Rand Paul, Corey Booker and Kirsten Gillibrand – Get the Federal Government Out of States where Medical Marijuana is Law.

From Reuters: Rand Paul, introduces legislation today to prevent the Federal government from prosecuting individuals in states where Medical Marijuana is legal. He is joined by Democrat Senators, Corey Booker, and Kirsten Gillibrand:

Paul has been an outspoken critic of the war on drugs and has said pot users should not be put in jail. He has pushed to legalize hemp, a less-potent version of the plant, for industrial purposes.

Last month, he accused former Florida governor Jeb Bush, a potential rival, of "hypocrisy" for opposing medical marijuana in Florida after admitting to pot use as a student.

Medical marijuana is now legal in 23 states and the District of Columbia, and voters have approved it for recreational use in four states and Washington, D.C.

But it remains illegal at the federal level. That disparity locks marijuana businesses out of the banking system and exposes users to arrest.

Paul's legislation would ensure that buyers and sellers in those states would not risk federal prosecution if they are complying with state and local laws, according to congressional aides and a marijuana-advocacy group.

(Reuters)

What may at first appear to be bucking the “system”, is in essence, a state’s rights issue, as well, as a money saving issue – on the one hand, saving Federal dollars by not prosecuting these individuals and businesses in States where legalization of medical marijuana is legal, and 2) by allowing the businesses in these states to take full advantage of competing in the marketplace (job creation).

Smart move again, Senator Paul.

2016 – DNC – O’Malley Receives Standing O in South Carolina - The New Face of the Democrat Party

Martin O'Malley - photo Politico (AP)

From the S.C. News Exchangecomes an interesting take on Martin O’Malley and his changes of succeeding in a not so crowded field of Democrats for the 2016 Presidential nomination. O’Malley received several standing O’s in a crowd that once was all Clinton. It is noted that Clinton lost to Obama in that primary given his lack of a brand name.

O’Malley, who lost his Governor’s seat to a Republican in the 2012 sweep, is running against (possibly as no one has accounted) Hillary Clinton. The Washington Post asks Is O’Malley Ready for Hillary?”. One would surmise yes, given the recent events (emails) and the fact that O’Malley is seen a more Progressive than most.

Democrat strategists suggest that although O’Malley’s approval ratings might not have been perfect, that voters tend not to know such information when the candidate is further afield. Poltiico

One thing of interest is his “rain tax” according to the tax foundation – a tax was placed on rainwater, in order to comply with the EPA, the Governor signed a bill which levied a “fee” or tax on businesses and residences based on the amount of area on a piece of property where the rain might not land (parking lots, rooftops, etc.). .(Tax Foundation)

He is the only one to watch, so far, on the Dem team – Hillary will not run, Warren will not run, and that leaves Bernie Sanders. There may be others on hand, but O’Malley’s entrance on the scene (he is similar to the Warren school of tax the billionaires), makes things a bit more interesting.