An amendment authored by Congressmen Dana Rohrabacher and Sam Farr passed overwhelmingly in the House today by a 242-186 vote. The amendment to the Fiscal Year 2016 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations bill respects the states' rights to set the rule of law on medical marijuana not the federal government. This would prohibit any federal employee from using federal funds to prosecute patients or doctors using medical marijuana in states that have made it legal.
“This impressive vote,” said the California Republican, “is deeply gratifying. It shows the people’s representatives really can reflect the overwhelming sentiment of Americans to do the right thing. Too many patients, for too long, have suffered under a regime that encourages doctors to prescribe opiates rather than the cannabinoids they deem much safer and more effective. The federal government has been expanding its control over our lives far beyond what our Founding Fathers had in mind. This should be a states rights issue like many others.
“The majority of the states have said they want medical marijuana patients to have access to the medicine they need without fear of prosecution,” said Rep. Farr. “For the second year in a row, the people’s house has listened to the will of the people and voted to give them that access.”
Last year, Congressmen Rohrabacher and Farr authored an identical amendment to the Fiscal Year 2015 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill which passed the House by a 30 vote margin. This year's vote passed the house by a 56 vote margin. A record number of 67 Republicans voted for the amendment.
“This impressive vote,” said the California Republican, “is deeply gratifying. It shows the people’s representatives really can reflect the overwhelming sentiment of Americans to do the right thing. Too many patients, for too long, have suffered under a regime that encourages doctors to prescribe opiates rather than the cannabinoids they deem much safer and more effective. The federal government has been expanding its control over our lives far beyond what our Founding Fathers had in mind. This should be a states rights issue like many others.
“The majority of the states have said they want medical marijuana patients to have access to the medicine they need without fear of prosecution,” said Rep. Farr. “For the second year in a row, the people’s house has listened to the will of the people and voted to give them that access.”
Last year, Congressmen Rohrabacher and Farr authored an identical amendment to the Fiscal Year 2015 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill which passed the House by a 30 vote margin. This year's vote passed the house by a 56 vote margin. A record number of 67 Republicans voted for the amendment.
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