D.C. Takes Another Step Toward Medical Marijuana
Congress released the language of a long anticipated bill today that, among other things, will lift the ban on Washington, D.C.’s medical marijuana law. D.C. is now one big step closer to protecting patients from arrest and jail for using marijuana with a doctor’s recommendation.
Ten years ago, D.C. residents overwhelmingly passed a medical marijuana ballot initiative, but the law’s implementation was blocked by Congress. The bill released today — a large omnibus spending bill — lifts the ban on medical marijuana in the nation’s capitol.
The fix will likely be voted into law by the end of the week. This will kick off a lengthy process to enact the ballot initiative passed 10 years ago, a process that enjoys massive support among D.C. residents. By the summer of 2010, D.C. could join the 13 medical marijuana states in protecting medical marijuana patients from arrest.
Update: It’s important to note the brave members of Congress who helped make this happen. Congressman Jose Serrano (D-N.Y.) worked for years to remove the medical marijuana ban, and he was able to take it out of the first version of the spending bill back in July. Congressman David Obey (D-Wisc.) has also been a valuable ally, helping to protect Serrano’s work as the bill moved through the complicated legislative process. If you live in one of their districts, consider yourself well represented.
Tagged with: Barr amendment and Washington DC by the author
46 comments
It seems reasonable enough to presume that full legalization will occur at the Federal level within five years.
Gallup polls show support for marijuana legalization is at around 54 percent in the Western United States Of America.
If the city of Washington successfully enacts their medical marijuana law, how will the DEA and NIDA respond?
The U.S. Government will either pass sensible marijuana laws or we, the people, will force the legislature to do so.
DEA and NIDA will respond by harassing the care givers and threaten them if they ever think about breaking federal law.
THANK YOU GOD!!! NOW PEOPLE CAN ‘LIVE’ IN LESS PAIN AND MISSERY….
HELLO ! President Obama ! ARE YOU GETTING THE MESSAGE YET ?! We the people demand an end to this insane war on the people!
This should have been done 10 years ago. The government doesn’t “make” the law, the PEOPLE do! If we want something, then the government BETTER follow through. It’s a huge slap in the face when they disrespect the people by ignoring us. And to claim that marijuana growers/users are terrorists is the MOST ABSURD thing I have ever heard in my life. Thousands of people each year are negatively affected by “the war on drugs”, yet marijuana itself doesn’t contribute to ANY deaths (and may help contribute to peace). Who is the “terrorist” again?
D.C. took 10 years to finally legalize med mj. I sure as hell hope it does not take another 10 years for Mn. to get med mj. If congress can give D.C. legal meds, Why can’t we all have med mj? We in Mn. voted and passed our mj. bill but the medical graduate who runs our state decided that he is smarter than doctors.
don’t feel bad clarence… the douche bag governor of our state also decided he was smarter than doctors and everyone else…and vetoed our med mj bill…imagine that? something passes the house and senate and one dickwad can veto it…doesn’t make any sense to me!
Clarence, concerning your comments in #6, the agenda here has more to do with DC Home Rule than any other issue. Along with mmj, there are a number of other things that Congress has blocked DC from implementing including gay marriage and needle exchange, both of which are likely to now be allowed. Also on the agenda is a voting Rep in the House for DC. Frankly it pleases me that this particular thing is attached to another political agenda, because that agenda is going to have legs, and I’m not sure that I59 would survive if considered on its own.
MMJ in the belly of the beast. I must admit I’m floating on a cloud at the moment.
I cannot wait to be able to tell prohibitionists that even DC has MMJ!!!
@ #5 Branden
Some say “Terrorist” some say “Patriot”, it all depends on which side of the fence you stand.
I consider myself a canabis patriot. Those that profit from canabis remaining illegal? Not so much.
It figures that in congress it would take ” a large omnibus spending bill” for cannabis reform to move forward. If only we could afford to buy off all of our politicians we’d be in business!
thanks to all @MPP……..now tell the other 37 states the sky is falling……
I can see it now. Ban is lifted, storefronts open, card system in place. THEN, we have to remind our FEDERAL lawmakers that they cannot partake of this medicine, for any reason, due to their connection to FEDERAL LAW. And, until such law is removed, they will now be expected to submit to a piss test before entering the chamber. See how THEY like it! Don’t forget to add the costs of the pee tests to the budget, hear?!
Don’t worry Dan-O, just keep getting people to click on MPP’s nomination button for facebook, and we will have some lobbying funds!
Good point, Chris #14. Here is that link: http://bit.ly/2TvT0y
Ben… I’m sure you guys are working on a story for the news in LA County, but I have a question you might be able to address in that post.
There are 9.8Million people (2008) in LA County. How many registered Medical Marijuana patients are there???
I mean… 70 dispensaries… that’s it! I’m wondering how conjested these facilities are going to become.
Obama might want to think about getting MMJ for his weight loss. I hope this passes so that MMJ patients can start getting to Washington to lobby congress and be able to show the benefits of their affordable medication.
Bud 13 – I gotta hand it to ya. I don’t think too many people hear even considered ANYTHING like that, and I’m betting noone at the capitol did, either. Man, just wait until they start having to pick up a cup at the White House guard shack and piss before they go see Nobama or Nanny Pelosi. Oh, they will be on CNN and FOX news touting how wonderful they think it is, how they are “setting an example for the rest of the country,” while inside they are thinking, “damn, no wonder these ‘hippies’ are so up in arms nowadays. It SUCKS taking one of these humiliating urine tests just to pay my rent.” After a while of being inundated into the same crap we gotta go through, they will start looking at ways they can avoid it – but alas, there is no way. They will try and push on the best they can, but “Oh no! Our precious drug war is affecting OUR lives now!” Man, I just can’t wait till that happens. When it does, I’m gonna pick up a six pack of bud (or maybe a bag of it) and some popcorn, just so I can see the flippin’ drug czar get looked at like everyone else – a possible drug user.
SOMEONE PLEASE ANSWER THIS…
IF MARIJUANA IS BEING CONSIDERED FOR LEGALIZATION FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES, THEN THEY ARE UNDERSTANDING THE TRUTH BEHIND MARIJUANA. why is it still a schedule 1 drug on the DEA or FDA or whatever organization does the lists. If they hold a patent on medical MJ, then why is it still a schedule 1? under the Schedule 1 status, it clearly states, A SCHEDULE 1 DRUG HAS NO MEDICAL VALUE. someone please ask that dumb ass I voted for for President why he can not understand he is being a hypocrite and he will be voted out of his house if he, along with Pelosi and all the other shit heads that told us MJ would be at minimum, decriminalized. WHAT THE F CONGRESS? DO WE THE PEOPLE NOT SPEAK CLEARLY ENOUGH FOR YOU?
ALSO, if the Federal government does not recognize MJ as medically acceptable, or useful, then why are they collecting tax money off medical MJ in the states that allow taxation on MMJ???? I watched “the Union” recently, and there was a man on there with a MMJ shop that pays in excess of $500,000 a year in FEDERAL taxes.
Income tax is due on all income regardless of source. That income is taxable says nothing about the legality or validity of that source.
Did you really think that illegal income was legally shielded from taxation?
@ Duncan
Sounds like grounds for prosecution under a charge of collusion? co oberation? possible extorsion? Is this (gasp), treason?
Oh right, I forgot, I need to remember my own advice from post #10. It all boils down to which side of the fence that you stand.
Absolutely amazing news coming from the nations capitol. This is the kind of ammo we need to hit our target. What a year 2009 has been for the marijuana legalization movement.
talking heads,want to see impementation not just talk. time for a revolution. donate to MPP
Holy Smokes! Washington is burning. Well kinda. MMJ is a great start for the district. Shame on Rep. Barr for his manuevers 10 years ago. Thwarting the will of the people.
The “I know best” mentality. Your prohibition ends where my skin begins.
Rev.sLEEzy
The Universal Life Church of the Holy Smokes
Just as a point of information Mr. Barr’s lobbying for repeal of his amendment was instrumental in getting it repealed.
I must admit I held my nose when I voted for him last November, but he’s gone and made me proud of my choice.
I gotta agree with JJ.
They are collecting taxes from an illegal source, thats an illegal act on their part. And what part of NOmedical value dont they understand? If they collect taxes from it then there….oh never mind..this is just a circle jerk they got us doing.
They are all crooks so whats the use. They will have their cake and eat it too any way . Congress no longer matters as far as doing things legally….just look at the crap they pull ..just to shove their brand of justice/law down our throats.
Corruption is all they know. They are illegitamite ussurpers.
Well you can equate the taxable status with gov’t approval, but it hasn’t ever been that way.
Do you think a hit man’s fee should be exempt from income tax? That would be a great recruiting tool for gangs.
Exempting illegal activities from income tax would be perverse. It would be an incentive people to commit economically beneficial crimes.
31. Are you alright? We are voicing our opinions and facts concerning the right to use cannabis, LEGELLY! If you do not agree with us you can go to another web site. We are changing things with facts and science. If you are not with us, you are against us. One day you will be saying the same thing about all the prohibitionists, which by what you wrote, you already ARE!!. Keep tokin and overgrow big bro.
I was referring to a story, but apparently not this one. OOPS! Keep tokin and overgrow big bro.
Wow. MN needs to get with the peoples’ opinion and pass a law now. It seems unreal to think that MMJ will be a reality in our nation’s capital and here we are still waiting. Just pass a national law already protecting patients. Don’t let political opportunists use the sick and dying as their stepping stools to higher office like Governor Tim Pawlenty. “Tough on crime” is a joke. A very expensive, cruel and unusual joke. I am not laughing.
Whoa, you see the language of that bill?!
It’s on par with California’s bill, this is going to be fun to watch!
talk about a tipping point! When our nations capital has MMJ protection, the rest of the country can’t be far behind..
im actually looking at attending school in California for running dispensaries and bud tending should be interesting and being from dc this will put me on the cutting edge when and should this bill pass thru
Hey people,
Peace to you all.
If y’all think that this is going to happen, then you need to study your history lesson and luckily we only have to travel back in time 11 years. The year is 1998. The place, Washington D.C.. D.C. voters pass a law to enact legal medical cannabis/hemp for those people with certain medical conditions. BY the highest margin I have personally seen in any of these political arena bullshit games. 69%, approved of this idea. That is over 2 out of every 3 people. This is an incredible percentage. I even think MPP states that the voter referendum here in my state of Alaska ( and yes most of us can’t stand that fn Sarah Palin) now back to what I was typing, here in my home state of Alaska we had the highest majority ever for a ballot initiative for full legalization @ 46% ( would have been higher but the language for the bill stipulated all jailed mj users had to be paid back ( repatriated, I believe is the wordage) for all the stuff the lawman took from ‘em. ) Boy y’all were really pushing the boundaries on that idea!!! I personally thought it was retarded. Talk about having a snowball’s chance in HELL!!! ROFLLAMoFo. Plus they had a bunch of other lame shit guaranteed to make it FAIL!!!! I,m Sorry Mr. Soro’s and MPP but that money could have been put to better use in another ballot initiative in another state that doesn’t have MMJ, instead of testing the arctic waters here, just to see ” what would happen if we tried to….” is not a good use of precious resources/funds/money/signature gatherer’s. If, it had been just legalization in AK, and not making the State of AK kiss everybodies ass that they wronged over the years thru the drug laws that existed at that time, hey, we’d have been the 1st state in the Union to have it. Oh F, I got we off track, back to our history lesson. 69%, my favorite # &pink my favourite color, 69%, to me that sounds like a WIN!! Right? NO–WrOnG!! 1 must ask 1′s self WHY!!! I’ll explain it to y’all as simply as I can. You can read my post on the D.C. lifts ban blog on the other topic of this issue, OR, read this: IF you were to have legal MMJ in Washington D.C.–Helloooo!!! Isn’t this the same place where all these “voter” approved rep’s and senator’s gather and congregate, and hold forums & committee meetings & pass laws that makes cannabis/mmj/hemp/etc,etc,etc,… ILLEGAL you dumbasses, Wake the FFFFFFFFF UP. I’m talking at the Federal Level of course! The Federal LEVEL!!! Laws like the BARR Amendment. END OF LESSON!!! Well it should be the end, but for those of you that just don’t GET IT. IS IT JUST ME, or does any one else out their in MPP Land see the injustice here. Does any body else see the HYPOCRACY of LEGAL MMJ in Washington D.C… I mean this is the place where they vote to make it illegal for all of us–at a federal level only for some of us, other’s it’s fed and state, so you see if it were legal in D.C., the DEA is THERE, THE ONDCP is THERE, THE DRUG CZAR is THERE. Wake up, smell the coffee, because history is about to be repeated. Ya know, when I grew up, ya didn’t trust narcs, or people who were against you, and tried to FFFF U over. Why did I just say that? I said that because I’m thinking of BARR. Is he a trojan Horse’s Ass? I wouldn’t open the gates at anytime and let that piece offering into my village. I think 12-21-2012 is when our fan hits their shit. Any of y’all ever hear the radio show in Honolulu, it was back in the 80′s, it was called ” The Uncle Mike Show ” the narrator would be talking to a young group of children or “keikei” and he would tell them funny stories about the way adults acted and the things they did. This reminds me of Congress, we are the children, they are the adults. If you think healthcare is a tuff battle for these morons, you ain’t seen nothin yet. If you think they are stupid enough to look this stupidly hypocritical in the public’s eye, y’all must be high on marijuana? No, seriously, if I gave you a gun would you intentionally shoot yourself in the gut, not the foot, the gut. Cause if they tell me they can have it this way, and others have to abide by a different set of commandments/laws, uhhhh…your gonna have problems, MAJOR Problems…..Why did I bring up something with a religious connotation? Do I even need to answer my own ? to myself ? Only if I heard me! I believe in GOD, just not religion. I mean how many religions are there, and only one of them can be the “true” religion. My wife says man created religion and Satan saw that it was good, for we could be separated/divided/torn apart by it. It worked. Religious people will kill other Religious people all in the name of their god. F I’m stoned. Well any way hope it passes and gets signed as it stands. Cause that will be the day I look on MPP’s site and see that the walls are a crumblin’ down. At least they f n better be. Peace, love and happiness to y’all and to all a goodnite. Goodnite Washington. Goodnite John Boy. Started smokin at 12–51 now. Hey Bruce if you ever want me to write for y’all let me know.
FFFFFF!!!!, I’m thinking of DUNE right now. If the children/sleeper (us) awakens, we control the government if we get legal mmj in the capitol of our nation. It will be legal by default. We will control the SPICE!!! This is for all the dreamers out there in MPP land, DREAM ON> read entry above for TOTAL DISHARMONIOUS REALIZATION OF REALITY BROS & SIS
What the hell, stranger shit has happened. The Walls of Jericho collapsed. WOW! Let’s all do a demonstration in front of the (insert building of choice here ) example White House, Congress or others and start blowing horns to “bring down the walls” of Government OPPRESSION!!!!!! AGAINST “THE PLANT”
Simple truth: If they get it there, we get it everywhere. And then of course they can;t tell us what to do anymore either. We are our own representatives and senators we don’t need them anymore, we can take care of ourselves. We have the Internet. We have grown up. We are not children anymore. This is not the Age of Aquarius anymore, it is the age of the Enlightened, we have the internet dammit. I voted for MPP for Chase Bank’s Charity Giveaway, HAVE Y”ALL DONE THAT YET. What did you say no . Wazzup. GET ACTIVE PARTICIPATE IN YOUR EXISTENCE ON THIS SECTION OF THE PLANET. WE MUST VOTE FOR THE $25k PRIZE AND THE $1 MILLION PRIZE. WE MUST MAKE THIS HAPPEN. WE MUST SEND ANOTHER INTERNET AUDIENCE MESSAGE TO THAT GREAT RULER IN WASHINGTON ,BARACK OBAMA OR BARRY AS HIS STONER BUDS IN HAWAII CALL HIM, DON’T BOGART THAT JOINT BARRY.
Christ Almighty, +1 for the Dune reference. Now I’m off to fold space…
To understand what is going to be implemented you have to read the original Initiative #59 proposal that the DC voters passed in 98. This is a huge handful of seeds being sowed on the White House lawn. I smell the grass getting greener!
Christalmighty your like a freaking russian novelist. Try to shorten it up for Christ’s sake. God Damn!!
Jinx13
Don’t want to leave out any of the good parts. Hey, you don’t have to read it all. Peace Out.
I have a letter that you can email or write to your US senators to let your voice be heard.
I would like those who want to see this happen to take a few moments of your time to contact your senator/s and use this letter if you wish, as this was
wrote
specifically for this DC Medical Cannabis issue.
Feel free to pass out or post this letter as you would like.
I believe that if each senator receives this letter or a letter in support of this then this will happen.
Hello,
As a registered voter am writing this to let you know how I would like you to vote on the DC Medical Cannabis issue.
I would like the will of the 69% of the voters who voted in support of this well over a decade ago to be granted.
I personally know people who I love who’s quality of life will be improved by Medical Cannabis, yes they have a lifelong neurological disease that has no
cure, and yes their doctor has recommended Medicinal Cannabis to them. But due to current laws there is no Legally valid medicine available to them at this
time.
Upon my loved one finding out and researching their Neurological condition they became aware that the US Health Dept. Yes that is right the US government has
a patent on Cannabis as antioxidants and neuroprotectants the patent number is 6630507 below is a link to it.
[CODE]http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6630507.html[/CODE]So now that the US government now recognizes its medical usefullness, but only in secret I ask you
to vote accordingly now knowing this information.
I also believe that ones course of treatment is best decided by ones OWN doctor and patient, not others who don’t even know said patient.
I have even went and looked to see who voted how here at this link,
[CODE]http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll949.xml[/CODE]I am a voter in your state, And I will be looking to see how you vote on this matter and I will be
voicing my opinion on your vote to Every One I can, as
well as across the web in my postings.
I would like to Thank You for your time and consideration in this matter.
to #43 LM,
About that patent, I was tripping on that issue and thinking if they have the patent for cannabinoids does that mean — when and if ever cannabis is made legal for rec. or med. uses — will #1- the US govt. use this as a trick or ploy for control of the plant and its extracts or possibility #2- They deny access for 20 more years until their patent runs out. 20 years by the way would be just about the right amount of time for the rest of them Oldtimers to completely kick the bucket. But hell I’ll be 70 then.
HE WHO CONTROLS THE “SPICE” CONTROLS THE UNIVERSE.
The information is out there, its been out there for a long time,
The Emperor Wears No Clothes a.k.a. the bible in some circles.
It makes economic and moral sense to tax,regulate and legalize marijuana.It has nothing to do with racism or immigration.The people deserve to have medical marijuana reform.No more excuses.69% percent believe that the war on drugs is a failure. Antonio
Just a thought. If we started a unified legalization of cannabis club type deal, With no strings attached, We would be moving in the right direction. To explain, take NORML for example. They are in my opinion a great advocacy group, But user of cannabis would want to pay for a membership. I know its a cost to run a website and political calender, but if you had a way for every user, not just for particular applications, but every single beneficial use we could be better united and pose more in numbers and the relay of information. Think of the NRA. Sure there’s other gun clubs, but they all report to the NRA. It’s like a main registering system. Thats what needs to be put in place. The reason is that Communication is the key to success. The order of procedure would be easy to set up, here’s how. First we would set up a site and hotline to post very visible on every advocacy site possible. Then when we call we get a automatic id number, this number would be your name. Next we give them our email address or phone number so we receive important alerts and events that deal with our issues. We need to come together to figure out the best way of confronting government opposition against us and to raise awareness to the nation. One important issue is when you vote, don’t be afraid to say yes.
Last but not least. We also need a post prohibition plan as well as a united post prohibition Smoke-Out party.
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