|
|
| Court Says D.C. Has Right to Vote on Marijuana |
|
Posted by FoM on April 15, 2002 at 07:01:37 PT By Tanya Albert, AMNews Staff Source: American Medical News 
Washington, D.C., residents may get another chance to vote on whether they want to decriminalize the medical use of marijuana. The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia recently ruled that Congress' attempt to stop district residents from voting on the issue is unconstitutional. Congress, which appropriates the money the district uses to run elections, passed an act that said the funds couldn't be used to "enact or carry out any law, rule or regulation to legalize or otherwise reduce penalties" for schedule I narcotics, including marijuana. But the court said that measure hinders political expression and thus infringes on voters' First Amendment rights. "It's the equivalent of saying we can have elections in D.C., but we can only elect Republicans," said Rob Kampia, Marijuana Policy Project's executive director. "We plan to hit the streets at the end of May to gather the 16,000 signatures we need to get on the November ballot." At press time, the federal government had not decided whether it would appeal the court decision. Marijuana Policy Project joined with a physician and a patient with multiple sclerosis to challenge the District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics and others on the constitutionality of Congress' authority to decide on which issues district voters could cast their opinions. Eight states have laws that allow the medicinal use of marijuana with physician approval. The Medical Society of the District of Columbia does not have an official position on medical marijuana, but when a referendum went to district voters in 1998, the group said it opposed the issue being decided by referendum. The society also said it did not approve of the federal government interfering with Washington, D.C.'s ability to self-govern. "If medical marijuana is to be decided in D.C., we believe a more deliberate process involving the D.C. Council is a more appropriate way to go, so the issue can be decided on the science," said MSDC Executive Director Edward Shanbacker. District voters in 1998 passed a referendum that decriminalized medical marijuana, but Congress wouldn't allow the law to take effect. As organizers again take the issue to voters in November, Kampia said he expected a referendum to pass with at least 65% of the vote. "The real battle is getting Congress not to overturn it," he said. The district would not be the first locality in the nation to decriminalize medicinal marijuana. Eight states have laws that allow seriously ill patients to grow and use marijuana for medical reasons if a physician approves it. Those states are Alaska, Hawaii, California, Oregon, Nevada, Colorado, Washington and Maine. And two state legislatures have been active on the issue this year. In March, the Maryland House of Delegates approved a bill that would have removed criminal penalties for patients who use medical marijuana. But the bill died in the Senate in April. In Vermont, the House passed a bill that would allow patients to grow marijuana for medical purposes if they have their physician's approval. That law would sunset in 2006. The Vermont Senate and governor would have to approve the bill before it could become law. Kampia said he thought that the bill had the support to pass the Senate, but that it could be difficult to get the signature of Gov. Howard Dean, MD. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Case: Marijuana Policy Project, et al. v. District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics, et al. Venue: U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia At issue: Whether Congress can stop the District of Columbia from using federally appropriated money to fund a vote on the legalization of medical marijuana. Potential impact: The district court said Congress can't stop a vote. Advocates are planning a November ballot initiative asking citizens to allow patients to use marijuana for medical purposes. Note: Also, Maryland and Vermont houses pass bills that would remove criminal penalties for patients using pot for medical reasons. Source: American Medical News (US) Related Articles & Web Sites: Marijuana Policy Project Medical Marijuana Information Links Medical Marijuana Defeated in Senate Committee Marijuana Ruling Sparks New Dispute With Hill Ruling May Put Marijuana Measure on Ballot Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
 |
| Comment #1 posted by Sam Adams on April 15, 2002 at 07:21:29 PT |
| "The Medical Society of the District of Columbia does not have an official position on medical marijuana, but when a referendum went to district voters in 1998, the group said it opposed the issue being decided by referendum." That's right - people can't decide for themselves what goes in their bodies. The Doctors want to control you, just like the priests, just like the prosecutors, just like the government. I'll bet I got higher SAT scores than 90% of licensed doctors. They think that going through medical school makes them some kind of genius? I spent 3 years after college working at a company where almost everyone on my team worked 60-70 hours a week on high-tech stuff that was at least as hard as medical school. What gives these bastards the right to act like aristocrats? I don't need a white coat and stethoscope to lord over other people in order to feel satisfied. Why are Dr. Russo and a tiny handful of other doctors standing alone on this issue? Just as cannabis prohibition points out the glaring hypocrisy of our government, media, and educational systems, medical MJ is the red flag that our medical system is WAY off-track. I think the priest-doctor comparison is compelling. With the current crisis over the Catholic Church, I can see a future one looming with doctors. One of my ex-girlfriends was molested by 3 different doctors when she was a young teen. I think the only reason priests are being singled out right now is because most of the abuse is homosexual in nature. Young girls all over the country are abused every day in schools, hospitals, trailer parks, etc, etc, and the high-minded moralists don't seem to mind one bit. [ Post Comment ] |
| Post Comment |  |
 |  |