Senate Can't Pass Tax Cuts, But It Can Raise Penalties On Pot Brownies

[Joanne98]

If you thought that the Republican filibuster of the tax-cutting small business bill meant that the Senate didn't have a particularly productive day Thusday, you'd be wrong. In fact, the Senate authorized the issuance of a conservation stamp, created Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Week, gave a little money to the Patent and Trademark office and, oh yeah, doubled the penalties for making pot brownies. Yes, the same week that Congress significantly reduced the racially-charged crack-powder sentencing disparity, they also voted to create one between pot brownies and dime bags.

The Senate voted to pass by unanimous consent (that it, without a roll call vote) S. 258, known colloquially as the Saving Kids From Dangerous Drugs Act of 2010, introduced by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and co-sponsored by Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) and Charles Grassley (R-IA). While the bill is intended to keep drug dealers from cutting their product with sweets in order to make them more marketable to children, it applies to any drug mixed with with something that modifies its flavor -- as making pot brownies does -- if the person making the brownies "intends" to give it to someone under 18. At that point, the person making the pot brownies would be subject to twice the normal penalty of any person caught distributing weed.

Michael Whitney at Firedoglake reports that Feinstein is an active part of the campaign to defeat California's Proposition 19, which would legalize marijuana in the state. Medical marijuana is already legal in the state, and many people who use medical marijuana do so by mixing it with food in order to counteract the hazards of smoking.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/07/senate-cant-pass-tax-cuts-but-it-can-raise-penalties-on-pot-brownies.php

How long must we SUFFER the Senate!

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. Unanimous.

Spotlight on priorities.

[Fumesucker]

2. See.. Democrats and Republican *can* work together when it's something truly important..

All this piddly crap like unemployment and people dying for lack of medical care just can't hold a candle to pot brownies on the scale of importance.

The Senate has its priorities absolutely straight.

Edited for speling.

[NC_Nurse]

3. So now they're invading our kitchens too? Is nothing sacred?

Glad they are keeping us safe from stoned people. Sheesh...

[Dawson Leery]

4. Which is why I am registered as an independent.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

5. Don't give pot brownies to kids??

Seems pretty avoidable to me. :shrug:

[tridim]

6. This is the first time I've seen the "Intends to give it to kids" part

If that's all this is, then BFD.

Is there more that I'm missing?

[kenny blankenship]

7. Everyone knows Reefer Fiends can't stop plotting to give pot brownies to kids

It's a sick compulsion they have. I read somewhere that Halloween was canceled during the entire Carter Administration era because bitter hippies, sensing their time was up, planned to place diabolical cannabis treats in the goody bags of innocents. Then Ronald Reagan was elected President, (decent folk had finally had ENOUGH!) the hostages were immediately released in Tehran, and it was Halloween again in America - and has been ever since.