Pubdate: Fri, 17 Feb 2012
Source: Issaquah Reporter (WA)
Copyright: 2012 Sound Publishing
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/Mbas3nM1
Website: http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/east_king/iss/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4980
Author: Linda Ball

SAMMAMISH SUPPORTS RECLASSIFICATION OF MARIJUANA

By a vote of 6-1 Tuesday night, the Sammamish city council supported a
motion by former mayor Don Gerend, to authorize mayor Tom O'Dell to
sign the Association of Washington Cities Mayor's letter in support of
reclassification of marijuana.

Ironically, O'Dell cast the one dissenting vote.

The letter authorizes the Suburban Cities Association public issues
committee to support the SCA letter of support for the
reclassification of marijuana.

Gregoire filed a petition with the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration to reclassify marijuana from a schedule I drug (which
has no known medical purpose and cannot be dispensed) to a schedule II
drug (which can be dispensed).

Council member Ramiro Valderrama said the Association of Washington
Police Chiefs also supports the letter.

The use of marijuana for patients who have debilitating or terminal
illness has been permitted in Washington state since 1998, but the
federal government indicated it would prosecute individuals and
organizations involved in the manufacturing and distribution of
marijuana even if it is permitted under state law.

Marijuana is currently classified as a schedule I controlled substance
under the controlled substances act, which means that, according to
the DEA, it has no currently accepted medical use in treatment and
can't be prescribed, administered, or dispensed for medical use.

A comparison of the controlled substances classified as schedule I
versus schedule II is interesting. While marijuana/cannabis is
classified as a schedule I, many other drugs with a high potential for
abuse are designated as schedule II, including opium,
methadone,methamphetamine, oxycodone and cocaine.
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MAP posted-by: Matt