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. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom