Effort Building To Change United State Pot Laws - Spokane, North Idaho News & Weather KHQ.com

Effort Building To Change United State Pot Laws

Posted: Updated:

SEATTLE (AP) - From legalizing the industrial production of hemp to establishing a federal tax, an effort is building in Congress to change U.S. marijuana laws.
    
Democratic Rep. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon tells The Associated Press that lawmakers from both parties have been quietly working on several bills, and he and Colorado Democrat Jared Polis plan to introduce the first two on Tuesday. Polis' measure would let states legalize pot and require growers to obtain a federal permit, while Blumenauer's would create a federal marijuana excise tax.
    
Blumenauer says the recent votes in Colorado and Washington state to legalize recreational marijuana show it's past time for Congress to end the 75-year federal pot prohibition.
    
Other measures being discussed include letting marijuana dispensaries obtain bank accounts and deduct business expenses on federal taxes.

(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

  • Most Popular StoriesMost Popular Stories

  • Sunday, June 16 2013 2:32 PM EDT2013-06-16 18:32:04 GMT
    SLIDESHOW: If you'd like to submit photos for the Father's Day 2013 Slideshow, just send them in .jpg format to pix@khq.com  
    SLIDESHOW: If you'd like to submit photos for the Father's Day 2013 Slideshow, just send them in .jpg format to pix@khq.com Happy Father's Day everyone!

  • Friday, June 14 2013 1:16 PM EDT2013-06-14 17:16:21 GMT
    SPOKANE, Wash. - The Spokane County Sheriff's Office and the Spokane Police Dept. responded to a fatal drive by shooting early Wednesday afternoon in the 7000 block of North Atlantic.
    SPOKANE, Wash. - Law enforcement now has in their possession the vehicle of the man they believe shot and killed Fabian McBride Wednesday in Spokane in the 7000 block of North Atlantic, just outside the Spokane city limits. When detectives located the vehicle the suspect, 19-year-old Issiah Schauman, was not inside so the search for him continues.

  • Monday, June 17 2013 12:11 PM EDT2013-06-17 16:11:11 GMT
    KHQ.COM - A five-year-old girl set up a lemonade stand "for peace" right across the street from a notorious church in Kansas which has been accused of spreading hate and homophobia wherever it goes.
    KHQ.COM - A five-year-old girl set up a lemonade stand "for peace" right across the street from a notorious church in Kansas which has been accused of spreading hate and homophobia wherever it goes.