The War Has Ended! But, My Congressman Doesn't Get It

[medmanmike]

You may already know that the House of Representatives voted late last night to end the federal government’s war on medical marijuana!

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/30/dea-medical-marijuana-house-vote_n_5414679.html

 

Earlier this week, I wrote my congressman, Rep. Bill Huizenga asking him to support this bill. Below is his reply. It is so full of outlandish and outright untruths that I don't know where to start! This guy just doesn't get it!

 

Dear Mr. xxxxxxxx:

Thank you for contacting me to share your views on the bills that have been introduced in the 113th Congress to amend federal law to address discrepancies created by states that have enacted regulations governing marijuana for medical use.

Federal law prohibits the sale and use of marijuana for any purpose. Marijuana is a Schedule I substance under the provisions of the Controlled Substances Act, Title II of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970. Marijuana is placed on Schedule I because it has a high potential for abuse and currently is not accepted for medical use in the United States.

I oppose legalizing marijuana use, even for medical purposes, for many reasons. The Food and Drug Administration has repeatedly rejected marijuana for medical use because its known negative health impacts far exceed any positive benefit resulting from its use. Marijuana increases the heart rate by as much as 50 percent, affects mood, senses, reaction and coordination, concentration and memory on a short-term basis. Marijuana is harmful to the lungs, containing many chemicals that irritate lung tissue and are known to cause cancer, and has been shown to impair lung function more than cigarettes. Animal studies have shown persistent changes in the structure of brain cells after repeated use.

While the negative implications of marijuana use are clear and well-defined, the most proponents of use can show is that marijuana offers some sick people a cheap release from pain. In reply, scientists at the National Institutes of Health have recently concluded that existing preclinical and human data give no evidence that smoked marijuana might be superior to currently available therapies for glaucoma, weight loss associated with AIDS, and nausea and vomiting associated with cancer therapy.

 

Thank you again for contacting me with your views.

 

Sincerely,

 

Bill Huizenga

Member of Congress

[jointedone]

Pathetic.

[cristinew]

I would like to see the voting record on this,

[bobandtorey]

I would like to see the voting record on this,

http://www.drugpolicy.org

 

i have received E-mails from here and you maybe able to fine out who voted for it or against it here

[+Malamute]

Michigan Reps-

 

Benishek ® NV

Huizenga ® No

Amash ®     Yes

Camp  ®      No

Kildee  (D)     Yes

Upton  ®      Yes

Walberg ®    No

Rogers  ®     No

Levin (D)         No 

Miller ( R)        No

Bentivolio ®  Yes

Digell (D)         NV

Conyers Jr. (D) Yes

Peters (D)        Yes

[+Malamute]

Republican: 21.1% Aye

Democrat: 85.7% Aye

 

 Total vote

[bobandtorey]

Thanks

 

it does seam like the ones that voted yes our all up for another turn

[+Malamute]

This still has to make it through conference committee etc. But yay!

 

Forward progress and liberal thinking prevailing.

[bobandtorey]

This still has to make it through conference committee etc. But yay!

 

Forward progress and liberal thinking prevailing.

Thanks again 

 

How many steps does it have to go through to become Law of the land ?

[bobandtorey]

The measure now heads to the Democratic Senate

[Norby]

I'd write back and tell him I didn't ask and don't care what you THINK.  You were elected to represent me! and this is my request.  Not to mention you have no clue what your talking about.  I can personally tell you that most of your info is false.  Mj can be ingested orally without smoking and if you'd like me, one of your constituents to address the other issues I'd like to educate you from an actual patients standpoint.  Your antiquated views HURT your sick constituents and i'm disgusted by your lack of understanding of the reality of Med MJ.

[outsideinthecold]

One of the Republicans supporting limits on the DEA is Representative Fred Upton from SW Michigan.

 

Fred's Grandfather and two brothers started what now became Whirlpool.

 

Fred's cousin David has fought and lost a long battle with drug addiction that cost him his health and his inheritance.

 

While some will denigrate the Republicans for voting No and rightfully so when they think like Representative Huizenga (or Democratic Representative Levin for that matter), Upton's Yes vote is proof that some Republicans can learn while some Democrats won't.

 

Now I can't speak for either party, but when it comes to people, AG Schuette will be the one person I'm going to actively work AGAINST in the upcoming election. Not because he is a Republican but because his policies, prejudices and politics are a disaster for the majority  of the citizens he is responsible for serving.

Edited May 30, 2014 by outsideinthecold

[GregS]

Soo, when will you write him back and tell him to suck eggs?

[Norby]

Figured I'd put my money where my mouth is.  Looked up my rep and he voted yes.

 

Just ask him if he feels strongly enough that he can proclaim that to all the  mmj cardholders and their families.  Then give him the stats for his district.  How many voting aged family members are there for each cardholder?  Parents, gp, friends?

 

Do these people even know what their job is?  They represent their constituents, NOT the federal gov't.  That he would even quote that is grounds for removal.   He should be IMPEACHED!!!

Edited May 30, 2014 by Norby

[Hawkind]

Republican: 21.1% Aye

Democrat: 85.7% Aye

 

 Total vote

Your statistics seem incorrect.

8 Rep votes with 3 yes to 5 no

5 Dem votes with 3 yes to 1 no

How does this equal 21.1% Rep Aye.

[+Malamute]

Total Vote.

 

 

Not just Michigan Rep's.

[Hawkind]

Oh I see, I thought you meant just Mi reps. That makes more sense now.... TY!

[+Malamute]

Heres a link for ya..

 

http://politics.nytimes.com/congress/votes/113/house/2/258

[+Malamute]

OFFERED BY MR. ROHRABACHER OF CALIFORNIA

At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert

the following:

 

 

 SEC. ll. None of the funds made available in this Act to the Department of Justice may be used, with respect to the States of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico,

 Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin, to prevent such States from implementing their own State laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of medical marijuana.

[+Malamute]

Btw, it is a rather cheese amendment that is more powerful in concept than actuality.  The wording could have been better for sure.  Leaves open huge loopholes.

[t-pain]

i dont see how that amendment will do anything.

[pergamum362]

Its a step forward is all.

[bobandtorey]

Btw, it is a rather cheese amendment that is more powerful in concept than actuality.  The wording could have been better for sure.  Leaves open huge loopholes.

Ty

 

these things always seem to have fine print and clauses we don't see right way

[+Malamute]

... or a lack of enough fine print.  ;-)

[+Malamute]

But it is very awesome regardless. One click forward at the federal level by the legislature.  A first.  Well second, but the first revolves around US House of Rep's and D.C. law. :-)