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webidiot2k4
Stranger


Registered: 08/19/10
Posts: 96
Loc: South Puget Sound
Last seen: 7 years, 10 months
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Vermont Governor Signs Dispensary Bill Despite U.S. Attorney Letter
#14560224 - 06/04/11 02:10 PM (12 years, 7 months ago) |
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June 2, 2011 - mpp.org
Vermont Governor Pete Shumlin – who MPP helped elect – just signed a bill to make Vermont state law the eighth to explicitly authorize and regulate dispensaries where registered patients can purchase medical marijuana. Today’s signing marks the culmination of a two-year lobbying effort led by MPP and the third bill signing we’ve been a part of just this month. Many thanks to Governor Shumlin and the bill’s sponsors, Senators Jeanette White, Hinda Miller, and Dick Sears for their leadership, and the dedicated patient advocates throughout the state who made the case for adding dispensaries to Vermont’s medical marijuana law.
Today’s signing bucks a trend of sorts. Governors in Rhode Island, Arizona, and Washington have all put the brakes on bills or laws to allow dispensaries, after receiving threatening letters from U.S. Attorneys in their states. Shumlin and legislative leaders received a similar letter on May 4, the day before the House of Representative was slated to vote on the dispensary bill. We were able to address concerns in the House and the administration, and the next day the House passed the measure 99-44 – with a copy of the letter on the desk of each representative.
One reason we were able to convince elected officials to move forward is that, despite the letters, there has still never been a raid on any dispensaries in states that explicity recognize and regulate dispensaries and that are in compliance with those laws. On the other hand, it’s unfortunate, but not uncommon, to see raids of dispensaries in places with more ambiguous laws that don’t specifically address dispensaries. In other words, in practice, it seems U.S. Attorneys are abiding by a narrow interpretation of the policy announced in the 2009 “Ogden memo,” in which these attorneys were instructed not to take action against anyone in “clear and unambiguous compliance” with state law.
Ironically, that means the best way to avoid any federal enforcement action is to do exactly the opposite of what Washington, Arizona, and Rhode Island’s governors are doing, and instead embrace state laws that explicitly authorize and regulate dispensaries, like Gov. Shumlin and Delaware Gov. Jack Markell. Let’s hope today’s signing marks the end of this troubling trend.
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W4E2E0D
Ganja Warrior


Registered: 04/29/11
Posts: 307
Last seen: 4 years, 11 months
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Re: Vermont Governor Signs Dispensary Bill Despite U.S. Attorney Letter [Re: webidiot2k4]
#14560286 - 06/04/11 02:23 PM (12 years, 7 months ago) |
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Sweet! Atleast one of the states pushed out the balls to do it after the fed threats.
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ReposadoXochipilli
Here, there, inbetween



Registered: 08/30/05
Posts: 7,501
Loc: Sand and sunshine
Last seen: 20 days, 6 hours
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Re: Vermont Governor Signs Dispensary Bill Despite U.S. Attorney Letter [Re: W4E2E0D]
#14560488 - 06/04/11 03:03 PM (12 years, 7 months ago) |
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good news, the MM issue is huge right now.
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p_walter
Lurker



Registered: 04/25/11
Posts: 535
Loc: Irrelevant
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Re: Vermont Governor Signs Dispensary Bill Despite U.S. Attorney Letter [Re: ReposadoXochipilli]
#14561249 - 06/04/11 06:27 PM (12 years, 7 months ago) |
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Awesome! First Connecticut (decrim'd small amounts) now Vermont. Sounds like you east-coast guys got your shit together.
-------------------- Coaster said: so i got free drug coupons witch u floozies refer to as "money"....
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luvdemshrooms
Two inch dick..but it spins!?


Registered: 11/29/01
Posts: 34,247
Loc: Lost In Space
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Re: Vermont Governor Signs Dispensary Bill Despite U.S. Attorney Letter [Re: p_walter]
#14563292 - 06/05/11 05:08 AM (12 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
p_walter said: Awesome! First Connecticut (decrim'd small amounts) now Vermont. Sounds like you east-coast guys got your shit together.
Connecticut has done no such thing.
The Connecticut Senate has passed a bill that would decriminalize the possession. This occurred yesterday.
The Connecticut House, has not. When (if) they do, the Governor must still sign it into law.
The status of pot in Connecticut, is currently unchanged.
-------------------- You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity. What one person receives without working for another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for that my dear friend is the beginning of the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it. ~ Adrian Rogers
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