Bill would ban prosecutions for medical marijuana

[truthpusher]

http://www.gazettetimes.com/articles/2005/06/16/news/nation/wednat04.txt

Bill would ban prosecutions for medical marijuana
-----------------------
By Emma Burgin
Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service
-----------------------
WASHINGTON — (snip)

Since she won her case against former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft in 2002, Raich has become a public face for the legalization of medical marijuana.

The ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals prohibited the Bush administration from prosecuting Raich and her suppliers, who grow about 8 pounds of cannabis each year for her at no charge. They all live in California, which legalized medical marijuana in 1996 through a statewide referendum.

On Tuesday, Raich was in Washington to support an amendment to an appropriations bill that would prohibit the Justice Department from spending taxpayer money on medical-marijuana prosecutions in states that allow its use.

"It is an absolute waste of public funds,'' Raich said. "They will be prosecuting us like criminals even though we're sick.''

complete story: http://www.gazettetimes.com/articles/2005/06/16/news/nation/wednat04.txt

[BattyDem]

1. Hey Congress ... do something right for a change!

Pass the damn bill!

[Fiona]

2. It was defeated in the House today

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050615/pl_nm/usa_congress_marijuana_dc_1

[BattyDem]

3. Are you kidding me?

These people have no redeeming qualities at all ... they simply don't give a shit about anyone - not even the sick and dying! :grr:

[LeighAnn]

4. It will be them someday

They might not be hurting from anything where they are right now, rich and fat of the taxpayer dollar, but cancer has an awful way of getting people from all walks of life, just ask Paul McCartney.

I wonder how many of the ones who voted to reject it will end up on chemotherapy someday, remembering what they did in June of 2005?

[Shallah Kali]

9. They should try chemo now and see how it feels

when they are the ones trying to puke up their own toenails. I wish all of the inhabitents of the white house and cogress, excepting those who supported medical marijuana, would get the stomach flu. A really lingering form so they can get a taste of how it feels to vomit for days on end.

[Fovea]

11. When they are the ones who need it

they will have it. Legal or no. They just don't want the hoi polloi to have it, because then they will be less special for being able to have it when they want/need it.

Remember, when you are rich and powerful already, the only way to win bigger is to see everyone else lose more.

[u2spirit]

8. I was watching C-Span today

when this vote was being taken. C-Span let callers call in and weigh in their thoughts on the legislation. To a person, republitard, democrat and independant all said this bill should pass and most seemed to think general legalization would be fine. The bill went down in flames. As usual, a majority of our elected reps give not even 2 shits what their constituents think. I found it interesting that even the repubs calling in thought the war on marijuana was useless and nothing more than big pharma twisting the pols arms.

[shanti]

5. my god, these are some

mean-spirited, judgmental, ugly people to deny relief to the ill!

[Chauga]

6. 10 bucks says even if Congress passes it Shrub will veto it.

[leesa]

7. This is just so stupid. Acompletely harmless herb and how much

time and money are wasted legislating and then legislating the legislation. Stupid!

[zann725]

10. Indeed...since Pickles use to sell "Nickel Bags" of the stuff in college

Apparently it wasn't as dangerous back then.

[Sgent]

12. What the states ought to do

Is ban FBI/DEA participation in local drug taksforces, and prohibit local cops from information sharing or helping the feds in any way. They should also allow doctors to issue scripts to the state board of medicine, and the script issued from the state board of medicine w/o the doctor's signatrue (without this no doctor will sign a script for fear of losing thier DEA license). Finally, the states should effetively prohibit free movement by DEA and ATF agents in their state, requiring a resonable suspision or warrent.

This will effectively make any prosecution impossible by the DEA/FBI. w/o state support, and w/o being able to go after the doctors, they won't be able to find anyone to prosecute.