cannabisnews.com: Congress To Vote on Medical Marijuana Raids Congress To Vote on Medical Marijuana Raids Posted by CN Staff on July 07, 2004 at 09:56:56 PT For Immediate Release Source: Common Dreams Washington -- With the issue of medical marijuana again headed to the U.S. Supreme Court (Ashcroft v. Raich, granted cert on June 28), Congress will have an opportunity this week to end the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's raids on seriously ill medical marijuana patients in states that allow medical use of marijuana.U.S. Reps. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) and Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) are expected to offer an amendment to the Commerce-Justice-State appropriations bill during consideration of the bill on the House floor, possibly as early as Wednesday, July 7. The amendment's wording is expected to be similar to a version proposed last year, which listed the states with medical marijuana laws and specified that no funds made available to the U.S. Department of Justice may be used to prevent these states "from implementing State laws authorizing the use of medical marijuana in those States." Last week, television talk show host Montel Williams-who uses medical marijuana to treat the symptoms of multiple sclerosis-addressed approximately 175 congressional staffers at a luncheon held to raise awareness of the proposal.Vermont recently became the ninth state to allow medical use of marijuana, joining Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington."Last year, the Hinchey-Rohrabacher amendment got 152 votes on the House floor-more than any proposal in support of medical marijuana has ever received, but still shockingly low considering the strong public support for medical marijuana," said Steve Fox, director of government relations for the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C. Fox noted that national and state polls consistently show that 70 to 80 percent of voters support laws protecting medical marijuana patients from arrest."Even in conservative Alabama, a Mobile Register poll published on July 4 showed 75 percent public support for legal access to medical marijuana -- virtually identical to poll results from California," Fox said. "The fact is that support for protecting medical marijuana patients cuts across every region, party affiliation and political ideology. There is no constituency in this country for arresting and jailing cancer, MS or AIDS patients who are simply trying to relieve some of their suffering."Note: Bipartisan Amendment to Protect Patients Could be Offered Wednesday.Contact: Marijuana Policy Project - http://www.mpp.org/Bruce Mirken, 202-543-7972 or 415-668-6403Source: Common Dreams (ME)Published: Wednesday, July 07, 2004 Copyright: 2004 Common DreamsContact: editor commondreams.org Website: http://www.commondreams.org/Related Articles & Web Sites:Angel Raich v. John Ashcroft Newshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/raich.htmThe Debate: Hinchey - Rohrabacher http://freedomtoexhale.com/dofcomm.htmFeds' Wayward Path on Pot http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19142.shtmlPoll: Majority Supports Medical Marijuana Usehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19135.shtmlWilliams To Urge Congress To Legalize MMJ http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19102.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #4 posted by Dave in Florida on July 07, 2004 at 15:54:21 PT Prosecuters and Police Chiefs don't know squat. "You'll see this as an opportunity for people to look at the initial high and if they're not receiving it from marijuana then they will start looking for other drugs such as meth and cocaine," said Troutdale Police Chief David Nelson.In 1972, when I graduated High School They said that about 54% of 12th graders had tried marijauna. I would say that figure might be a bit low, but anyway, Troutdale Police Chief David Nelson was not one who has tried pot. These drug warriors really don't have a clue about what they are talking about. I believe if pot were legal there would be less hard drug use and more time for police to go after real criminals. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on July 07, 2004 at 15:32:11 PT Sam and Everyone Just a reminder that tonight on The O'Reilly Factor they will talk a little about medical marijuana. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by sam adams on July 07, 2004 at 15:27:06 PT Oregon Ha Ha Ha prohibs. You're going to lose again. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on July 07, 2004 at 12:59:56 PT News Article from KPTV - Oregon OR Could Soon Cash in on Medical Marijuana July 7, 2004PORTLAND -- If voters pass the so-called 'pound of pot' initiative in November, the state will be allowed to turn a profit on pot sales for medical purposes. But some voters think medical marijuana sets a bad precedent. Oregon's medical marijuana law may be headed for a major overhaul. A voter initiative would allow more people to prescribe and possess more pot, and force the state to regulate and even sell it."Health departments are already in the business of providing all sorts of medicines to people, and this is nothing different," said marijuana initiative sponsor John Sajo.Benton County District Attorney Scott Heiser disagrees."It would be a bad, bad event for the state of oregon to become a state thatdispenses and sells marijuana and gives marijuana to indigents," said Heiser.Now, only doctors can recommend cannabis to patients. The ballot measure would allow nurse practitioners and naturopaths to do the same.The initiative would also let thousands of approved patients possess as much as 6 pounds of marijuana.Medical Marijuana Patient:"I don't go out there and get twisted like a cheech and chong movie," said medical marijuana patient Josh Morgan. "It doesn't take very much. It stops the pain."Right now, users have to grow or buy the marijuana on their own. After November, that too could change.Oregon's current law allows so-called caregivers to grow marijuana and give it to their pot-smoking patients with some payment for expenses. But if the initiative passes, the state would take a cut of the profits. In exchange for regulating dispensaries the government could reap up to 20-percent of the gross revenues.Law enforcement officials opposed to the plan say it creates financial incentive for the state to start citizens on a gateway drug."You'll see this as an opportunity for people to look at the initial high and if they're not receiving it from marijuana then they will start looking for other drugs such as meth and cocaine," said Troutdale Police Chief David Nelson.Supporters call the initiative compassionate and practical, getting an effective drug into the hands of those in pain. Critics insist what initiative backers are really after is legalized marijuana, and that pot is not good medicine. http://www.kptv.com/Global/story.asp?S=2008369 [ Post Comment ] Post Comment