Congressional letter to Obama criticizing MMJ Crackdown

Washington, DC Oct 28th -  Rep. Sam Farr (D-CA) and several 

colleagues have sent a letter to President Obama expressing their 

concern about the recent DOJ crackdown on MMJ and calling for 

rescheduling or legislation to change federal policy.  The letter is 

co-signed by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Bob Filner (D-CA), Lynn 

Woolsey (D-CA), Jared Polis (D-CO), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Pete Stark (D-

CA), Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Mike Thompson (D-CA)

 

The letter concludes, "Medical cannabis has been and continues to 

be recommended by physicians to alleviate a  number of serious 

illnesses and medical conditions.. .During your presidential campaign, 

you repeatedly pledged to end federal raids against the individuals 

and collectives authorized by state law to use or provide medical 

cannabis, giving hope to patients who legitimately use medical 

cannabis to treat their conditions that their long struggle to safely 

access their medicine was finally over.  By pursuing the same harsh 

policies that have been in place for years, we fear the federal 

government will push legitimate patients back into the uncertainty and 

danger of the illicit market.

 

"For these reasons, it is more urgent now than ever to reschedule 

marijuana as a legitimate controlled substance for medical purposes.  

Classifying marijuana as a Schedule II or III drug will have the 

effect of harmonizing federal law with the laws for several states, 

such as California.  No longer should the federal government's laws 

supersede the wishes of local citizens who have decided that their 

fellow neighbors ought to have the right to legitimately use medical 

marijuana...

 

"We respectfully request that your administration reschedule 

marijuana as a Schedule II or III drug administratively, or publicly 

support the adoption of legislation that would change federal statues 

to achieve this same goal.  One such proposal, HR 1983, the States' 

Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act, which was introduced by 

Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) earlier this year, would do just 

this.  Changing federal marijuana policy through legitimate 

administrative channels or Congressional action will give countless 

patients and their physicians the respect they deserve and will clear 

up any ambiguity as what the legitimate role of the federal government 

in this arena."

"We Are Not Winning" - Former Deputy Chief Stephen Downing's Open Letter to California Police

The one bright light came from the people of California when they took the first step toward regulation. They passed Prop 215, the medical marijuana law, in 1996. And after 15 years of regulated sales to those under doctors' supervision, we find the sky has not fallen and society has not suffered. In fact, not only has cannabis been more fully researched as a medicine, but crime has decreased in the areas that have allowed medical marijuana dispensaries, legal job opportunities have increased dramatically and tax dollars have gone into our treasuries.

This experience of the advantages of regulation of cannabis sales in California, though not perfect, has mirrored the experience in Holland, where drug policy experts have concluded that closing down safe, regulated, supervised points of marijuana sales would shift to the streets and that young people would become dependent on the criminal underworld for the purchase of drugs.

And yet, regardless of the successes, on October 6, 2011 U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy delivered Obama's declaration of war against the sovereignty of the people of California when she declared on his behalf that: “Under United States law, a dispensary's operations involving sales and distribution of marijuana are illegal and subject to criminal prosecution and civil enforcement actions. Real and personal property involved in such operations are subject to seizure by and forfeiture to the United States...regardless of the purported purpose of the dispensary.”

Obama's weapons had already been fired. The IRS launched a devastating attack on tax-paying dispensaries by denying standard business expense deductions. The Department of Treasury has brow beaten banks into closing accounts of medical marijuana collectives. The ATF has warned firearms dealers not to sell firearms to medical marijuana users. The DEA has blocked a nine-year-old petition to reschedule marijuana for medical use, ignoring extensive scientific evidence of its medical efficacy. NIDA has blocked proposed research on medical marijuana to treat post-traumatic stress disorder for our veterans and - - in order to once again invade our communities with mass arrests, prosecutions and jailing of our citizens - - they have resorted to their tried and true strategy of buying you off - - this time with $72 million designed to divert 192 of your peace officers to drug warrior duty, once again, in order to carry out their assault on the sovereignty of the people of the State of California.

Medical Cannabis - The Science

As time has gone on, we’ve discovered more about the chemistry of both the cannabis plant and the endocannabinoid neurotransmitter system (characterized by Dr. Raphael Mechulam, Professor of Jerusalem University in 1992). Cannabis contains 483 chemicals. In addition to THC (characterized by Prof. Mechulam in 1964), the cannabis plant has over 60 cannabinoids. Cannabinoids are 21 carbon molecules which are attracted to specific receptors in the brain. The most pharmacologically active is delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC for short. Other C21 compounds include cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabinol (CBN). CBD has no psycho-active capability however CBN is a mildly psycho-active chemical. Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) and cannabichromene (CBC) are also important cannabinoids. Cannabis also contains six essential oils, at least eight alkaloids, flavonoids and sugars. (Cannabis: Booth, pg. 7 and Russo & Grotenhermann). Several cannabinoids and some phenoids and flavinoids have been found to have therapeutic value. (Cannabis and Cannabinoids edited by Russo & Grotenhermann)

The Conditions
The list of conditions cannabis helps provide treatment and relief for continues to expand. In 1995 The Lancet lists relief of nausea, analgesia, glaucoma, and appetite stimulation. The 1997 House of Lords Science and Technology Report had a longer list which included cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis. The 1999 U.S. government funded Institute of Medicine (IOM) report concluded that THC is an analgesic, muscle-relaxant, anti-depressant and anti-emetic agent. Some other chemicals in the plant may also contribute to cannabis’ therapeutic effects. Clinicians and researchers have demonstrated that cannabis is also useful in treating ADD/ADHD, OCD and PTSD (O’Shaughnessy’s). Cannabis can reduce epileptic fits , stimulate appetite , and dilate bronchial tissue (Tashkin). It’s helpful in treating ulcerative colitis, IBS, and Crohn’s Disease.

Recently it’s been shown to be of help in alleviating some symptoms of Alzheimer’s and slowing the progressive neurological deterioration (O’Shaughnessy’s). Compared to other recreational drugs including coffee, cannabis is considered by experts to be the safest. A 1994 New York Times article cites work by Jack Henningfield of NIDA and Neal Benowitz of the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF).
Henningfield and Benowitz rated the addictive symptoms of cannabis vs. other commonly used drugs including heroin, alcohol and cocaine. Overall, ‘Marijuana was ranked lowest for withdrawal symptoms, tolerance and dependence (addiction) potential; it ranked close to caffeine in the degree of reinforcement and higher than caffeine and nicotine only in the degree of intoxication.’ (Henningfield and Benowitz, 1994). Noted cannabinologist and neurologist Dr. Ethan Russo, points out that, “Even in cases of high daily intake, such as the 94-day cannabis study (Cohen 1976), any withdrawal symptoms on its sudden cessation were transient and mild.” (Medical marijuana pro/con website)

Congressman Earl Blumenauer wants to change our nation's illogical marijuana laws

October 6, 2011 

  

Dear Oregon Voter, 

  

Thank you for taking the time to contact me. I share your support for a sensible federal policy regarding the use of marijuana. 

  

For too long, federal policies have ignored science and States' rights regarding marijuana laws. Medical marijuana has provided relief to many Oregonians and people across the country and more states are following Oregon's lead. It's time for the federal government to revise its strategy to combat the drug trade, focusing on those drugs and practices that do serious harm to our communities.  

  

I am a cosponsor of H.R. 2306, the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act, which would remove all federal penalties pertaining to marijuana, leaving its regulation to each State where it should be.  I am also a cosponsor of H.R. 1983, the Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act, to provide for the use of medical marijuana in accordance with the laws of the various States. I hope that my colleagues will join me to change our nation's illogical marijuana laws.  

  

Thank you again for sharing your thoughts with me. Please continue to be in touch. 

Sincerely,

 

Earl Blumenauer

Member of Congress

For more information about Congressman Blumenauer, please sign up for Earl-news at, http://blumenauer.house.gov/.

You can now follow Congressman Blumenauer's office on Twitter, http://twitter.com/blumenauermedia. 

Join AAMC

Ten years ago the American Alliance for Medical Cannabis was formed by Dr. Jay R. Cavanaugh to promote the medical uses of marijuana. AAMC became a member of the Coalition for Rescheduling Cannabis which filed a petition with the federal government to remove marijuana from their “no medical use” classification. Nine years later the government has denied the petition.

We must continue our efforts to educate decision makers about the medical use of marijuana. The scientific record shows that marijuana is remarkably safe and effective in the treatment of serious illness. In order to overcome political resistance to accept the existence of medical marijuana, we must combine our efforts and strengthen our voice. We need patients, gardeners, business owners, scientists, lawyers, and politicians to join together and help create the change we must have.

Please take a moment to become a member of the American Alliance for Medical Cannabis. Together we can make our voice heard.

https://secure.piryx.com/donate/XPvlkkUC/American-Alliance-for-Medical-Cannabis/

Thank you!