- Take Action: Urge your state legislators to support a compassionate medical cannabis program!
Blog
California lawmaker calls for new federal medical marijuana policy
Jun 09, 2009
State Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) introduced Senate Joint Resolution 14 yesterday, calling on Congress and the president to enact national policies allowing patients and their caregivers safe access to medical marijuana. The resolution urges an immediate end to DEA raids on medical marijuana facilities in accordance with statements made by Attorney General Eric Holder that such activities are no longer consistent with Department of Justice priorities.
Similar to another resolution also introduced by Mr. Leno and approved by the legislature in 2003, S.J.R. 14 calls for the federal government to permit individuals with charged with medical marijuana-related offenses to use an affirmative defense in federal court. It declares the legislature's support for advancing clinical research trials on the therapeutic use of marijuana and enacting a federal policy that ensures “safe and legal access to any patient who would benefit from it.”
The resolution will be heard in Senate committees later this month and will hopefully be approved by the full state legislature before the end of the year. If you are from California and want to help ensure the passage of this compassionate resolution, visit mpp.org/subscribe and make sure you're signed up for MPP's state e-mail alerts.