Bernie did really well in Detroit Sunday afternoon. The audience was very enthusiastic as he explained the platform he was running on. And one of the planks he spoke about was marijuana legalization. His key points:
• Legalize marijuana in the first 100 days with executive action• Vacate and expunge all past marijuana-related convictions• Ensure that revenue from legal marijuana is reinvested in communities hit hardest by the War on Drugs• Ensure legalized marijuana does not turn into big tobacco
That last two points got particularly huge applause. His platform emphasized that Big Tobacco is already targeting the marijuana industry for its profits. As Tom noted yesterday, Bernie's legalization plans are much more than just legalization. "He will start to repair the damage done to millions of people, mainly those of color, by conviction of marijuana 'crimes.' In addition, a third part of his plan will prevent the marijuana industry from becoming (or being dominated by) Big Tobacco." As president, Bernie will not allow marijuana to turn into Big Tobacco. He will:
• Incentivize marijuana businesses to be structured like nonprofits.◦ We will provide resources for people to start cooperatives and collective nonprofits as marijuana businesses that will create jobs and economic growth in local communities.• Prohibit products and labels that target young people.• Ban companies that have created cancer-causing products or guilty of deceptive marketing.• Ban tobacco/cigarette corporations from participating in the marijuana industry.• Institute market share and franchise caps to prevent consolidation and profiteering.• Regulate the safety of marijuana products by granting the federal government regulatory authority.• Partner with USDA to establish safety inspection and quality control processes for growers and producers.
It's funny-- I was rubbing a cannabis-derived product onto my neuropathy-plagued feet that I had just gotten from a small local company-- Quanta-- while I was watching the Bernie rally live. It arrived in the mail yesterday and I rubbed some on one foot and left the other one without any as an experiment. And, sure enough, within 15 minutes the foot I rubbed it on was pain free and other other one was still throbbing and painful. So... anyway, here I am watching Bernie talk about legalizing marijuana and rubbing in this stuff and, well... I thought I'd share this video about the company from their website:And here's another of their clips, this one about the stuff I rubbed on my feet. It's a hemp derived topical that can be used to alleviate many types of pain from arthritis and muscle/joint pain to chronic back pain, carpal tunnel, and my problem, the neuropathy. It treats pain locally by interrupting pain signaling and doesn't enter the bloodstream. "CBD," they explained, "is adding a new dimension to pain care as an effective alternative to OTC and prescription medication. These are the ingredients on the package: Beeswax, Sunflower Oil, Fractionated Coconut Oil, Menthol, Meadowfoam Seed Oil, Arnica Montana Oil, Peppermint Oil, White Camphor Oil, Vitamin E Oil, Turmeric Oil, Lavender Oil, Clove Oil, Polarized Hemp CBD, Ginger Root Oil.