U.S. House To Vote On Budget Amendment To Defund Medical Marijuana Raids
By Erik Altieri, NORML Communications Director
In the coming days, members of the House of Representatives are expected to debate and vote on budget appropriation legislation for the Department of Justice
. Representatives Rohrabacher and Farr will be introducing an amendment to this measure to prevent any of the department’s funding from being used to interfere with medical marijuana programs in states that have approved them.
Twenty-one states — Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington — as well as the District of Columbia have enacted laws protecting medical marijuana patients from state prosecution. Yet in all of these states, patients and providers still face the risk of federal sanction — even when their actions are fully compliant with state law.
It is time that we allowed our unique federalist system to work the way it was intended. Patients, providers, and their state representatives should have the authority to enact laws permitting the medical use of cannabis — free from federal interference.
Please write your members of Congress today and tell them to stop using taxpayer dollars to target and prosecute state-authorized medical marijuana patients and providers. For your convenience, a prewritten letter will be e-mailed to your member of Congress.
Janet Evans
Let us look at case studies. People who have smoked for perhaps 20, 30, or 40-50 years… Who are they and what wisdom can they offer us for PTSD. This condition will be with the war veterans and their families. Let us try to find what works.
Anonymous
If they vote against marijuana, we the people should vote out the entire Senate and house of representatives and start over again with people who will fight for our rights and legalize marijuana in all states.
Joe Mungus
You took the words right out of my mouth. I absolutely agree!
Ronda ScottMarak
Medical marijuana is legal in Illinois. It should not be treated as if it is not by the Justice Department
Ran
Have PTSD. I have not used marijuana before this but it is a wonderful calming medicine that has enormous stigma. It was a last resort for me. It works for me. Needs a lot of study for effectiveness but i assume can only be a short-term solution to get us thru life when nothing else works. We have to get into the root of the issues to help people repair from PTSD.