Flanked by more than 150 advocates from around the country, Oregon
Democrat Earl Blumenauer on Monday put forward his legislation allowing
states to legalize medical marijuana in an effort to end the confusion
surrounding federal pot policy.
Blumeanuer’s legislation, which
has 13 co-sponsors — including GOP Rep. Dana Rohrabacher of California —
would create a framework for the FDA to eventually legalize medicinal
marijuana. It would also block the feds from interfering in any of the
19 states where medical marijuana is legal.
At a press conference outside the Capitol, Blumenauer
didn’t attack the Drug Enforcement Agency for targeting marijuana
dispensaries or blame the Justice Department for forcing marijuana
businesses to operate in a legal gray zone. Instead, he pitched his
legislation as a solution to the confusion surrounding federal marijuana
policy.
“Frankly, the people in the federal hierarchy are in an impossible
position,” Blumenauer said, adding: “It gets the federal government and
the Department of Justice out of this never-never land.”
On the heels of successful referendums legalizing marijuana in both
Colorado and Washington state, Blumenauer and Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.)
introduced legislation to end federal marijuana prohibition and set up a scheme to tax the drug.
The activists surrounding Blumenauer had just come from a four-day
conference on medical marijuana, and many of them were veterans of
campaigns to legalize the treatment in their home states. Some held a
sign that wouldn’t be out of place at a tea party rally against the
Affordable Care Act — “GET POLITICS OUT OF MY MEDICINE.”
Karen Munkacy, a doctor who helped lead the pro-medical marijuana
side of a successful referendum in Massachusetts, said her breast cancer
diagnosis forced her to “choose between breaking the law and suffering
terribly. And I chose to suffer terribly.”
Scott Murphy, an Iraq War vet, said medical marijuana could help
returning soldiers handle post-traumatic stress disorder or physical
injuries. Murphy noted 22 veterans killed themselves each day in 2012.
“If medical marijuana could help just one veteran, it would be worthwhile,” he said.
Blumenauer’s bill isn’t likely to pass, but Americans for Safe Access
Policy Director Mike Liszewski said bills in four states — New
Hampshire, Illinois, New York and Maryland — have a chance of becoming
law this year. In New Hampshire, where backers fell just a few votes
short of overriding a governor’s veto last year, advocates are “really
confident.” The state’s new governor, Democrat Maggie Hassan, supported
medical marijuana as a state legislator.
No comments:
Post a Comment