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Congressman introduces medical marijuana legislation

By Jordan Fabian - 10/28/09 09:00 AM ET

Rep. Sam Farr (D-Calif.) on Tuesday introduced legislation that would allow users and providers of medical marijuana to argue in federal court that their actions were legal under state law.

Under existing law, a federal judge cannot consider the applicability of state laws in a medical marijuana trial. Should the bill pass, it could bolster existing efforts on behalf of the Justice Department to curb federal medical marijuana prosecutions.

Attorney General Eric Holder has indicated that federal prosecutions of medical marijuana patients and caregivers will not be a priority under the Obama administration, a shift away from Bush administration policy on the issue. 

Right now, 13 states allow the use of medical marijuana. Farr's home state of California has the nation's most prolific medical marijuana industry, generating $2 billion per year and $100 million in state sales taxes. But federal law does not permit the use or sale of medical marijuana.

The bill has attracted 23 cosponsors. Reps. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) and Ron Paul (R-Texas) are the only two Republicans to back the bill.

Source:
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/65157-congressman-introduces-medical-marijuana-legislation
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Comments (11)

Let's get the drug cartels out of the marijuana business. Let's allow ordinary Americans to grow a little marijuana for personal use. Limit the number of plants, and put a small user-fee on it to cover administrative costs, something like a fishing license; $100 per year for a dozen plants.It's a win-win.BY Concerned Parent on 10/28/2009 at 10:42
Apparently Reps. Dana Rohrabacher and Ron Paul are the only two Republicans who have read the United States Constitution and understand what the federal government is and is not authorized to do. How many Democrats have read and understand their constitutionall y limited powers?BY Darryl Schmitz on 10/28/2009 at 11:10
@ Concerned ParentI too, am a concerned parent and I agree with your response. Lets get the criminals out of cannabis distribution business. Did we not learn from alcohol prohibition?I have told my children that if they are tempted by drugs to use cannabis and keep away from alcohol and tobacco at all costs. I've been around all three and cannabis is by far the least harmful to the user. Unlike alcohol or tobacco, cannabis does not kill.BY TYC on 10/28/2009 at 11:38
I agree with you concerned parent i believe that recreational marijuana smoking should be allowed. Marijuana has never caused deaths and is alot less harmful then alcohol. If it were legal then we wouldnt have to hide it either. I smoke it and i still maintain a 3.6 GPA so i think if you can do that it should be legalized.BY 16 YEAR OLD KID  on 10/28/2009 at 12:23
It's about time we go back to the individual freedoms and personal responsibilitie s that we American adults who have fought for this country in wars have earned! For to long we have let the evangelical factor interfere with our original values, beliefs and principles.Republicans were initially against any kind of prohibition so when did we change the Party stance, does anyone remember? "Prohibition will work great injury to the cause of temperance. It is a species of intemperance within itself, for it goes beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts to control a man's appetite by legislation, and makes a crime out of things that are not crimes. A Prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our government was founded." -Abraham Lincoln U.S. President.BY Abe on 10/28/2009 at 12:38
Whew! Finally some sanity from the younger generation.I hop to see full legalization in my lifetime.Made it all through the change without any doctor's help and not many problems, other than the munchies and increased activity to keep off the weight, keep the muscles and bones healthy. It would make the legal drug maker's play on a level playing field.It would also help stop the "War On Drugs"BY Gandmother on 10/28/2009 at 12:42
I'm also a concerned parent and I don't see ANY way to keep drug dealers away from my kids except legalizing the commercial production and sale of marijuana to adults and UNDERCUTTING drug dealer prices.This is the only way to get them out of our communities and keep them out!BY Jillian Galloway on 10/28/2009 at 12:57
My wife benefits from medical marijuana as opposed to the poisons the pharmaceutical industries sell. Here in Montana, it's legal…but it is way past time for it to be legal everywhere. The Federal Government needs to get out of peoples' lives.BY Bruce Johns on 10/28/2009 at 13:42
In society today adults have to make millions of important decisions, a lot of which can have a drastic effect on their lives, even death. We are responsible for our choices, and we suffer and prosper from our choices, its what makes each individual who they ultimately become. This is called freedom of choice, ownership of ones self. We are legally allowed to make these choices everyday, including many that can be instantly fatal such as riding recreational dirt bikes for the thrill of it, even though it could cost us our lives, its our choice to make. By trying to force people into not consuming a natural plant we are effectively causing more harm than if we were to let each adult make their own choices and except the consequences for those choices. The harm prohibition has brought to not just our own country, but the vast majority of the world is on a remarkably large scale, and threatens our national security. By choosing to prohibit this substance, we have chosen to ignore it and to let it be controlled by the black market. This in turn has enriched criminal enterprises to the point they have the financial power to compete with their own governments on a military bases as seen in Mexico. This is a national security threat. Marijuana is less harmful than alcohol, and the majority of citizens know this, this in turn creates disrespect for law enforcement thereby furthering the deterioration of our community as a whole. It is inhumane to lock a person in a cage and take away their belongings they worked for when they did nothing to harm any other individual or society as a whole. Current marijuana laws are a civil rights nightmare waiting to happen, and only makes marijuana readily available to anyone of any age. The laws are obviously bad, expensive and unyielding in accomplishments . We spend billions each year to try and stop marijuana consumption, and yet the DEA admits they would be surprised if they are even getting 1% of the drugs being transported. That’s a bad investment, and the majorities do not agree with it, and there is no justification for making marijuana illegal in the first place. Prohibition is bad for our kids as they have complete access to it as long as its being controlled by the black market, what we need is control and regulation to minimize the exposure of drugs to young children. As long as it is illegal or decriminalized there will be a black market selling it at a marked up value because of risk, and all the harm will continue. By legalizing marijuana we are effectively controlling its distribution, and can much better regulate its use by age limits. Simply put, it’s a real no brainer and it will eventually happen, so if it’s not working now, and has the potential to be better why would we stay put?Let’s not continue to turn regular tax paying citizens into tax burdens for the rest of us,there comes a time when you have to realize a bad investment is a bad investment.Please help us do the right thing, listen to the people of California who have bravely stood up for a positive change in our society, drugs may not bee good for us, but prohibition has proven far worse.BY Cathy on 10/28/2009 at 14:28
For those of you who responded positively here, thank you. And, keep being as active on whatever level you can. This will help assure that sane, appropriate, rational and effective laws are enacted affecting the cultivation, sale and use of cannabis. If you cannot personally take action, join and support one or more of the many groups available. There is strength in numbers and this may happen in our lifetime! Cathy especially addresses the views very, very well.BY Deborah on 10/29/2009 at 23:03

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