Reflections ►
What Will 2023 Bring ?
Imagine That ! by Dolores Halbin , contributing writer
My goodness , folks , what a year it has been . Here we are in 2023 , the third year into the term of the 16th American President since the onset of prohibition in 1937 , 86 years ago .
What a tangled web we weave when we did at first deceive . ~ Sir Walter Scott , 1808
Unless there was a Christmas miracle ( as I writer this in late November 2022 ), it looks like we didn ’ t manage to manifest getting cannabis off the Federal Schedule as a Class 1 of no medical value in 2022 , my New Year ’ s resolution from last year .
However , we put a couple cracks in the rock . The first is the passage of the HR 8454 Bill , the “ Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act ,” passed by the 117th Congress that President Biden signed on December 2 . He also requested the review of cannabis as a Schedule I drug by the Health and Human Services . The Bill will also allow physicians to discuss the potential harms and benefits of marijuana and its derivatives , including CBD , with patients . This may remove some of the fear of at least talking about cannabis for physicians . ( The full HR 8454 Bill can be read at
www . congress . gov .)
President Biden also appeared to break from his stance against reform when he announced clemency for Federal prisoners incarcerated for simple possession of cannabis . However , The Marshal Project investigative journalist Jamiles Lartey reported in its October newsletter , “ As far as bold acts of mass clemency go , it won ’ t lead to many people getting out of prison . In fact , it will lead to none . According to the White House report this week from the U . S . Sentencing Commission ( USSC ), there is no one currently in federal custody for simple possession of marijuana .” Thanks anyway , Joe .
And regarding the President ’ s suggestion governors follow suit , Politico warns not to expect much from this plea . The sympathetic , such as Illinois Governor Pritzker , has already arranged to expunge nonviolent marijuana offenses , which does make a difference . Politico estimates state expungements would free roughly 30,000 folks across the U . S . serving hard time for possession of cannabis . Come on Governor Parson !
I will qualify for expungement under A-3 because I fit the criteria for the narrow group , misdemeanor offenses with no complicating factors . Those charged with felony possession , either in prison or have felony records , will remain criminals . These folks were our early pharmacists and growers before Amendment 2 passed , and I have difficulty passing new laws that cause them to remain criminals .
The Finance of Ethics
The only other time in our history we have dealt with laws of ethics and morality with such influence on our economy was slavery . It is no surprise the Southern states took this to war . Their economy depended on slaves . It is also no surprise the southern prisons are the most overpopulated and heavily minority . Maybe a person can no longer be “ owned ,” but we have found many ways to use folks as indentured servants through state and federal sentencing of hard labor for using drugs .
Speaking of hard labor , Brittney Griner could have been arrested at any number of airports in the U . S . and received the same sentence she received in Russia . Our prisons are full of Brittney Griners . I wonder if this even crossed the President ’ s mind as he negotiated a prisoner exchange of a Russian arms dealer for an athlete using cannabis . Hummm !
Question Answered ...
At least my question , “ Why won ’ t the Feds de-schedule ?” has been answered . If the top CEOs of the top MSOs wanted marijuana off the schedule — it would be off the schedule ! We ’ ve watched firsthand in Missouri how much money they are willing to spend to promote industries through the passage of new state laws .
The efforts to destroy medical marijuana and treat the plant the same as alcohol and tobacco have been growing across the country as the major industry players look to create adult-use markets instead . Many such laws have proven disastrous to patients . Just ask our Colorado refugee families after Governor Jared Polis signed into law HB21-1317 . It virtually killed the Colorado medical cannabis program , basically declaring the plant recreational , leaving over 550 refugee families with special needs kids scrambling to find their kids ’ medications . However , the law is under litigation .