Sen. Rockefeller (D-WV) on Medical Marijuana

Dear Lisa,
Thank you for contacting me about Michele Leonhart's nomination to
be Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is
always good to hear from a fellow West Virginian, and I appreciate
this opportunity to be in touch.

On February 2, 2010, President Obama nominated Michele Leonhart
to serve as Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
She has served as Acting Administrator since November 2007 and,
before that, served as Deputy Administrator. Her nomination is
currently pending before the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which
I am not a member.

The role of the Senate to confirm or not confirm nominees put
forward by the President is an extremely important Constitutional
duty that no Senator undertakes lightly. I assure you that prior
to voting on any nominee, I closely review their qualifications and
listen closely to what you and other West Virginians have to say.

I have heard from several West Virginians, like you, who are
concerned about Ms. Leonhart's stance on medical marijuana. The
legalization of marijuana for medical purposes has fueled heated
debate for years. Proponents of legalization argue that marijuana
can provide therapeutic relief to individuals suffering from
diseases such as cancer, AIDS, glaucoma, and neurological and
movement disorders. Opponents maintain that marijuana is a Schedule
I controlled substance, which means it has a high potential for
abuse, has no accepted medical use in the United States, and
lacks accepted safety, even for use under medical supervision.

Over the years, Congress has acted to uphold federal statute by
passing various measures that reaffirm marijuana's status as a
Schedule I controlled substance. Although bills have been
introduced to allow doctors to prescribe marijuana for medical use
in states that permit it, Congress has consistently rejected this
idea on the grounds that valid clinical evidence does not exist to
verify the therapeutic benefits of marijuana. There is virtually
no chance that the use of medical marijuana will be acted on in
Congress this year.

You should know, however, that I am opposed to the recreational
use of all illegal drugs. I am very proud of my long record of
fighting drug abuse and crime related to it. I have voted to support
harsh penalties for drug offenders and have worked hard to make
money available so our police can properly train and equip
themselves for the war on drugs. I believe it is very important to
punish drug offenders, help the addicted when we can, and keep drugs
away from our children, and my votes in the Senate reflect those
values.

At the same time, I believe that our government must enact policies
that are effective, and not merely punitive, as we work to prevent
drug abuse. That is why I am committed to providing treatment
where it is appropriate, enforcement where it is necessary, and
education in healthful choices for everyone. Rehabilitation services
must be a priority in order to help those with drug addiction,
which could save many lives and many families, and over time will
be a bargain compared to the ravages of crime, increased health care
costs, and the overwhelming costs of incarcerating so many of our
state's youth.

Thank you again for being in touch. I wish you the very best.

With Warm Regards,

Jay Rockefeller