In my email today: Dear Ms. Van Quakebeke: Thank you for contacting me regarding H.R. 4660, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of Fiscal Year 2015. I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts with me. As you may know, I am a long-time supporter of allowing for medicinal marijuana in accordance with the laws passed by individual states. I have supported these provisions because the citizens spoke on this matter when they successfully passed a referendum allowing persons who have registered with the state as having a legitimate health requirement to have access to marijuana for medicinal use. Recently, there has been an increase in federal actions against state medical marijuana centers, as the Department of Justice (DOJ) is concerned with the increased scope of commercial cultivation and distribution of marijuana. The legal uncertainty and fear of federal enforcement has slowed the implementation of Arizonas medical marijuana program, prompting many to believe that more must be done at the federal level to respect these state laws. On May 30, 2014, I voted in favor of an amendment to H.R. 4660 which prohibits the use of funds by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to prevent states from implementing their own state laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of medical marijuana. This amendment passed by a vote of 219-189. As further amendments relating to medical marijuana are introduced to the remaining appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2015, please be assured that I will consider them with your thoughts in mind. It was good to hear from you on this matter. Sincerely, Ed Pastor Member of Congress
Posted on: Tue, 24 Jun 2014 03:50:47 +0000
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