Pubdate: Sat, 06 Jun 2015
Source: Daily Breeze (Torrance, CA)
Copyright: 2015 Los Angeles Newspaper group
Contact:  http://www.dailybreeze.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/881
Author: Nick Green

SOUTH BAY REP. TED LIEU BILL WOULD WANTS TO SEND FEDERAL POT 
ERADICATION PROGRAMS UP IN SMOKE

Hoping to eliminate funding for federal marijuana eradication 
programs he calls "ridiculous," South Bay Rep. Ted Lieu has authored 
legislation that will reallocate half the $18 million spent last year 
to helping abused children instead.

An amendment from Lieu to a law passed Tuesday will cut $9 million 
from the Drug Enforcement Agency's Cannabis Eradication/Suppression program.

Next year, the Torrance Democrat said he plans to author another 
amendment eliminating the pot program entirely, noting that last year 
the DEA arrested more than 6,300 for growing marijuana.

"This is a ridiculous waste of precious federal resources," he said. 
"It is time for the federal government to stop making marijuana use 
or possession a federal crime."

The money will instead fund programs that help children who are 
victims of domestic abuse, child abuse and sexual assault, Lieu said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom