Rep. Frank is looking for cosponsors for his bill, and it would be particularly great if some Republicans would show some backbone and sign on as sponsors. What is needed right now is for people to write their legislatures, particularly Republicans, and get them interested in the bill, either to co-sponsor it or to at least vote in support of it. You can send an automated letter from a form at www.mpp.org. It comes with standardized text, but I strongly recommend changing the text and putting it in your own words so that they realize they're not just getting form letters from the same people over and over. Here's the version which I sent to Michael McCaul (R-TX):
- The federal practice of overriding state law regarding the medical use of marijuana is a terrible violation of states rights and abuse of Constitutional authority. How the medical use of marijuana is handled ought to be left up to the states without federal interference.
You have a wonderful opportunity to make a real mark on this issue by co-sponsoring Rep. Barney Frank's "States' Rights to Medical Marijuana Act" (which was H.R. 2233 in the 108th Congress), which would require the federal government to recognize state medical marijuana laws. This is a real chance for you to show that the Republican party still holds true to its civil libertarian values and still believes in states rights.
It is a well established fact that marijuana has genuine medical uses, as shown in the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine report affirming marijuana's medical utility and recommending that marijuana be made available on a patient-by-patient basis. Marijuana is less dangerous and more beneficial than many drugs available by prescription at this time and nothing beats it as a treatment for nausea and loss of appetite suffered by those undergoing chemotherapy or treatment for AIDS. Prosecuting the terminally ill as criminals just for wanting relief from suffering makes no sense at all.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Eric Olsen
all for it Dave, very important, thanks
2 - SFC SKI
I agree, too. Pain mangement as a whole really needs to be addressed.
3 - Eric Olsen
the subject just came up regarding Paula Abdul here
4 - Dave Nalle
>>I agree, too. Pain mangement as a whole really needs to be addressed.<<
Of the two people involved in the Supreme Court case one is a person with seizures and problems eating and the other is a person with chronic back pain.
Dave
5 - SFC SKI
That may be, but I see no mention in this article of theri medical problems effecting their legal decisions.
Another pathetic thing is that the DEA will waste time, money, and manpower on small amounts like this instead of directing its efforts at the larger amounts odf harder drugs that are out on the streets. I guess when you can't catch the elephants, you step on the slugs.
6 - Dave Nalle
It's a lot easier and less dangerous to surround and point guns at a bedridden semi-invalid like Angel Raich than some Mac-10 weilding meth-head hiding in a rural trailer park.
Dave
7 - Jon Sobel
So, who are the people who are actually opposed to medical marijuana? Has anyone ever actually met someone willing to stand up and take that position? I mean, real, regular people, not Barry McCaffrey.
8 - Dave Nalle
Barry McCaffrey, ironically, is the person who was in the ONDCP when they released the report that medical marijuana was a good idea. Bet he wasn't too happy with that.
As for who's against it, I hinted at it earlier. It's the big pharmaceutical companies, their lobbyists and the legislators they've paid off. That and a few radical anti-drug kooks here and there, the moralistic descendents of those who took Reefer Madness seriously - basically neo-prohibitionists who'd ban alcohol too if they could get away with it.
So, basically no normal sane people at all.
Dave
9 - Dawn
Will it help with Chicken Pox? Because the ones on my tongue and scalp are causing me to want to crawl right out of my skin.
10 - Dave Nalle
That's a damned fine question, Dawn. I believe there have been anecdotal reports that it helps with itching...
Woah, you have chicken pox on your TONGUE? Never heard of such a thing. I thought they followed the lymphatic system.
Dave
11 - Dawn
Tell that to my tongue and throat. So are you suggesting I hang out on my local drug corner and score some weed to help with vicious itching?
I should mention that the pox like to collect in the areas were it is warmest and the most sweaty.
So.....I can't really go out in public unless I want to get arrested.
12 - Dave Nalle
If you'd only spent more time milking cows this never would have happened, Dawn.
Dave
13 - Dan
I'm with Barney. Go Barney... Go Barney... Go Barney...
14 - Bennett Dawson
Thanks for this Dave. I sent a version of your note on to my Congressman.
We really do need to get the federal government to back off a bit.
15 - Eric Olsen
it's ALWAYS time for medical marijuana
16 - Natalie Davis
Yeah, it's perfect with a slice of pie and a bowl of soup.
17 - Mark Saleski
or an entire family size box of cap'n crunch in a large salad bowl with a half-gallon of milk.
18 - Eric Olsen
or pistacios
19 - Dawn
See it's because of comments like that, that medical marijuana can't be taken seriously.
Way to go you stoners.
20 - Maurice
Oh sure! Now you guys like Dave. There will probably be no name calling on this thread.
I'll be glad for the day when recreational pot use is legal.
21 - Dave Nalle
Well said, Maurice - on both your points.
Medical Marijuana may be an easier sell to government, but banning it alltogether also makes no sense given that far worse things like alcohol which are legal.
Dave
22 - Natalie Davis
Indeed. But I will fall on my knees and thank the creator when medicinal use is legal.
23 - Dave Nalle
True, Natalie. We have to start somewhere. After all, it's a political process where even a half measure like this should be viewed as a victory. Right? Making things better is good even if you don't win the whole war in one day. Right?
Or wait, according to your post on the discussion of civil unions in Connecticut we should not even try to achieve anything but full legalization - partial victories are worthless.
Dave
24 - Eric Olsen
yes but this thread is a conflict-free zone of hazy psychedelic bliss
25 - Mark Edward Manning
Great post, Dave. I myself agree completely.