Two Notable Items

First, I noticed this little notice today. It can only be seen as a bid for sanity. We now are witnessing people at the level of the national government who are introducing legislation that will begin moving the country towards a sane policy on marijuana. This is a first step only. But it's a significant one, not a baby step. The proposed legislation, introduced in the House by cosponsors Barney Frank (D-MA) and Ron Paul (R-TX) aims at ending the federal prohibition on weed altogether. (Another five Democratic reps are co-sponsoring the bill.)

The Oakland Tribute reported that the bill would limit the federal government to enforcing cross-border or inter-state smuggling laws, and allow people to grow, possess, use or sell marijuana in states where it is legal to do so.

Of course, the states would still be able write their own marijuana laws, but this would be a huge step forward. Getting the Fed out of the insane business of spending God only knows how much of our vitally needed sustenance chasing stoners. And, be it noted, helping keep the price of pot so high that criminals are naturally all over it.

Currently 16 states and DC have legalized the use of medical marijuana, and legislation is pending in 10 more . By my count that's more than half the states of the Union. If you add the five additional states (including Oklahoma!) where bills to legalize medical marijuana never got out of committee, you are talking a fair majority of the states.

It's plain that the time has come for this issue. Straight out legalization cannot be too far away. The striated financial condition of just about every state in the U.S. is going to have lawmakers casting about everywhere they can to scratch up some revenue. A "sin tax" on legalized pot will have irresistible allure.  And all the winds are blowing that way.

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And the second item: I just keep discovering these great bands. This one I stumbled over quite by accident on a podcast.



This group is called The Rosebuds. A fantastic song, don't you think?