cannabisnews.com: Legislation Introduced To Overturn D.C. MMJ Ballot Legislation Introduced To Overturn D.C. MMJ Ballot Posted by FoM on October 05, 1999 at 09:48:05 PT Please Get Involved Source: Marijuana Policy Project WASHINGTON, D.C. Legislation to overturn the results of the District of Columbia's newly passed medical marijuana ballot initiative was introduced today by U.S. Rep. Bob Barr (R-Georgia). If passed and signed into law, this would be the first time in history that Congress would have overturned a ballot initiative passed by a majority of voters in a valid, legal election.The Marijuana Policy Project, a non-profit advocacy group that campaigned for the initiative last fall, promised to fight the congressional effort to overturn the will of D.C. voters. "Congressman Barr's legislation is a slap in the face to the voters of the District of Columbia who had the compassion and good sense to pass the medical marijuana initiative," said Chuck Thomas, MPP's director of communications. "Members of Congress who want to see the continued arrest and incarceration of marijuana-using patients should vote `yes' on Congressman Barr's bill."Initiative 59, passed by 69 percent of District voters in November 1998, would allow seriously ill people in the nation's capital to use or grow medical marijuana legally if they have the approval of their doctors.Currently, patients who use medical marijuana in the District of Columbia face six months in jail.The results of Initiative 59 were released on September 20 after a federal judge ruled that a congressional law (also introduced by Rep. Barr) to suppress the results of the initiative was unconstitutional.Once the D.C. city council formally transmits the results of the voter initiative to Congress -- which could happen any day now -- Congress will have "30 working days" to either reject the initiative or let it stand, as per its constitutional authority to review all new local laws in Washington, D.C. To overturn the initiative, Rep. Barr's legislation must be passed by a majority of both the House and Senate and signed by President Clinton.The introduction of Rep. Barr's legislation coincides with the first congressional hearing on the impact of Initiative 59. The House Appropriations Subcommittee on the District of Columbia, chaired by U.S. Rep. Ernest Istook (R-Oklahoma), held a hearing today that looked into the question of whether local and federal drug laws could still be enforced if the medical marijuana initiative were allowed to take effect in Washington, D.C.Keith Vines, a prosecutor in San Francisco who uses marijuana to treat AIDS wasting syndrome, testified that California's medical marijuana law has not interfered with the prosecution of recreational marijuana offenders or other drug offenders. Virginia Congressman James Moran, the ranking Democrat on the subcommittee, agreed with Mr. Vines and stated his opposition to Rep. Barr's efforts to overturn the voter initiative.Help Save Initiative 59http://www.mpp.org/i59/Marijuana Policy Project's Web Sitehttp://www.mpp.org/Support For Medical Marijuana - 10/04/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3131.shtmlSupport For Medical Marijuana - 10/04/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3130.shtmlDrug Sense Weekly - October 1, 1999 #117http://www.drugsense.org/dsw/1999/ds99.n117.htmlD.C. Budget Caught in Hill Standoff - 9/29/99 http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3076.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by Jeaneous on October 05, 1999 at 16:06:02 PT: Not surprising This is the same man that thought that stepping on the freedom of speach would be worth it if it stopped us from trying to legalize drugs. The man has really lost touch with reality ... no less with the rights we are given as citizens of the United States. I only hope his constituents see who they have representing them and make a better choice in their next election. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Rod on October 05, 1999 at 13:38:27 PT: DC voters rights This is much more serious than anything prohibitionists have done in the past.The very fundamental aspects of the theory of democracy are at stake here. In a Nation of the People, by the People and for the Peoplean attempt to overturn a legal consensus brought about bythe voters is tantamount to treason.These politicians are obviously confused, to say the least.Go to Norml's home page & fax these imbolic neanderthalsand let them know what you think. http://www.norml.org [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: