Courtesy of The Gazette comes this attempt by Senate Democrats to amend a bill at a late hour to legalize marijuana, which was thwarted by certain heartless Iowa Republicans, who refuse to take on this topic from above even while the grassroots advances discussion:
Read more: Third District Iowa Republican Platform Committee Votes To Support Medical Marijuana Federal Exemption Efforts
“LEGALIZED MARIJUANA: Senate Democrats took their crack at proposing legalized recreational marijuana in Iowa during debate over a bill on criminal penalties for possession of heroin.
Since the minority Democrats are unable to set the legislative agenda, they chose the heroin bill for their amendment that would regulate marijuana similar to the way alcohol is regulated in the state. Majority Republicans shot down the proposed amendment with a procedural move, ruling it was not relevant to the original bill.
Sen. Joe Bolkcom, D-Iowa City, was among the Democrats who spoke in favor of the proposal. He called the prohibition of marijuana a “costly failure.”
“It has broken up too many families, upended too many livelihoods, thrown too many children into poverty,” Bolkcom said of the enforcement of marijuana laws. He also noted data that shows marijuana laws disproportionately impact Black Iowans, who are seven times more likely to be arrested for possession marijuana, the worst disparity in the nation, even though Black and white people use marijuana at similar rates, according to a study by the American Civil Liberties Union.
The bill, HF 2462, passed the Senate by a 44-5 vote.”
WeedPress: The Paper Trail 
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