All Hail Dank Brandon
October 6, 2022 12:17 PM Subscribe
Today, President Biden announced a sea change in federal marijuana policy, including a blanket pardon of all federal simple possession charges (and calling on governors to do the same), as well as beginning the process to reschedule marijuana.
I guess announcing this at 4:20pm would miss the evening news cycle
posted by nubs at 12:21 PM on October 6, 2022 [39 favorites]
posted by nubs at 12:21 PM on October 6, 2022 [39 favorites]
Better late than never I guess. Do the Democrats actually want to win an election for once?
posted by jy4m at 12:23 PM on October 6, 2022 [21 favorites]
posted by jy4m at 12:23 PM on October 6, 2022 [21 favorites]
Wow, this is great news! Does this mean that all these pardoned folks will be re-enfranchised?
posted by bink at 12:25 PM on October 6, 2022 [22 favorites]
posted by bink at 12:25 PM on October 6, 2022 [22 favorites]
This is amazing. The dumbest comments I'm seeing are along the lines of "He's only doing this because there's an election!" Like, yes? Elected officials do things they think will get them elected. Why is this presented like some grand revelation?
posted by star gentle uterus at 12:25 PM on October 6, 2022 [79 favorites]
posted by star gentle uterus at 12:25 PM on October 6, 2022 [79 favorites]
is this out of the blue on the blue?
excellent news indeed!
posted by djseafood at 12:28 PM on October 6, 2022
excellent news indeed!
posted by djseafood at 12:28 PM on October 6, 2022
This is amazing. The dumbest comments I'm seeing are along the lines of "He's only doing this because there's an election!" Like, yes? Elected officials do things they think will get them elected. Why is this presented like some grand revelation?
Like, it's literally the leverage voters are supposed to have? that's how it's supposed to work? lol
posted by wellifyouinsist at 12:29 PM on October 6, 2022 [39 favorites]
Like, it's literally the leverage voters are supposed to have? that's how it's supposed to work? lol
posted by wellifyouinsist at 12:29 PM on October 6, 2022 [39 favorites]
This CNBC article doesn't offer a lot of additional information, but it does have this stock photo, which I will be uploading to Kilogram shortly.
posted by box at 12:29 PM on October 6, 2022 [19 favorites]
posted by box at 12:29 PM on October 6, 2022 [19 favorites]
itshappening.gif
Federal pardons are great, and the rescheduling is huge. HHS basically controls that process, and Secretary Becerra has historically been a supporter of cannabis rights. Once the report on the "safety" of cannabis is complete (like, how many of these do we have to do?) he can -- and, I don't want to get ahead of myself, but I'm going to say "probably will" -- instruct the AG to remove cannabis from the schedule.
How long that will take? Who knows. But this is canny politics by the administration, like a lot of the stuff they've been doing lately. It's almost as if they want to limit the midterm damage.
posted by uncleozzy at 12:33 PM on October 6, 2022 [16 favorites]
Federal pardons are great, and the rescheduling is huge. HHS basically controls that process, and Secretary Becerra has historically been a supporter of cannabis rights. Once the report on the "safety" of cannabis is complete (like, how many of these do we have to do?) he can -- and, I don't want to get ahead of myself, but I'm going to say "probably will" -- instruct the AG to remove cannabis from the schedule.
How long that will take? Who knows. But this is canny politics by the administration, like a lot of the stuff they've been doing lately. It's almost as if they want to limit the midterm damage.
posted by uncleozzy at 12:33 PM on October 6, 2022 [16 favorites]
Just want to say A+ post title, would crack a smile again :)
posted by May Kasahara at 12:34 PM on October 6, 2022 [17 favorites]
posted by May Kasahara at 12:34 PM on October 6, 2022 [17 favorites]
Just want to say A+ post title, would crack a smile again :)
The title may have factored just a smidgen in posting the story. ~.^
posted by NoxAeternum at 12:37 PM on October 6, 2022 [4 favorites]
The title may have factored just a smidgen in posting the story. ~.^
posted by NoxAeternum at 12:37 PM on October 6, 2022 [4 favorites]
Whoa-hoa! News!
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 12:38 PM on October 6, 2022
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 12:38 PM on October 6, 2022
As someone who voted for Joe Biden and will certainly do so again, it always unsettles me a little when he does something this abrupt and this good and this politically deft. This isn't the first time, but every time it happens I'm left a little non-plussed.
It's a good feeling, albeit unusual. More like this, please.
posted by Tom Hanks Cannot Be Trusted at 12:38 PM on October 6, 2022 [64 favorites]
It's a good feeling, albeit unusual. More like this, please.
posted by Tom Hanks Cannot Be Trusted at 12:38 PM on October 6, 2022 [64 favorites]
All Hail Dank Brandon
For those not keeping track, in less than two years, the Biden administration and a Dem congress *without* a supermajority has:
* Passed the Inflation Reduction Act (biggest climate bill ever)
* Passed the Infrastructure bill
* Passed the Chips and Science Act
* Passed the bill that helps veterans exposed to burn pits (thank you also Jon Stewart)
* Passed gun control legislation (woefully short but the only federal legislation since the 90s)
* Confirmed more judges to federal courts than any president since Kennedy, including Ketanji Brown Jackson onto the Supreme Court
* Got billions in arms to Ukraine
* Passed Asian Hate Crime bill and made lynching a federal hate crime
* First majority non-white Cabinet in history, with most women in the Cabinet, including first woman Treasury Secretary, first LGBTQ+ and Native American Cabinet officials, and first woman Director of National Intelligence
* Reversed a bunch of Trump era executive orders such as the anti-trans policy in the military
posted by gwint at 12:44 PM on October 6, 2022 [184 favorites]
For those not keeping track, in less than two years, the Biden administration and a Dem congress *without* a supermajority has:
* Passed the Inflation Reduction Act (biggest climate bill ever)
* Passed the Infrastructure bill
* Passed the Chips and Science Act
* Passed the bill that helps veterans exposed to burn pits (thank you also Jon Stewart)
* Passed gun control legislation (woefully short but the only federal legislation since the 90s)
* Confirmed more judges to federal courts than any president since Kennedy, including Ketanji Brown Jackson onto the Supreme Court
* Got billions in arms to Ukraine
* Passed Asian Hate Crime bill and made lynching a federal hate crime
* First majority non-white Cabinet in history, with most women in the Cabinet, including first woman Treasury Secretary, first LGBTQ+ and Native American Cabinet officials, and first woman Director of National Intelligence
* Reversed a bunch of Trump era executive orders such as the anti-trans policy in the military
posted by gwint at 12:44 PM on October 6, 2022 [184 favorites]
Oh shit I forgot student debt relief.
* Student Debt Relief!
posted by gwint at 12:50 PM on October 6, 2022 [100 favorites]
* Student Debt Relief!
posted by gwint at 12:50 PM on October 6, 2022 [100 favorites]
Works have been better if he done it on day one, but I'll take it as a win and say better late then never!
Dank Brandon did good.
posted by sotonohito at 12:55 PM on October 6, 2022 [3 favorites]
Dank Brandon did good.
posted by sotonohito at 12:55 PM on October 6, 2022 [3 favorites]
If the republicans have any brains, they'll jump on this bandwagon and pass a bill to steal some thunder. But they won't, of course. They'll just default to their usual knee-jerk oppositional response.
posted by Eddie Mars at 12:56 PM on October 6, 2022 [6 favorites]
posted by Eddie Mars at 12:56 PM on October 6, 2022 [6 favorites]
For so long he seemed committed to an agenda that would have tacked the party slightly to the left had he won the 2000 election, but which totally failed to acknowledge the intervening 20 years.
posted by wotsac at 12:57 PM on October 6, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by wotsac at 12:57 PM on October 6, 2022 [4 favorites]
I voted for Biden and was very relieved and happy when he won. but I did not expect that he would craft such a legacy as he seems to be doing. this is wonderful and I hope it is the beginning of changes that will free all non-violent mj offenders, clear their records, restore voting and whatever other citizen rights they may have been stripped of.
posted by supermedusa at 1:12 PM on October 6, 2022 [22 favorites]
posted by supermedusa at 1:12 PM on October 6, 2022 [22 favorites]
As the re-scheduling process plays out watch as the US Banks start getting their hands on newly de-regulated weed profits, they're a very interested party that's been side lined from recent state legalization.
posted by djseafood at 1:15 PM on October 6, 2022 [22 favorites]
posted by djseafood at 1:15 PM on October 6, 2022 [22 favorites]
I will still stand by my wager that my home state, Indiana, will be the last state to legalize recreational marijuana, if it ever does. The republican super-majority legislature has been watching all that lovely weed money flowing over the borders to Michigan and Illinois year after year, and haven’t done bupkis.
posted by Thorzdad at 1:22 PM on October 6, 2022 [7 favorites]
posted by Thorzdad at 1:22 PM on October 6, 2022 [7 favorites]
"He's only doing this because there's an election!" Like, yes? Elected officials do things they think will get them elected. Why is this presented like some grand revelation?
Truth!
Before the GOP took up its current mantle of outright election denialism, I remember their sore losers whining about how “This is all just a popularity contest!”
So close to understanding the point, and yet.
I’m glad this bums them out. I hope dancing bears and patchouli haunt their dreams.
posted by armeowda at 1:26 PM on October 6, 2022 [11 favorites]
Truth!
Before the GOP took up its current mantle of outright election denialism, I remember their sore losers whining about how “This is all just a popularity contest!”
So close to understanding the point, and yet.
I’m glad this bums them out. I hope dancing bears and patchouli haunt their dreams.
posted by armeowda at 1:26 PM on October 6, 2022 [11 favorites]
Over/under on how many newspapers / news websites are going to go with "Reefer Madness" angle? Fox News starting out strong with an all caps "REEFER MADNESS UP IN SMOKE: Biden pardoning all prior federal offenses of simple pot possession in blunt move"
posted by inflatablekiwi at 1:28 PM on October 6, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by inflatablekiwi at 1:28 PM on October 6, 2022 [4 favorites]
Fox News starting out strong with an all caps "REEFER MADNESS UP IN SMOKE: Biden pardoning all prior federal offenses of simple pot possession in blunt move"
I see what they did there.
posted by WaterAndPixels at 1:32 PM on October 6, 2022 [19 favorites]
I see what they did there.
posted by WaterAndPixels at 1:32 PM on October 6, 2022 [19 favorites]
This is really surprising move from Dank Brandon who has been pretty regressive on marijuana in all his public statements. Internal DNC polling for the midterms must be grim! Good for you dank brandon.
I will still stand by my wager that my home state, Indiana, will be the last state to legalize recreational marijuana,
I'll one up you with Wisconsin, the epicenter of GOP gerrymandering, likely to have a republican majority in both state houses for the next century if nothing really really radical happens, will for that reason probably never legalize or decriminalize.
posted by dis_integration at 1:40 PM on October 6, 2022 [8 favorites]
I will still stand by my wager that my home state, Indiana, will be the last state to legalize recreational marijuana,
I'll one up you with Wisconsin, the epicenter of GOP gerrymandering, likely to have a republican majority in both state houses for the next century if nothing really really radical happens, will for that reason probably never legalize or decriminalize.
posted by dis_integration at 1:40 PM on October 6, 2022 [8 favorites]
I will still stand by my wager that my home state, Indiana, will be the last state to legalize recreational marijuana, if it ever does.
Greetings from Wisconsin who will give you a very close run for your money, particularly with a statewide Tavern League that has been lobbying our republican legislature to help keep our neighbors in IL, MI (by way of the upper peninsula), and MN raking in those weed tax dollars from WI constituents.
I'd be flabbergasted to hear it ever get legalized here on a state level but hopefully a federal option will be more expedient.
posted by aranyx at 1:40 PM on October 6, 2022 [6 favorites]
Greetings from Wisconsin who will give you a very close run for your money, particularly with a statewide Tavern League that has been lobbying our republican legislature to help keep our neighbors in IL, MI (by way of the upper peninsula), and MN raking in those weed tax dollars from WI constituents.
I'd be flabbergasted to hear it ever get legalized here on a state level but hopefully a federal option will be more expedient.
posted by aranyx at 1:40 PM on October 6, 2022 [6 favorites]
"He's only doing this because there's an election!" Like, yes? Elected officials do things they think will get them elected. Why is this presented like some grand revelation?
Before the GOP took up its current mantle of outright election denialism, I remember their sore losers whining about how “This is all just a popularity contest!”
The Republicans stopped trying to persuade people, even with bad faith arguments, some time ago, and their policies are unpopular, so their embrace of voter suppression, and from there, fascism, inevitably followed.
posted by Gelatin at 1:43 PM on October 6, 2022 [12 favorites]
Before the GOP took up its current mantle of outright election denialism, I remember their sore losers whining about how “This is all just a popularity contest!”
The Republicans stopped trying to persuade people, even with bad faith arguments, some time ago, and their policies are unpopular, so their embrace of voter suppression, and from there, fascism, inevitably followed.
posted by Gelatin at 1:43 PM on October 6, 2022 [12 favorites]
As far as the world outside the US goes, I tried to guess a while ago which one of the countries I've lived in (Australia, the UK and Sweden) will legalise cannabis first, and came to the conclusion that the heat death of the universe will occur first.
posted by acb at 1:48 PM on October 6, 2022 [6 favorites]
posted by acb at 1:48 PM on October 6, 2022 [6 favorites]
It's a good feeling, albeit unusual.
TFW the edibles kick in.
posted by kirkaracha at 1:56 PM on October 6, 2022 [28 favorites]
TFW the edibles kick in.
posted by kirkaracha at 1:56 PM on October 6, 2022 [28 favorites]
Wow! Dems come out fightin' for the mid-terms!
posted by tuesdayschild at 1:57 PM on October 6, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by tuesdayschild at 1:57 PM on October 6, 2022 [3 favorites]
Everything about that Tavern League in Wisconsin is just the worst, like they are basically still fighting to allow smoking and they just love drunk driving.
posted by zenon at 2:03 PM on October 6, 2022 [7 favorites]
posted by zenon at 2:03 PM on October 6, 2022 [7 favorites]
I will still stand by my wager that my home state, Indiana, will be the last state to legalize recreational marijuana, if it ever does.
Hello from Arkansas, where we legalized medicinal MJ in 2016 and where a bill to legalize recreational use is on November's ballot.
It's not a great bill--it grandfathers in existing growers, and it doesn't allow people to cultivate their own plants or expunge previous convictions.
That said, it polled last month at 58% for/29% against.
posted by box at 2:06 PM on October 6, 2022 [9 favorites]
Hello from Arkansas, where we legalized medicinal MJ in 2016 and where a bill to legalize recreational use is on November's ballot.
It's not a great bill--it grandfathers in existing growers, and it doesn't allow people to cultivate their own plants or expunge previous convictions.
That said, it polled last month at 58% for/29% against.
posted by box at 2:06 PM on October 6, 2022 [9 favorites]
It'll be interesting to see what new regulations come up as a result of federal changes to the law. There's a problem right now that there's insufficient research into physical effects of marijuana that might influence, say, permissible blood limits for DUI purposes.
Since it's all I really follow, I'm only familiar with Canada's approach towards marijuana use and commercial pilots. The official statement from the CAA is that they don't know how to create a system similar to BAC for marijuana, and they also don't know how long marijuana continues to impair the user regardless of what a blood test might return. So the policy, then, is that pilots are not banned from using pot (just like they're not banned from drinking alcohol), but if you use marijuana you're forbidden from flying for 28 days - the longest amount of time they state THC is still detectable in the blood.
posted by backseatpilot at 2:10 PM on October 6, 2022 [2 favorites]
Since it's all I really follow, I'm only familiar with Canada's approach towards marijuana use and commercial pilots. The official statement from the CAA is that they don't know how to create a system similar to BAC for marijuana, and they also don't know how long marijuana continues to impair the user regardless of what a blood test might return. So the policy, then, is that pilots are not banned from using pot (just like they're not banned from drinking alcohol), but if you use marijuana you're forbidden from flying for 28 days - the longest amount of time they state THC is still detectable in the blood.
posted by backseatpilot at 2:10 PM on October 6, 2022 [2 favorites]
Whaaaaaaaaaaaaat
posted by tiny frying pan at 2:13 PM on October 6, 2022
posted by tiny frying pan at 2:13 PM on October 6, 2022
Let's not start sucking each other's bongs quite yet.
What if this happens before the midterms and people are too stoned to vote?
posted by kirkaracha at 2:15 PM on October 6, 2022 [2 favorites]
What if this happens before the midterms and people are too stoned to vote?
posted by kirkaracha at 2:15 PM on October 6, 2022 [2 favorites]
(This is great! Also thought: damn, Biden is really worried about those poll numbers)
posted by tiny frying pan at 2:15 PM on October 6, 2022
posted by tiny frying pan at 2:15 PM on October 6, 2022
Here's a Congressional Research Service report on the rescheduling issue.
The relevant passages:
posted by star gentle uterus at 2:23 PM on October 6, 2022 [16 favorites]
The relevant passages:
If the President sought to act in the area of controlled substances regulation, he would likely do so by executive order. However, the Supreme Court has held that the President has the power to issue an executive order only if authorized by “an act of Congress or . . . the Constitution itself.” The CSA does not provide a direct role for the President in the classification of controlled substances, nor does Article II of the Constitution grant the President power in this area (federal controlled substances law is an exercise of Congress’s power to regulate interstate commerce). Thus, it does not appear that the President could directly deschedule or reschedule marijuana by executive order...Biden's done as much as he legally can in getting marijuana rescheduled, it's now up to the various relevant agencies and departments, as he's directed.
Although the President may not unilaterally deschedule or reschedule a controlled substance, he does possess a large degree of indirect influence over scheduling decisions. The President could pursue the appointment of agency officials who favor descheduling, or use executive orders to direct DEA, HHS, and FDA to consider administrative descheduling of marijuana. The notice-and-comment rulemaking process would take time, and would be subject to judicial review if challenged, but could be done consistently with the CSA’s procedural requirements. In the alternative, the President could work with Congress to pursue descheduling through an amendment to the CSA.
posted by star gentle uterus at 2:23 PM on October 6, 2022 [16 favorites]
Now do psychedelics.
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 2:25 PM on October 6, 2022 [22 favorites]
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 2:25 PM on October 6, 2022 [22 favorites]
I think it's worth being clear about what impact this will actually have for incarcerated people in the US, which might not be as much as you're assuming:
posted by fight or flight at 2:32 PM on October 6, 2022 [27 favorites]
In a briefing on Thursday, a White House official told reporters there are "no individuals currently in federal prison solely for simple possession of marijuana".So, a step forward, but it's a small one. I hope you all get more.
However, the pardon will remove "needless barriers to employment, housing, and educational opportunities" after convicts' records are wiped clear, Mr Biden said.
US officials estimate there are "6,500 people with prior federal convictions for simple possession of marijuana" that Mr Biden will pardon.
His pardon will also affect thousands of Washington DC residents who have marijuana convictions, officials say.
posted by fight or flight at 2:32 PM on October 6, 2022 [27 favorites]
Is this announcement by Biden a response to Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Tom Cotton, and other Right-wingers who are fulminating against the demon weed?
posted by CCBC at 2:34 PM on October 6, 2022
posted by CCBC at 2:34 PM on October 6, 2022
Great!
This pardon does not apply to individuals who were non-citizens not lawfully present in the United States at the time of their offense.
Oh.
posted by Ahmad Khani at 2:34 PM on October 6, 2022 [4 favorites]
This pardon does not apply to individuals who were non-citizens not lawfully present in the United States at the time of their offense.
Oh.
posted by Ahmad Khani at 2:34 PM on October 6, 2022 [4 favorites]
So, a step forward, but it's a small one. I hope you all get more.
A large part of the problem is that marijuana possession is usually prosecuted at the state level, which the president has no control over beyond the bully pulpit.
posted by NoxAeternum at 2:36 PM on October 6, 2022 [7 favorites]
A large part of the problem is that marijuana possession is usually prosecuted at the state level, which the president has no control over beyond the bully pulpit.
posted by NoxAeternum at 2:36 PM on October 6, 2022 [7 favorites]
I will still stand by my wager that my home state, Indiana, will be the last state to legalize recreational marijuana,
I'll one up you with Wisconsin, the epicenter of GOP gerrymandering
Waving in solidarity from Idaho.
posted by vverse23 at 2:40 PM on October 6, 2022 [4 favorites]
I'll one up you with Wisconsin, the epicenter of GOP gerrymandering
Waving in solidarity from Idaho.
posted by vverse23 at 2:40 PM on October 6, 2022 [4 favorites]
Awesome news. Hoping we can get rid of the evil little bastard soon, Beto could progress legalization here. Even my town recently had up for a vote to decriminalize some portion of possession, or otherwise waste less resources on policing that.
posted by GoblinHoney at 2:44 PM on October 6, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by GoblinHoney at 2:44 PM on October 6, 2022 [4 favorites]
POT US
posted by chavenet at 2:55 PM on October 6, 2022 [48 favorites]
posted by chavenet at 2:55 PM on October 6, 2022 [48 favorites]
I was reading that there are a lot of people in prison essentially for possession but also for a host of tacked on charges that prevent them from getting this pardon. Just like with most things from this guy it's a great baby step when we need Olympic level sprinting right now.
posted by bleep at 3:28 PM on October 6, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by bleep at 3:28 PM on October 6, 2022 [5 favorites]
A large part of the problem is that marijuana possession is usually prosecuted at the state level, which the president has no control over beyond the bully pulpit.
Not in my state (WA) which beat him to the simple possession angle with State v. Blake in 2021. Good news anyway and the rescheduling is a big big deal.
posted by ctmf at 3:40 PM on October 6, 2022 [3 favorites]
Not in my state (WA) which beat him to the simple possession angle with State v. Blake in 2021. Good news anyway and the rescheduling is a big big deal.
posted by ctmf at 3:40 PM on October 6, 2022 [3 favorites]
White Suburban Stoner With Rich Parents Completely Unaware People Could Be Arrested for Marijuana Possession
posted by acb at 3:55 PM on October 6, 2022 [10 favorites]
posted by acb at 3:55 PM on October 6, 2022 [10 favorites]
As the re-scheduling process plays out watch as the US Banks start getting their hands on newly de-regulated weed profits, they're a very interested party that's been side lined from recent state legalization.
Oh yeah, that's a thing. I mean, the capital markets arms of the banks here in Canada were in there with lobbying early and often, making sure that the legalization regime that happened federally here in 2018 was skewed toward big corporate players (and along with them, that sweet IPO and corporate financing money).
But my (outsider) understanding is that the pre-existing federal scheduling of cannabis in the U.S. also means that banks can't touch it, so people in the cannabis business in legal states have difficulty doing the kind of basic banking they need to do - they have to handle way too much cash, along with the security headaches and overhead costs that said security entails.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 4:02 PM on October 6, 2022 [8 favorites]
Oh yeah, that's a thing. I mean, the capital markets arms of the banks here in Canada were in there with lobbying early and often, making sure that the legalization regime that happened federally here in 2018 was skewed toward big corporate players (and along with them, that sweet IPO and corporate financing money).
But my (outsider) understanding is that the pre-existing federal scheduling of cannabis in the U.S. also means that banks can't touch it, so people in the cannabis business in legal states have difficulty doing the kind of basic banking they need to do - they have to handle way too much cash, along with the security headaches and overhead costs that said security entails.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 4:02 PM on October 6, 2022 [8 favorites]
box, all the people I have ever known in Arkansas were gigantic, hippy stoners. They were good dudes. They deserve it. Do any states that border Arkansas have legal weed?
posted by Windopaene at 4:13 PM on October 6, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Windopaene at 4:13 PM on October 6, 2022 [1 favorite]
I'm kind of amazed that the president is pardoning pot smokers but me and my FFELP loans can still go fuck ourselves, lol. Makes me want to get high! But unfortunately, all my money is going straight to Navient. Ah well.
posted by kittens for breakfast at 4:17 PM on October 6, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by kittens for breakfast at 4:17 PM on October 6, 2022 [1 favorite]
My man.
posted by dr_dank at 4:19 PM on October 6, 2022 [9 favorites]
posted by dr_dank at 4:19 PM on October 6, 2022 [9 favorites]
Just want to say A+ post title, would crack a smile again :)
Meh :)
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 4:27 PM on October 6, 2022 [1 favorite]
Meh :)
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 4:27 PM on October 6, 2022 [1 favorite]
Can progressives ever actually enjoy a victory? We may be the most dour political constituency on earth.
posted by argybarg at 4:41 PM on October 6, 2022 [32 favorites]
posted by argybarg at 4:41 PM on October 6, 2022 [32 favorites]
I would have thought Fox would be having a meltdown, but a glance at their website says they're trying not to draw attention to it instead. Clever October surprise.
posted by ctmf at 4:42 PM on October 6, 2022 [8 favorites]
posted by ctmf at 4:42 PM on October 6, 2022 [8 favorites]
As far as the world outside the US goes, I tried to guess a while ago which one of the countries I've lived in (Australia, the UK and Sweden) will legalise cannabis first, and came to the conclusion that the heat death of the universe will occur first.
Australia will outlaw tobacco before legalising pot. (I'd like to be wrong but would actually put some money on this happening at some stage in the next 20 years.)
posted by deadwax at 4:45 PM on October 6, 2022 [3 favorites]
Australia will outlaw tobacco before legalising pot. (I'd like to be wrong but would actually put some money on this happening at some stage in the next 20 years.)
posted by deadwax at 4:45 PM on October 6, 2022 [3 favorites]
Let's grow Brandon!
posted by adept256 at 4:56 PM on October 6, 2022 [19 favorites]
posted by adept256 at 4:56 PM on October 6, 2022 [19 favorites]
me and my FFELP loans can still go fuck ourselves
This sucks a lot, but I'm pretty sure it's driven by the desire to make sure nobody has standing to challenge the debt relief order rather than any wish to exclude FFELP borrowers. I personally think it's unnecessarily timid, but the fewer entities have even a vaguely colorable claim to have a legally cognizable harm, the less chance the relief gets tied up in litigation into 2024.
Still sucks, though.
posted by praemunire at 5:34 PM on October 6, 2022 [2 favorites]
This sucks a lot, but I'm pretty sure it's driven by the desire to make sure nobody has standing to challenge the debt relief order rather than any wish to exclude FFELP borrowers. I personally think it's unnecessarily timid, but the fewer entities have even a vaguely colorable claim to have a legally cognizable harm, the less chance the relief gets tied up in litigation into 2024.
Still sucks, though.
posted by praemunire at 5:34 PM on October 6, 2022 [2 favorites]
Waving in solidarity from Idaho.
Ontario, OR, is counting on Idaho never legalizing. Every time I drive through, it seems like there are more weed stores. There is even a truckstop with a drive-through weed store at the edge of the parking lot, for the long-haul stoner in a hurry. The phenomenon of weed towns on the borders of states is interesting to see; it's like having a bar on the border of a dry county, but at a vastly different scale.
This was great news to see and hopefully it leads to more states taking similar steps. It's absolutely nuts that in some states you can buy weed in an upscale store, and in other states people are still being arrested for basic possession.
posted by Dip Flash at 5:47 PM on October 6, 2022 [8 favorites]
Ontario, OR, is counting on Idaho never legalizing. Every time I drive through, it seems like there are more weed stores. There is even a truckstop with a drive-through weed store at the edge of the parking lot, for the long-haul stoner in a hurry. The phenomenon of weed towns on the borders of states is interesting to see; it's like having a bar on the border of a dry county, but at a vastly different scale.
This was great news to see and hopefully it leads to more states taking similar steps. It's absolutely nuts that in some states you can buy weed in an upscale store, and in other states people are still being arrested for basic possession.
posted by Dip Flash at 5:47 PM on October 6, 2022 [8 favorites]
Do any states that border Arkansas have legal weed?
Mmm, not really. Medicinal in OK, AL, MO, and LA, illegal in TX and TN. I believe MO has also has something on the ballot this year.
posted by box at 5:49 PM on October 6, 2022 [2 favorites]
Mmm, not really. Medicinal in OK, AL, MO, and LA, illegal in TX and TN. I believe MO has also has something on the ballot this year.
posted by box at 5:49 PM on October 6, 2022 [2 favorites]
This is the best news all week! Thanks, Joe!
posted by kingless at 5:56 PM on October 6, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by kingless at 5:56 PM on October 6, 2022 [1 favorite]
For those not keeping track, in less than two years, the Biden administration and a Dem congress *without* a supermajority has:
[long list of achievements]
I was told that the Afghan civil war would be a bloodbath lasting months or years, with the Taliban inevitably taking control. It was understood that the government would not survive without US support, but would fight for as long as they could.
I even remember there were people that were disappointed there wasn't a violent bloodbath. Why aren't they fighting back? they moaned. Just seconds after explaining it would be futile. Fucking monsters.
There was no bloody civil war. It was all over in a couple of weeks with a body-count in the dozens. If you accept that Taliban control was inevitable, this was the most peaceful outcome you could expect. The best of all possible scenarios. Getting out of Afghanistan is a Big Fucking Deal. Ending a 20 year war doesn't even make the top ten? That's bullshit.
Sorry for the derail, but if you're listing achievements, you missed a big one.
Here's to ending the war on drugs too.
posted by adept256 at 6:46 PM on October 6, 2022 [8 favorites]
[long list of achievements]
I was told that the Afghan civil war would be a bloodbath lasting months or years, with the Taliban inevitably taking control. It was understood that the government would not survive without US support, but would fight for as long as they could.
I even remember there were people that were disappointed there wasn't a violent bloodbath. Why aren't they fighting back? they moaned. Just seconds after explaining it would be futile. Fucking monsters.
There was no bloody civil war. It was all over in a couple of weeks with a body-count in the dozens. If you accept that Taliban control was inevitable, this was the most peaceful outcome you could expect. The best of all possible scenarios. Getting out of Afghanistan is a Big Fucking Deal. Ending a 20 year war doesn't even make the top ten? That's bullshit.
Sorry for the derail, but if you're listing achievements, you missed a big one.
Here's to ending the war on drugs too.
posted by adept256 at 6:46 PM on October 6, 2022 [8 favorites]
> Do any states that border Arkansas have legal weed?
Mmm, not really. Medicinal in OK, AL, MO, and LA, illegal in TX and TN. I believe MO has also has something on the ballot this year.
Oklahoma is nominally medicinal, but as of last year, about 10% of its residents had a medical card and it has an astronomical number of dispensaries, apparently "more retail cannabis stores than Colorado, Oregon and Washington combined," according to that NYTimes article.
I was in Oklahoma a few months ago, where I hadn't been in about seven years, and was floored by how many dispensaries there are, everything from roadside shacks along the highway with pot leaves spraypainted on them to sleek 24-hour operations in Tulsa. Tulsa in particular now has dispensaries on practically every corner the way parts of New York have pizzerias and Chinese takeout shops.
And according to signs I saw, you can get approved for medical use through a telemedicine session conducted on your phone in the parking lot. It's easy to find companies advertising online that they do telemedicine Oklahoma marijuana evaluations where you only pay if you get approved.
To be clear, I have no problem with weed being easy to access, but it's amazing to see this in a state where up until a few years ago a lot of bars were restricted to selling nothing stronger than 3.2% beer.
posted by smelendez at 10:02 PM on October 6, 2022 [9 favorites]
Mmm, not really. Medicinal in OK, AL, MO, and LA, illegal in TX and TN. I believe MO has also has something on the ballot this year.
Oklahoma is nominally medicinal, but as of last year, about 10% of its residents had a medical card and it has an astronomical number of dispensaries, apparently "more retail cannabis stores than Colorado, Oregon and Washington combined," according to that NYTimes article.
I was in Oklahoma a few months ago, where I hadn't been in about seven years, and was floored by how many dispensaries there are, everything from roadside shacks along the highway with pot leaves spraypainted on them to sleek 24-hour operations in Tulsa. Tulsa in particular now has dispensaries on practically every corner the way parts of New York have pizzerias and Chinese takeout shops.
And according to signs I saw, you can get approved for medical use through a telemedicine session conducted on your phone in the parking lot. It's easy to find companies advertising online that they do telemedicine Oklahoma marijuana evaluations where you only pay if you get approved.
To be clear, I have no problem with weed being easy to access, but it's amazing to see this in a state where up until a few years ago a lot of bars were restricted to selling nothing stronger than 3.2% beer.
posted by smelendez at 10:02 PM on October 6, 2022 [9 favorites]
Went to r/conservative for some good pearl clutching and sure enough there was a post. And I gave up scrolling down it because as far as I saw there wasn't a single visible comment against it. A lot of "it's about time" and "why couldn't the R's have picked that low-hanging fruit first?"
posted by ctmf at 11:44 PM on October 6, 2022 [17 favorites]
posted by ctmf at 11:44 PM on October 6, 2022 [17 favorites]
so they like the green new deal?
posted by adept256 at 1:23 AM on October 7, 2022 [6 favorites]
posted by adept256 at 1:23 AM on October 7, 2022 [6 favorites]
Maybe this will help them understand the Rs aren't going to do shit to help them. Another case for why going big would be way more effective than this.
posted by bleep at 3:10 AM on October 7, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by bleep at 3:10 AM on October 7, 2022 [2 favorites]
Now do psychedelics
...with a healthy set in a beautiful setting, and in the company of an experienced, empathetic and reliable straight support person in case of unusually heavy emotional weather.
posted by flabdablet at 4:29 AM on October 7, 2022 [2 favorites]
...with a healthy set in a beautiful setting, and in the company of an experienced, empathetic and reliable straight support person in case of unusually heavy emotional weather.
posted by flabdablet at 4:29 AM on October 7, 2022 [2 favorites]
you do you, but all I need is a glitchcore playlist and winamp milkdrop2
posted by adept256 at 5:25 AM on October 7, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by adept256 at 5:25 AM on October 7, 2022 [5 favorites]
My only criticism here is that this should have been one of the first things done? A year and a half late for ~6500 people is ~15,000 year equivalents.
posted by Slackermagee at 5:43 AM on October 7, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by Slackermagee at 5:43 AM on October 7, 2022 [2 favorites]
all I need is a glitchcore playlist and winamp milkdrop2
I prefer animated short films, a blankie, and a towel to gnaw on. Oh and infinite beers too.
posted by Meatbomb at 8:04 AM on October 7, 2022 [1 favorite]
I prefer animated short films, a blankie, and a towel to gnaw on. Oh and infinite beers too.
posted by Meatbomb at 8:04 AM on October 7, 2022 [1 favorite]
It's a small step for a man, which hopefully will lead to a giant step for dankkind. Thanks, Joe! (apologies to N. Armstrong)
posted by Lynsey at 8:41 AM on October 7, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Lynsey at 8:41 AM on October 7, 2022 [1 favorite]
Now do psychedelics.
I just did.
posted by Furnace of Doubt at 9:55 AM on October 7, 2022 [15 favorites]
I just did.
posted by Furnace of Doubt at 9:55 AM on October 7, 2022 [15 favorites]
I applaud the progress but cannabis prohibition still the engine driving mass incarceration and the school to jail program.
Long march not over.
posted by aiq at 11:50 AM on October 7, 2022 [5 favorites]
Long march not over.
posted by aiq at 11:50 AM on October 7, 2022 [5 favorites]
GOP Govs Reject Cannabis Pardons After Getting Private Prison Cash
posted by Mitheral at 7:21 PM on October 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Mitheral at 7:21 PM on October 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
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posted by clavdivs at 12:20 PM on October 6, 2022 [9 favorites]