Closer than Ever
The Hinchey-Rohrabacher Amendment was defeated in the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday, by a vote of 259-163. I had intended to post something about the Hinchey-Rohrabacher Amendment before the House of Representatives voted on it, but the action alert from the Marijuana Policy Project stated that a vote was expected in July, so I thought I had more time.
The amendment, sponsored by U.S. Reps. Maurice Hinchey (D-N.Y.) and Dana Rohrabacher (R-Ca.), would have blocked funding of federal marijuana enforcement against medical marijuana patients in the 11 states that have legalized medical marijuana. The defeat of the amendment was disappointing, but this press release from the MPP points out that the margin of defeat for the Hinchey-Rohrabacher Amendment keeps getting narrower.
You can find out how your representative voted here. Libertarians who view Republicans as the lesser evil and left-wing independents who see no significant difference between the major parties should take note of the partisan breakdown of the vote:
| Ayes | Noes | PRES | NV | |
| Republican | 18 | 206 | 6 | |
| Democratic | 144 | 53 | 4 | |
| Independent | 1 | |||
| TOTALS | 163 | 259 | | 10 |
posted by Jason Sonenshein @ 8:01 PM
1 Comments:
I think it’s significant that 18 members of the party in power voted in favor of the amendment. It’s only a matter of time before the other 206 Republicans are convinced that alleviating the pain of tens of thousands of medpot users is worthy of their support.
What worries me is that 53 Democrats voted against the Hinchey-Rohrabacher Amendment! What were they thinking? How could they call themselves Democrats? Don’t they have any compassion for the chronically and terminally ill?
If we could only convince these 53 to vote for medicinal marijuana patients, instead of against them, we’d have 216 votes in the House (as opposed to their 206). We could once and for all get rid of this federal bias aimed at a medicine that’s been in use for thousands of years.
The antics of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) in manhandling and handcuffing pot patients are legendary. They don’t seem to have an ounce of compassion among them. I used to live in California, close to a compassion club, and saw what the place looked like once the feds had finished with it. They are the true barbarians, despite their efforts to depict marijuana users as such.
I’ve since moved to another state, but I made sure that medicinal marijuana was legally available here by prescription. It was a hassle trying to find a doctor who was willing to prescribe it, but eventually, through word of mouth, I was able to connect with a young, activist physician, who was willing to sign for my medication.
Obtaining medpot in this state is much harder than in California. I reluctantly became a pot grower, but am I ever glad that I did. Now I have a constant supply of clean, reliable, potent medicine. My cancer is in remission and I have a feeling that I’ll live for many more years to come.
This positive outlook is the direct result of my medpot use. I used to brood over my illness and the idea of “leaving this mortal coil,” as Shakespeare put it. Also, gardening has put me into direct touch with the healing energies of the earth. I not only grow pot in my backyard, but organic vegetables as well.
One raised bed grows nothing but flowers. Beauty is also healing, as is getting your hands dirty with soil. Watching things grow, you learn about the renewal of life and the life sustaining efforts of nature as it supplies us with abundant nourishment.
I became a medpot gardener, because I found a wonderful website that gave me step by step instructions how to do it. Advanced Nutrients Medical was not only quick with advice, but they also supply incredibly effective plant nutrients and other products intended to safeguard your plants from deficiencies, pests, and diseases.
My favorite is Scorpion Juice, which inoculates the plant with SAR (systemic acquired resistance) against all sorts of pathogens. Having had bad luck with plants for many years, I now grow robust and healthy medpot, as well as nutritious and tasty vegetables, and abundant, vigorous blooms.
Politicians are notorious procrastinators, and I pray that they get rid of all the harsh federal laws having to do with marijuana, before the DEA gets around to locating my little patch of pot. Even though it is allowed by state law, I still worry. It’s up to the voters next time around to elect wise enough politicians with compassionate hearts, who will stop the bias against my medicine.
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