Pubdate: Sat, 21 Mar 2015
Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)
Copyright: 2015 Hearst Communications Inc.
Contact: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/submissions/#1
Website: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/388
Note: ROLL CALL

BOXER JOINS EFFORT TO PROTECT MEDICAL POT OPERATIONS

WASHINGTON - When it comes to pot, political winds may be shifting in 
the Senate.

Joining a new generation of senators such as Cory Booker, D-N.J., 
Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., veteran Democrat 
Barbara Boxer has added her name to a bill rolled out March 10 aimed 
at protecting state medical marijuana operations from federal 
interference while rescheduling the drug.

Senate Judiciary Chairman Charles Grassley did not rule out taking up 
the legislation in his committee, and one of the Iowa Republican's 
allies in the war on drugs said she is reviewing the measure.

"I think states can do what states can do. I think the federal law is 
another thing, and, you know I just hate to see this because there's 
marijuana, then there's marijuana," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, 
D-Calif., when asked whether her views on pot had evolved in light of 
President Obama's recent suggestion that Congress and states might 
make progress on decriminalizing marijuana and rescheduling the drug.

"There's very strong marijuana, and there's marijuana that isn't. And 
then there's marijuana that may be medically beneficial, and this is 
what we are trying to pursue," Feinstein said.

Boxer spokesman Zachary Coile said in an e-mail that the senator is a 
"strong supporter of California's medical marijuana law and she 
believes that patients, doctors and caregivers in states like 
California should be able to follow state law without fear of federal 
prosecution."

Last year, Boxer expressed concern about a House-backed amendment, 
supported by Booker and Paul, that barred the Justice Department from 
using federal funds to prosecute medical marijuana dispensaries in 
states that have legalized it. At the time, she feared it might 
prevent the Drug Enforcement Administration from going after "rogue operators."

Unlike the provision included in the final federal spending agreement 
- - set to expire at the end of this fiscal year - the language in the 
latest medical marijuana bill stipulates it would eliminate potential 
federal prosecution only for those acting in compliance with state 
law. In other words, police and prosecutors could still target the 
illegal drug rings that concern Boxer.

"It's a matter of what are our priorities," Grassley said on the 
subject of holding a hearing for the medical marijuana bill. He cited 
juvenile justice changes and patent trolling as top issues.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom