The official blog of the Libertarian Party
June 14, 2005
Helping in the Fight for Medical Marijuana
By Stephen Gordon
How much cannabis does it take to be lethal? The answer to this question is 100 pounds - as there is an urban legend about someone who was killed when a bale of cultivated marijuana fell from a loft onto his body. All jokes aside, there are no documented cases of people dying from marijuana inhalation.
There are plenty of documented cases of people dying who were denied the use of medical marijuana, however. One such example was covered in this column on June 6, the day the United States Supreme Court ruled against state medical marijuana laws in Raich v. Ashcroft.
In that decision, Justice John Paul Stevens challenged us with, "The voices of voters allied with these respondents may one day be heard in the halls of Congress."
That day may be as soon as today.
There is an amendment to the Appropriations Bill being offered which will defund federal law enforcement activities with regard the arrest and prosecution of medical marijuana users in the states where such use is considered legal. This legislation, called the Hinchey-Rohrabacher Amendment, failed last year, there are several elements in favor of passage of such an amendment this year.
To begin, the issue is hot right now. Recent and ongoing major media coverage of the Raich v. Ashcroft decision has elevated medical marijuana to the front stage of American politics immediately before the Hinchey-Rohrabacher Amendment is scheduled for a vote. Last year, in the heat of an election cycle focused on foreign and fiscal policy, congressmen could duck the issue - but that cover is blown for the next couple of weeks, barring some major world crisis or such.
Also, medical marijuana legislation is being considered (and passed) in a host of states right now. As opposed to some abstract problem in just a few states, medical marijuana becomes a close-to-home issue for many congressmen right now. Considering the overwhelming popularity of medical marijuana with most Americans, it is becoming increasingly difficult for Congressmen intent on being re-elected to ignore our cries.
Your congressman needs to know some facts on the issue:
1) Medical marijuana often alleviates suffering and death - in many cases more effectively than prescription medications
2) Marijuana is never lethal and is generally safer than alternative prescription medications
3) According to a study just published by the Harvard Economist, we are spending $7.7 billion dollars on prohibition enforcement
4) With prison overcrowding crises occurring throughout the country, freeing beds now occupied by sick and dying people will allow more space and resources for criminals who actually target our lives and properties
5) This amendment will move our legislation in a direction closer to the intent of the framers of the Constitution
6) This amendment protects the rights of the states to govern as they see best for their own citizens
7) In poll after poll, an overwhelming number of Americans support the compassionate use of marijuana. The lowest percentage recorded in a recent, national poll was 72% - and this survey considered the opinions of older Americans and was commissioned by the AARP!
Please take the time to contact your Congressman and urge them to support the Hinchey-Rohrabacher Amendment during consideration of the Science-State-Justice-Commerce Appropriations bill.
I've already called three U.S. Representatives recently, and intend to call more over the next few days. None of their responses have been negative, and a couple of people who had voted against the Hinchey-Rohrabacher Amendment last year are now reconsidering their vote. What they need is more input - especially from you. Please visit the U.S. House of Representatives to learn how to contact your congressman, or use this handy form from MPP to send Congress your message today.
Posted by Shane Cory at June 14, 2005 05:45 PM
Reader Comments:
I tried to fill out that 'handy form' but afterwards, the site said they were voting on the 14th... that's today. If LP was really passionate about this, why wait till the last second? I am a libertarian, and love this site... but perhaps we need to be a little quicker on the response?
Actually, if they're voting as quickly as that Erica, it's a good sign. It may mean that they want to sneak it in without getting a lot of public attention if they can. It may mean that they don't want to piss off their anti-drugs constituents any more than they have to. In other words, it may mean that they expect it to pass!
Not to pull the 'oh woe is me card', but, would a call to my states reps/congressmen count for anything if I'm only 16? I don't want to call and protest only to be dismissed on the count of my age.
Lets hope that is the case, Lib TV.
It's funny how the DEA says that legalized marijuana has already been tested in Alaska and failed. They said in the 1970's smoking marijuana in the home was legal. Alasakans voted to recriminalize it due to the fact that teenagers were doing it twice the average of other states. I don't know about you guys, but charges should have been brought up against the parents instead of recriminalizing it. The law shouldn't have been changed just because parents didn't know or allowed their children to smoke marijuana. Recriminalizing it was an intrusion on a minority smoker's right.
Not to mention tobacco smoking causes a lot of deaths, but it is legal. Irony at it's best eh?
(forgive any types or w/e)
As a minor update, the amendment was not debated today, but there is a half hour of debate scheduled for tomorrow. Your calls and letters are critical tonight!
Erica, I'll let the folks at MPP know to update their site. Thanks for the update. And our congresscritters do listen to 16 year olds - it is always worth your time to make the call.
From the DPA:
Call Congress TODAY! Medical Marijuana Vote Could Happen Tuesday
Dear ______,
Thank you to everyone who has urged lawmakers to protect medical marijuana patients in the wake of the Raich Supreme Court decision. The amendment that gives Congress an opportunity to do just that is up for a vote this week - possibly as soon as Tuesday afternoon! The Hinchey-Rohrabacher amendment would protect cancer, AIDS and other patients who use marijuana for medical reasons from federal prosecution. Lawmakers need to hear that their constituents demand protection for sick people, so call your Representative as soon as possible and forward this alert to everyone you know.
What to Do: Call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. Ask to speak to your Representative. If you're not sure who represents you, the operator can tell you. You can also look up your Representative at www.house.gov by entering your zip code at the top.
What to Say: Once the operator transfers you to your Representative's office, give the person who answers the phone the following message: "Hi, I'm a constituent. I'm calling to urge my Representative to vote for the Hinchey-Rohrabacher medical marijuana amendment to the Justice spending bill, which will be voted on this week. I would also like him (or her) to send me a letter letting me know how he (or she) voted. This issue is very important to me." If you emailed your Representative last week in support of the amendment, you should mention that. Say that your phone call is a follow-up to an email you sent. (Hinchey-Rohrabacher is pronounced Hinchee Roy Bocker.)
Then forward this alert to friends, family, etc.
Thank you for all your work to create reforms that will help patients!
Sincerely,
Bill Piper Director of National Affairs Drug Policy Alliance
Alternative email sites from the MPP's:
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=25197&ms=raichalert0605-hp
http://capwiz.com/norml2/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=7309441
Time is running out. It would be much better if you called at this point, and please do this! Libertarians can have an influence outside of elections! The best thing to do would be to send a letter AND call, but if you have to do just one thing, call. Thanks to everyone that participates.
I agree Erika with what Stephen said. Make the call. You have nothing to lose. At worst, they will simply thank you for your opinion.
OFF TOPIC:
If only there were a forum for this...
I think a great idea would be for the LP to be airing pro-LP commercials NOW in the 'off-season' to raise awareness of the party and educate the public while there is no other competition running ads.
They could create a fund raiser project to raise the money to pay for them like the Badnarik campaign team did on their site.
I like the idea of Mike's suggestion. Nobody does it here in Europe either. I think it would only be worthwhile though if airspace is cheaper during the 'offseason' (I don't know whether it is). Otherwise, well, sure there is no competition, but with the limited volume we could run, we may have been forgotten about by campaign time without a visible candidate to associate the party with.
I would dearly love to see the LP put those kinds of "Letters" into the Action Items section of the website. I heartily reccomend http://action.eff.org as an excellent example of providing letters that get targeted to the right people, based upon your zip code usually, and to make them aware of your position on upcoming legislation. I think that would be an excellent way for the LP to be quite active and provide members with an easy method of making their views known to the right people.
Presumably others may also be interested in linking back to the LP site because of this simple convenience which may prove to be another benefit to making the party more appealing and to show even more active participation of the party in the political process. Just something to consider.
WASHINGTON -- Yes, the government can make a federal case out of medical marijuana use, the House said Wednesday.
Less than a week ago, the Supreme Court ruled that the government can medical marijuana users, even when state laws permit doctor-prescribed use of the drug. In response, the House rejected a bid by advocates to undercut the decision.
By a 264-161 vote, the House turned down an amendment that would have blocked the Justice Department from prosecuting people in the 10 states where the practice is legal.
[Edited due to copyright violation: Please summarize and link in the future.]
My apologies for the copyright violation. I meant to include the source but I posted without thinking (frustrated). Thank you for correcting it. Wanted to make a new action alert from the Drug Policy Alliance. They have the list of how your Congressman voted.
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives made a stronger showing in support of patients than it did last year, as 161 members (145 Democrats, 15 Republicans and 1 Independent) voted for an amendment prohibiting the federal government from undermining state medical marijuana laws. The amendment ultimately was rejected with 264 votes against, but received 13 more votes than last year. This is no doubt due to all the hard work of our supporters who contacted their members of Congress and made medical marijuana a national issue. Thanks to your support we were also able to lobby hundreds of Congressional offices in support of the bill.
From: http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/061505hincheyvotes.cfm
They have a list, find out how your Rep. voted and thank or spank them.
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=26815&ms=HincheyYesVotes-aa-ip
Thank you letter
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=26817&ms=HincheyVotesSpank-ip
Spank you letter
Take action!
Could someone PPULLLLEEEEZEEE explain to me the persecution of marijuana? I've heard the theories of how it was used to persecute mexicans early in the 20th century because it was their drug of choice... But really... what is the deal? We have wasted an enormous amount of money and other resources trying to scare the h*ll out of everyone about marijuana... but if you ask anyone whether alcohol prohibition worked, they'll emphatically say NO. Obviously marijuanan is less harmful than alcohol, so what is the deal?
A person can be dying of cancer and get pumped full of gallons of morphine, and addictive incapacitating opiate narcotic, but not pot?
Theories? I don't get it.
First of all I am outraged at the fact you Libertarians are denying my first ammendment right. Why can't I use profanity or inappropriate comments if I want to, isn't it my right to speak how ever I want to?
STRIKE ONE!
Second of all why in the world would legalizing any drug be a good idea? People may have the right to do what ever they choose to thier body, but why allow them to hurt it so badly usuing drugs? You guys seem so backwards it hurts me even trying to argue with you. Please anybody e-mail me if they would like to debate further.
P.S. I'm younger than you'd think ;)
For those of you interested my e-mail address is bigmike1119@hotmail.com
Michael,
I can understand your comment on "profane or inappropriate comments", the moderators are hoping to keep this civil and preferably PG rated.
I have disagreed with about 90% of postings on this site. And though I have disagreed with a lot of folks, I respect their ideas and the right to express them, and as Jerry Clower once said, "you can catch more flies with sugar than you can with vinegar."
As for your wondering about the drug issue, there is proof that marijuana has medicinal purposes, but that is the only reason I personally can think of for legalization. Others disagree. But we all agree on one thing: our government has gone out of control as far as how it operates. It is as though it's no longer "of the people, by the people, and for the people", but "over the people, blinding the people, and screw the people." That is the one precept I think we ALL can agree on.
By the way, I'd guess 14. Am I right?
The Michael above is different than the one who has been posting lately.
Just wanted to make that known.
Whoops, nope that really was me.
Who ever wrote that is wrong, I take full responsibility for my opinions that I posted.
The only reason that the federal government has outlawed marijuana is because of the plant itself. The hemp plant has the potential to give many businesses a run for their money if it were used to make rope, clothes and thousands of other uses. Read this article and it will enlighten many to the reasons that the oil and chemicle industries do not want HEMP made available to the public...http://www.illuminati-news.com/marijuana-conspiracy.htm
Posted by: trench at June 21, 2005 08:09 PM
Again I say read this article. It deals with the thousands of practicle uses for HEMP. It also deals with the reasons the U,S government as well as the chemical, fuel and clothing manufacturers do not want the general public to become aware of the thousands of uses available from the HEMP plant.READ IT FOR YOURSELF AND THEN DECIDE........http://www.illuminati-news.com/marijuana-conspiracy.htm
One of you Mikes,
The fact is, and the Libertarian mission is, that we have the right to do what we want so long as it doesn't hurt others or infringe on anyone else's rights. Cigarettes kill more people than marijuana. Alcohol kills more people than marijuana. But that's not hard, considering the fact that Marijuana kills NO people. The prohibition period in the U.S. proves that prohibiting a drug has more negative effects than positive effects, so ending the prohibition of marijuana only makes sense.
Here is some of what the article talks about....* In 1916, the U.S. Government predicted that by the 1940s all paper would come from hemp and that no more trees need to be cut down. Government studies report that 1 acre of hemp equals 4.1 acres of trees. Plans were in the works to implement such programs; Department of Agriculture
* Quality paints and varnishes were made from hemp seed oil until 1937. 58,000 tons of hemp seeds were used in America for paint products in 1935; Sherman Williams Paint Co. testimony before Congress against the 1937 Marijuana Tax Act.
* Henry Ford's first Model-T was built to run on hemp gasoline and the CAR ITSELF WAS CONTRUCTED FROM HEMP! On his large estate, Ford was photographed among his hemp fields. The car, 'grown from the soil,' had hemp plastic panels whose impact strength was 10 times stronger than steel; Popular Mechanics, 1941.
* Hemp called 'Billion Dollar Crop.' It was the first time a cash crop had a business potential to exceed a billion dollars; Popular Mechanics, Feb., 1938.
* Mechanical Engineering Magazine (Feb. 1938) published an article entitled 'The Most Profitable and Desirable Crop that Can be Grown.' It stated that if hemp was cultivated using 20th Century technology, it would be the single largest agricultural crop in the U.S. and the rest of the world.
The following information comes directly from the United States Department of Agriculture's 1942 14-minute film encouraging and instructing 'patriotic American farmers' to grow 350,000 acres of hemp each year for the war effort:
'...(When) Grecian temples were new, hemp was already old in the service of mankind. For thousands of years, even then, this plant had been grown for cordage and cloth in China and elsewhere in the East. For centuries prior to about 1850, all the ships that sailed the western seas were rigged with hempen rope and sails. For the sailor, no less than the hangman, hemp was indispensable...
...Now with Philippine and East Indian sources of hemp in the hands of the Japanese...American hemp must meet the needs of our Army and Navy as well as of our industries...
...the Navy's rapidly dwindling reserves. When that is gone, American hemp will go on duty again; hemp for mooring ships; hemp for tow lines; hemp for tackle and gear; hemp for countless naval uses both on ship and shore. Just as in the days when Old Ironsides sailed the seas victorious with her hempen shrouds and hempen sails. Hemp for victory!'
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I tried to fill out that 'handy form' but afterwards, the site said they were voting on the 14th... that's today. If LP was really passionate about this, why wait till the last second? I am a libertarian, and love this site... but perhaps we need to be a little quicker on the response?
Posted by: Erika at June 14, 2005 06:52 PM