cannabisnews.com: Med Marijuana Backers Try Again in House Vote





Med Marijuana Backers Try Again in House Vote
Posted by CN Staff on June 08, 2005 at 08:13:39 PT
By Edward Epstein, Chronicle Washington Bureau
Source: San Francisco Chronicle
Washington, D.C. -- Advocates of legalizing marijuana for medical purposes face a daunting task in Congress -- which probably will vote again on the issue next week -- but gain a little more hope year by year. A bill advocating medicinal marijuana received 94 votes in the House in 1998. In 2003, legislation to block the Justice Department from using federal funds to crack down on the use of medicinal marijuana got 152 votes. Last year that total edged down to 148. This year advocates say they can count on 160 solid votes in the House when the same bill comes up for a vote, probably next Tuesday or Wednesday.
"It's our objective to get a few more votes this year," said Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-N.Y., co-sponsor with Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Huntington Beach (Orange County), of the legislation that blocks federal enforcement against medicinal marijuana patients in states that allow its use. "There's a good chance we will get more support." Setback in California The vote will come on the heels of Monday's U.S. Supreme Court ruling that dealt a setback to the 10 states, including California, that have decided to allow patients to use marijuana with a doctor's recommendation. The court's majority opinion, authored by Justice John Paul Stevens, said any changes in the federal law will have to come from Congress. "I was disappointed in the decision. It was wrong," Hinchey said. "But I was glad to see that wording about Congress in his decision. The Congress has to deal with this issue." Snipped:Complete Article: http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/try.htmSource: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)Author: Edward Epstein, Chronicle Washington BureauPublished: Wednesday, June 8, 2005 - Page A - 4Copyright: 2005 San Francisco Chronicle Contact: letters sfchronicle.comWebsite: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/ Related Articles & Web Sites:Angel Raich v. Ashcroft Newshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/raich.htmThe Debate: Hinchey - Rohrabacher http://freedomtoexhale.com/dofcomm.htmGetting Tough With The Terminally Illhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20811.shtmlThe Court and Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20809.shtmlIn The Grip of Reefer Madnesshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20807.shtml 
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