Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte dismisses those pesky human rights violation allegations, Maine’s legalization timeline runs into some issues, a 12-year old girl/badass sues Jeff Sessions, and a former wrestler verbally bodyslams some nosy cops. That and more in this week’s roundup of quotes.
“Human rights? Lay off, that is none of your business.”
– President Rodrigo Duterte’s warning to President Trump or any leader who tries to raise the issue of the Philippines’ human rights violations amidst its extremely harsh drug crackdown. World leaders are meeting at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Vietnam November 10-11.
“We’ve legalized gasoline, but not gas stations here. If we don’t act and move we’re going to continue to create profits and incentives for the wrong people.”
– Rep. Martin Grohman (I-Biddeford), speaking before what would end up being a failed vote to override Maine Governor Paul LePage’s veto of a legalization bill for the state. The override needed a two-thirds majority in both chambers.
“Small dispensaries effectively pay higher tax rates than Bill Gates or Walmart.”
– Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) in a Cannabist op-ed urging Congress to “stop punishing the cannabis industry” and remove 280E from the tax code. 280E prohibits Schedule I and II drug traffickers from deducting business expenses.
“We have a bunch of shops that accept DopeCoin, but no one uses it. I haven’t seen one actual dispensary or marijuana company use one of these marijuana cryptocurrencies to store their money or conduct daily business. It’s more of a gimmick at this point.”
– Adam Howell, creator of DopeCoin, explaining why a cannabis cryptocurrency hasn’t yet taken off
I’ve heard from countless vets that medical marijuana is critical to giving them relief they need. In states like OR where mmj is legal, it’s outrageous that Congress prevents VA from working w/ vets who could benefit.
— Earl Blumenauer (@repblumenauer) November 10, 2017
– Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), speaking out about the need to help veterans and grant them legal access to medical marijuana
“I would like to be able to visit my grandparents without risking being taken to a foster home.”
– 12-year old Alexis Bortell of Colorado, who is suing US Attorney General Jeff Sessions over the country’s federal cannabis policy. Ms. Bortell, who suffers from epilepsy, and her family moved to Colorado from Texas so they could legally access cannabis oil that has kept her seizure-free for the past 2 1/2 years.
“She was scared shitless. She had no clue she had done wrong. I pulled in for lunch after the fact. My thoughts are because she was wearing her state-issued MMJ dispensary agent card, I’m thinking one of the cops thought ‘Man, if I could get a blood draw from her, I bet I could get an easy DUI.’”
– Sean Allen Morley, former professional wrestler who performed under the moniker Val Venis, coming to his dispensary co-worker’s defense after she was harassed by local police at a gas station during her lunch break
