Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act HR 2835 sponsored by Rep Barney Frank D-MA

October 20, 11:55 PMCannabis Revolution ExaminerDev Meyers

Previous Next

1 comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Cannabis Revolution Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

House Financial Services Committee Chairman Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass. speaks during a markup of legislation on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009.
(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Bill Would Allow Prescription of Cannabis throughout US

A bill that would allow physicians to prescribe cannabis under federal law and end interference in state medical marijuana programs is pending in the House of Representatives.

Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), along with 13 bi-partisan co-sponsors, introduced the Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act (HR 2835) in June. The measure would reschedule cannabis as a Schedule II drug and eliminate federal authority to prosecute medical marijuana patients or providers in states where it is legal for medical use.

Similar legislation has been offered by Rep. Frank each of the last two years but no hearings were held and the bills were never voted on. Nonetheless, more state lawmakers are considering enacting or expanding medical marijuana laws.

With strong public support and a more sympathetic occupant of the White House, medical marijuana advocates are pushing Congress to codify a policy that allows states to establish mechanisms for patients to receive the medicine their doctors recommend.

"A more sensible and humane policy on medical marijuana is what this Administration has promised," said Caren Woodson, Government Affairs Director for Americans for Safe Access. "Congress has an historic opportunity to affirm marijuana's medical efficacy and develop a comprehensive plan that provides access and protection for all Americans who can benefit from its therapeutic use."

If the bill succeeds in moving marijuana to Schedule II, doctors could legally prescribe it and their patients could legally possess and use it in all 50 states, just like morphine, cocaine, and other Schedule II drugs.

The bill would also prohibit the federal government from interfering in current or future state programs that provide regulated access to marijuana for patients whose doctors have advised them to use it. Currently, 13 states have laws that protect qualified patients from prosecution under state law. But patients and their providers in Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington all remain vulnerable to federal prosecution.

In California alone, nearly 100 individuals are currently facing federal prosecution on charges related to medical marijuana, with two more sealed indictments filed in the past month.

The Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act of 2009, which is currently before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, now has 29 co-sponsors, as listed below:

Rep. Tammy Baldwin [D, WI-2], Rep. Earl Blumenauer [D, OR-3], Rep. Lois Capps [D, CA-23], Rep. Yvette Clarke [D, NY-11], Rep. Steve Cohen [D, TN-9], Rep. Peter DeFazio [D, OR-4], Rep. Keith Ellison [D, MN-5], Rep. Sam Farr [D, CA-17], Rep. Bob Filner [D, CA-51], Rep. Raul Grijalva [D, AZ-7], Rep. Maurice Hinchey [D, NY-22], Rep. Michael Honda [D, CA-15], Rep. Dennis Kucinich [D, OH-10], Rep. Zoe Lofgren [D, CA-16], Rep. James McDermott [D, WA-7], Rep. James McGovern [D, MA-3], Rep. George Miller [D, CA-7], Rep. James Moran [D, VA-8], Rep. John Olver [D, MA-1], Rep. Ronald Paul [R, TX-14], Rep. Jared Polis [D, CO-2], Rep. Dana Rohrabacher [R, CA-46], Rep. Steven Rothman [D, NJ-9], Rep. Janice Schakowsky [D, IL-9], Rep. Brad Sherman [D, CA-27], Rep. Fortney Stark [D, CA-13], Rep. C. Thompson [D, CA-1], Rep. Robert Wexler [D, FL-19], and Rep. Lynn Woolsey [D, CA-6].

Source: Americans For Safe Access

Congressman Barney Frank Website

How to compose a marijuana letter

The DEA position on marijuana

Obama announces new federal guidelines for medical marijuana