Pubdate: Thu, 09 Jun 2005 Source: Salem News (MA) Copyright: 2005 Hearst Communications Inc. Contact: http://www.salemnews.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3466 Author: Edward Epstein, Scripps Howard Note: Edward Epstein writes for the San Francisco Chronicle Cited: Gonzales v. Raich ( www.angeljustice.org/ ) Cited: Marijuana Policy Project ( www.mpp.org ) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm ( Cannabis - Medicinal ) BACKERS OF MEDICINAL MARIJUANA TRY, TRY AGAIN IN HOUSE VOTE WASHINGTON - Advocates of legalizing marijuana for medical purposes face a daunting task in Congress - which probably will vote again on the issue next week - but gain a little more hope year by year. A bill advocating medicinal marijuana received 94 votes in the House in 1998. In 2003, legislation to block the Justice Department from using federal funds to crack down on the use of medicinal marijuana got 152 votes. Last year that total edged down to 148. This year advocates say they can count on 160 solid votes in the House when the same bill comes up for a vote, probably next Tuesday or Wednesday. "It's our objective to get a few more votes this year," said Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-N.Y., co-sponsor with Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif., of the legislation that blocks federal enforcement against medicinal-marijuana patients in states that allow its use. "There's a good chance we will get more support." The vote will come on the heels of Monday's U.S. Supreme Court ruling that dealt a setback to the 10 states, including California, that have decided to allow patients to use marijuana with a doctor's recommendation. The court's majority opinion, authored by Justice John Paul Stevens, said any changes in the federal law will have to come from Congress. "I was disappointed in the decision. It was wrong," Hinchey said. "But I was glad to see that wording about Congress in his decision. The Congress has to deal with this issue." Rob Kampia, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, said his group counts 160 votes this year for the Hinchey-Rohrabacher proposal, which will be offered as an amendment to the annual appropriations bill that covers the Justice Department. He said the court ruling means "the light is shining brightly on Congress" and will increase pressure on potential swing votes in the House. Angel Raich of Oakland, Calif., the lead plaintiff in the case decided by the Supreme Court, plans to fly to Washington to lobby before the vote. Kampia wouldn't predict victory in the House. "We'll have an all-time-record vote, " he said. But a majority remains far off. Rep. Mark Souder, R-Ind., chairman of the House drug-policy subcommittee, hailed the Supreme Court decision. "We cannot allow the state initiative process to undermine" national health and safety standards "on the basis of political - not scientific - arguments," Souder said in a statement. He has said that if medicinal-pot advocates want to change the federal law that makes marijuana an illegal drug, they should get Congress and the president to make such a change. He'll help lead the opposition to Rohrabacher and Hinchey next week. Edward Epstein writes for the San Francisco Chronicle - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom