House Bill HR 2835 - Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act

[SunshineJoy]

I guess I haven't been paying attention enough before now. I just found out about this, even though it has been out there for almost a year.

It seems to me that this is about as relevant to the MMJ/decrim/re-legalization efforts as any individual state activity. Maybe even more, since if this gets fixed, the DEA will leave the 14 MMJ states alone, and more states will come on board.

Considering that Washington DC has MMJ laws, our representatives hanging out in the nation's Capital should be fixing this federal foolishness.

This needs support. http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/ is where NORML has a "change the laws, write your politicians" link where I learned of this. It costs nothing to send an email to your state reps. It's all pre-written.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c111:1:./temp/~c111NNfhuJ::

SUMMARY AS OF:
6/11/2009--Introduced.

Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act - Transfers marijuana from schedule I to schedule II of the Controlled Substances Act.

Provides that no provision of the Controlled Substances Act or the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act shall prohibit or otherwise restrict, in a state in which marijuana may, under state law, be prescribed or recommended by a physician for medical use: (1) a physician from prescribing or recommending marijuana for medical use; (2) an individual from obtaining, possessing, transporting, manufacturing, or using marijuana in accordance with such a prescription or recommendation; (3) an individual authorized under state law to do so from obtaining, possessing, transporting, or manufacturing marijuana on an authorized patient's behalf; (4) a pharmacy or other entity authorized to do so from obtaining, possessing, or distributing marijuana to such patients; or (5) an entity established by such a state or local government thereof to do so from producing, possessing, or distributing marijuana for such a prescription or recommendation.

 

[Hash Zeppelin]

It would be so great if this passes. They need to argue it from a states right, and personal freedom point of view to get both parties to vote yes on it. That is if it even makes it to the floor.

If it passes that could ensure things will be good for med states after obama leaves office. This will also grant more time for more states to put med laws in place. Once like 31 or 32 states passes a med law it will be able to easily push though a federal med law that will ensure that patients are never harmed again.

If this passes it will also take some of the fear out of it for other states that are scared to go med still.

 

[Tony Aroma]

Once like 31 or 32 states passes a med law it will be able to easily push though a federal med law that will ensure that patients are never harmed again.

Back in the 70s and 80s a number of states passed mmj legislation. I believe it was 30 or 35 states all together (don't quote me on that number). Most of those states were counting on the federal government to provide the mmj, which of course never happened and their programs lapsed. So I wouldn't count on anything at the federal level just because of what a majority of the states do. Even now, all we need is 2 or 3 more big states (like NY and IL) to legalize mmj, and it will represent a majority of the population. I doubt the feds give a shit. Yes, I'm a pessimist.

 

[SunshineJoy]

Up until a few months ago when I moved to FL, I was like a heck of a lot of people, scared to be active and voice my support of MJ. Being in a state with way more bureaucracy and law enforcement now than where I came from in New England, I'm waking up to the fact that this has to change.

I think the time is finally here and people (like me) who might not have openly supported these changes 10 years ago will do so more readily now. The timing of our energy concerns, health care concerns and financial concerns - compounded with a generally increased distrust of corporations, big pharma and politicians - could be just the climate for change to happen.

Plus we have the double whammy of the benefits of hemp. This site really doesn't focus much on the hemp side of the equation, but bringing that into the picture adds a whole dimension that is nothing but positive (unless you are Dupont or Monsanto).

Anyway, even if you're a pessimist, write your congresspeople and support this bill. We need it!

 

[SpasticGramps]

Fuck yes! This would a huge step for us.

I'm gonna let my douche bag know what's up. I'm quite a bit more tactful when writing him . I'd love to slap him around for a little while (crappy Neo-Con), but you have to be polite yet assertive if you want them to listen to you.

 

[ChronJohn]

.

 

[Hash Zeppelin]

Fuck yes! This would a huge step for us.

I'm gonna let my douche bag know what's up.

lol

what is funny about this is that, as soon as you said those words I knew you were talking about your local rep. Who else.... it just makes natural sense to me

 

[SunshineJoy]

I have mixed feelings about the fact that this is news to 2/3 of the responders so far. Yeah, not much of a sample, but still... I did a search on "2835" here in these forums before I created this thread, and there were no results.

The irony is that Barney Frank is from a neighboring state to where I have been living for the past couple of decades, and all I knew about him was related to some gay sex scandal (and I don't give a crap about that). I don't get why this is not discussed more. I found it via NORML's site, but in trying to learn more about where it stands, I've been rather frustrated.

The other thing I learned in my research is that Frank is really down on lobbyists... one of his staffers gave notice that he was going to go work for a corporation as a lobbyist and Frank told him to leave immediately and not come back. I wish more politicians were like that. I wish they all were.

man I've been pimping this and its decriminalization companion bill in my Signature since Barney Frank first announced the pair of bills back in april 08 with all the talk off medical marijuana and legalization in the states, as well as all the "conflicts" with Federal law people are complaining about, it really is a wonder why these bills havent gotten more attention. they havent even made it out of subcommittee! its absurd.
Step 1: make sure ALL VOTERS know about these
Step 2: make sure all the POLITICIANS know that their constituents demand action on these bills
Step 3: call a VOTE
Step 4: end the DEA raids FOR REAL, not half assed "memos" or "official policy" or whatever (even tho I know that's the best that can be done without legislative action)

If Obama really has all this pressure on him from state congressmen who are like WTF why are my constituents getting raided, why doesn't he ram these bills through congress like he rammed health care or any one of the trillion+ dollar bailouts/stimulus etc through? or rather slip them through.. under the radar "rider" style, paper clipped deep inside some appropriations bill or something..

I completely agree. I've decided to make step 1 my own personal mission, hopefully leading to your step 2.

I don't know what to say about your sig, ChronJohn - I have read many of your posts and typically agree with you, or at least respect your thoughtful discourse on the post at hand. I never checked out your sig links.

There are so many Cannabis-related news articles and sites these days. I have a little blurb all written up to include whenever I comment on a blog, so I guess that will go into my sig here, too.

 

[ChronJohn]

.

 

[Hash Zeppelin]

man I've been pimping this and its decriminalization companion bill in my Signature since Barney Frank first announced the pair of bills back in april 08

barney frank is one of the few decent members of the legislative branch. He is also one of the few that actually has a pair if you know what I'm sayin' The other 2 are ron paul, and alan grayson

good post. good sig