A Lawsuit Against Sessions Could Be

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indicabush

indicabush

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A lawsuit against Sessions could be the one to legalize Marijuana


A lawsuit against Sessions could be the one to legalize Marijuana
A lawsuit against Sessions could be the one to legalize Marijuana



On Wednesday, advocates and professionals in the cannabis industry descended on a federal court in New York to watch Justice Department lawyers try to dismiss a case against Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
The suit involves a motley crew of plaintiffs: Alexis Bortell and Jager Cotte, both pediatric medical marijuana patients, Jose Belen, an Army combat veteran who uses cannabis to treat his PTSD, Marvin Washington, a former New York Jet-turned cannabis entrepreneur, and the Cannabis Cultural Association, a non-profit dedicated to ending the war on drugs and promoting people of color in the cannabis industry.
Over the years, many have attempted to challenge the federal government’s classification of marijuana as a Schedule I substance. Wednesday’s hearing was both an example of how far the country has come on the issue and how far there still is to go. During the hearing, Judge Alvin Hellerstein considered the Justice Department’s motion to dismiss the suit.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Dolinger argued that the case should be dismissed because “courts around the country have considered similar or identical claims and have rejected them.” Dolinger and Hellerstein spent a good deal of time discussing the case of U.S. v. Kiffer, which affirmed the drug’s Schedule I status.
“When they talk about Kiffer, a 1973 case… you really don't know the rest of the history,” Michael Hiller, lead counsel for plaintiffs in the case, told reporters after the hearing. He cited numerous developments since 1973, including the government’s Investigational New Drug program, Nixon’s Schafer Commission, the federal government’s very own cannabis patent, and the emergence of state-level marijuana programs.
“There is a well-established body of case law that when the facts change, the courts have to change too,” said Hiller. “If you only decided case law based upon what people thought years before, we would never have Brown vs Board of Education… We would never have Windsor. We wouldn't have marriage equality.”
Indeed, while other attempts to challenge marijuana’s Schedule I status have failed, the atmosphere in the court reflected the times. Supporters of cannabis reform showed up in droves, quickly filling the court and spilling into an overflow room.
They laughed and cheered when the judge grilled Dolinger, who seemingly struggledto answer some of his questions. They scoffed when Dolinger cited Kiffer, suggesting that marijuana’s Schedule I status "was constitutionally rational."

But perhaps most indicative of our changing times was that “the judge made absolutely clear that cannabis does not meet one of the three requirements,” for Schedule I status, said Hiller. “As far as I'm aware, very few judges have commented openly on [that].”
“Your clients are living proof of the medical applications of marijuana,” Hellerstein told Hiller during the hearing. “I have to take the plausible allegations in your complaint as true. How could anyone say that your clients’ lives have not been saved by marijuana? How can anyone say that your clients’ pain and suffering has not been alleviated by marijuana? You can’t, right?”
“I could not agree with you more, your Honor,” responded Hiller.
While the judge’s views did reflect the changing times – a majority of Americans now support some sort of cannabis reform – he questioned whether it made sense to challenge the matter in a district court.
“There are lots of things district judges have to do,” said Hellerstein. “When agencies are set up to do the very kind of thing that you want me to do, I think the right thing is to defer to the agency.”
The lawyers for the plaintiffs recognized this.
“We can't carry the day necessarily with a judge that feels constrained by what the law may keep him from doing, which is declaring this unconstitutional,” said co-counsel David Holland. “He knows it is, but he may not be able to do it. We need you all to keep the fight alive.”
Still, the pro-cannabis camp was heartened by the judge’s statements.
“Our judge gets it,” said Lauren Rudick, counsel for the plaintiffs. “And that was really important today.”
For the time being, the judge delayed making a decision on the government’s motion to dismiss the case. “He's going to consider the issues over the next several days or weeks until he comes to a conclusion,” said Hiller.
But the plaintiffs came away from the hearing feeling optimistic.
“I think the judge made it very clear that he agrees and understands that cannabis is helping Alexis and Jagger and so many other people,” said Jagger’s father Sebastien Cotte. “We're going to keep fighting because we have to make this happen for everybody.... we're in it for the long run.”
Dean Bortell, Alexis’ father, agreed.
“Kids are growing up seeing this hypocrisy... if we don't get it done. But we're going to get it done.”

Authored by: Forbes
 
Dan789

Dan789

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Thanks for posting, we don’t all have our ears to the wall for new information regarding the current state of affairs with Pot. Good to know things are seemingly moving forward.
 
xavier7995

xavier7995

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Well my dudes, you can always just grow/sell/etc. as has always been done. Did you follow the law before it got legal? I sure didnt. If you think the law is bogus then don't follow it, do stack cash for lawyer bills though. Full real legalization will push everyone out anyway, can't compete with a pack of camel greens down at the gas station.
 
GrowGod

GrowGod

BANNED!
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Boom!!!! This is all a dog and pony show... The people that think theyre getting freedom...just got 4 new laws and 3 more taxes hahaha
Makes me fing sick! People are just dumber then rat turds in a dust pan.All the people who don’t smoke but say “legalize we need the taxes” they are the enemy. They don’t give a rats shit about joe who has cancer, or Johnny with als or jipp haha!
 
GT21

GT21

I like soup
Supporter
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Makes me fing sick! People are just dumber then rat turds in a dust pan.All the people who don’t smoke but say “legalize we need the taxes” they are the enemy. They don’t give a rats shit about joe who has cancer, or Johnny with als or jipp haha!
A lot are either dumb or riding on the drug war.... Im not losing my prison guard salary and benefits and retirement for your health.... Fuck your health i need a new jet ski
 
Homesteader

Homesteader

3,473
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States created the Federal government not the other way around, too bad the leaches in Washington would never admit this. The federal government has no enumerated powers under the constitution that would allow for the DEA let alone the scheduling of drugs.

The tenth amendment is clear. The Commerce clause and the supremacy clause are inherently read wrong and they know it.
How is growing cannabis in my garden interstate commerce? It isn't in any F'ing way.
To show this just look at Lopez vs The United States.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._Lopez

Unfortunately we are so far sunken in the borgs pile that nothing will change. We Were The People.
 
MIMedGrower

MIMedGrower

17,190
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Makes me fing sick! People are just dumber then rat turds in a dust pan.All the people who don’t smoke but say “legalize we need the taxes” they are the enemy. They don’t give a rats shit about joe who has cancer, or Johnny with als or jipp haha!


Cmon’ at least they must care about Jipp!

My faith in humanity just crashed again. :-(
 
45North

45North

373
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I choose to cultivate for personal use. No money in that, not interested. Oregon’s law destroyed a lot of the “ black market “ by keeping prices (taxes) low. ( high powered basements shut down, hence the popularity of quality LED)
Keep an eye on California, which imposed taxes at every level. If the regulated (tax) price becomes too high many will just get their flowers from their cousin.
I am not interested in green label in any way. I like good coffee, beer, whiskey and flowers. Living on the west coast, I have had access to some of the best. Skilled farmers are in high demand and always will be. As will tasty new/old strains.
Just let me be ! And take my garden out of the closet!
 
Rcubed

Rcubed

767
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I choose to cultivate for personal use. No money in that, not interested. Oregon’s law destroyed a lot of the “ black market “ by keeping prices (taxes) low. ( high powered basements shut down, hence the popularity of quality LED)
Keep an eye on California, which imposed taxes at every level. If the regulated (tax) price becomes too high many will just get their flowers from their cousin.
I am not interested in green label in any way. I like good coffee, beer, whiskey and flowers. Living on the west coast, I have had access to some of the best. Skilled farmers are in high demand and always will be. As will tasty new/old strains.
Just let me be ! And take my garden out of the closet!
Agree wholeheartedly. I also grow for personal and friends. Removing the schedule 1 farce is just common sense. I personally don't give a shit if big pharma takes over the commercial biz and sells f-ed up skank to the masses. I'll keep growing the stuff that I like and never set foot in the dispensary. I certainly don't need some beez headed butt-hole like Jeff Sessions coming down on me because he feels like flexing his Federal AG muscles against the green community.
 
REDiJEDi160

REDiJEDi160

328
93
Yea I think just medical would be nice with home grows and cooperatives still intact
 
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