Sometimes, I Really Fucking Hate America

The House Judiciary Committee passed a bill yesterday that would make it a federal crime for U.S. residents to discuss or plan activities on foreign soil that, if carried out in the U.S., would violate the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) -- even if the planned activities are legal in the countries where they're carried out.

"Under this bill, if a young couple plans a wedding in Amsterdam, and as part of the wedding, they plan to buy the bridal party some marijuana, they would be subject to prosecution," said Bill Piper, director of national affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance, which advocates for reforming the country's drug laws. "The strange thing is that the purchase of and smoking the marijuana while you're there wouldn't be illegal. But this law would make planning the wedding from the U.S. a federal crime."

6 thoughts on “Sometimes, I Really Fucking Hate America

  1. MikeJ

    Balko is supposed to be among the best people writing about the drug war and even he can’t get simple stuff about legislation (like the bill number) into a story.

  2. Wag

    This is just another GOP vote buying masturbation point. “Look at me! Look at me! I hate dirty fucking hippies more than any Democrat! Vote for me and I’ll put those hipper behind bars, just you see.”

    I used to be disgusted.
    Now I try to stay amused.

  3. platosearwax

    Ridiculous, but not surprising. Did you know that I, an American citizen living in Norway, must file an American tax return every single year, in which I must report all income I make here in Norway? If I go over a certain amount in any one year (I think it is slightly over $100,000 which I am not in danger of exceeding) I must pay taxes to the USA on that income, even though I don’t live in the US and I have already paid taxes on that income to Norway. The US is the only country in the world that makes it’s citizens report and pay taxes on income earned in foreign countries, even when you don’t set foot on American soil in that year.

    If I ever exceed my maximum I might have to consider becoming a Norwegian citizen instead.

  4. Rob Caldecott

    I am lost for words.

    In other news the right-wing Dutch government are going to stop tourists from using coffee shops as of next year. I guess you’ll need Dutch ID to get served. I predict a lot of coffee shops will go bust.

    And they’re reclassifying the stronger weed (i.e. 80% of it) so it will be illegal.

    Sigh.

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