Congress Puts Stop To War On Medical Marijuana

[trix]

Congress Puts Stop to War on Medical Marijuana with Protections Amendment

Dec 15, 2014

 

 

On Saturday, Senate approved a $1.1 trillion spending package to keep the government running.  Tucked away in that package was an amendment that will block the Department of Justice from arresting or prosecuting anyone who sells or uses medical marijuana in the 34 states that have some form of medical marijuana law on record.

 

This will stop the DOJ from conducting raids on medical marijuana dispensaries and stop them from arresting individuals involved in the medical marijuana industry who are complying with state law.

 

The new amendment also has protections for industrial hemp.

 

President Obama is expected to approve the bill. Once he does, the new amendment has the potential to impact a number of pending cases against medical marijuana business owners and patients who have been targeted by the federal government despite complying with local and state laws.

 

“When the House first passed this measure back in May, we made headlines; today we made history,” Rep. Sam Farr (D-Calif.), who in May introduced the medical marijuana protections amendment with co-sponsor Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.), told The Huffington Post regarding the bill’s passage.

 

“The federal government will finally respect the decisions made by the majority of states that passed medical marijuana laws,” Farr added. “This is great day for common sense because now our federal dollars will be spent more wisely on prosecuting criminals and not sick patients.”

 

A statement issued by Americans for Safe Access following the spending bill’s passage Saturday called the measure “historic” and said patients’ rights advocates believe it “will dramatically impact DOJ enforcement, including ending federal medical marijuana raids, arrests, criminal prosecutions, and civil asset forfeiture lawsuits.”

 

[+Malamute]

Um,  the law only prevents the DoJ from spending resources prosecuting the "state".

[free420country]

How many times are we gonna see this same story? They will still bust anyone that they can get.......

[+Malamute]

Correct.

 

But it does take the air out of many of the anti's arguments that the state cannot implement a program.  *shrug*

 

It's a step.

[phaquetoo]

I cant even pay attn to this crap im to broke!

 

are there 34 states now with an mm law?

 

 

Peace

[bobandtorey]

I cant even pay attn to this crap im to broke!

 

are there 34 states now with an mm law?

 

 

Peace

 

 

Same here Jim 

 

And happy holidays to you and yours 

[GregS]

These are half measures. Laws that prohibit cannabis are still on the books and it is still a schedule one substance. Another administration, together with other legislative changes in funding, can turn things right back around. Until prohibition statutes are repealed these moves are no more than temporary lip service. We still have a long way to go, but we're getting there.

[bobandtorey]

These are half measures. Laws that prohibit cannabis are still on the books and it is still a schedule one substance. Another administration, together with other legislative changes in funding, can turn things right back around. Until prohibition statutes are repealed these moves are no more than temporary lip service. We still have a long way to go, but we're getting there.

Thanks 

 

2015-16 we will have legal cannabis in Michigan imo

[t-pain]

Thanks 

 

2015-16 we will have legal cannabis in Michigan imo

 

we better bob, or i'm blaming you!