Sanders to legalize cannabis by executive order

Bernie Sanders Says He Would Legalize Marijuana by Executive Order - Andrew Whalen, Newsweek:

August 7, 2019 - "Legalizing marijuana has long been part of Bernie Sanders' policy platform.... But in a recent interview, Sanders got specific, pledging to legalize marijuana by executive order.

"'When I ran for president for the Democratic nomination in 2016, I talked about a broken criminal justice system, which ends up having in the United States more people in jail than any other country,' Sanders told Joe Rogan on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast. And what I call for then, and I call for now, is the legalization of marijuana in America'....

"Sanders' approach to marijuana legalization takes aim at the Controlled Substances Act, which puts cannabis in the same Schedule One category as heroin, MDMA and psilocybin.

"'That is insane. Heroin is a killer drug,' he said on the episode. 'You can argue the plusses and minuses of marijuana, but marijuana ain't heroin. So we have to end that and that's what I will do as President of the United States. I believe we can do that through executive order and I will do that.'

"In 2016, Sanders became the first major presidential candidate to endorse marijuana legalization. That position followed The Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2015, a Senate bill he authored that would have removed marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act. The bill received no co-sponsors....

"'I think ultimately we have got to legalize marijuana, and what's good news is some communities, some cities, are expunging the records. So if you were arrested [and] have a criminal record for selling marijuana, that is being expunged. And that is the right thing to do,' Sanders told Rogan....

"Other Democratic candidates have agreed with Sanders, including Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris and Pete Buttigieg, all of whom have signaled their intention to legalize pot and expunge criminal records for marijuana convictions."

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/bernie-sanders-legalize-marijuana-executive-order-1453140
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McFadzean runs for LP of Canada in Lakeland

McFadzean joins the race for Lakeland MP - Bonnyville Nouvelle - Robynne Henry:

July 23, 2019 - "Robert McFadzean is once again in the running for Lakeland [Alberta] MP as the candidate for the Libertarian Party of Canada. While he doesn’t consider himself a politician, McFadzean’s main priorities are to decrease taxes and government regulations. 'Our contention is if you do that, we find that people will prosper,' he said, adding he would be opposed to any legislation put forward that would increase either.

"According to McFadzean, the basic philosophy of libertarianism is the government having minimal impacts on people’s lives. 'That’s the right that everybody has to choose for themselves, and where that leads to is that any income that a person earns, for example, is their property. They decide what to do with it,' he explained. 'When a government comes along and taxes away a part of that income, then they’re violating the liberty of that person. They’re taking away their property, which is a violation of that person’s rights.'

"McFadzean noted the main libertarian belief is people are free to decide how to interact with each other as long as no one’s rights are breached.... McFadzean believes people should be allowed to live how they choose, and the government shouldn’t interfere in that respect.

"According to McFadzean, the basis of libertarianism started back in the 1700s after the American war of independence when ... a relatively free society was established. 'It spread into the western countries, and led to a tremendous progress of wellbeing of people. We would argue that was because of liberty, that was because of the freedom people had, and since then, it seems like the governments in this country have gradually backtracked on that… We’re still free enough that our economy and lives are tremendously better than 200 years ago, but we would suggest it could be even better if we were more free than we are now'....

"McFadzean ... first ran for the position in the 2015 federal election. 'Libertarians typically get approximately one per cent of the vote, so when you run as a Libertarian you’re not exactly expecting to get elected. But, as a Libertarian, I wanted to vote for liberty. I want to vote for a Libertarian, so I run as a Libertarian so I and other like minded people have a Libertarian to vote for.'”

"The Vermilion native spent 23 years teaching at Lakeland College in economics and financial management in the agriculture department. He’s married with seven children and has been involved in the community through his church and the local music festival.

"When he ran during the 2018 provincial election for the Vermilion-Lloydminster-Wainwright riding, McFadzean pledged to cover his own expenses and to put any salary he earns, if elected, into a fund toward promoting liberty. He also promised to do the same if he’s chosen as MP for the Lakeland."

Read more: https://www.bonnyvillenouvelle.ca/article/mcfadzean-joins-the-race-for-lakeland-mp-20190723
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Hong Kong airport shut down by protests

Hong Kong airport authority set to resume flights Tuesday after cancellations on 4th day of protests | CBC News:
August 12, 2019 - "The Hong Kong airport will restart flights starting at 6 a.m. Tuesday after it shut down operations when thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators occupied its main terminal. Hong Kong cancelled all flights not yet checked in by Monday afternoon, the agency said, as anti-government protesters peacefully demonstrated at the airport for a fourth day."
Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/hong-kong-flights-cancelled-protest-1.5243590

Hong Kong's civil unrest: What's driving today's protests? | CBC News:
August 12, 2019 - "Why are there tensions?
"Hong Kong, a major Asian commercial hub, returned to China in 1997 after 156 years of British rule. That transfer of power on July 1, 1997 — known as 'the handover' — came with certain conditions designed to guarantee Hong Hong 'a high degree of 'autonomy.'

"Under the 'one country, two systems' principle, Hong Kong is considered a Special Administrative Region of China and maintains independent legislative and legal systems that afford residents freedoms not available in mainland China. But Hong Kongers have long accused Beijing of encroaching on this autonomy....

"An extradition bill proposed by the the Hong Kong government this year triggered the latest wave of demonstrations.... The controversial extradition bill was proposed on April 3 as a response to the Hong Kong government's inability to extradite a Hong Kong man to Taiwan after he allegedly killed his girlfriend on a trip there. But proposed amendments to the bill would also allow Hong Kong to send people to both Taiwan and the mainland to face charges.

"Critics contend that defendants extradited to mainland China may not have access to a fair trial in the judicial system there and that Beijing could also use the law to crack down on Hong Kong dissidents.

"Intense protests then followed on June 9 as hundreds of thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators were joined by civil servants and others, including business professionals. The bill was declared 'dead' as of last month by Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam but she didn't withdraw it, and protests have continued....

"Beijing has labelled the latest protests an ... act of 'terrorism' after local authorities shut down the city's international airport on Monday due to continuous demonstrations. China's military —​ the People's Liberation Army — has a garrison of 6,000 soldiers in Hong Kong. Lam has the authority to request their help to 'maintain social order.'

"If this happens, many fear a repeat of the 1989 Tiananmen Square incident, where the army cracked down violently on democratic protesters in Beijing. China has never disclosed how many people died in the clashes but human rights organizations have estimated the death toll to be [from] several hundred to several thousand."

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/hong-kong-civil-unrest-explained-1.5243653

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‘Kids for Cash’ scandal documented (video)

Corrupt ‘Kids for Cash’ judge ruined more than 2,000 lives - Larry Getlen, New York Post:

February 23, 2014 - "Hillary Transue, 14, created a fake, humorous Myspace page about her school’s vice principal. Justin Bodnar, 12, cursed at another student’s mother. Ed Kenzakoski, 17, did nothing at all. It didn’t matter.

"As we see in the documentary “Kids for Cash,” ... all three Luzerne County, Pa. teens met the same fate for their minor infractions.... They were brought before Judge Mark A. Ciavarella and, without warning or the chance to offer a defense, found themselves pronounced guilty, shackled and sentenced to months of detention in a cockroach-infested jail. They were trapped in the juvenile justice system for years, robbing most of them of their entire high-school experience.

"Judge Ciavarella, who sentenced around 3,000 children in a similar manner, was later sentenced himself to 28 years in prison for financial crimes related to his acceptance of $2.2 million as a finder’s fee for the construction of a for-profit facility in which to house these so-called delinquents. The scandal was called 'Kids for Cash,' and it rocked the state in 2009.... Ciavarella had 2,480 of his convictions reversed and expunged....

"At the end of 'Kids for Cash,' directed by Robert May, information flashes across the screen saying: 'Two million children are arrested every year in the US, 95% for non-violent crimes'; that '66% of children who have been incarcerated never return to school'; and that 'the US incarcerates nearly 5 times more children than any other nation in the world.'”

Read more; https://nypost.com/2014/02/23/film-details-teens-struggles-in-state-detention-in-payoff-scandal/
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Amash sponsors bill to end US death penalty

Justin Amash teams up with 'squad' member to end federal death penalty ahead of announced executions - Conservative Review - Nate Madden, BlazeTV:

July 26, 2019 - "Rep. Justin Amash, I-Mich., who left the Republican Party over his feud with President Donald Trump, has teamed up with a member of the anti-Trump 'squad' to keep the Department of Justice from executing five convicted murderers.

“'Michigan abolished capital punishment in 1846,' Amash tweeted Friday morning. 'The U.S. government has had a moratorium on this horrendous practice since 2003. Now, President Trump and AG Barr want to resume executions. This week, I joined @RepPressley to introduce a bill to prohibit the federal death penalty.'

"The short bill, less than two pages, simply states that 'no person may be sentenced to death or put to death on or after the date of enactment of this Act for any violation of federal law.'

"The move is in response to a Department of Justice announcement Thursday that the Trump administration would seek to carry out the first federal executions in 16 years....

"Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., is a member of the far-left group of House Democrat freshmen known as the 'squad.' She responded to Thursday’s news by bringing up President Trump’s calls, when he was a private citizen, to bring back the death penalty for the Central Park Five....

"The death row inmates in this situation, according to Thursday’s announcement, have been convicted of murdering 'the most vulnerable in our society — children and the elderly'....

"The last person to be executed by the federal government, as opposed to a state government, was in 2003. While Obama stopped short on efforts to put an end to the practice at the federal level in 2015, his administration put a de facto moratorium on executions."

Read more: https://www.conservativereview.com/news/justin-amash-teams-squad-member-end-federal-death-penalty-ahead-announced-executions/
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Luxembourg plans to legalize adult-use cannabis

Pass the Duchy: Luxembourg’s grand plan to legalize cannabis – POLITICO - Jillian Deutsch:

July 30, 2019 - "Luxembourg has ambitions to legalize recreational cannabis and convince other European countries to do the same.... Its health ministry is slated to unveil a proposal to start the legislative process this fall, and the goal is for it to become law within two years.

"If that happens, Luxembourg will join a small but growing list of countries — Canada, Uruguay and 11 U.S. states — reversing decades[-]long drug policies that saw the substance banned and people jailed for violations.

"One of the main advocates is Health Minister Etienne Schneider, who cites health reasons as the most important driver. He said young people are already getting weed on the black market, coming into contact with drug dealers who provide cannabis of unknown quality, and getting access to more potentially dangerous drugs....

"Under the legislation to be proposed by Schneider and Justice Minister Félix Braz, Luxembourg would legalize the entire cannabis market, from issuing licenses for its production to legalizing its consumption, under a highly regulated structure. It would ban home cultivation and likely impose an age restriction — possibly 18 — for purchase. Schneider also envisions prohibition on purchases by non-residents, as a way to avoid drug tourism....

"For now, support for the bill looks strong. The three parties that form the governing coalition in Luxembourg all included legalizing recreational cannabis in their governing agenda, largely driven by young members.

"But Luxembourg is grappling with the fact that it's a small country to which an estimated 200,000 people travel for work each day. Schneider admits it will be difficult striking a balance between keeping borders open and regulating this new market, especially if Luxembourg's neighbors fear undesired spillover. But he said he wants to get other countries on board and is talking to fellow health ministers....

"Alexandra Curley, head of insights at the cannabis consultancy group Prohibition Partners, said Luxembourg is right to try learning from other countries that have made cannabis accessible....  'Luxembourg is a very small country, but it's also quite a powerful one,' she added. 'Everybody's just waiting for that first person to take the plunge and see how it works out.'"

Read more: https://www.politico.eu/article/luxembourg-legalize-cannabis/
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Ohio Libertarian civic candidate back on ballot

Libertarian candidate for Reynoldsburg City Council returned to November ballot - News - The Columbus Dispatch - Columbus, OH - Marc Kovac

July 23, 2019 - "The Franklin County Board of Elections returned a Libertarian candidate for Reynoldsburg City Council to the November ballot on Tuesday, about a week after being ordered to do so by the Ohio Supreme Court. Robert Bender had filed suit seeking reinstatement in the race for the Ward 3 council seat after elections officials invalidated several petition signatures he had submitted....

"Bender submitted his candidacy declaration in early February, and elections officials determined that he had the requisite number of valid petition signatures to qualify for the ballot. He was unopposed in the primary and was subsequently certified for the Nov. 5 ballot.

"However, another resident protested Bender’s petitions, challenging some of the validated signatures. In June, the county elections board formally heard the challenge, compared signatures on Bender’s petitions with those on file with the board, determined that several did not match, and removed Bender from the general election ballot.

"The Ohio Supreme Court determined that the elections board had abused its discretion by acting more than two months after the primary and that evidence was lacking that the protester was a Libertarian Party member with standing to challenge the signatures.

"On Tuesday, without comment, the elections board certified Bender for the ballot, adding his name to nine other candidates earlier approved for several Reynoldsburg City Council races."

Read more: https://www.dispatch.com/news/20190723/libertarian-candidate-for-reynoldsburg-city-council-returned-to-november-ballot
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