In spite of federal government denials and propaganda, it has been known for many centuries that marijuana is an effective treatment for many medical conditions. It has been shown to be effective in reducing pain, treating glaucoma, restoring appetite after chemotherapy, and many other uses -- and now it has been learned it may even be effective in treating cancer.And one of the best things about marijuana is that it is one of the safest drugs known to mankind. It has no side effects (other than a mild euphoria) and cannot cause death even with a massive overdose.
Because of this, many states have defied federal law and legalized the use of marijuana for medical purposes (with a doctor's prescription). Unfortunately, there are unfeeling demagogues in the federal government, mainly the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), who have no compassion for the sick -- only a hard-hearted and vicious determination to subvert the will of the people in states who have legalized marijuana for medical use. They continue to raid medical marijuana shops, and threaten their landlords with seizing their property if they allow those shops to continue to exist -- and they even arrest sick people possessing marijuana through a doctor's prescription.
There is a lively debate in this country right now over the legalization of marijuana for recreational use, and I believe the gentle herb will eventually be made legal throughout the United States (as it is in Colorado and Washington). But it is simply unconscionable to deny sick people an effective remedy for their illness. Fortunately, a majority of the United States House of Representatives realizes that.
Last week, the House of Representatives voted 219 to 189 to block the DEA and any other federal agency from interfering with state medical marijuana laws. The bill (which still is not law until passed by the Senate and signed by the president) would prevent any actions to harass patients or marijuana dispensaries in states that have legalized medical marijuana. In short, the federal government must respect state marijuana laws.
The vote was generally along party lines, although some Republicans joined Democrats in voting for the bill, and a few Democrats joined Republicans in opposing it. Voting for the bill were 170 Democrats and 49 Republicans, while 17 Democrats and 172 Republicans voted against it. If you'd like to know how your representative voted you can go to this site -- The Daily Chronic. Here is how the representatives from Texas voted:
District 1 - Louie Gohmert (R) -- NO
District 2 - Ted Poe (R) -- NO
District 3 - Sam Johnson (R) -- NO
District 4 - Ralph Hall (R) -- NO
District 5 - Jeb Hensarling (R) -- NO
District 6 - Joe Barton (R) -- NO
District 7 - John Culberson (R) -- NO
District 8 - Kevin Brady (R) -- NO
District 9 - Al Green (D) -- DID NOT VOTE
District 10 - Michael McCaul (R) -- NO
District 11 - Mike Conaway (R) -- NO
District 12 - Kay Granger (R) -- NO
District 13 - Mac Thornberry (R) -- NO
District 14 - Randy Weber (R) -- NO
District 15 - Ruben Hinojosa (D) -- NO
District 16 - Beto O'Rourke (D) -- YES
District 17 - Bill Flores (R) -- NO
District 18 - Sheila Jackson Lee (D) -- YES
District 19 - Randy Neugebauer (R) -- NO
District 20 - Joaquin Castro (D) -- YES
District 21 - Lamar Smith (R) -- NO
District 22 - Pete Olson (R) -- NO
District 23 - Pete Gallego (D) -- NO
District 24 - Kenny Marchant (R) -- NO
District 25 - Roger Williams (R) -- NO
District 26 - Michael Burgess (R) -- NO
District 27 - Blake Farenthold (R) -- NO
District 28 - Henry Cuellar (D) -- NO
District 29 - Gene Green (D) -- YES
District 30 - Eddie Bernice Johnson (D) -- YES
District 31 - John Carter (R) -- NO
District 32 - Pete Sessions (R) -- NO
District 33 - Mark Veasey (D) -- YES
District 34 - Filemon Vela, Jr (D) -- DID NOT VOTE
District 35 - Lloyd Doggett (D) -- YES
District 36 - Steve Stockman (R) -- YES
(The medical marijuana image above is from the website of the Cannabis Therapy Institute. The image below is from Facebook.)
