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Source: @norml
Posted By: norml@weedconnection.com
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- Sat, 23 Nov 2013 04:20:21 PST

AMA Continues Opposition to Marijuana Legalization, But Softens Language

AMA Continues Opposition to Marijuana Legalization, But Softens Language National Harbor, MD: The House of Delegates of the American Medical Association voted Tuesday to retain an official position that "cannabis is a dangerous drug and as such is a public health concern," while at the same time adopting language appearing to acknowledge the changing attitudes toward marijuana among the American public.

Since 1977, the AMA has been on record urging the "modification of state law to reduce the severity of penalties for possession of marijuana." That language has now been replaced by a call for the states and the federal government to modify laws "to emphasize public health based strategies to address and reduce cannabis use"; and for the offense of possession of marijuana for personal use, they adopted new language calling for "public health based strategies, rather than incarceration."

Perhaps most promising, the Delegates determined current federal anti-marijuana policies are "ineffective" and called for a review of the "risks and benefits" of the new legalization laws adopted by the voters in Colorado and Washington.

The delegation from California had proposed amending AMA policy to reflect a "neutral stance toward cannabis legalization," but that proposal was defeated, along with a second California proposal to advocate for the "sale of cannabis to be regulated on a state-based level."

Regarding the medical use of marijuana, the group reaffirmed its position that marijuana research be expedited, and that the drug's "status as a federal schedule I controlled substance be reviewed with the goal of facilitating the conduct of clinical research and development of cannabinoid-based medicines, and alternate delivery methods." However, they also left in place language making it clear their support for additional research "not be viewed as an endorsement of state-based medical cannabis programs, the legalization of marijuana, or that scientific evidence on the therapeutic use of cannabis meets the current standards for a prescription drug product."

These recommendations of the AMA House of Delegates must be ratified at the next biannual meeting before becoming final.

Congressional Bill Introduced To Restore Second Amendment Rights To Medical Cannabis Patients

Washington, DC: Last Friday, Colorado Congressman Jared Polis (D) introduced HR 3483, Protecting Individual Liberties and States' Rights Act. The legislation was introduced in the wake of a federal memo to licensed gun dealers circulated nationwide last year warning them not to sell guns or ammunition to customers who legally use medical cannabis with their physician's recommendation, many of whom pay annual fees to be in state-run registries and receive state-issued identification cards.

The Federal Identification Card (FID), which allows citizens to purchase guns and ammunition from retail outlets, states that FID card holders can't, among other restrictions, use schedule I controlled substances, a legal classification created by the federal government in 1970 that cannabis was contentiously placed in.

HR 3483 seeks to remedy the discrimination of lawful, state-compliant medical cannabis patients of their inability to exercise their Second Amendment right to possess firearms for personal protection, sport and hunting.

NORML executive director Allen St. Pierre commented, "In a country where other medical patients don't lose their Second Amendment rights--even those that are prescribed potent narcotics--what reason can justify law-abiding medical patients who legally use cannabis as a therapeutic from being denied a sacredly held constitutional right?"

POLL: 8 out of 10 Florida Voters Support Medical Marijuana

Tallahassee, FL: Survey data just released by Quinnipiac University revealed that 82% of Florida voters support reforming state law to allow for the medicinal use of marijuana, only16% were opposed. This poll marks the highest level of support yet for legalizing medicinal use in the Sunshine State.

Support was strongest among Independents (88%) and Democrats (87%) and weakest among Republicans (70%). Not a single demographic group supported this reform by less than 70%.

This data would suggest that if medical marijuana were put to the voters it would be overwhelmingly approved.

Floridians are still divided on their support for the legalization of marijuana for recreational use. When surveyed, 48% said they would support the legalization of personal possession for any reason and 42% said they were opposed.

Full survey data @ https://www.quinnipiac.edu/institutes-and-centers/polling-institute/florida/release-detail?ReleaseID=1979


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