Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Chronic City: Aptly Named 'Joint Resolution' Succeeds; California Senate Urges Change in Federal Medical Marijuana Rules
Posted
By Steve Elliott
on Tue, Aug 25, 2009 at 11:59 AM
Page 2 of 2
Because of the 2005 U.S. Supreme Court decision in
Gonzales v. Raich, federal medical Marijuana defendants aren't allowed to use a medical or state law defense. "With more than two dozen of these defendants currently being prosecuted by the Justice Department, each of them facing many years in prison, such a change to Justice Department policy would be timely, relevant and critically important," Duncan said.
The resolution also mentions the need to expand research into Marijuana's medical benefits, echoing the recommendation of the White House-commissioned Institute of Medicine report from 1999. With a current federal monopoly on growing Marijuana for research stifling the ability to conduct FDA-approved scientific studies, the resolution urges the president and Congress "to adopt policies and laws to encourage advanced clinical research trials into the therapeutic use of Marijuana."
SJR 14 now passes to the California Assembly. If passed, the non-binding resolution will become law without needing Gov. Schwarzenegger's signature.
Tags: Chronic City, joint resolution, Mark Leno, Image
