PorkChopSandwiches
05-30-2014, 04:43 PM
Washington, DC - On Friday morning, the House voted 219-189 to halt prosecutions of medical marijuana users in states where medical marijuana is legal and they have a doctor’s prescription for the medicine.
An appropriations amendment offered by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) prohibits the DEA from spending funds to arrest medical marijuana users. The amendment had bipartisan support.
Rohrabacher said the amendment “should be a no-brainer.”
Tom Angell, chairman of Marijuana Majority, said, “This historic vote shows just how quickly marijuana reform has become a mainstream issue.” Angell continued, “If any political observers weren’t aware that the end of the war on marijuana is nearing, they just found out.”
Angell issued this statement:
“This historic vote shows just how quickly marijuana reform has become a mainstream issue. The last time a similar amendment came up it didn’t come very close to passing but, since then, more states have passed medical marijuana laws and a couple have even legalized marijuana for all adults. More states are on this way later this year and in 2016, and it’s clear that more politicians are beginning to realize that the American people want the federal government to stop standing in the way. If any political observers weren’t aware that the end of the war on marijuana is nearing, they just found out.”
Just moments later, the House also approved language that would stop the Federal Justice Department from interfering with states that wish to grow industrial hemp.
The Senate will most likely be considering its own DEA appropriations bill. The House amendment will still need to get through a joint conference before the DEA will be unable to use the funds to arrest medical marijuana users.
An appropriations amendment offered by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) prohibits the DEA from spending funds to arrest medical marijuana users. The amendment had bipartisan support.
Rohrabacher said the amendment “should be a no-brainer.”
Tom Angell, chairman of Marijuana Majority, said, “This historic vote shows just how quickly marijuana reform has become a mainstream issue.” Angell continued, “If any political observers weren’t aware that the end of the war on marijuana is nearing, they just found out.”
Angell issued this statement:
“This historic vote shows just how quickly marijuana reform has become a mainstream issue. The last time a similar amendment came up it didn’t come very close to passing but, since then, more states have passed medical marijuana laws and a couple have even legalized marijuana for all adults. More states are on this way later this year and in 2016, and it’s clear that more politicians are beginning to realize that the American people want the federal government to stop standing in the way. If any political observers weren’t aware that the end of the war on marijuana is nearing, they just found out.”
Just moments later, the House also approved language that would stop the Federal Justice Department from interfering with states that wish to grow industrial hemp.
The Senate will most likely be considering its own DEA appropriations bill. The House amendment will still need to get through a joint conference before the DEA will be unable to use the funds to arrest medical marijuana users.