A few weeks ago we posed the question whether Congress was about to change a clause in the omnibus spending bill regarding medical marijuana. This has historically shielded MMJ from federal oppression in states that authorize the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of medical cannabis. At the time, the situation appeared to be on a knife-edge. Thankfully, sanity has prevailed one more time.
The Huffington Post reports how Jeff Sessions, 84th Attorney General of the United States had been pressing the Senate Appropriations Committee to change the status quo. In May 2017, he wrote a personal letter to congressional leaders to repeal the Rohrabacher–Farr amendment, thereby putting persons with dread diseases at risk of arrest for taking marijuana to ease their pain.
The Attorney-General previously wrote, “I believe it would be unwise for Congress to restrict the discretion of the department to fund particular prosecutions, particularly in the midst of a historic drug epidemic and a potentially long-term uptick in violent crime.” We will pass on whether people reposing on a sick bed are capable of such things, and continue with events that unfolded in Senate on Thursday, July 28, 2017.
As background, 28 states, plus the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories of Guam and Puerto Rico have laws in place regulating the use of medical marijuana. A further 17 states permit some use of the non-psychoactive ingredient cannabidiol, increasing the popular decision further. Despite this clear, overwhelming majority, the 84th Attorney General of the United States seems convicted to keep rowing upstream, for whatever reason.
We salute the Senate Appropriations Committee for abiding by the unanimous decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit on Tuesday 16 August, 2016. It ruled the U.S. Department of Justice “can’t prosecute medical marijuana patients, and their providers for violating federal cannabis law, as long as those individuals are in full compliance with state laws legalizing medical marijuana”.
“This vote is not only a blow against an outdated reefer madness mind-set, it is a personal rebuke to Jeff Sessions,” Tom Angell, chairperson of drug policy reform group Marijuana Majority said in a statement. The omnibus spending bill will now go to the full Senate for ratification. If it is still pending approval by end September 2017, the Rohrabacher–Farr amendment will continue for another year.
We respectfully suggest the 84th Attorney General of the United States apply his mind to the true causes of his “potentially long-term uptick in violent crime”. We very much doubt expecting people to die on their sickbeds in discomfort would make a difference to his cause, but we are open to suggestions.