Time to reschedule

Last year we scored a historic victory that bans the Department of Justice from undermining state medical marijuana laws for one year. But the department recently declared that it will ignore the Congressional mandate and continue prosecuting people for medical marijuana. Do you think medical marijuana will never be safe unless we change federal law permanently? Is the CARERS Act the big chance to do it?

—Lickity Split

Good question. I suppose we’ll find out. The Compassionate Access, Research Expansion and Respect States Act, originally sponsored by senators Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, is picking up steam. According to a tweet from Senator Booker (yes, Twitter is a legitimate way of gathering information, so hush), the bill now has 14 co-sponsors, seven Dems and seven Repubs. That’s pretty sweet. Not only that, this bill is really nice. The CARERS Act allows banks to handle medical cannabis money, amends the Controlled Substances Act so states can have legal medical cannabis and reschedules marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule II, meaning it would no longer be classified as a “dangerous narcotic.” (I always giggle when someone calls cannabis a “narcotic.”) By the way, United States District Court Judge Kimberly Mueller decided to allow cannabis to remain listed as Schedule 1 in a hearing last week. The defense’s lawyers are, of course, planning an appeal. It would probably be easier to get this bill passed.

The CARERS Act would go a long way toward creating positive change. Call your representatives and senators and tell them to support this bill. Senator Barbara Boxer is already listed as a co-sponsor; can we get Senator Dianne Feinstein to come aboard? I know she hates marijuana, but maybe she could do her job and follow the will of the people just this once. Send her an email. Thank you.

I saw the stoner movie story in last week’s issue and I’m looking for some good, trippy cinema for when I’m couch locked. Got any recommendations for movies, shows or anything else?

—Les Thargic

I do indeed! If you want some stunning visuals, check out the film Baraka. It’s a trippy journey around the world. Curse of The Golden Flower is also visually stunning, with a great story of intrigue. And kung fu. I also really really like concert films. Dave Chappelle’s Block Party is fantastic, so are Woodstock and Stop Making Sense, which may be the best concert film of all time. Be aware: Stop Making Sense may cure your couch lock, because it’s hard not to get up and dance when the Talking Heads get into full party mode. Find this book: Reefer Movie Madness: The Ultimate Stoner Film Guide. It will help.