OFF THE WIRE
Members of Congress reintroduced legislation this week to protect
state-authorized medical marijuana patients from federal prosecution.
House Bill
689, the States’ Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act, would ensure that
medical cannabis patients in states that have approved its
use will no longer have to fear arrest or prosecution from federal law
enforcement agencies. It states, “No provision of the Controlled Substances Act
shall prohibit or otherwise restrict in a State in which marijuana may be
prescribed or recommended by a physician for medical use under applicable State
law.”
The measure also calls for the federal government to reclassify cannabis so
that it is no longer categorized as a Schedule I
prohibited substance with no accepted medical use and a high potential for
abuse. It states: “Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this
Act, the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration shall, based upon
the recommendation under paragraph (1), issue a notice of proposed rulemaking
for the rescheduling of marijuana within the Controlled Substances Act, which
shall include a recommendation to list marijuana as other than a Schedule I or
Schedule II.”
In January, a three-judge panel for the US Court of Appeals for the District
of Columbia denied
petitioners request to overturn the Obama administration’s July 2011
rejection of an administrative petition that sought to initiate hearings
regarding the reclassification of marijuana under federal law.
Separate federal legislation, House Bill 710: The
Truth in Trials Act, which provides an affirmative defense in federal court
for defendants whose actions were in compliance with the medical marijuana laws
of their state was also reintroduced this week in the US House of
Representatives.
Those who wish to contact their member of Congress in support of these
federal measures can do so by clicking here.
