FW: DPFCA: US: Wire: House Opposes Effort to Allow Pot for Ill

[Guest guest]

But boy will they push those pills down your throat!!

~mk

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Newshawk: The New www.DrugSense.org

Pubdate: Wed, 07 Jul 2004

Source: Associated Press (Wire)

Copyright: 2004 Associated Press

Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

 

HOUSE OPPOSES EFFORT TO ALLOW POT FOR ILL

 

WASHINGTON -- The House voted Wednesday to let the federal government

continue prosecuting people who use marijuana for medical reasons in states

where local law allows its use by patients.

 

The 268-148 vote turned aside an amendment by Democrats and some

conservative Republicans that would have barred the federal government from

preventing states from implementing their own medical marijuana laws. Nine

states have passed laws allowing people to use marijuana if recommended by

a doctor: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon,

Vermont and Washington.

 

" It won't encourage the use of marijuana, " Rep. Sam Farr, D-Calif., one of

the sponsors, said of the amendment. " It won't encourage drug use in

children. It won't legalize any drugs. "

 

Supporters of the federal restrictions said that constitutionally, federal

statutes must override state laws. They also argued that medical marijuana

laws only encourage the abuse of marijuana and other drugs.

 

The amendment would hurt by " sending the message to young people that there

can be health benefits by smoking marijuana, " said Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va.

 

The Bush administration has supported the strong enforcement of

anti-marijuana laws. Wednesday's defeat of the amendment by the GOP-run

House, just four months from Election Day, came as little surprise.

 

Last July, the House overwhelmingly rejected a similar move by opponents of

federal curbs over state marijuana laws.

 

Some patients being treated for cancer and other diseases say marijuana

helps ease chronic pain and other problems.

 

" The Justice Department is working overtime to put sick people and those

who would help them in jail, " said Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif.

 

But opponents of marijuana use said more is involved. Rep. Max Burns,

R-Ga., said the defeated proposal was " simply the first step in a scheme to

overturn all the substance abuse laws. "

 

The Supreme Court said last month that it will decide whether the federal

government can prosecute patients who use marijuana following a doctor's

advice.

 

Last year, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco ruled the

federal law outlawing marijuana should not apply to people using the drug

on a doctor's recommendation. The Bush administration appealed that

decision -- which only covers the western states in the 9th Circuit --

saying federal anti-drug laws supersede state laws.

 

The amendment was offered to a bill providing $39.8 billion next year for

the departments of Justice, State and Commerce. The Senate has yet to write

its version of the legislation.