Congressman Farr introduces medical marijuana legislation
Congressman Sam Farr (D-Calif.) introduced the Truth In Trials Act of 2009 today (H.R. 3939), a bill that would give medical marijuana patients and providers the ability to argue in federal court that their actions were legal under state law.
Currently, a federal judge cannot consider state-level legality during a medical marijuana case. For example, Charles Lynch, a California resident who was on trial for operating a medical marijuana clinic that by all accounts operated in compliance with state law, was unable to defend himself by citing California’s medical marijuana law. And consequently, Lynch received a year-long jail sentence. He’s just one of more than 100 people who were prosecuted under federal law during the Bush administration while being denied the right to defend themselves adequately in court.
The Truth In Trials Act would provide an affirmative defense for medical marijuana patients operating within the bounds of state law. If passed, it will protect patients and providers from disgraceful prosecutions in federal court.
While the Truth In Trials Act represents only a small step in the fight for substantive, national medical marijuana reforms, it will bring a fundamental fairness to federal medical marijuana trials. Please write your member of Congress and ask him or her to co-sponsor this bill. At MPP’s online action center, writing Congress is quick and easy.
Tagged with: Charles Lynch and Congressman Sam Farr and Truth In Trials by the author
11 comments
Would you please write Charlie’s name as “Charles C. Lynch”. It’s very important to include the middle initial because there are other people called Charles Lynch who are not the medical cannabis patient/provider who have been accused of far worse things and we don’t want to confuse people about Charles C. Lynch. Thank you!
I obviously think this act would improve the current situation, but the proper path to allowing medical necessity defenses would be to re-schedule cannabis to schedule 2. Of course that won’t be happening any time soon.
Also, the Act # is H.R. 3939 (not 3933)…and as far as schedule to, H.R. 2835 “The Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act”. Call Congress to approve both of these acts.
yes, great work congressman farr. this makes me believe that our governmnent isn’t totally lost.
# 4 No, it is totally lost.
I welcome any and all progress we make towards regaining our freedoms, however; as was stated, this is a small step. But is this even a step? It’s more like a very slight deviation in elevation. What we need is a comprehension bill that includes rescheduling of Cannabis and patient protections. Don’t we already have a bill put forth by Barney Frank that covers this issue? Why flood our representatives with redundant pleas for MMJ protections? With all the other issues that need to be dealt with in this country how high do you think is the priority for protecting individuals consuming Cannabis for medical purposes? Especially with the thousands of pills sitting right now on the shelves at your local CVS pharmacy?
#5 i couldn’t agree with you more. Again sorry for the slight deviation but here is a head line from todays Redding paper.
Deputies arrest Yreka man after finding pot hanging up in van.
arrested and booked into Siskiyou County jail where he remains in custody today in lieu of $15,000 bail on suspicion of possessing marijuana for sale, selling or furnishing marijuana and possession of controlled substance.
This is all the police do in this county. We need to change these outdated laws reguarding cannabis so that it doesn’t cripple our country anymore.The whole of law enforcement concetrating on this one issue. i can’t think of any thing more ridiculous.
Redundant. If we could get H.R. 2943 (Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults Act of 2009) passed in to law, all of our problems will go away. http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-2943
good luck cali
See my post in “Why Maryland is not the 14th Medical Marijuana State”
I’m glad this bill is being introduced, however:
This bill is a way to Politically capitalize on the recent announcement by the Obama Administration and DoJ. If our congressmen really cared about this issue they would enact HR 2835 and finally state that there are medical uses for the plant. This one bill would solve the issues that states are having between state and Federal Law. Instead of trying to circumvent these conflicting laws (whether it is the DoJ announcement or this Bill) why don’t we just solve the underlying issue?
When Prohibitionists say that it will send the wrong message to the children, what they really mean is that the Federal Govenment will be sending the message that they can prohibit a substance for 72 years without the slightest bit scientific research to back up their claims. This is the wrong message to send to the children…. that the Government has been able to lie and misinform the American public over the coarse of 72 years.
BUD FROM KY: go read my post (#35) on the “The Show Your Friends and Family Must See” blog… some ideas to respond to your congressman!
I might add that you should also include a copy of the original letter he sent you in your response.
and if you want some good information on medical uses:
http://moby.to/2jk17g
It is the 45 minute lecture that was given by Paul Armentano…. I took some notes and broke down the audio so you can find certain relevant points. Hope this helps!
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