House Votes to Prohibit DOJ From Interfering With State Medical Marijuana or Industrial Hemp Program

[Jared]

After a long debate that had the US House of Representatives in session until after midnight, the lower chamber of Congress cast a historic 219 to 189 vote to restrict the Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration from using taxpayer funds to interfere in state-sanctioned medical marijuana programs.

This measure was co-sponsored by Rep. Sam Farr (D-Calif.), Reps. Rohrabacher (R-Calf.), Don Young (R-Alaska), Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), Tom McClintock (R-Calif.), Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), Paul Broun (R-Ga.), Jared Polis (D-Colo.), Steve Stockman (R-Texas), and Barbara Lee (D-Calif.).

170 Democrats and 49 Republicans voted in favor of the amendment, 172 Republicans and 17 Democrats voted against it.

“It would be hard to overstate the importance of tonight’s vote,” said NORML Communications Director Erik Altieri, “Approval of this amendment is a resounding victory for basic compassion and common sense.”

The House also approved amendments that prohibit the DOJ and DEA from using funds to interfere with state sanctioned industrial hemp cultivation.

These amendments were made to the 2015 Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Bill, which now must be approved by the Senate and then signed by President Obama.

NORML will keep you updated on this evolving situation.

- See more at: http://blog.norml.org/2014/05/30/us...ndustrial-hemp-programs/#sthash.w9AwUKlT.dpuf

Great news, really glad it turned out this way. Would love to have seen Michele Leonhart's face when the vote was decided.

 

[HugieLewis]

Wonder how the senate is going to react to this. Nevertheless this is progress that I never thought I would see in my lifetime!

 

[Crohnie]

After reading this, I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming.

 

[max]

Wonder how the senate is going to react to this. Nevertheless this is progress that I never thought I would see in my lifetime!

172 Republicans and 17 Democrats voted against it.

Since the Senate Democrats have a 53-45 majority, there's a good chance they could OK it.

The legalization ball, at least for medical mj, is rolling downhill and gaining speed.

 

[shogem]

Federal legalization for MMJ? Where's the info for that--or are you simply referring to the call to Obama to declassify cannabis as a harmful substance? I'm hoping the Senate passes this coming bill. I'm also hoping that CA will be able to get a full legalization bill by 2016. It's a shame they didn't get funding to put it on the bill this year. Sigh.

 

[CarolKing]

Obama needs to get rid of DEA chief Michele Leonhart she always spouting off how horrible and dangerous cannabis is. She is really blocking efforts for the Feds to decriminalize cannabis.
Maybe Eric Holder will have the clout and the balls to reschedule cannabis, so it's not included with true dangerous drugs such as heroin and meth.

 

[FUnhouse]

I'm hoping the Senate passes this coming bill. I'm also hoping that CA will be able to get a full legalization bill by 2016. It's a shame they didn't get funding to put it on the bill this year. Sigh.

@shogem
I read the reason it was not on the ballot in CA thins year is because it is a mid term election and has much lower turnout than the 2016 election will. That is one of the reasons they think it did not pass last time.

 

[CarolKing]

Folks this is a game changer. The future looks pretty rosy for mmj. Hopefully it will be legal further down the line. I'm overjoyed with this news.

 

[Enchantre]

Me too!

 

[Gunky]

Here is a newsletter from Oaksterdam University Chancellor Dale Sky-Jones I received today:

Chancellor's Chat

Dear friends,



By now, you've probably already heard that the US House of Representatives passed bill which will end funding for federal raids in medical cannabis states.



As the chancellor of a university targeted by one such raid in 2012, I can only wish this were true.



The reality, unfortunately, is that while the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment is an important victory, its limited scope means that the federal government's campaign against patients and state-legal businesses has not yet been halted. As one law professor explains, the bipartisan amendment (which still must be passed by the Senate and signed by the president before going into effect) would end funding for the Justice Department to target state governments which implement medical cannabis regulations, but contains no language explicitly protecting patients, their caregivers, or dispensaries. So this amendment, while a courageous and necessary piece of legislation, would not go so far to protect patients as you may have heard.



This is why it is so important to keep the pressure up, now more than ever. Congress' vote last week was indeed historic; it was the first time since the beginning of the drug war that that body cast an affirmative vote for needed cannabis reform. If we, the activist community, can successfully build on this watershed victory to pass even more courageous legislation, then the rumors of false hope now circling the web can become self-fulfilling prophecies. Urging your representatives to bring back the “Respect States' and Citizens' Rights Act,” which actually would immunize sick patients from the interference of their federal government, would be a great place to start.



So I hope you join me in the spirit of both celebration for a real victory and resolve to agitate for more. Congress proved last week that it was willing to pass modest cannabis reform; let us take the opportunity to move from the quicksand presently under our feet to rock-solid protections patients can count on, for years to come.



In solidarity,



Dale Sky Jones

 

[thisperson]

So as it was explained to me, the federal government can regulate interstate commerce and that is why there is a law outlawing marijuana, but the states hold reserve power and the constitution states nothing on drugs, so selling California grown weed to a California patient is legal.

That's where I think the murky-ness comes from and possibly where the confusion lay in early dispensary raids.

I can't imagine that they would abuse power they were never meant to hold by raiding dispensaries at first.

Well on second thought, maybe I can.

Weed is an issue that's not just relevant to stoners, it's an issue that should be used to reinforce the position of state powers.

 

[Jambi619]

Not to take away from the monumental progress made in the House last week, but it isn't over yet.

Despite overwhelming House passage, it’s doubtful the bill will clear the Senate, backers said.

Neither Maryland Sen. Barbara Mikulski nor Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby, the top Democrat and Republican on the Senate spending committee, have been approached about attaching a similar provision to their version of the bill, and Mr. Shelby has signaled he opposes the idea.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jun/1/medical-marijuana-scores-big-house-win-but-still-f/

Despite this, I say we still try like hell and write our Senators demanding that they take a stand for state's rights.

 

[OASIS209]

Marijuana j=has successfully passed in the Senate. But, a lot of people aren't happy with President Obama's not living up to his promises about medical marijuana. I suppose, there are reasons for his administration cracking down. Billions of them, in fact

 

[rayski]

The main reason is the fact that Michele Leonhart is the head of the DEA and she thinks it's a harmful drug.

 

[Papa Woody]

I suppose, there are reasons for his administration cracking down. Billions of them, in fact

Billions of them, all starting with the letter $$$

 

[turk]

The main reason is the fact that Michele Leonhart is the head of the DEA and she thinks it's a harmful drug.

.....yeah...she's head.....funny that....wonder how that happened...
...I have zero confidence in dems. or repubs. changing this...

 

[Jambi619]

In case anyone's interested here's video of the debate on this

 

[thisperson]

Just finished watching that. I find it interesting that they mention CBD oil but the opposition is like, "you can't call it medicine it is not a dose but a guesstimate."

And I am just wondering where they have been.

There are sensi and cheeba chews with doses. And you can pick up oil which is rated at 250mg per .3g with two hundred hits at .5g do the math and you get dosing.

The point is I doubt many of these would be manufactured if not for mmj.

Yes opposition. It is getting scientific and we have dosing now.

This is not even mentioning honey oil pills which are dosage rated.

 

[turk]

.....it's all posturing...as they go back to their offices and count the cash they receive from....the phamaceutical indus..various police/d.a. agencies and cop groups all with highly vested interests in keeping the status as quo as possible...
...the folks who walk into these peoples offices with the wads of cash get everything they want...