Thank you for contacting me regarding our nation’s criminal justice system. I appreciate hearing from you, and I welcome the chance to respond. As a former prosecutor, I fought to appropriately punish those who violated our laws. The fact is, however, that more than seven million Americans are currently under criminal justice supervision, and many of these offenders are guilty of only nonviolent drug crimes. The rate of incarcerated drug offenders has soared by 1200% since 1980. Too many of these former offenders reenter our communities without the substance abuse treatment and basic life skills needed to contribute to society, and two-thirds are rearrested for a felony or serious misdemeanor within three years of their release. This pace is unsustainable; it is destroying our communities and wasting taxpayer dollars. We need to create a judicial system that provides equal and fair verdicts, as well as a humane incarnation and reentry system that truly emphasizes the rehabilitation of those who will be released.

Last year Congress passed, and the President signed into law, the Second Chance Act. This law created programs that combine intensive parole supervision with job training, substance abuse treatment, and other support services to help high-risk offenders become productive citizens. Now we need to follow through by funding the Second Chance Act’s programs and ensuring they are properly implemented.

The Second Chance Act was an important step in the right direction, but more reform is needed. That is why I am cosponsoring the National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2009 (S.714). This legislation would create and authorize a commission to conduct a top-to-bottom review of our nation’s criminal justice system and offer concrete recommendations for reform. S.714 has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary. White I do not serve on this committee, I will bear your comments in mind should it be considered by the Senate.

Again, thank you for sharing your concerns with me. It is a privilege to represent you. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future regarding other matters of interest or concern.

All best,
Senator Claire McCaskill

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Thank you for contacting me with your views on marijuana. I appreciate your comments, and I welcome this opportunity to update you on the status of this legislation.

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), marijuana remains the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States. While marijuana use is generally unhealthy and has negative social repercussions, it also serves as a gateway drug to more dangerous substance abuse. For these reasons, I remain concerned by the prevalence of drug abuse in our culture and the harmful consequences that are the result of this behavior.

As a career law enforcement officer, I saw firsthand the devastating effects that illicit drug use can have on both individuals and communities. While a member of the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office, I initiated the Drug Abuse Resistance Effort (DARE) program to make children aware of the dangers posed by drug use. I made fighting drugs a top priority within the department and I will continue to do so in the United States Congress.

As you know, Congressman Barney Frank of Massachusetts introduced legislation regarding marijuana use, H.R. 2835, on June 6, 2009. This legislation would limit the penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana. Specifically, it would prohibit federal penalties for the possession of marijuana for personal use or for any not-for-profit transfer of marijuana. Possession of more than 100 grams of marijuana, or the transfer of more than 1 gram, would remain illegal. Shortly after its introduction, H.R. 2835 was referred to the House Judiciary Committee and House Energy and Commerce Committee. While I am not a member of either committee, be assured I will keep your views in mind should this legislation come before the House for consideration.

Thanks again for taking the time to share your views with me. If you would like to learn more about my positions on issues important to you or receive regular updates on developments in Congress, please visit my Online Office at www.ellsworth.house.gov and sign up for my e-Newsletter.

Sincerely,
Brad Ellsworth

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Thank you for contacting me to share your support for legalizing marijuana. I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue.

I have given much thought to this matter over the years. I do not support the decriminalization if marijuana or any other controlled substance. I have been open to considering changes to the Controlled Substance Act which would permit the dispensing of tetrahydrocannabinols (THC) to assist individuals in chronic pain or with other medical conditions, and I have been supportive of research to do just that. I believe this position strikes a careful balance between Oregonians’ decision to allow the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes while maintaining control over a substance which I believe is ultimately harmful to our society.

Over the years, I have been called upon to vote on measures that would affect the legal status of marijuana. One such vote was on an amendment to the Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations bill of 2007, popularly called the Hinchey Amendment. This amendment would have prohibited the federal government from prosecuting individuals who use marijuana for medicinal purposes in states where such use is legal under state law, including Oregon. Not only do such federal actions apply to Oregonians’ decision to allow limited medicinal use of this drug, they may also have an impact on Oregon’s death with dignity law, which I strongly support. I have done my best to make sure Congress does not trample on Oregonians’ rights. For this reason, while I remain concerned with the potential for abuse in the distribution of this controlled substance, I did vote for the Hinchey Amendment. However, the amendment failed by a vote of 165-262. I maintain my support for this effort and will vote for such an amendment again should it be offered.

While you and I may disagree on the overarching matter of marijuana legalization, I appreciate you sharing your thoughts with me and I will keep them in mind when considering future legislation.

Again, thank you for contacting me. Should you have further questions or comments, please call my Oregon office at 503-326-2901 or 800-422-4003. If you would like to receive my email newsletter, visit www.house.gov/wu to sign up.

With warm regards,
David Wu
Member of Congress

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Medical Marijuana Hearings Scheduled in PA

Philadelphia- Pennsylvanians for Medical Marijuana (PA4MMJ) is pleased to announce that the PA House of Representatives Health and Human Services Committee will have hearings on HB 1393, The Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act.

PA4MMJ and Rep. Mark Cohen at the candlight vigil for medical marijuana in front of Philadelphia's Independence Hall

On April 29, 2009 Rep. Mark B. Cohen, the Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, introduced the bill to legalize medical marijuana with Chris Goldstein of PA4MMJ. HB1393, is solid legislation that would allow registered patients to grow six plants or purchase cannabis through Compassion Centers. A provision in the bill allows these medical cannabis sales to be taxed.

Read the rest of this entry by clicking here

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NORML Board's George Rohrbacher speaks from Main Stage at Seattle Hempfest

(Seattle Times) ONCE again, the Seattle Hempfest drew tens of thousands to parks along the waterfront this weekend. In its mission statement, the all-volunteer organization that produces the event says, “The public is better served when citizens and public officials work cooperatively in order to successfully accomplish common goals.”

We agree. That is why we, as a Democratic state senator and former Republican state representative, support state Senate Bill 5615. This bill would reclassify adult possession of marijuana from a crime carrying a mandatory day in jail to a civil infraction imposing a $100 penalty payable by mail. The bill was voted out of committee with a bipartisan “do pass” recommendation and will be considered by legislators in 2010.

The bill makes a lot of sense, especially in this time of severely strapped budgets. Our state Office of Financial Management reported annual savings of $16 million and $1 million in new revenue if SB 5615 passes. Of that $1 million, $590,000 would be earmarked for the Washington State Criminal Justice Treatment Account to increase support of our underfunded drug-treatment and drug-prevention services….

What?  Two politicians are mentioning Hempfest in their opening to support marijuana decriminalization?  I thought all those tie-dyes onstage turned those kinds of people off.

Still, decriminalization must be just an incremental step toward full legalization.  With decrim, you are just legalizing the end consumer, but not the producer and distributor of the marijuana.  While law enforcement and court resources may be saved from no longer busting personal use, there will still be raids on those who grow and sell, which still keeps the prices high, still keeps the Mexican cartels in business, still promotes clandestine grows on public land, and still promotes violence.

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“What I’m not going to be doing is using Justice Department resources to try to circumvent state laws on this issue, simply because I want folks to be investigating violent crimes and potential terrorism; we’ve got a lot of things for our law enforcement officers to deal with,” said presidential candidate Barack Obama in a March 2008 interview.

“Given the limited resources that we have, our focus will be on people, organizations that are growing, cultivating substantial amounts of marijuana and doing so in a way that’s inconsistent with federal and state law,” said Attorney General Eric Holder in a March 2009 statement.

(Mercury News) LOS ANGELES—Federal and local agents are raiding at least two marijuana dispensaries in Los Angeles but authorities won’t say what they’re seeking. Officials say more than 20 people from various agencies served a state search warrant at around 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Organica Collective in Marina del Rey.

Los Angeles police, the FBI and DEA were still searching the distribution center three hours later.

DEA spokesman Jose Martinez says agents also served the warrant at the Overland Gardens Collective in West Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office says a residence also was named in the warrant.

Well, at least President Obama is fulfilling his other campaign promises, like getting us out of a protracted Middle Eastern war.  Oh, right, Afghanistan.

But at least he’s bringing us health care reform.  No, wait, better not use that one.

At least he’s holding the past administration accountable for… no, can’t go there.

Reducing the influence of lobbyists in Washington and refusing to have any lobbyists in his administration… uh, no.

Protecting the Constitution from the serious abuses of the previous administration, like warrantless wiretapping… no again.

Bringing Wall Street excesses to an end… ‘fraid not.

Ending the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy for the military… uh-uh.

Wait, I know!  Cash for Clunkers!  There we go!

At NORML, we are a non-partisan organization, and with these new DEA raids, it makes it so much easier for me to move from my personal support of the Democratic Party to political independence.  I’ve had it.  Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.  At least with a President McCain, I would have known straight up that he hates medical marijuana and would allow DEA raids to continue instead of being sold a bill of goods about not “circumventing state laws” and then circumventing them anyway.

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Thank you for contacting me with your support for the legalization of marijuana. I appreciate you taking the time to share your views with me on this matter.

Marijuana use is increasing among today’s youth, and as a mother and a grandmother, I am concerned by any initiative that might contribute to increased substance abuse. While I am not convinced that legalization of marijuana is appropriate at this time, I do believe that doctors should be permitted to prescribe marijuana for patients suffering from cancer, AIDS, glaucoma, spastic disorders, and other debilitating diseases. The people of Marin and Sonoma counties have made it clear that they want doctors to be permitted to prescribe marijuana for their patients suffering from debilitating diseases, and I believe that the federal government must not stand in the way. That’s why I’m an original cosponsor of H.R. 2835, the Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act, which would prevent federal laws from restricting the production, distribution, and use of medical marijuana. You can be sure that I will continue to be an advocate for the right of States to determine their own laws regarding medical marijuana.

Again, it’s good to hear from you. The people of Marin and Sonoma counties are the most important voices I listen to as I work in Congress.

Sincerely,

Lynn Woolsey
Member of Congress

Then why not be an advocate for the right of States to determine their own laws regarding consumer cannabis?  Why does the state have the right to vote to allow sick people to use cannabis, but we must maintain a federal prohibition against any state that would vote to allow healthy people to use cannabis?

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Thank you for contacting me regarding legislation aimed at the legalization of marijuana. I appreciate hearing from you on this issue. As you may know there are several pieces of legislation that would eliminate most Federal penalties for possession of marijuana for personal use.

There has been continuous debate regarding marijuana, and its proposed medical use in treatment in the United States. Congress has voted on several bills to legalize the medical use of marijuana; however none of those bills passed the House of Representatives. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has five criteria for reclassifying marijuana’s schedule, and it believes that marijuana has not met those criteria. In June 2005, the Supreme Court ruled 6 to 3 that federal
laws against marijuana, including its medical use, are valid.

Please know that I understand your concerns and that your input on this issue is important to me. Drugs are not approved for medicine until there is a consensus of the national community of experts. At this time, there is no consensus on this issue. Please be assured that I will continue to monitor this issue and will keep your views in mind if I am asked to vote on any related legislative initiatives.

Thank you again for contacting me. If I can ever be of any assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contact me in my Washington, D.C. office, or district office most convenient to you.

Sincerely,

Mike Ross

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Thank you for contacting me to express your support for the legalization of marijuana. I am pleased to learn your views and appreciate the opportunity to share mine.

Like you, I believe that some of our attempts to curb the abuse of drugs, including marijuana, such as spending time and resources on harsh sentences for minor offenses, have been shortsighted and inadequate. I feel that the best approach to addressing drug abuse in our country is to focus our efforts on prevention and treatment. People become addicted to drugs for a variety of reasons, therefore prevention efforts must include comprehensive educational programs that incorporate schools, family, and communities. In addition, individuals are not likely to remain off drugs unless they undergo treatment. That is why I believe it is critical for such programs to be an important part of our nation’s approach to drug control.

I also agree that it is inappropriate for the federal government to threaten the quality of patient care and the practice of pain management under the auspices of fighting drugs. As you know, there is credible evidence that marijuana is a crucial pain reliever for patients struggling with serious illness and complications that result from conditions like cancer and HIV/AIDS. Accordingly, I do not believe the federal government should prohibit states, like Colorado, from implementing laws authorizing the use of medical marijuana. I have supported efforts in Congress that would have blocked such federal government intervention.

Again, thank you for letting me know your views.

Sincerely,

Diana DeGette
Member of Congress

Like a breath of fresh air…

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Thank you for contacting me with your opinions regarding the legalization of marijuana. As always, it is a pleasure to hear from the constituents I represent, and I appreciate this opportunity to respond.

While I certainly understand the arguments made for removing federal penalties for personal use and possession of marijuana, I am also aware that drug abuse is a serious concern for our country. As a former sheriff, I have seen first hand how lives can be ruined by addiction to drugs, including the irresponsible use of marijuana. Given the prevalence of drug abuse in our society, the decriminalization of marijuana may pose more of a problem than a solution for law enforcement, making it more difficult to prosecute those individuals involved in the illegal sale and purchase of marijuana. However, I will keep your views in mind as I continue to work with my colleagues in the 111th Congress.

I actually agree with him on the point about decriminalization.  It legalizes the demand while criminalizing the supply.  You can have 3.5 ounces, so long as it falls out of the sky into your hands.  That’s why I push for full legalization.

Again, thank you for contacting me.

Sincerely,

Solomon P. Ortiz
Member of Congress

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