Pubdate: Fri, 05 Sep 2014
Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal (NV)
Copyright: 2014 Las Vegas Review-Journal
Contact: http://www.reviewjournal.com/about/print/press/letterstoeditor.html
Website: http://www.lvrj.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/233
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v14/n720/a03.html
Author: Bob Mueller
Page: 8B
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v14/n720/a03.html

MEDICAL MARIJUANA

To the editor:

Regarding medical marijuana, Rep. Dina Titus stated she supported an 
amendment to a bill stipulating that financial institutions would not 
be penalized for working with the medical marijuana industry ("Titus: 
U.S. law will keep banks out of the medical pot industry," Aug. 28 
Review-Journal). The amendment was also supported by Reps. Joe Heck 
and Steve Horsford. Rep. Mark Amodei voted against it.

All four Nevada representatives voted for another amendment that 
denied funds for the Justice Department to prosecute doctors and 
others who abide by state laws.

Rep. Titus also said the political atmosphere is not ready for 
changing the federal drug classification of marijuana from a Schedule 
1 drug. This classification was done in 1970 and groups marijuana 
with drugs such as heroin and LSD. There is currently a bill in 
committee (H.R. 5226: Charlotte's Web Medical Hemp Act of 2014) that 
would exclude therapeutic hemp and cannbidiol from the definition of 
marijuana. It was introduced by Rep. Scott Perry on July 28. The bill 
would lift the federal ban on medical marijuana once and for all.

If the Republican-controlled House can pass amendments allowing banks 
to handle funds from medical marijuana shops and stop the Justice 
Department from prosecuting doctors and growers who abide by state 
laws, why wouldn't it consider changing the federal law that bans 
marijuana as a dangerous drug with no medical benefits? I wrote to 
Rep. Titus three weeks ago urging her to support H.R. 5226. I never 
heard back from her.

All four of our representatives in the House need to show their 
support for lifting the federal ban on medical marijuana. Saying the 
political atmosphere is not right is taking the coward's way out. 
They need to take a stand now, especially Rep. Titus.

BOB MUELLER

LAS VEGAS
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