Contact: Darby
Beck For Immediate Release:
darby.beck@leap.cc
December 10, 2014
415.823.5496
CONGRESS ACTS TO PROTECT MEDICAL MARIJUANA
Spending Bill Defunds Department of Justice Operations
Undermining State Medical Marijuana Laws
Future of Initiative 71 in DC Remains Unclear
Washington
DC–In a stunning victory for medical marijuana advocates, the House and Senate
Appropriations Committees have included provisions in the omnibus spending bill
prohibiting the Department of Justice from using federal funds to interfere
with state-legal medical marijuana operations and protecting hemp cultivation
for academic and research purposes. Opinions are mixed on what effect the bill
might have on the implementation of DC’s Initiative 71, however, which would
legalize the adult possession of small amounts of marijuana in the District. Some
believe if the bill passes the initiative will remain in place, decriminalizing
use but preventing the DC Council from regulating sales, while others think it
could overturn the initiative entirely. Congress is set to vote on the bill
later this week.
“This is a great day for patients and for public safety,”
said Major Neill Franklin (Ret.), executive
director of Law Enforcement Against
Prohibition. “Congress has
finally listened to the vast majority of Americans who believe the federal
government has no right to interfere in the personal decision to use medical
marijuana made by a patient in consultation with his or her doctor. Law enforcement
never should have been a part of that decision and if this amendment passes,
they no longer will.”
The
medical marijuana provision was adopted from a bipartisan amendment sponsored
by Dana Rohrabacher (R, CA) that passed the House in May 219-189. A similar
amendment was proposed in the Senate by Senators
Rand Paul (R, KY) and Senator Cory Booker (D, NJ) but never received a vote. If passed,
it will impact the ability of the DEA to enforce federal laws in the 23 states
and DC where medical marijuana is legal and reduce the use of asset forfeiture
laws that allow law enforcement to seize assets without ever charging a person
with a crime.
The bill
now goes to the full Senate and House for approval, then to President Obama’s
desk to be signed into law.
Law Enforcement
Against Prohibition is a 501(c)3 nonprofit group of law enforcement officials
who want to end the war on drugs.
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It's about time the federal government listens to the people. Today federal agents have so many more important problems than adults who use marijuana.
ReplyDeleteOur governments own computers are being hacked, identity theft effects thousands of people, and wanted felons are stopped, identified, and then released by law enforcement everyday, because agencies don't have the money to extradite them.
It's time we stop wasting precious law enforcement resources arresting adults, and especially those who use marijuana for medicine.
Please, call, and write your elected officials. Educate them on the truth about marijuana, most know very little about it.
It's about Education, not Enforcement....