9 Congresspersons Ask Obama to Stop Medical Marijuana Raids

By Jeralyn, Section Crime Policy
Posted on Fri Nov 04, 2011 at 03:43:35 PM EST
Tags: medical marijuana (all tags)

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Via Huffington Post and NORML, here's the letter signed by 9 members of Congress asking President Obama to stop the raids on medical marijuana businesses.

It is our strong position that local and state governments must be allowed to develop, implement and enforce their own public health laws with regard to medical cannabis," the letter stated.

The letter asks Obama to administratively reschedule marijuana so it's no longer a Schedule I substance or publicly support H.R. 1983, States' Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act, that would prohibit federal interference in state-run medical marijuana clinics. The bill was introduced by Rep. Barney Frank. [More...]

The letter also reminds Obama of his campaign promises to end the raids. Last week the White House submitted this inadequate response to petitions submitted requesting marijuana be taxed and regulated like alcohol.

"Like many, we are interested in the potential marijuana may have in providing relief to individuals diagnosed with certain serious illnesses....That is why we ardently support ongoing research into determining what components of the marijuana plant can be used as medicine.

To date, however, neither the FDA nor the Institute of Medicine have found smoked marijuana to meet the modern standard for safe or effective medicine for any condition."

The Congresspersons who signed on:

Colorado Rep. Jared Polis; California Democrats Rep. Barbara Lee, Pete Stark, Lynn Woolsey, Mike Thompson, Sam Farr and Bob Filner; California Republican, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher; and Tennessee Democrat, Rep. Steve Cohen;

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9 Congresspersons Ask Obama to Stop Medical Marijuana Raids | 9 comments (9 topical)

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Translation: (5.00 / 5) (#1)
by sj on Fri Nov 04, 2011 at 04:04:45 PM EST

To date, however, neither the FDA nor the Institute of Medicine have found smoked marijuana to meet the modern standard for safe or effective medicine for any condition.

really means

"To date, however, neither the FDA nor the Institute of Medicine have found a way for the pharmaceutical companies to compete with smoked marijuana and meet the modern standard for safe or effective medicine for any condition."

: I think you've (5.00 / 2) (#2)
by Zorba on Fri Nov 04, 2011 at 04:20:14 PM EST

hit the nail on the head there, sj.

: Well some chemists have (5.00 / 1) (#8)
by Militarytracy on Fri Nov 04, 2011 at 09:06:17 PM EST

come up with some cannabinoids but they are already selling them so cheap there isn't any of what they would call really good money to be made. If it's legal it all becomes way too cheap and nobody would need all that damned Xanax :)

: There's a lotta money in them thar pills... (none / 0) (#4)
by Mr Natural on Fri Nov 04, 2011 at 07:33:52 PM EST

Anti Liberal Crowd (5.00 / 3) (#3)
by koshembos on Fri Nov 04, 2011 at 05:22:17 PM EST

It seems that on several issues, medical marijuana, deportations and help for desperate home owners, the crowd Obama brought with him to Washington is anti liberal, cruel and obnoxious.

: Liberal doesn't mean what we wanted... (5.00 / 0) (#5)
by Mr Natural on Fri Nov 04, 2011 at 07:42:24 PM EST

When I was younger I foolishly believed the denotation kinda implied live and let live. Man, was I wrong.
If we all wrote down what we thought the word meant or implied we would surprise each other enormously.

"we ardently support ongoing research" (5.00 / 2) (#6)
by Mr Natural on Fri Nov 04, 2011 at 08:04:01 PM EST

- into investigating mechanisms through which our patron, Big Pharma, can fleece you of even more of your money.

The emphasis on smoking... (5.00 / 1) (#7)
by MileHi Hawkeye on Fri Nov 04, 2011 at 08:32:28 PM EST

...is interesting. There are other delivery systems that, aside from the immediate titration of the dose, are just as, if not more, effective. Oral administration or vaporizing (especially good for nausea) work just as well as sparking a bowl.

I suppose it just goes hand-in-hand with the current fad of "hippie punching". Stupid dirty hippies smoking their mar-e-wanna.

At any rate, good on Rep. Polis for his continued efforts in this regard. Keep fighting the good fight Jared!

: How could they be so obtuse? (none / 0) (#9)
by kdog on Sat Nov 05, 2011 at 08:35:52 AM EST

Is it intentional?
Come to think of it, the authorities in this country do remind me of Warden Norton.
At any rate, here's a short educational video on the off chance the ignorant want to be educated.