ghost-written by Rebecca Saltzman, Chief of Staff, Americans for Safe Access and crossposted at Medical Cannabis:  Voices from the Frontlines

This week, presidential candidate Barack Obama made strong statements indicating he would end the DEA raids on medical marijuana providers. These statements are in line with the nation’s views on medical marijuana - a 2002 TIME/CNN poll found that 80% of Americans approve of cannabis for medical use, and other polls show that a majority supports it in every region of the country, irrespective of age or party affiliation.

Yesterday, DEA aliens agents yet again conducted a paramilitary-style raid on Nature’s Medicinal dispensing collective, leaving scores of sick patients without safe access in conservative Bakersfield, CA.

Next week, the House is scheduled to vote on the Hinchey-Rohrabacher Medical Marijuana Amendment to the FY08 Commerce-Justice-State Appropriations bill.  This amendment specifically prohibits the Department of Justice from using Congressionally-appropriated funds to conduct raids or otherwise prevent the various states from implementing laws that authorize the therapeutic use of marijuana.  Right now, more than ever, we need you to call your Members of Congress and tell them to vote YES on the Hinchey-Rohrabacher Medical Marijuana Amendment.  After you call, please submit a comment so that we can keep track of what these member offices are saying.

Why is this so important now?  Come over to the flip side

I wanted to let you know about a symposium that I believe will be of interest to you.  The Cornell Journal of Law and Public Policy symposium will be held on Saturday, November 5, 2005.  This year's symposium title is "The Latest Developments in the War on Drugs."