Hi Heretics,
I've been following this whole question of "To legalise or not legalise pot in the United States," for medicinal purposes. So far the House has defeated the motion by a vote of 264-161.
Latest Vote:
House Again Defeats Medical Marijuana Use
Reuters; June 15, 2005
WASHINGTON -- The House of Representatives on Wednesday refused to allow cancer patients and other severely ill people to smoke marijuana to ease pain, as opponents argued the measure was a back-door attempt to legalize the substance.
By a vote of 264-161, the House rejected a measure that would have stopped federal law enforcement authorities from prosecuting medical marijuana users in 10 states that allow it when prescribed by doctors.
This marked the third time since 2003 that the House has defeated the initiative. This year, supporters picked up 13 votes.
Proponents of the controversial legislation hope to build Republican support and could try for another House vote next year. Only 15 Republicans out of 231, supported the measure.
"While we're disappointed that the amendment did not pass, a record 161 House members voted today to stop arresting medical marijuana patients," said Rob Kampia, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington.
The House debate came about one week after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the federal government -- not the states -- had the power to regulate drug use.
Rep. Mark Souder, an Indiana Republican who worked to defeat the marijuana initiative, accused supporters of "hiding behind a few sick people to try to in effect legalize ... marijuana in this country."
"The rhetoric about marijuana as a treatment for medical purposes was probably dreamed up at some college dorm," he said.
Rep. Maurice Hinchey, a New York Democrat, countered that the measure would not encourage the recreational use of marijuana or legalize it nationwide. "It would give relief to people suffering from horrific diseases and allow their doctors to decide which drugs will work best," Hinchey said.
Supporters were trying to attach the measure to a $57.5 billion bill to fund several federal agencies next year, including the Department of Justice.
Smoking marijuana can ease nausea caused by cancer treatments and can stimulate appetite in patients too sick to eat. Religious groups and some medical organizations have supported its use for patients suffering from cancer, AIDS, glaucoma and other severe illnesses.
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, a conservative California Republican, called on the House to respect state laws, including California's, which allow medical marijuana.
"Let's not have a power grab by the federal government at the expense of these poor patients and the right of doctors to make these decisions and not politicians," Rohrabacher said.
Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont and Washington have similar laws allowing the use of medical marijuana.
On Tuesday, the Bush administration urged the House to defeat the marijuana measure, saying Congress should not "circumvent the recent Supreme Court decision." It added that "states should not have the authority to independently designate a substance that has not been recognized by the Food and Drug Administration as an approved medicine."
Souder said smoking marijuana is unnecessary now that a federally-approved prescription drug, Marinol, is available to treat nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy.
But Angel Raich, a Californian with an inoperable brain tumor and other medical problems who brought the marijuana case to the Supreme Court, on Monday said she has severe reactions to prescription drugs. "I need cannabis every two hours to survive," she said.
Rep. Lynn Woolsey, a California Democrat who supported the amendment, told House colleagues that her now deceased mother used marijuana to treat glaucoma.
Source:
Here's a run down of the goings on since the beginning: (quite a long list..just a tatse of where all the money's going)..why?
In The News
June 15, 2005 | House Again Defeats Medical Marijuana Use Reuters |
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June 14, 2005 | Poll Finds Opposition to Pot Raids Results released one day before Congress considers new bill The Oakland Tribune |
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June 13, 2005 | Medical Marijuana Backers Seek Support in Congress Reuters |
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June 13, 2005 | Medical Marijuana Proponents Seek House Vote Tuesday Associated Press |
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June 10, 2005 | OPED: Reading The Smoke Signals A clear path for marijuana reform Ft. Worth Star-Telegram |
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June 10, 2005 | Editorial: Marijuana as Medicine Chicago Tribune |
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June 8, 2005 | Column: Will Congress Have the Guts to Tackle Medical Marijuana? Chicago Tribune |
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June 7, 2005 | Editorial: Unconstitutional Cannabis Los Angeles Times |
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June 7, 2005 | Editorial: Court's Ruling on Marijuana Reeks of 'Reefer Madness' USA Today |
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June 7, 2005 | Group Threatens Lawsuit If Medical Marijuana Is Discontinued Associated Press |
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June 7, 2005 | Editorial: Medical Pot, After the Ruling San Francisco Chronicle |
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June 7, 2005 | Widespread Prosecutions Unlikely of Medical Marijuana Users Associated Press |
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June 7, 2005 | Editorial: U.S. Supreme Court -- Pot And Power St. Louis Post-Dispatch |
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June 7, 2005 | Medical Marijuana Ruling Could Bolster Assisted Suicide Case Associated Press |
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June 7, 2005 | Editorial: A Win For U.S. Drug Laws Boston Herald |
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June 7, 2005 | Editorial: Medical Marijuana Not Reefer Madness The Republican |
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June 7, 2005 | Reefer Madness: Is Sanity Breaking Out? Despite the Supreme Court's ruling against medical marijuana and a scary proposed snitch law, America may finally be awakening from its decades-long stupor about recreational drugs. Salon.com |
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June 6, 2005 | Update: Raich Asks Congress to Pass Medical Marijuana Amendment KPIX-TV |
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June 6, 2005 | Federal Medical Marijuana Ruling Clashes With Vermont Law Pot illegal at federal level; State level gives pot green light WNNE-TV |
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June 6, 2005 | Alabama's Medical Marijuana Advocate to Keep Trying Associated Press |
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June 6, 2005 | AG May Suspend Medical Marijuana Registration in Alaska Associated Press |
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June 6, 2005 | Supreme Court: Feds May Prosecute Medical Marijuana Users Associated Press |
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June 6, 2005 | Justices Deal Defeat to Medical Marijuana U.S. government may prosecute users, Supreme Court rules MSNBC.com |
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June 6, 2005 | Marijuana Plaintiffs to Defy Court Ruling Newsday |
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June 6, 2005 | Medical Marijuana Patients Can Be Prosecuted, Supreme Court Says Associated Press |
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June 6, 2005 | Calif. AG: Don't Panic Over Pot Ruling Yahoo.com |
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June 2, 2005 | Web: Milton Friedman: Legalize It! Forbes.com |
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June 2, 2005 | Smart News About Pot Boston Phoenix |
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May 8, 2005 | Elderly, Ailing Speak Out As Pot Ruling Nears San Francisco Chronicle |
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May 8, 2005 | Elderly Patients Change Face of Marijuana Users Detroit News and Free Press |
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May 5, 2005 | Medical Marijuana Advocates Implore Congress for Reform The News-Review |
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May 4, 2005 | Medical Marijuana Debate Heats Up KTVU-TV |
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May 4, 2005 | Column: Montel Williams' Blunt-Talking Ways Washington Post |
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May 4, 2005 | Medical Marijuana Advocates Implore Congress for Reform Associated Press |
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May 4, 2005 | Marijuana Becomes Focus of Drug War Less emphasis on heroin and cocaine Washington Post Continued here: http://www.mpp.org/USA/news.html |