cannabisnews.com: House Speaker Won't Back Pot Growers House Speaker Won't Back Pot Growers Posted by CN Staff on April 11, 2003 at 09:22:52 PT By Lisa Friedman, Washington Bureau Source: Tri-Valley Herald Washington -- House Speaker Dennis Hastert will not support federal legislation to protect pot growers and smokers in states such as California, where medical marijuana is legal, a spokesman for the Republican leader said Thursday. Dealing an early and likely fatal blow to the future of the legislation inspired by the recent conviction of Oakland cannabis grower Ed Rosenthal, Hastert spokesman John Feehery said, "I doubt very seriously that the speaker would support that kind of provision." The Truth in Trials Act, sponsored by Rep. Sam Farr, D-Monterey, and supported by Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, and most other Bay Area Democrats, would let individuals accused of violating federal marijuana laws introduce evidence showing they possessed, cultivated or distributed pot in accordance with state laws. Rosenthal was convicted in February on federal marijuana charges that carry a five-year minimum sentence. Although Rosenthal said he grew pot under California's medical marijuana law and the protection of a city ordinance, a judge refused to allow that information to be mentioned at trial. Jurors learned only after they convicted Rosenthal that he had been operating under the protection of a city ordinance. Many said they were heartsick about the decision they made. "We were put in the untenable situation of having to pass judgment in a case where we were given half the evidence," said Marney Craig of Novato, one of the jurors who traveled to Washington, D.C., on Thursday to help introduce the legislation. "We rendered a verdict that was wrong. We convicted a man who was not a criminal. Jurors need to hear the whole story," she said. Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Colorado and Maine have medical marijuana laws similar to California's. Only two Republican congressmen, Dana Rohrbacher of Huntington Beach and Ron Paul of Texas, support the legislation. Democrats pushing the bill said they plan to work on Republican lawmakers in states that have medical marijuana laws by making a long-favored GOP argument that state decisions should not be overruled by the federal government. When asked if he felt this was a state's rights issue, Feehery said, "Not necessarily." In this case, he said, the state laws are wrong. "Anti-drug laws should be strengthened, not weakened."Source: Tri-Valley Herald (CA)Author: Lisa Friedman, Washington BureauPublished: Friday, April 11, 2003 Copyright: 2003 MediaNews Group, Inc.Website: http://www.trivalleyherald.com/Contact: apacciorini angnewspapers.comRelated Articles & Web Sites:Marijuana Policy Projecthttp://www.mpp.org/Ed Rosenthal's Pictures & Articleshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/trialpics.htmBill Would Allow Medical Defense in Trials http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15937.shtmlBill Allows Medical Marijuana Defense http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15930.shtmlBill Would Allow Medical Marijuana Defense http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15929.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #14 posted by FoM on April 12, 2003 at 16:14:38 PT Paul Glad you checked in and keep on keepin' on! [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by paulpeterson on April 12, 2003 at 10:34:22 PT TRUTH IN TRIALS ACT I'll lobby my R congressman in Iowa about this bill this week. Since I am in Illinois to fight my law license suspension because of these issues, I'll get right on this Hastert guy too. Now is the time to push forward, in light of the war rhetoric (those straight guys don't have a clue as to how to "treat" anxiety and that gives us an up on them right now, frozen in time in front of their CNN sets rivetted about the war feeding frenzy. Just checking in, just the facts, ma'am. PAUL PETERSON [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by FoM on April 11, 2003 at 19:22:37 PT i420 I understand what you mean now. The pen is mightier then the sword. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by i420 on April 11, 2003 at 18:25:35 PT FoM No I don't believe in violence and I do not feel all revolutions are carried out with violence I believe in a "peacful revolution" Instead of dropping a "bomb" we can drop "fliers" heheeheeThe greatest weapon in the world is the mind the 2nd most powerful weapon is the pen (inkjet printer). [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by delariand on April 11, 2003 at 15:09:58 PT ... When asked if he felt this was a state's rights issue, Feehery said, "Not necessarily." In this case, he said, the state laws are wrong. "Anti-drug laws should be strengthened, not weakened."So, because of the personal opinion of members of the federal government, the will of the people should be subverted? Sounds awfully like the kind of thing the constitution was written to prevent. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by FoM on April 11, 2003 at 14:41:05 PT druid They probably could but since Cannabis is such a hot button issue it might not go over and no one would want it attached to their bill. Isn't that a shame too? That's just my opinion because I'm not really sure. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by druid on April 11, 2003 at 14:37:05 PT Riders and stuff How come the politicians fighting the good fight can't attach a rider concerning states rights to mmj or drug policy reform to a bill just like the Cult of Prohibitionists do? [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by FoM on April 11, 2003 at 13:33:06 PT medicinal toker I thought exactly the same as you did on this issue. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by medicinal toker on April 11, 2003 at 13:30:24 PT Truth in Trials Everyone's entitled to their opinion, and mine is that this Truth in Trials bill would best be an amendment to Barney Frank's States Rights To Medical Marijuana Act, soon to be reintroduced.Frank's bill reschedules cannabis, so it can potentially be available to patients in all 50 states. Truth in Trials simply provides a defense to a small number of growers, but doesn't protect them from arrest, prosecution, or huge legal bills.It is a distraction and a disservice to have competing mmj bills. The two should have been combined. Since they weren't, and everyone knows neither bill will even get out of committee, I have to stick with Barney Frank's bill, because rescheduling cannabis is the best way to get patients their medicine, IMHO. 80% of Americans already support mmj! Why settle for weak compromises instead of rescheduling? [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by WolfgangWylde on April 11, 2003 at 13:17:04 PT Gee, There's a Big Surprise... ...Not. The famous "States' Rights" conservatives give it up when it comes to there own personal jihad. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on April 11, 2003 at 11:13:42 PT From The Washington Times Legislation To Affect Lives for Better, Worse By Vaishali Honawar, The Washington TimesApril 11, 2003A bill reducing penalties for medical marijuana came as a blessing for some residents. Mr. Ehrlich has supported the idea and could sign the bill, despite strident opposition from antidrug activists such as Joyce Nalepka who runs the group Drug Free Kids. "We are saying to Governor Ehrlich that we do not want a governor who places our kids at greater risk for drug use," said Mrs. Nalepka, a Montgomery County grandmother who has crusaded against drugs for 25 years and says there is no proven medical benefit from using medical marijuana. But for others like Erin Hildebrandt, the bill signifies hope. The young mother of five said she used marijuana for years to alleviate the debilitating pains that go with Crohn's disease, before stopping out of fear of the law. Mrs. Hildebrandt also said the pain overwhelms her life. "I cannot bake cookies for my children, or go to the playground to watch my children play," she said. The legislation also would reduce penalties for marijuana possession for medical reasons to a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $100 and no jail time.Complete Article: http://washingtontimes.com/metro/20030411-32653639.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on April 11, 2003 at 10:57:06 PT i420 You pray for a revolution. I understand what you are saying. I am a pacifist and doing what I do here on CNews is about as bold as I can be. I don't believe in violence and yet as I watch our country evolve day after day I honestly wonder where or how it will end. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by i420 on April 11, 2003 at 10:48:46 PT PRAY I pray everyday for a revolution, sorry John Lennon but times are a changin and we ain't just pissed over some tax on tea. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by 420toker on April 11, 2003 at 10:08:51 PT Ah thats how I thought they see it When asked if he felt this was a state's rights issue, Feehery said, "Not necessarily." In this case, he said, the state laws are wrong. "Anti-drug laws should be strengthened, not weakened."Ok I get it, its only a states rights issue when the Federalies agree with it. The whole drug war makes sense to me now. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment