Pubdate: Thu, 16 Jun 2005
Source: Tri-Valley Herald  (Pleasanton, CA)
Copyright: 2005 MediaNews Group, Inc. and ANG Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.trivalleyherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/742
Author: Josh Richman, Staff Writer
Cited: Gonzales v. Raich ( www.angeljustice.org/ )
Cited: Marijuana Policy Project ( www.mpp.org )
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

HOUSE REJECTS MEDICAL POT MEASURE

A legislative amendment on which many medical marijuana advocates hung
their hopes after last weeks U.S. Supreme Court defeat went up in
smoke Wednesday, gaining more votes than ever before but still falling
57 short of passage.

Advocates said having 161 House members vote to end federal arrests
and prosecution of medical marijuana patients and providers in
California and nine other states was a moral victory. An actual
victory required 218 votes.

Angel McClary Raich of Oakland, a plaintiff in the case decided by the
Supreme Court last week, was in Washington, D.C., this week to lobby
for the amendment. On Wednesday, she noted that Congress had voted to
continue criminalizing her medicine on the same day that her
19-year-old son left for basic training at the U.S. Armys Fort Jackson
in South Carolina.

Although saddened by the final vote, she said, shes pleased that the
momentum is on our side... It shows that we have gained support, it
also shows we have work to do still.

Its important for patients throughout the country not to panic or lose
hope, because our battle is not over, Raich said, urging constituents
to call lawmakers who opposed the amendment.

Authored by Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-N.Y., and Rep. Dana Rohrabacher,
R-Huntington Beach, and supported by Rep. Sam Farr, D-Santa Cruz, and
Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, the amendment would have barred the Justice
Department from using public money to raid, arrest or prosecute
patients and providers in states with medical marijuana laws.

The same amendment got 152 votes in 2003 and 148 in 2004. Advocates
had hoped last weeks Supreme Court ruling -- that federal agents have
the authority to go after these patients and providers -- would rally
more support this time around.

The only greater Bay Area members of Congress opposing the amendment
- -- as they did in past years -- were Dennis Cardoza, D-Atwater, and
Richard Pombo, R-Tracy.

Marijuana Policy Project executive director Rob Kampia said his and
other groups now will turn their attention to pushing medical
marijuana bills in state legislatures -- in New York and Rhode Island
in the short term, and in several other states in early 2006. That
way, advocates can return to Capitol Hill next year with more steam,
he said.

The momentum is clearly on our side, and well keep fighting until
Congress listens to the American people and ends this cruel and
needless war on the sick, Kampia said.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin