Hinchey Bill - 2004
U.S. House of Representatives Votes to Continue Prosecuting Med. MJ Patients
I. The Associated Press wrote, in part, on July 7, 2004:
"The House voted Wednesday [July 7, 2004] to let the federal government continue prosecuting people who use marijuana for medical reasons in states where local law allows its use by patients.
The 268-148 vote turned aside an amendment by Democrats and some conservative Republicans that would have barred the federal government from preventing states from implementing their own medical marijuana laws. Nine states have passed laws allowing people to use marijuana if recommended by a doctor: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont and Washington.
'It won't encourage the use of marijuana,' Rep. Sam Farr, D-Calif., one of the sponsors, said of the amendment. 'It won't encourage drug use in children. It won't legalize any drugs.'
Supporters of the federal restrictions said that constitutionally, federal statutes must override state laws. They also argued that medical marijuana laws only encourage the abuse of marijuana and other drugs.
The amendment would hurt by 'sending the message to young people that there can be health benefits by smoking marijuana,' said Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va." July 7, 2004 Associated Press
II. Roll Call
108th Congress, 2nd Session, U.S. House of Representatives Rollcall No. 334, H R 4754
prosecuting people who use marijuana for medical reasons in states where local law allows its use by patients. 