cannabisnews.com: U.S. House Votes Down Change To End Federal Raids





U.S. House Votes Down Change To End Federal Raids
Posted by CN Staff on July 27, 2007 at 07:25:57 PT
By Jewels Phraner
Source: Columbia Missourian
Washington, DC -- The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday night voted down the latest medicinal marijuana bill, which sought to keep residents of states that allow marijuana for medicinal purposes safe from federal raids.The Hinchey Amendment was denied in a 262-165 vote, gaining two more votes of approval this summer, in its fifth try through the House.
Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-N.Y. plans to try again and will push this amendment next summer, said Jeff Lieberson, a spokesman for Hinchey.Lieberson said Hinchey will try to get more votes in favor of the bill by continuing to educate his colleagues about the bill.“I think a lot of members wanted to vote yes to this bill,” he said. “But they were worried about the potential political impact.”Columbia’s congressman, Republican Rep. Kenny Hulshof, voted against the bill, saying it would prohibit law enforcement officers from enforcing federal laws, Hulshof’s spokesman, Scott Baker, wrote in an e-mail.“It makes no sense and sets a dangerous precedent,” Baker wrote.Mike Hagan, who hosts “RadiOrbit” on KOPN/89.5 FM, said he thinks that those who voted against the amendment are “woefully uninformed.”“(Hulshof) doesn’t know a thing about cannabis,” he said. “People are being punished, and almost criminalized, for being sick.”Dan Viets, general counsel for the Columbia Alliance for Patience and Education, said this isn’t the first time the bill has failed, and “the battle may be won on a different front.”He said 10 of the 17 presidential candidates have said they will put a stop to such federal raids.“The odds are, our next president will be someone who will put a stop to this, and we won’t need the Hinchey Amendment after January 2009,” Viets said.Hagan thinks it is worthless to fight this politically.“I honestly don’t think that politicking is getting anywhere,” he said. “I will continue to talk to young people, my colleagues and anyone who will listen to try to help people become more aware. It has to do with education and understanding.”Complete Title: U.S. House Votes Down Change To End Federal Raids on Medical MarijuanaSource: Columbia Missourian (MO)Author: Jewels PhranerPublished: July 27, 2007Copyright: 2007 Columbia MissourianContact: editor columbiamissourian.comWebsite: http://www.columbiamissourian.com/Related Articles & Web Site:NORMLhttp://www.norml.org/House Nixes Medical Pot Amendmenthttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23209.shtmlViets Promotes Federal Action on Medical Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23199.shtml
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Comment #12 posted by Christen-Mitchell on July 28, 2007 at 22:10:28 PT
Forfeiture Endangers American Rights
One of the founders of F.E.A.R. used to address St. Louis NORML on car seizures in the city.
One good story was of the small town there where the mayor ended up with a seized Mercedes.
The best story was of a poor fellow whose car was taken because of a joint in the glove box. It cost him $1,500 to get the car back. The joint was still there, 
FEAR
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Comment #11 posted by FoM on July 27, 2007 at 12:04:02 PT
observer
Please stop posting about who you want to be President. There are people here who are offended by his medicare, medicaid and abortion stance. I'm sure he must have a blog to post on but not CNews. I read presidential blogs when I'm not looking for news if the person interests me. Thank you. 
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Comment #10 posted by observer on July 27, 2007 at 11:42:51 PT
W W R P D ?
Bruce Mirken of MPP: "How can anyone call themselves a progressive, which he regularly does, and then vote to send AIDS and cancer patients to jail after voters in his own state voted to help them instead?'' Mirken asked. "People who support him need to ask him some questions."Good point.Brethern, let us ask ourselves, WWRPD? (What Would Ron Paul Do?)
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on July 27, 2007 at 08:51:43 PT
MikeEEEEE
Thank you.
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Comment #8 posted by MikeEEEEE on July 27, 2007 at 08:46:34 PT
Right back at the weasels
Senate panel subpoenas Karl Rove in probe of attorney firingshttp://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070726/ap_on_go_co/congress_gonzales
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on July 27, 2007 at 08:42:41 PT
Related Article from The Ledger Enquirer
New Ga. Congressman Bucks GOP in Vote on Medical MarijuanaPublished: July 27, 2007http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/251/story/94364.html
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on July 27, 2007 at 08:11:25 PT
OT: Bush Administration Subpoenas Michael Moore
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/07/27/subpoena-moore/
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on July 27, 2007 at 08:08:21 PT
mykeyb420 
I made note of the Democrats that didn't vote for the Amendment and I will skip voting at all the next time for them rather then vote for the other party. I am pleased that 3 Dems voted for the Amendment. 
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on July 27, 2007 at 08:04:30 PT
AP: Calif. Court Rules Against Car Seizures
July 27, 2007SAN FRANCISCO -- A sharply divided state Supreme Court ruled that California cities can no longer seize vehicles whose drivers are arrested for allegedly buying drugs or soliciting prostitutes.The ruling Thursday overturns the laws of more than two dozen cities from Oakland to Los Angeles that allowed police to seize a vehicle immediately after its driver's arrest.Even drivers suspected of buying a small amount of marijuana, a low-level crime punishable by a $100 fine, faced seizures in many of the cities with the ordinances.The 4-3 ruling said only state law can mete out punishment for drug and prostitution offenses and without authorization from the Legislature, cities can't pass seizure ordinances that are harsher than state and federal laws.Many urban city councils said they enacted the seizure laws as a way to combat drug sales and prostitution and clean up some of their most blighted neighborhoods.The ruling didn't address newer city laws that allow police to seize cars allegedly participating in illegal street races and "sideshows."Copyright: 2007 Associated Presshttp://www.sunherald.com/312/story/107609.html
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Comment #3 posted by mykeyb420 on July 27, 2007 at 08:01:31 PT:
DEA raids 
On the very same day,,only hours after authorizing the funds,,the DEA raided 10 pot clinics in L.A. CA. Why cant they go after ossama as fast?? Because they dont want to
If they are trying to boost their approval ratings,,,try again
 WE NEED TO REMEMBER THIS DURING THE NEXT ELECTIONS !!!
 my congressman( Lantos , D from CA ) voted in our favor,,,
did yours??
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Comment #2 posted by MikeEEEEE on July 27, 2007 at 07:51:48 PT
Just do the math
The congre$$ gets about a 25% approval rating from the general public (lower than GW idiot), and probably 90% approval from the corporation$. Policy is driven by greed, the rest is filler.
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on July 27, 2007 at 07:40:35 PT
Related Article from SFC
McNerney Draws Fire from Backers of Medicinal Pot***Freshmen Dems blamed in defeat of plan to stop fedsBy Edward Epstein, Chronicle Washington BureauFriday, July 27, 2007Washington -- Backers of a proposal that would have blocked federal authorities from interfering in state-approved medicinal marijuana programs, stung by a disappointing defeat in the House, are zeroing in on freshmen Democrats such as Rep. Jerry McNerney of Pleasanton who opposed the proposal. The proposal, which advocates have introduced for several years, would have barred the Drug Enforcement Administration from stopping the medicinal use of marijuana in the 12 states including California where voters or the legislature have moved to legalize such pot use. But the House voted 262-165 to defeat the bipartisan amendment offered by Reps. Maurice Hinchey, D-N.Y., and Dana Rohrabacher, R-Huntington Beach (Orange County). The medicinal pot forces, who cite public opinion polls and votes of the public in California, among other states, as they lobby lawmakers, were particularly angry that freshman Democrats, including McNerney, voted late Wednesday against the proposal, which was an amendment to the annual Justice Department spending bill. Bruce Mirken of the Marijuana Policy Project called McNerney's vote "appalling.'' "How can anyone call themselves a progressive, which he regularly does, and then vote to send AIDS and cancer patients to jail after voters in his own state voted to help them instead?'' Mirken asked. "People who support him need to ask him some questions.'' Last year, the Hinchey-Rohrabacher proposal won 163 votes. But medical marijuana backers expected more support in a House now controlled by Democrats, and with a freshman Democratic class of 42 members. McNerney, who alone among the Bay Area's all-Democratic House delegation voted against the measure, tied marijuana use to other illegal drugs. Snipped:Complete Article: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/07/27/MNG6FR7OQG1.DTL
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