Pubdate: Thu, 23 Apr 2015
Source: Sacramento News & Review (CA)
Copyright: 2015 Chico Community Publishing, Inc.
Contact:  http://newsreview.com/sacto/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/540
Author: Ngaio Bealum

TIME TO RESCHEDULE

Last year we scored a historic victory that bans the Department of 
Justice from undermining state medical marijuana laws for one year. 
But the department recently declared that it will ignore the 
Congressional mandate and continue prosecuting people for medical 
marijuana. Do you think medical marijuana will never be safe unless 
we change federal law permanently? Is the CARERS Act the big chance to do it?

- -Lickity Split

Good question. I suppose we'll find out. The Compassionate Access, 
Research Expansion and Respect States Act, originally sponsored by 
senators Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, and 
Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, is picking up steam. According to a 
tweet from Senator Booker (yes, Twitter is a legitimate way of 
gathering information, so hush), the bill now has 14 co-sponsors, 
seven Dems and seven Repubs. That's pretty sweet. Not only that, this 
bill is really nice. The CARERS Act allows banks to handle medical 
cannabis money, amends the Controlled Substances Act so states can 
have legal medical cannabis and reschedules marijuana from Schedule I 
to Schedule II, meaning it would no longer be classified as a 
"dangerous narcotic." (I always giggle when someone calls cannabis a 
"narcotic.") By the way, United States District Court Judge Kimberly 
Mueller decided to allow cannabis to remain listed as Schedule 1 in a 
hearing last week. The defense's lawyers are, of course, planning an 
appeal. It would probably be easier to get this bill passed.

The CARERS Act would go a long way toward creating positive change. 
Call your representatives and senators and tell them to support this 
bill. Senator Barbara Boxer is already listed as a co-sponsor; can we 
get Senator Dianne Feinstein to come aboard? I know she hates 
marijuana, but maybe she could do her job and follow the will of the 
people just this once. Send her an email. Thank you.

I saw the stoner movie story in last week's issue and I'm looking for 
some good, trippy cinema for when I'm couch locked. Got any 
recommendations for movies, shows or anything else?

- -Les Thargic

I do indeed! If you want some stunning visuals, check out the film 
Baraka. It's a trippy journey around the world. Curse of The Golden 
Flower is also visually stunning, with a great story of intrigue. And 
kung fu. I also really really like concert films. Dave Chappelle's 
Block Party is fantastic, so are Woodstock and Stop Making Sense, 
which may be the best concert film of all time. Be aware: Stop Making 
Sense may cure your couch lock, because it's hard not to get up and 
dance when the Talking Heads get into full party mode. Find this 
book: Reefer Movie Madness: The Ultimate Stoner Film Guide. It will help.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom