cannabisnews.com: Marijuana, Medicine and D.C.





Marijuana, Medicine and D.C.
Posted by FoM on October 02, 1999 at 09:13:09 PT
By Steven G. Donkin
Source: Washington Post
Now that the vote results of the District's medical marijuana initiative have finally been released (321 days late, thanks to Congress's legislative gag order, a k a the Barr Amendment), the country knows that D.C. voters overwhelmingly support full patient choice regarding medication for people seriously ill with AIDS and cancer "Marijuana Measure Approved," front page, Sept. 21. 
As they have in the past, D.C. residents have demonstrated far more compassion than many members of Congress, who are determined not to let the popular will get in the way of their own demagoguery. Reps. Bob Barr, Tom Davis, Ernest Istook and others have vowed to continue their heavy-handed pummeling of democracy in the District and to keep this voter initiative from becoming law.Rep. James Moran characterized the lack of fortitude demonstrated by his colleagues when he said that, while most members of Congress are "reticent to override a democratic referendum," they also fear being subjected to "30-second ads claiming they voted to legalize drugs." Heaven forbid that elected officials should place rational thinking and the democratic principles they are supposed to uphold ahead of their desire for political cover against uninformed personal attacks.I don't know what's more offensive -- the chronic mischaracterization of medical marijuana by grandstanding politicians or the wholesale attack on democracy in our nation's capital by these same grandstanders. Once again, Congress claims to be stepping in to save us from ourselves, yet in doing that, it is prolonging the suffering of thousands of seriously ill patients.STEVEN G. DONKINWashingtonSaturday, October 2, 1999; Page A20 © Copyright 1999 The Washington Post CompanyRelated Articles:D.C. Voters Supported Medical Use of Marijuana - 9/20/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread2954.shtmlGOP Wrong on Medical Marijuana - 9/29/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3064.shtmlMedical Marijuana Debate Won't Blow Over - 9/28/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3050.shtmlPresident Vetoes D.C. Budget Bill - 9/28/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3057.shtmlLighting Up The Debate Over Med. Use of Marijuana - 9/28/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3051.shtml
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