Pubdate: Fri, 11 May 2012
Source: Monterey County Herald (CA)
Copyright: 2012 Monterey County Herald
Contact:  http://www.montereyherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/273
Author: Kevin Howe

FARR COMES TO THE DEFENSE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Bill Would Cut Federal Funding

Three Congressmen want the U.S. Department of Justice to keep its 
hands off medical marijuana.

Reps. Sam Farr, D-Carmel, Dana Rohrabacher, R-Costa Mesa, and Maurice 
Hinchey, D-New York, Tuesday introduced a bill that would cut off 
funding for federal enforcement of drug laws against medical 
marijuana suppliers by amending HR 5326, which funds the Justice Department.

"Patients suffering from painful and serious illnesses are following 
the recommendations of their doctors by using medical cannabis to 
minimize their pain and support their recovery," Farr said.

"It is time for the federal government to stop targeting the legal 
vendors that are providing safe access to this treatment and instead 
focus limited resources on those who sell illicit drugs."

Farr said the amendment will work to assure funds under Justice do 
not target safe access to medical marijuana.

The bill comes in response to an interagency crackdown on medical 
marijuana involving more than 100 raids, primarily on California 
marijuana dispensaries, many of them operating in compliance with state laws.

Since October 2009, Justice has conducted more than 170 raids in 
states where medical marijuana is legal, resulting in 61 federal 
indictments, according to data compiled by the marijuana advocacy 
group Americans for Safe Access.

The full text of the amendment states: "None of the funds made 
available in this Act to the Department of Justice may be used, with 
respect to the States of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, 
Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, 
Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, 
Vermont, and Washington, to prevent such States from implementing 
their own State laws that authorize the use, distribution, 
possession, or cultivation of medical marijuana."
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart