cannabisnews.com: Medical Pot Bill Shields 10 States





Medical Pot Bill Shields 10 States
Posted by CN Staff on May 04, 2005 at 22:15:35 PT
By Stephen Dinan, The Washington Times
Source: Washington Times 
Washington, D.C. -- Medical marijuana advocates announced a push yesterday to try to compel the federal government not to interfere with the 10 states that have medical marijuana laws on the books.   Rep. Barney Frank, Massachusetts Democrat, has introduced a bill that would exempt doctors and pharmacists in those states from prosecution under federal drug laws, which allow the government to pursue marijuana suppliers even if states allow doctors to prescribe the substance as pain medication.
In announcing the bill, Mr. Frank was joined by television talk show host Montel Williams, who uses marijuana and says it is the only thing that has eased his suffering from multiple sclerosis.   "I'm hurting," Mr. Williams told reporters. "Why? Because I knew I had to come to Washington, D.C., and I couldn't carry anything. I'd get busted."   Mr. Frank's bill, which made little progress in past Congresses, has gained bipartisan support.   "The federal government should butt out," said Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, California Republican.   Rep. Ron Paul, Texas Republican, said he wanted to go beyond protection in 10 states. "The only problem with this bill is it's so modest," he said.   Mr. Paul said he has survived primary and general election races in which interest groups spent a total of $2 million to try to defeat him based primarily on his position on drug policy. He said his wins in those races in a conservative, Bible Belt district should sway other members of Congress who agree with him, but vote differently out of fear of political ramifications.   "I hope my example is such that maybe they'll reconsider that and vote the right way," he said.   For the bill to be considered on the House floor, it first must get past Rep. Mark Souder, Indiana Republican and chairman of the Government Reform subcommittee on criminal justice, drug policy and human resources.   "Marijuana is not medicine," Mr. Souder said last year in introducing a bill calling on the Food and Drug Administration to disseminate information about the health and safety of smoking marijuana to those who advocate its use for health reasons.   "Patients who are smoking marijuana are being denied legitimate care that could improve rather than worsen their medical conditions," Mr. Souder said.   Medical marijuana supporters want to try to work around Mr. Souder and his subcommittee.   Rep. Maurice D. Hinchey, New York Democrat, promised to offer an amendment to one of this year's spending bills to prohibit the Justice Department from interfering with doctors who deem marijuana the proper course of medical treatment.   Source: Washington Times (DC)Author: Stephen Dinan, The Washington TimesPublished: May 05, 2005Copyright: 2005 News World Communications, Inc. Website: http://www.washtimes.com/Contact: letters washingtontimes.com  Related Articles & Web Site:Marijuana Policy Projecthttp://www.mpp.org/Medical Marijuana Advocates Implore Congress http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20627.shtmlTalk Show Host Pleads Medical Pot Casehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20626.shtmlMedical Marijuana Debate Heats Up http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20624.shtml
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Comment #5 posted by billos on May 06, 2005 at 04:19:43 PT
..........Souder..................
I wonder what the dweeb thinks about the government using foster children for drug trials.
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Comment #4 posted by Hope on May 05, 2005 at 10:31:56 PT
"it first must get past Rep. Mark Souder"
We are being forced to deal with a man who is literally "possessed". He is unable to think. He's possessed by the spirit of prohibition. How can we get past him? Is it possible as long as he is in office and chairman of the committee?
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Comment #3 posted by runderwo on May 05, 2005 at 09:58:48 PT
hmm
How are people who are "smoking marijuana" being "denied legitimate care"? Even if you accept the idea that cannabis only treats the symptoms of disease, is he implying that one cannot undergo any other treatment while using cannabis for relief of symptoms? I can't read that statement any other way, and it's incredibly dishonest if that's what he meant.
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Comment #2 posted by Max Flowers on May 05, 2005 at 08:28:32 PT
Things are happening
Hinchey, Rohrbacher, Frank, Paul, Montel Williams---these guys (and others) are heroes to the cause of compassion, truth and just plain being true to what the decent thing to do is.This movement is gaining strength every day. Now is the time to redouble efforts.As to the comment by Mark Souder, well that's so weak that it's a joke. I laughed out loud, a good sign because a year ago I would have yelled angrily at my computer monitor. Now, it's just laughable and pathetic. Notice also that he keeps bleating the same old retort about smoked cannabis, while the world (including Canada) has moved on to vaporizers, atomized spray inhalers and oral preparations. 
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Comment #1 posted by Hope on May 04, 2005 at 23:14:35 PT
I hope so, too.
Rep. Ron Paul, Texas Republican, said he wanted to go beyond protection in 10 states. "The only problem with this bill is it's so modest," he said. Mr. Paul said he has survived primary and general election races in which interest groups spent a total of $2 million to try to defeat him based primarily on his position on drug policy. He said his wins in those races in a conservative, Bible Belt district should sway other members of Congress who agree with him, but vote differently out of fear of political ramifications. "I hope my example is such that maybe they'll reconsider that and vote the right way," he said. 
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