By Bill Piper
Today the U.S. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to protect state medical marijuana programs from federal interference by approving the bipartisan Rohrabacher-Farr amendment, 242 to 186. The House also voted to protect state hemp laws and CBD laws.
Members of Congress narrowly voted against protecting broader marijuana legalization. This was the first vote Congress has ever taken on completely ending federal marijuana prohibition, so the final 206 to 222 tally was very encouraging. With enough work and grassroots pressure I believe we can win this vote next year.
Here are the vote breakdowns:
Rohrabacher-Farr amendment (protecting medical marijuana)
McClintock-Polis amendment (ending federal marijuana prohibition)
These votes came just a day after the U.S. House unanimously voted to stop the DEA’s domestic spying program, and cut $23 million from the DEA’s budget, shifting those resources to fight child abuse and process rape test kits.
And last month, the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee voted to lift the ban on Veterans Administration doctors recommending medical marijuana to their patients in states where it’s legal.
We have worked on the surveillance issue for several years, and marijuana for many more. Now those efforts are yielding big results. The DEA and drug prohibition are on the ropes, and I see even more opportunities for victory ahead.
Over these last two days we took huge steps toward ending federal marijuana prohibition, reining in the scandal-ridden DEA, and creating a future where drug policies are grounded in science, compassion, health and human rights.
Bill Piper is director of national affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance.
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Author: Bill Piper
Date Published: June 3, 2015
Published by Drug Policy Alliance
Via:: Ddrug Policy Alliance