Congressman Steve Cohen Demands The Obama Administration Reschedule Marijuana

[+EdwardGlen]

http://blog.norml.org/2011/09/13/congressman-steve-cohen-demands-the-drug-czar-reschedule-marijuana-acknowledge-it%E2%80%99s-medical-utility/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=Congressman+Steve+Cohen+Demands+The+Drug+Czar+Reschedule+Marijuana%2C+Acknowledge+It%E2%80%99s+Medical+Utility

 

Tennessee Congressman Steven Cohen (D) is urging the Obama administration to rethink its support for the criminal prohibition of marijuana. Rep. Cohen is a longtime critic of marijuana prohibition (Watch him grill FBI Director Robert Mueller over the claim that cannabis is a ‘gateway drug’ here) and a primary co-sponsor of HR 2306: The Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2011.

 

This week, Rep. Cohen sent a letter to Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske calling on the agency to support reclassifying cannabis as a schedule I prohibited drug and to respect the laws of states that have legalized its medical utility.

 

“There is no evidence that marijuana has the same addictive qualities or damaging consequences as cocaine, heroin or methamphetamine,” states Cohen, “and should not be treated as such.”

 

He adds: “We should not deny the thousands of Americans who rely of marijuana the benefits that marijuana provides. I strongly recommend that this administration allow states that have chosen to legalize medical marijuana to enact strong regulations without fear of prosecution. [W]e should not interfere with the will of the people to enact these compassionate laws.”

[Kevin]

God bless Congressman Cohen.

[wingnut]

Prohibition has failed, and frankly has failed for over 80 years,That means we have to have a different approach to the fact that 14 million Americans choose to smoke marijuana in the face of federal prison.

[+Silverblue]

I just signed another petition to end the drug war at the DPA site. They had one like that earlier in the year. When budget cuts are being considered, the drug war issue comes up a lot for groups like the DPA.

 

Drug Policy Alliance

 

Sb

[MORE COWBELL]

Cohen for PREZ?