Medical Marijuana Takes A Federal Step Forward

Not only did Tuesday's election produce two major marijuana policy victories, but we also saw signs of progress in Washington, D.C.

Barack Obama has consistently said that he does not support the federal government arresting medical marijuana patients in states where medical marijuana is legal. He also affirmed to MPP that he would not use federal resources to raid medical marijuana dispensaries in California, something his predecessor’s administration has done countless times.

And the Politico reported that Obama’s pick for drug czar may be Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton.  Bratton is “totally supportive of the concept of medical marijuana” (Source).

There were some promising changes in Congress as well.  With several elections still undecided, the Democrats are likely to pick up 22 new seats in Congress -- 17 of which belonged to medical marijuana opponents in the last Congress. And every single Democratic incumbent who lost Tuesday was a medical marijuana opponent.

As I noted in an earlier post, a number of the most outspoken medical marijuana opponents faced tough opposition going into the election -- and several of them were sent packing. Congressman Tom Feeney (R-Fla.), Congressman Ric Keller (R-Fla.), and Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave (R-Colo.) are the most notable lawmakers who MPP will not miss. Congressman Mark Souder (R-Ind.), who once called MPP’s executive director a “an articulate advocate for an evil position,” held on to his seat despite predictions that he might lose.

Additionally, candidates who are close allies of MPP won spots in the House of Representatives, like Nevada State Senator Dina Titus, who is a strong supporter of medical marijuana.