Pubdate: Sat, 13 Apr 2013
Source: Traverse City Record-Eagle (MI)
Copyright: 2013 The Traverse City Record-Eagle
Contact: http://www.record-eagle.com/opinion/local_story_128175513.html
Website: http://www.record-eagle.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1336
Page: 6A

NEW BILL WOULD EASE POT CONFLICT

SEATTLE - A bill introduced in Congress on Friday would fix the 
conflict between the federal government's marijuana prohibition and 
state laws that allow medical or recreational use.

California Republican Rep. Dana Rohrabacher said his bill, which has 
three Republican and three Democratic sponsors, would ensure that 
state laws on pot are respected by the feds.

The measure would amend the Controlled Substances Act to make clear 
that individuals and businesses, including marijuana dispensaries, 
who comply with state marijuana laws are immune from federal prosecution.

"This bipartisan bill represents a common-sense approach that 
establishes federal government respect for all states' marijuana 
laws," Rohrabacher said in a news release. "It does so by keeping the 
federal government out of the business of criminalizing marijuana 
activities in states that don't want it to be criminal."

Eighteen states and the District of Columbia have medical marijuana 
laws, and two states, Washington and Colorado, last fall became the 
first to pass laws legalizing, taxing and regulating marijuana.
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