June 15, 2005
“The federal government has better things to do than prosecute sick people who are following their doctors orders and obeying state law,” said Lee. “Last week Justice Stevens suggested that Congress needed to act to change this law, and that is what this amendment is about.”
Ten states have adopted laws that allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington. These laws were passed to allow the use of marijuana to relieve the intense pain and other symptoms that accompany several debilitating diseases, including AIDS, cancer, multiple sclerosis, and glaucoma.
“In spite of laws passed by the states, the DEA has conducted numerous raids on the homes of medical marijuana users, prosecuting patients who were using marijuana, in accordance with state laws, to relieve this pain,” Lee said. “Taxpayer dollars shouldn't be spent on sending seriously or terminally ill patients to jail.”
The measure was an amendment introduced by Representatives Hinchey (D-NY), Farr (D-CA), Rohrabacher (R-CA), and Paul (R-TX) to the Science, State and Judiciary Appropriations bill.
“There is nothing controversial about this amendment; it would allow relief for a small minority who are suffering from chronic pain or terminal illness,” said Lee. “This amendment it about compassion for people like Angel Raich, my constituent from Oakland, California who was a plaintiff in the recent Supreme Court case, who has been diagnosed with more than ten serious medical conditions including an inoperable brain tumor.”
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Barbara Lee Supports Changing Federal Medical Marijuana Law
(Washington, DC) – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) strongly supported a measure to change federal law to stop the prosecution of patients who are following doctors orders in states that permit the use of medical marijuana.“The federal government has better things to do than prosecute sick people who are following their doctors orders and obeying state law,” said Lee. “Last week Justice Stevens suggested that Congress needed to act to change this law, and that is what this amendment is about.”
Ten states have adopted laws that allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington. These laws were passed to allow the use of marijuana to relieve the intense pain and other symptoms that accompany several debilitating diseases, including AIDS, cancer, multiple sclerosis, and glaucoma.
“In spite of laws passed by the states, the DEA has conducted numerous raids on the homes of medical marijuana users, prosecuting patients who were using marijuana, in accordance with state laws, to relieve this pain,” Lee said. “Taxpayer dollars shouldn't be spent on sending seriously or terminally ill patients to jail.”
The measure was an amendment introduced by Representatives Hinchey (D-NY), Farr (D-CA), Rohrabacher (R-CA), and Paul (R-TX) to the Science, State and Judiciary Appropriations bill.
“There is nothing controversial about this amendment; it would allow relief for a small minority who are suffering from chronic pain or terminal illness,” said Lee. “This amendment it about compassion for people like Angel Raich, my constituent from Oakland, California who was a plaintiff in the recent Supreme Court case, who has been diagnosed with more than ten serious medical conditions including an inoperable brain tumor.”
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