US House Bills Would Legalize Recreational Pot

Marijuana would be removed from a Schedule I list of federally banned drugs that includes heroin and LSD. 

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Medical marijuana dispensaries, decriminalization and outright legalization were the topics of a Civil Cafe forum last week, evidence that the issue of pakalolo is a big one right now in Hawaii.

But it’s not just us.

The Hill has this article on how pot would be legalized for recreational purposes and taxed like tobacco and alcohol under new legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

civil cafe on marijuana 2-19-15

The Civil Cafe in Kakaako talks pot, Feb. 19.

Cory Lum/Civil Beat

“The Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act reintroduced Friday by Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) would remove pot from a list of federally banned drugs,” The Hill reports.

“Meanwhile, the Marijuana Tax Revenue Act, a companion bill from Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), would establish a federal tax structure for recreational pot but not medical marijuana.”

Can America’s policy toward marijuana really be changing?

Perhaps.

But as was pointed out by local law enforcement and drug-control advocates at the Civil Cafe, a majority of states have yet to loosen laws on marijuana use.

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