[420 Girl]

Recent polling by Angus-Reid shows that a majority of Americans favor the legalization of marijuana. Moreover, a SurveyUSA poll in California indicates that 74% of people between the ages of 18-34 favor legalization. Young voters historically turn out in low numbers in midterm elections, so you would think that our elected officials might think twice before indulging in Diane Feinstein’s “reefer madness” hysteria.

So where have members of the House come down on marijuana bills in the past?

H.R. 3093: The 2007 amendment sponsored by Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) and Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) would have cut off funding for the DEA to prevent states from implementing medical marijuana laws. It failed, with a vote of 262-155 though 15 Republicans voted “aye.” Peter Geither at DrugWarRant liveblogged the debate in the House. In 2004, the amendment failed 268-148 (liveblog), and in 2003 the vote was 273-252.

H.R. 2943 and H.R. 5843: Sponsored by Barney Frank, H.R. 2943 (2009) and H.R. 5843 would have limited the federal government’s ability to arrest and prosecute people for the personal use of marijuana. Neither amendment came up for a vote, but cosponsors are listed.

The 10th Amendment Caucus: Conservative Republicans in the House recently formed a 10th Amendment Caucus, to uphold the principle that “the federal government should not interfere in matters that are fully within the purview of the states.” Theoretically, they should support the right of states to determine their own policy on medical marijuana. With no small amount of irony, caucus member Jason Chaffetz recently introduced a bill to overturn Washington DC’s new medical marijuana law. It may be that caucus exists for little more than demagoguing pet issues. One has to wonder if Chaffetz has even read the 10th Amendment.

Finally, Ryan Grim of the Huffington Post contacted members of Congress to ask where they stood on Prop 19, the California ballot initiative which would legalize marijuana for personal use. Their comments are illuminating, if only for their extreme timidity.

If you have links that indicate where your Senator or member of Congress stands with regard to marijuana, leave it in the comments. Better yet, give them a call and ask….



NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: FireDogLake
Author: Jane Hamsher
Contact: FireDogLake
Copyright: 2010 FireDogLake
Website: Call Your Member of Congress and Ask Where They Stand on Ending Marijuana Prohibition

* Thanks to MedicalNeed for submitting this article


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