Letters: The Senate fillibuster is a moderating force for better and/or worse

Published

4 months ago

October 16, 2024

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The fillibuster moderates the Senate but is that good or bad?

Re: “Is it time for America to eliminate the filibuster? Not so fast,” Oct. 5 commentary

L. Roger Hutson suggests that the filibuster is a tool to “force” bipartisan governance. It does no such thing. What bipartisan governance?

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Federal Funding Freeze To Hit Medical Marijuana Research

Published

2 weeks ago

February 11, 2025

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Research on Cancer, chronic pain, nausea and more are grinding to a halt due to the federal funding freeze.

New research is validating cannabis can help cancer, chronic pain or more. It is a key alternative to avoid opioid use for post surgery pain. But now the deal funding freeze to hit medical marijuana research has significant implications for various sectors of scientific research, including medical marijuana studies. While the freeze has been temporarily halted, the uncertainty it created has already affected ongoing projects and future research prospects.

Medical marijuana research has long faced challenges due to federal restrictions. Despite growing interest in its therapeutic potential, the classification of marijuana as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act limits research opportunities. Historically, most federal funding for cannabis research has focused on its potential harms rather than its medical benefits. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) are key players in controlling access to research-grade cannabis, which further complicates the process for researchers.

Federal Funding Freeze To Hit Medical Marijuana Research

Effects of the Funding Freeze

Uncertainty and Delayed Projects: The funding freeze, even if temporary, has introduced uncertainty into the research environment. Scientists rely on stable funding to plan and execute long-term studies. Any disruption can delay projects, impacting years of research efforts.
Impact on Academic Freedom: The freeze is seen as a threat to academic freedom, as researchers fear speaking out against government actions might jeopardize their funding4. This fear can particularly affect medical marijuana research, which is already controversial and underfunded.
Limited Access to Research Materials: The NIDA monopoly on research-grade cannabis has historically limited access to materials necessary for comprehensive studies6. A funding freeze exacerbates this issue by potentially reducing the already limited resources available for acquiring and studying cannabis.
State-Level Initiatives: While federal funding is crucial, some states have taken the initiative to fund medical marijuana research. However, these efforts are often insufficient to compensate for the lack of federal support

The ongoing challenges in medical marijuana research highlight the need for consistent and supportive federal policies. As more states legalize cannabis for medical use, there is a growing demand for rigorous scientific studies to validate its efficacy and safety. However, until federal restrictions are eased and funding becomes more accessible, progress in this area will remain slow.

The federal funding freeze compounds the existing barriers to medical marijuana research, further hindering efforts to explore its therapeutic potential. Addressing these challenges requires a shift in federal policy to support comprehensive and unbiased research into cannabis’s medical benefits.

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Diana DeGette

Editorial: Here’s how savvy Colorado voters navigated the monstrous 2024 ballot

Published

4 months ago

November 8, 2024

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Colorado’s election results tell us that more of our neighbors are feeling bad about Tuesday night’s presidential outcome than are feeling good, but what about the down-ballot races?

Colorado voters navigated a complex ballot full of policy questions and did a remarkable job of parsing through the pros and cons of each measure.

As Donald Trump regains the White House with a Republican majority in the House and Senate, we are thrilled voters in Colorado have added constitutional protections to abortion. A remarkable 61% of voters wanted reproductive freedoms in the state Constitution and repealed an outdated law preventing Medicaid from covering abortions.

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Cannabis

Musk Supports DeSantis Blocking Marijuana Legalization

Published

4 months ago

October 17, 2024

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The battle for legal marijuana continues and it is pitting the leaders of the GOP against each other…and another player has jumped into the fray

Florida is a battleground state for this election in more than one way. While the majority of Floridians are pro some form of cannabis legalization, the governor is not and has waged an all out battle with the industry. Now, Elon Musk supports DeSantis blocking marijuana legalization. How is will all end up is anyone’s guess.

In 2013, the group United for Care turned in 745,613 of the required 683,149 signatures, to do a ballot initiative for medical marijuana. The state contensted, but the Florida Supreme court allowed it to move forward. It failed with 57.6% of the vote, short the 60% supermajority required for constitutional amendments in Florida. Nevada casino owner Sheldon Adelson rode to he rescue with $5.5 million to help fund the opposition campaign.

In 2016, a second attempt was made and the initiative was approved on November 8, 2016, with 71.3% of the vote.

Now a new initiative is on the ballot and has pitted Governor Desanits and Elon Musk against the GOP Presidential nominee. DeSantis has had a testy relationship with the GOP leader since the governor’s failed presidential run. But the nominee seems to have a working partnership with Musk and has suggested creating a new role for Musk of Secretary of Cost Cutting.

vote election — Photo by Andrii Yalanskyi/Getty Images

DeSantis has struggled in his fight against the popular plant. He is under fire from leaders in his own state for using state resource to fight against legalization. Also, the group DeSantis has approved to raise funds to stop cannabis has raised less than $20 million. The pro group has raised over $100 million. But now Musk, the owner of X (formerly Twitter), is riding to DeSantis’s rescue.

Faithful & Strong Policies, Inc., made the $500,000 contribution to Keep Florida Clean, Inc. earlier this month, campaign filings show. Keep Florida Clean. Musk has given the organization $10 million. Musk was also a supporter of the Governor’s campaign.

Polls show the initiative stands a strong chance of hitting the 60% to pass. Being a presidential year with other big issues on the ballot is a help to cannabis, but with fresh cash nd Twitter fighting it, only time with tell how it goes. And it will be interesting to see what happens with the three mega personalities of the Republican Party.

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