Slow Progress for Medical Marijuana in Congress

SLOW PROGRESS FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN CONGRESS

Dear Fellow Reformer,

Last night, the U.S. House of Representatives again thumbed its nose at compassion and common
sense by rejecting the Hinchey-Rohrabacher amendment, which would have prohibited the federal
government from undermining state medical marijuana laws. The final vote was 163 for / 259
against. This is two more "yes" votes than last year and a sign that support is slowly growing.
(Since three Representatives who voted for the amendment last year couldn't make the vote this
year, the base of support is actually up five over last year).

Though there is a lot to say about this, Congressman David Obey (D-WI) summed it up best when
speaking in support of the amendment:

"If I am terminally ill, it is not anybody's business on this floor how I handle the pain or the
illness or the sickness associated with that illness. With all due respect to all of you, butt
out. I did not enter this world with the permission of the Justice Department, and I am
certainly not going to depart it by seeking their permission or that of any other authority. The
Congress has no business telling people that they cannot manage their illness or their pain any
way they need to. I would trust any doctor in the country before I trust some of the daffy ducks
in this institution to decide what I am supposed to do if I am terminally ill... When is this
Congress going to recognize that individuals in their private lives have a right to manage their
problems as they see fit without the permission of the big guy in the White House or the big guy
in the Justice Department or any of the Lilliputians on this Congressional floor? Wake up!"

Zing!

Please take a few minutes today to thank or spank your Representative for how he or she voted on
this important amendment:

1) Find out how your Representative voted:
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4226869&l=126561. If you're not sure who your
Representative is, find out by entering your zip code at the top of this page:
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4226869&l=126562.

2) Use this directory: http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4226869&l=126563 to go to
your Representative's website where you can find information on writing, e-mailing, or calling
your Representative.

If your Representative voted for the Hinchey-Rohrabacher medical marijuana amendment, send a
thank-you message.

If your Representative voted against the Hinchey-Rohrabacher medical marijuana amendment,
express your disappointment and encourage your Representative to vote for the amendment next
year.

Sincerely,

Bill Piper
Director, Office of National Affairs
Drug Policy Alliance
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4226869&l=126564

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