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Tag: morals

  • Who Is Rep. Andy Harris And Why Does He Hate Cannabis

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    Who is Rep Andy Harris and why does he hate cannabis, his role in blocking rescheduling and shaping federal marijuana policy debates.

    While the marijuana industry holds its breath on whether the President will finally take long promised action, a new foe has emerged. Who is Rep Andy Harris and why does he hate cannabis. Harris (R-Md.) is a physician-turned-congressman who has represented Maryland’s 1st District since 2011. A staunch social and fiscal conservative, Harris has made a name for himself as a showdown-willing member of the House Freedom Caucus and one of Congress’s most vocal opponents of loosening federal marijuana rules.

    RELATED: Officials Cling To Personal Moral Codes Despite Public Opinion

    His opposition has become especially visible as the federal government weighs reclassifying cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act. Harris has repeatedly pushed back against rescheduling, arguing the change would be a public-health mistake even if it helped his party politically — famously telling reporters he “doesn’t care whether it’s good for the party or not” and his personal beliefs drive his position. He has used his medical credentials and committee access to press the DEA and Justice Department to reconsider or slow any move to move cannabis out of Schedule I.

    His stance has put Harris at odds with many in both parties who frame rescheduling as modest administrative relief — a shift to would mainly ease research barriers and allow ordinary tax deductions for state-legal businesses rather than instant national legalization. Harris has been among the Republicans publicly urging caution and in some cases urging rollback, saying he would prioritize what he sees as public safety over political convenience even if the president favors change.

    Beyond cannabis, Harris has a long record of blocking or resisting measures on several fronts. In the Maryland Senate he led a lengthy filibuster against anti-discrimination protections for same-sex couples; in Congress he’s pushed amendments to limit federal funding for wind-farm projects, opposed mask and lockdown policies during COVID-19, promoted unproven treatments early in the pandemic, and used appropriations levers to press social-policy goals. As Freedom Caucus chair, he’s also been a key dissident voice on spending and budget negotiations, at times voting “present” or leading objections making compromise more fraught.

    What the combination means politically is straightforward: Harris is less a moderating institutionalist and more an ideological gatekeeper. When the nation debates incremental steps on cannabis policy — rescheduling which could ease research, banking and taxes for state legal businesses — he’s been a high-profile obstacle. For advocates and entrepreneurs who say rescheduling would relieve tax and regulatory burdens on thousands of small, mom-and-pop cannabis operators, Harris’s resistance signals administrative changes alone may not be enough; legislative and political fights will persist.

    RELATED: The VFW Stands Up For Marijuana

    Whether Harris’s position will bend depends on the balance of power in Congress and the White House. For now, his mix of medical credentials, social conservatism and Freedom Caucus influence makes him one of the most consequential critics of any federal move to ease cannabis restrictions — and a reminder rescheduling debates are as much political theatre as they are technical.

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    Terry Hacienda

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  • Do Public Votes About Cannabis Matter Currently

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    Do public votes on cannabis matter currently? State lawmakers are rewriting rules despite public support.

    In what increasingly feels like a democratic disconnect, some publican-led state legislatures are quietly rewriting or trimming cannabis laws voters overwhelmingly backed. The question now looms: when citizen ballots say one thing—but elected lawmakers say another. Do public votes about cannabis matter currently? It seems the voting public doesn’t matter much anymore.

    RELATED: Officials Cling To Personal Moral Codes Despite Public Opinion

    Take Ohio. Voters in 2023 went to the polls and approved adult-use cannabis legalization, signalling a clear public mandate. Yet earlier this year, the state’s Senate—under GOP leadership—passed legislation would shrink the home-grow allowance and cap THC content in products, arguing voters “didn’t know what they were voting on.” It is not just a tweaking of policy—it is a direct pushback against the will of the electorate.

    Meanwhile, in Nebraska, citizens voted to legalize medical cannabis in 2024. Yet Republican officials have floated rolling back key access provisions and delaying licensing—an outcome labelled by critics as “targeting voter-approved medical marijuana.” In both states, the message is clear: when public votes favor more liberal cannabis policy, legislative majorities with opposing views are ready to push them aside.

    Photo by Xvision/Getty Image

    This trend raises a larger question for millennials and voters nationwide: Are ballots just theatrical props in the policy theatre? When elected officials override or rewrite voter-backed initiatives, the very idea of representative democracy starts to feel hollow. For younger generations used to digital petitions and civic engagement, it’s a bitter pill to swallow.

    Ironically, this political tug-of-war is happening while medical studies continue to show meaningful benefits of cannabis for patient communities. For instance, a study at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine followed nearly 400 medical-cannabis patients and found significant gains in physical functioning, social life and emotional well-being after three months. Similarly, researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine found medical users reported less pain, better sleep, reduced anxiety—and fewer hospital or ER visits. And the Center for Medical Cannabis Research at the University of Utah is now leading rigorous trials on therapeutic use and safety. If doctors and scientists are increasingly seeing a medical case, why are some legislators throttling access?

    It comes down to control. Many GOP-led legislatures argue that while voters perhaps intended change, they didn’t foresee the consequences—or “the devil in the details,” like THC caps, home grows, advertising, youth access. Ohio’s Senate, for example, claimed voters “didn’t know what they were voting on.” And in Nebraska, the medical-cannabis law’s licensing deadlines were missed and regulatory power handed to a commission criticised for obstructing the popular will.

    RELATED: The VFW Stands Up For Marijuana

    or millennials who’ve come of age during legalized cannabis expansion and who expect transparency and inclusion, this feels like a let-down. Yes, your state might vote in favour—but if lawmakers can simply override or dilute the legal decision, the vote becomes symbolic, not consequential.

    So yes: public votes still matter—they show where the people stand. But what matters more is whether lawmakers respect the vote and implement policy accordingly. Otherwise, ballot boxes become placeholders, and legislative bodies the real gatekeepers. Until the law catches up with popular sentiment, many voters will feel they’re speaking into a void.

    Will this dynamic spark a backlash, forcing legislatures to honour public ballots—or will it deepen cynicism among a generation already sceptical of politics? Time, and the next set of votes, will tell.

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    Terry Hacienda

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  • Officials Cling To Personal Moral Codes Despite Public Opinion

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    Legal cannabis is booming for fun, medicine, and anxiety relief—yet some elected officials let their moral code override public opinion

    Despite a national surge in support for cannabis legalization, a minority of elected officials cling to personal moral codes despite public opinion. This disconnect between public opinion and political action raises questions about representation and the role of personal beliefs in shaping public policy.

    Recent polls indicate overwhelming public support for cannabis legalization. A Quinnipiac University poll found that 93% of Americans aged 50-64 and 91% of Americans aged 65 and older support medical cannabis, with support reaching 99% among those aged 18-34. Similarly, a University of North Florida poll revealed that 66% of voters supported Florida’s Amendment 3, which aimed to legalize recreational marijuana.

    RELATED: Gen Z Is More Similar To Boomers In A Surprising Way

    Despite this overwhelming public support, some lawmakers persist in blocking reform efforts. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, for instance, acknowledged that “more people probably agreed” with a marijuana legalization ballot initiative he helped defeat last year. However, he argued that it was the “morally right” choice to prevent the sale of what he termed “dangerous stuff” in the state. Other elected officials, including a handful of state legislators in Oklahoma and Alabama, have cited similar moral objections to block legalization measures, framing their opposition in terms of protecting community values and public health.

    Photo by Xvision/Getty Image

    DeSantis’s stance underscores a broader issue: the influence of personal morality on public policy. While elected officials are entrusted to represent their constituents, some prioritize their own ethical beliefs over the will of the people. This approach can lead to policies that do not align with public opinion, potentially eroding trust in democratic institutions.

    The refusal to legalize cannabis also has economic and social repercussions. Legalization could generate significant revenue through taxation, create jobs, and reduce law enforcement costs associated with cannabis-related offenses. Moreover, regulated cannabis markets have been linked to reductions in alcohol consumption, offering a safer alternative for some adults. Medical research also highlights cannabis’s therapeutic benefits, from pain management to treating certain neurological conditions. Younger generations, particularly Gen Z, are increasingly embracing cannabis to help manage anxiety and stress, signaling a shift in both social norms and wellness trends.

    RELATED: The VFW Stands Up For Marijuana

    The persistent opposition to cannabis reform by a minority of lawmakers highlights the need for a more representative approach to governance. Elected officials should consider the overwhelming public support for cannabis legalization and weigh it against their personal beliefs. While moral considerations are important, they should not override the collective will of the people.

    As public opinion continues to favor cannabis reform, it is imperative that lawmakers reflect the values and desires of their constituents, ensuring that policies are both representative and progressive. If lawmakers continue to allow personal morality to outweigh public support, they risk further eroding trust in the democratic process while denying citizens the economic, social, and medical benefits that responsible cannabis legalization could bring.

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    Terry Hacienda

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  • Ethical Index Tracking Aims to Create a Better and Honest Global Environment

    Ethical Index Tracking Aims to Create a Better and Honest Global Environment

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    EDMONTON, Alberta, June 10, 2019 (Newswire.com)
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    As modern societies become more and more complex with every passing day, it is not a rare sight to see people using unfair means to succeed in attaining their personal definition of success. In such a world, it becomes exceedingly necessary to keep track of ethics and morality. Ethical Index is a unique website that offers a platform to view and create profiles of people based on their moral characters. The website features profiles of people as random as local shopkeepers to strong and influential celebrities and leaders on the business and political front. The website aims to grow and reach out to a wider audience and, for this reason, has launched a crowd-funding campaign on Kickstarter. The funding goal has been set at CA $15,000.

    With businesses becoming increasingly crafty and politicians becoming corrupt, the world is staring at a collective loss of optimism and trust. Ethical Index offers a website that is accessible to all. People can go online and review people without investing much time or effort. From deciding on the right candidate to choose from in the local elections to the stranger that might turn out to be a potential friend or romantic partner — everyone’s ethical index can be successfully tracked. Ethical Index allows people to make better informed and cautious decisions while reaching conclusive judgments on other people’s morality and code of conduct.

    The ultimate goal behind a website that allows for the rating and ranking of people is to create a global society that is safe and is welcome to the concept of transparency. This will hopefully allow for a better understanding of the relationships and structures of society. The global database will be taking great advantage of technology and its growing influence and will help create an enhanced network of awareness and moral conscience.

    To endorse a safer and dignified global community, visit the official Kickstarter campaign page for Ethical Index. Information on the perks available for backers can also be found there.

    Source: Ethical Index

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  • Reversing Moral Decline in India

    Reversing Moral Decline in India

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    Press Release
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    updated: Nov 15, 2016


    New Delhi, India, November 15, 2016 (Newswire.com)
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    ​​​​​New Delhi businessman Rohit Sharma was deeply troubled by the moral collapse in his country: rape cases doubled between 1990 and 2008 and murders have more than tripled over the last 60 years.

    Looking for something he could do to reverse the decline and restore a sense of decency to the people of his country, in 2007 Sharma found The Way to Happiness, a nonreligious commonsense moral code written by Church of Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard that lays out 21 fundamental precepts anyone of any faith can use as a road map for a better life.

    Sharma found The Way to Happiness had a profound effect on his outlook, and the way he viewed and treated others. This inspired him to see what it could do for others. He delivered his first seminar on the subject, using the award-winning The Way to Happiness book-on-film and public service announcements to 100 students in Vinay Nagar Bengali secondary school.

    Much to the surprise and delight of their teachers, the students, listened with rapt attention. Many vowed to adopt these precepts. One student wrote, “I will start living my life on these principles because, after seeing this, I realized that everyone has to follow the rules to become a disciplined person and be successful.”

    Sharma was soon delivering the lecture in schools across New Delhi and, at an annual teacher’s conference, trained some 600 teachers and principals, an event that made headlines in the Hindustan Times. Before long, he had trained more than 2,500 educators who brought The Way to Happiness to more than 110,000 students in some 900 schools.

    Sharma next approached the police. After receiving a presentation on the program, the New Delhi Deputy Commissioner ordered 10,000 copies of The Way to Happiness with custom covers bearing the police’s logo. The booklets created so much impact, Sharma was asked to bring the workshop to police in every district of the city.

    The New Delhi Traffic Division decided to make The Way to Happiness the core of their citywide program to reform drunk drivers and traffic offenders, 55,000 of whom they have put through the program. Many were so pleased with what they learned they thanked the police for the “penalty.”

    In honor of United Nations International Day of Happiness, The Way to Happiness Foundation and police teamed up to host a massive parade, attended by some 2,500. Launched by a member of Indian Parliament, the parade aired to 60 million viewers on DD1 National TV.

    Sharma has trained more than 3,000 police and every branch of Indian law enforcement has now embraced the booklet. He has distributed more than 58,000 booklets across 16 states of India, and has reached more than 70 million people with the booklet’s message with the help of national media.

    Sharma next plans to travel to each of India’s 29 states to introduce the campaign to all schools and police departments in his bid for a better India.

    “I have had 100 percent success wherever I have gone with The Way to Happiness,” he says.

    Immensely popular since its first publication in 1981, some 115 million copies of The Way to Happiness have been distributed in 115 languages in 186 nations and the campaign has been embraced by more than 250,000 individuals and groups.

    The Way to Happiness is one of a number of humanitarian programs supported by the Church of Scientology. The Scientology religion was founded by L. Ron Hubbard, and the first Church of Scientology was formed in Los Angeles in 1954. Since then, the religion has expanded to more than 11,000 Churches, Missions and affiliated groups, with millions of members in 167 countries.

    Read the article on the Scientology Newsroom.

    Source: Church of Scientology International

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