The crazy ideas that started in California in the Sixties are blooming in Washington, DC this week.
Congress is considering several cannabis law reforms this week and activists are asking for their allies to call in to their representatives to assure America’s marijuana majority is heard.
Dana Rohrabacher.
One bill would cement the federal cease-fire on medical marijuana enacted over Christmas. The House approved an extension of the bipartisan cease-fire from Congressmembers Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) and Sam Farr (D-Calif.) by a voice vote Tuesday night, reports Tom Angell, activist and blogger in DC.
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Another amendment would go one step further — blocking federal funds from interfering with any state marijuana laws, medical or adult-use. It failed by a voice vote Tuesday night, but could pass on record on Wednesday. Drug Policy Alliance, NORML, and Marijuana Policy Project, and Stop The Drug War are asking for voter support for the bipartisan measure from Representatives Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) and Jared Polis (D-Colo.).
A narrower medical marijuana bill protecting states that allow high-CBD cannabis also failed after one member spoke against it on the floor.
A measure to protect state industrial hemp from federal interference may be approved today.
The House also moved to cut $23 million from the Drug Enforcement Administration and use that money to help the nation’s appalling rape kit testing backlog, help child abuse victims, and pay for police body cameras, Angell states.
“Almost anything would be a more effective use of taxpayer resources than paying DEA agents to arrest people for marijuana. Thanks to these amendments that succeeded in swiftly cutting $23 million from the drug agency in about 10 minutes of floor time, this money will be used for things that actually help people instead of being used to ruin people’s lives for no good reason.”
Last night, the House also snuffed out the DEA’s mass collection of all of American’s phone records.
