XPost: alt.drugs.psychedelics, alt.drugs.pot, alt.hemp.politics

Drug War Chronicle, Issue #1192 -- 8/4/23
Phillip S. Smith, Editor, psmith@drcnet.org https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/1192

A Publication of StoptheDrugWar.org
David Borden, Executive Director, borden@drcnet.org
"Raising Awareness of the Consequences of Drug Prohibition"

Please support our newsletter with a recurring or one-time donation! https://stopthedrugwar.org/donate

Table of Contents:

1. BIPARTISAN BILL WOULD ELIMINATE CANNABIS SCREENING FOR FEDERAL
HIRING, SECURITY CLEARANCES [FEATURE]
More than three million federal jobs are not available to (admitted)
marijuana users, because they cannot get security clearances. A new bill
hopes to change that. https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2023/aug/03/bipartisan_bill_would_eliminate

2. FEDERAL DRUG PRISONER POPULATION DECLINES, CA PSYCHEDELIC
LEGALIZATION BILL ADVANCES, MORE... (7/13/23)
A GOP-led House committee has killed marijuana and psychedelic reform amendments to the defense spending bill, a Mexican drug cartel uses
roadside bombs against the police, and more. https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2023/jul/13/federal_drug_prisoner_population

3. DC LAW PROTECTING POT-SMOKING WORKERS NOW IN EFFECT, GHANA OKAY HEMP
& MEDMJ PRODUCTION, MORE... (7/14/23)
A Minnesota Native American reservation will have marijuana for sale on
the first day of legalization (unlike most of the rest of the state),
the US government quietly suspends monitoring of coca cultivation in
Colombia, and more. https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2023/jul/14/dc_law_protecting_potsmoking

4. MINNEAPOLIS ENACTS PSYCHEDELIC REFORM, ALBANIA LEGALIZES MEDICAL
MARIJUANA, MORE... (7/24/23)
New York GOP politicos want to ban public pot smoking, California is
paying meth users who test negative, and more. https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2023/jul/24/minneapolis_enacts_psychedelic

5. CA PSYCHEDELIC RESEARCH INITIATIVE, COLOMBIA COCA PRICE CRASH CAUSING MISERY, MORE... (7/24/23)
Ab Ohio marijuana legalization initiative needs more signatures but has
the time to get them, Singapore is set to hang two more drug offenders,
and more. https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2023/jul/25/ca_psychedelic_research

6. FL SUPREME COURT MARIJUANA INITIATIVE FIGHT, PERU COCA EXPANSION,
MORE... (7/26/23)
Singapore has executed one drug offender with another set for later this
week, the Florida ACLU joins the fight for a marijuana legalization initiative, and more. https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2023/jul/26/fl_supreme_court_marijuana

7. BIPARTISAN BILL TO LET POT SMOKERS GET SECURITY CLEARANCES FILED, GA
ASSET FORFEITURE OUTRAGE, MORE... (7/27/23)
The House approves veterans' medical marijuana and psychedelic research amendments to a must-pass spending bill, a new House bill would clear
the way for security clearances for past or present pot smokers, and more. https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2023/jul/27/bipartisan_bill_let_pot_smokers

8. FDA APPROVES SECOND OTC NASAL NALOXONE SPRAY, SINGAPORE HANGS ANOTHER
DRUG OFFENDER, MORE... (7/28/23)
GOP senator files bill mandating social media cooperation with law
enforcement against drug trafficking, bipartisan senators file bill to
ease access to fentanyl test strips, and more. https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2023/jul/28/fda_approves_second_otc_nasal

9. CA INITIATIVE WOULD HAVE STATE FUND PSYCHEDELIC RESEARCH, FENTANYL
BILLS PASS SENATE, MORE... (7/31/23)
A Georgia prosecutor's bid to seize a landlord's rural trailer beause a
tenant got caught with meth gets thrown out of court, Colombia's
president proposes buying up the coca crop, and more. https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2023/jul/31/ca_initiative_would_have_state

10. BILL FILED TO PREPARE FEDS FOR POT LEGALIZATION, SEATTLE MAYOR
UNVEILS NEW PLAN ON OPEN-AIR DRUG USE, MORE... (8/1/23)
Another Republican files another border fentanyl bill, Seattle's mayor
has a plan to deal with open-air drug use, and more. https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2023/aug/01/bill_filed_prepare_feds_pot

11. SAMSHA SEEKS COMMENT ON HARM REDUCTION DRAFT, MN ERA OF LEGAL WEED
BEGINS, MORE... (8/2/23)
An effort to repeal South Dakota's voter-approved medical marijuana law
gets underway, the Red Lake Reservation sees the first legal
recreational marijuana sales in Minnesota, and more. https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2023/aug/02/samsha_seeks_comment_harm

12. OH LEGAL WEED INITIATIVE HANDS IN FINAL SIGNATURES, BRAZIL DRUG
RAIDS LEAVE 45 DEAD, MORE... (8/3/23)
It looks like Ohioans will get to vote on marijuana legalization this
year, Singapore hangs yet another drug offender, and more. https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2023/aug/03/oh_legal_weed_initiative_hands

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1. BIPARTISAN BILL WOULD ELIMINATE CANNABIS SCREENING FOR FEDERAL
HIRING, SECURITY CLEARANCES [FEATURE] https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2023/aug/03/bipartisan_bill_would_eliminate

On Thursday, Reps. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and Nancy Mace (R-SC1) introduced
the Cannabis Users Restoration of Eligibility (CURE) Act (https://raskin.house.gov/_cache/files/1/0/10e5bca7-50ce-4a3a-8b20-a3ca7e571bc5/EC13351EC2CBB4AC07749B2C00C90193.bill-text---cure-act.pdf),
legislation to prevent prior or current marijuana use from becoming
grounds for failing to receive a security clearance or for being found unsuitable for federal employment. The CURE Act will also allow for
someone who has previously been denied a security clearance or a federal
job based on marijuana use the chance to have that denial reviewed.

The bill would amend the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention
Act of 2004 to limit the consideration of marijuana use when making a
security clearance or employment suitability determination.
"Notwithstanding any other law, rule, or regulation, current or past use
of marijuana by a covered person may not be used in any determination
with respect to whether such person is eligible for a security clearance
or suitable for Federal employment," the bill text specifies.

A security clearance is necessary for more than half of all federal
jobs, including not only obvious positions in the defense, homeland
security, and cybersecurity sectors, but even the people who clean the buildings or provide food services where those people work. That is more
than three million (https://www.npr.org/2019/03/01/699407475/what-you-need-to-know-about-security-clearances-inside-and-outside-the-white-hou)
federal military and civilian positions that require security
clearances, along with another 1.2 million held by contract employees.

"Every year, qualified and dedicated individuals seeking to serve our
country are unable to secure federal jobs and security clearances
because the federal government has not caught up with the widely
established legal use of medical and recreational cannabis,"said Rep.
Raskin (https://raskin.house.gov/2023/7/raskin-mace-introduce-legislation-to-allow-cannabis-users-access-to-federal-employment-security-clearances)
in a release announcing the bill. "I am proud to partner with my friend Representative Mace to introduce the bipartisan CURE Act that will
eliminate the draconian, failed and obsolete marijuana policies that
prevent talented individuals from becoming honorable public servants in
their own government."

The CURE Act has been endorsed by the Drug Policy Alliance, the Due
Process Institute, Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP), the
National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), and the
US Cannabis Council -- and these reform groups were eager to weigh in on it.

"DPA is excited to support legislation that can help end another pillar
of the drug war and allow individuals to secure work," said Maritza
Perez Medina (https://raskin.house.gov/2023/7/raskin-mace-introduce-legislation-to-allow-cannabis-users-access-to-federal-employment-security-clearances),
Director, Office of Federal Affairs, Drug Policy Alliance (DPA).
"Penalizing someone for drug use relies on an assumption that any drug
use is problematic and that people who use drugs cannot be responsible employees. We know this is false. We hope this bill is just the start of
other critical federal marijuana reforms."

"There are many talented and dedicated people who have used cannabis and
want to serve their country," said Sgt. Terry Blevins, a former civilian investigator for the Department of Defense, Arizona Police Sergeant, and
Board Member for the Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP).
"Compromising recruitment by our federal agencies with antiquated
cannabis laws makes our nation less safe in the face of security threats
we face globally."

"For too long, the federal government has been denying Americans civil
service opportunities solely because of its outdated attitudes toward
cannabis and those who consume it," said Morgan Fox (https://raskin.house.gov/2023/7/raskin-mace-introduce-legislation-to-allow-cannabis-users-access-to-federal-employment-security-clearances),
Political Director at the National Organization for the Reform of
Marijuana Laws (NORML). "Denying these millions of Americans
consideration for employment and security clearances is discriminatory
and it unnecessarily shrinks the talent pool available for these
important jobs. NORML commends the sponsors for working to undo this
policy and replace it with fair and sensible hiring and clearance
practices that will put America on much stronger footing on the global
stage."

"Millions of patriotic, conscientious Americans use cannabis legally
each year, but they are consistently penalized by outdated federal regulations," said Ed Conklin (https://raskin.house.gov/2023/7/raskin-mace-introduce-legislation-to-allow-cannabis-users-access-to-federal-employment-security-clearances),
Executive Director, US Cannabis Council. "We strongly support the CURE
Act because it will bring federal employment policies into line with the
views of most Americans. Cannabis use should never prevent a qualified candidate from serving his or her country as a federal employee."

As of now, 38 states, three territories and the District of Columbia
allow the medical use of marijuana, while 23 states, two territories and
the District of Columbia have enacted measures to authorize and regulate marijuana for recreational adult use. Despite the rapid pace at which
marijuana is being legalized, thousands of Americans are routinely
denied security clearances and lose out on federal employment if they
admit to using marijuana in a lawful way.

================ ...
___________________

It's time to correct the mistake:
Truth:the Anti-drugwar
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Cops say legalize drugs--find out why:
<http://www.leap.cc>
Stoners are people too:
<http://www.cannabisconsumers.org>
___________________

bliss -- Cacao Powered... (-SF4ever at DSLExtreme dot com)

--
bobbie sellers - a retired nurse in San Francisco

"It is by will alone I set my mind in motion.
It is by the beans of cacao that the thoughts acquire speed,
the thighs acquire girth, the girth become a warning.
It is by theobromine alone I set my mind in motion."
--from Someone else's Dune spoof ripped to my taste.

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