Pubdate: Sat, 31 May 2014
Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Little Rock, AR)
Copyright: 2014 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc.
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Author: Andrew Taylor, the Associated Press
Page: 2A

HOUSE VOTE BACKS USE OF MEDICAL 'POT'

WASHINGTON (AP) - Libertarian-minded and moderate Republicans joined
forces with Democrats in a Friday morning House vote to block the
federal government from interfering with states that permit the use of
medical marijuana.

The 219-189 vote came as the Republican-controlled House debated a
bill funding the Justice Department's budget. Forty-nine Republicans
joined all but 17 Democrats in approving a provision to block the
Justice Department from interfering with state laws permitting the
"use, distribution, possession or cultivation of medical marijuana."

The four representatives from Arkansas, all Republicans, voted against
the amendment, which was sponsored by Republican Rep. Dana Rohrabacher
of California - the first state to legalize medical marijuana.

Almost half the states have legalized marijuana for medical uses, such
as improving the appetites of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Other states permit the use of a nonpsychoactive marijuana extract to
treat epilepsy.

The measure doesn't address the sale and use of marijuana for
recreational purposes in Colorado and Washington, where voters have
legalized it over objections from most elected officials. But it comes
as the public is taking an increasingly permissive view toward medical
marijuana use.

"Public opinion is shifting," Rohrabacher said, noting a recent Pew
Research Center survey that found a majority of Americans support
medical marijuana. "Despite this overwhelming shift of public opinion,
the federal government continues its hard line of oppression against
medical marijuana."

Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., told opponents that "this train has
already left the station." While almost 4 out of 5 Republicans opposed
the amendment, it picked up GOP support from libertarians such as
Justin Amash, R-Mich., and Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and moderates such as
Fred Upton, R-Mich., and Jon Runyan, R-N.J.

The move by the House would wipe away the sticky issues that arise
from a fundamental question associated with state-approved sales of
marijuana: how to legally regulate the production, distribution, sale
and use of marijuana for medical purposes when federal law bans all of
the above.

"This is essentially saying, 'Look, if you are following state law ..
the feds just can't come in and bust you and bust the doctors and bust
the patient," said Rep. Sam Farr, D-Calif.

The government has deferred to states regarding enforcement of
marijuana possession and instead focuses on preventing distribution to
minors and keeping drug profits from going to organized criminal
enterprises. Marijuana is a Schedule I drug under a 1970 drug law,
meaning the government deems it to have "no currently accepted medical
use" and a "high potential for abuse."

Opponents have said marijuana is regulated too loosely by the states
and harms the brain. The American Medical Association opposes medical
marijuana, calling it a "dangerous drug."

Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., cited a recent Drug Enforcement
Administration study that said many in the medical marijuana movement
are using it as "a means to an end," meaning legalization for
recreational use. Harris, a physician, also said that marijuana,
unlike other drugs, is typically sold in unrefined form.

The funding bill passed later Friday on a vote of 321-87 and now heads
to the Democrat-controlled Senate. The representatives from Arkansas
all voted in favor of the bill.
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MAP posted-by: Matt