our community, help win elections.
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TIME: 1:00 pm Saturday till 1:00 pm Sunday
LOCATION: Hotel Roanoke, Conference Center
110 Shenandoah Avenue • Roanoke
ORGANIZER: Send randallt a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. gordon20024
2. davehouck
3. randallt
4. Joieau
5. LamontCranston
6. Steerler Grrl
7. Steeler Guy
8. Otteray Scribe
9. DawnN
10. emmasnacker
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: DKos Asheville: Open Thread
May 2nd, SAVE THE DATE
5th Annual Baja Arizona Kossacks Picnic
TIME: TBD
LOCATION: Garfield Park
Tombstone Canyon Rd. • Bisbee
ORGANIZER: Send Azazello a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. Azazello
2. ItsaMathJoke
3. rasbobbo
4. ramara
5. sneakers563
6. DaNang65
7. Bisbonian
8. itzadryheat
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Maybees:
2many2list |
Latest diary: Baja Arizona Kossacks Open Thread: 5th Annual Picnic
June 26, 27 & 28th, 2015
EPIC Glacier National Park Meet-up II
ACTIVITIES:
June 26: TBD
June 27: TBD
June 28:
Day - TBD
Evening - 5:00 PM, BBQ potluck with Jen Hayden at the lower picnic area at the Historic Tamarack Lodge, 9549 U.S. 2, Hungry Horse, MT 59919. Entertainment at 6:00 PM by Truckstop Honeymoon
TIME: 24/7
LOCATION: Exact location inside park TBD
[Address] • Glacier National Park
ORGANIZER: Send Ojibwa a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. Ojibwa
2. state of confusion
3. Thinking Fella
4. side pocket
5. Mrs. side pocket
6. navajo
7. jakedog42
8. paradise50
9. Jen Hayden for 6/28 only
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Maybees:
woolibaar
NormAl1792
markdd
peregrine kate
FoundingFatherDAR
Joan McCarter
mcmom
dharmasyd
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Latest diaries:
• A 2015 Glacier National Park Meetup?
• The 2015 EPIC Glacier Park Meet Up: Travel and Lodging
• The EPIC 2015 Glacier National Park Meet Up: Camping
Announcing Asheville, North Carolina as the location
for our next Regional Event! 9.26.15
Asheville, N.C. is the destination for September 26, 2015! DKos Asheville, the In-Real-Life group under the leadership of randallt, has been setting the example for other IRL groups across the nation regarding registering people to vote, getting out the vote, having a state open thread and setting up strategy conferences for their region. Because of this impressive leadership we've asked randallt to be the State Leader for all of North Carolina. We've got important work to do on the ground there and randallt has shown he's the person to make that happen.
All states are welcome to attend this event and if you do you can expect to meet Markos Moulitsas in person, as well as some of the Daily Kos staff. More details regarding this regional event will be shared in the future so please stay tuned to Connect! Unite! Act!
For now, SAVE THE DATE and spread the word!
navajo maintains the above event list. Kosmail her if you have any diaries
about your event or if you have changes or additions.
EVERYONE is welcome, tell us what you're working on,
share your show and tell, vent, whatever you want.
This is an open thread. Nothing is off topic.