Rein In Heavy-handed, Intrusive, Paternalistic Government
Communicate to Congress
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More than three out of four Americans think medical use of marijuana should be legal, according to polls. So why does the Bush administration continue to be restrictive and paternalistic? We should have a smaller, less centralized government. Here is a timely Action Alert from StoptheDrugWar.org |
Since medical marijuana initiatives were first passed over ten years ago, the DEA has conducted raids against medical marijuana clinics in California, recently with increasing frequency, forcing hundreds if not thousands of patients to procure marijuana in the black market instead. In a ruling issued on June 6, 2005, the US Supreme Court upheld the federal government's power to do this.
While this didn't change anything -- state laws protecting medical marijuana patients and their providers still are binding upon state and local law enforcement authorities -- it was a missed opportunity for the Court to rein in federal overreaching and help some of our society's most vulnerable members.
Fortunately, Congress will have a chance, any day now, to set things right. The Hinchey amendment, to be considered during the debate on the Science-State-Justice-Commerce Appropriations bill, would prohibit the federal government from arresting, raiding or prosecuting patients who are abiding by state medical marijuana laws.
To take action, click this link
- More than three out of four Americans think medical use of marijuana should be legal, according to polls, and twelve states -- Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Washington -- have all enacted medical marijuana laws in recent years.
- Despite such strong support, the federal government continues to block even research to determine marijuana's medical benefits. Yet the 1999 Institute of Medicine report determined that marijuana does have medical benefit.
- Medical organizations such as the American Nurses Association and the American Academy of Family Physicians support legal access to medical marijuana with a doctor's recommendation.
- Blocking patients from receiving needed medicine -- threatening them with arrest, prosecution and incarceration -- is senseless and cruel.
- Congress should respect state's rights and not used armed federal agents to threaten patients and providers who are in compliance with state law.
To take action, click this link
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Also see: Rhode Island Says Yes to Freedom, No to Paternalistic Government
Medical Fact: Marijuana is Safer Than Alcohol
Foldvary: U.S. Government Loses War on Medical Drugs |
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