Drug War Issues
Politics & Advocacy
(In addition to the information we published Wednesday night in the Speakeasy blog, we have now identified which members not voting on Hinchey last year are newly-elected vs. which ones simply didn't vote on it.)
The Hinchey results are in, losing by a vote of 165-262. This is only a very slight improvement over last year, when we lost 163-259. Here's a summary of the key stats:
- 165 members of Congress voted for the Hinchey medical marijuana amendment this year (150 of them Democrats), but 262 members of Congress voted against it. Ten members did not have votes recorded (plus Pelosi, for some technical reason as Speaker).
- 78 Democrats voted against the amendment, while 15 Republicans voted for it.
- Nine members who voted Yes on the amendment last year switched their votes to No this time (hiss), and three who voted No last year switched to Yes.
- 27 members of Congress who are either newly-elected or did not have a vote recorded on the Hinchey amendment last year, voted Yes, only one of them Republican.
- 45 members of Congress who are either newly-elected, or did not vote on the amendment last year, voted No, including 24 Democrats and 21 Republicans.
- Two members of Congress who voted Yes last year did not vote on the amendment this year, and seven members who voted No last year also didn't vote this year.
Following is a detailed compilation covering all the stats listed above:
- members of Congress who voted Yes (165)
- members of Congress voted No (262)
- members who did not have votes recorded (10, plus Pelosi, for some technical reason as Speaker)
- Democrats who voted No (78)
- Republicans who voted yes (15)
- members who voted Yes last year but voted No this year (9)
- members who voted No last year but switched to Yes this year (3)
- members in their first term, or who did not vote last year, who voted Yes (27)
- members in their first term, or who did not vote last year, who voted No (45)
- members who voted Yes last year who didn't vote this year (2)
- members who voted No last year who didn't vote this year (7)
165 members of Congress voted for the Hinchey medical marijuana amendment this year:
Abercrombie (D-HI)
Ackerman (D-NY)
Allen (D-ME)
Andrews (D-NJ)
Baird (D-WA)
Baldwin (D-WI)
Bartlett (R-MD)
Becerra (D-CA)
Berkley (D-NV)
Berman (D-CA)
Bishop (D-GA)
Bishop (D-NY)
Blumenauer (D-OR)
Brady (D-PA)
Broun (R-GA)
Campbell (R-CA)
Capps (D-CA)
Capuano (D-MA)
Carnahan (D-MO)
Carson (D-IN)
Christensen (D-VI)
Clay (D-MO)
Cleaver (D-MO)
Cohen (D-TN)
Conyers (D-MI)
Courtney (D-CT)
Crowley (D-NY)
Davis (D-CA)
Davis (D-IL)
DeFazio (D-OR)
DeGette (D-CO)
Delahunt (D-MA)
DeLauro (D-CT)
Doggett (D-TX)
Doyle (D-PA)
Ellison (D-MN)
Emanuel (D-IL)
Engel (D-NY)
Eshoo (D-CA)
Farr (D-CA)
Fattah (D-PA)
Filner (D-CA)
Flake (R-AZ)
Frank (D-MA)
Garrett (R-NJ)
Giffords (D-AZ)
Gilchrest (R-MD)
Gonzalez (D-TX)
Green, Al (D-TX)
Grijalva (D-AZ)
Gutierrez (D-IL)
Hare (D-IL)
Harman (D-CA)
Hastings (D-FL)
Higgins (D-NY)
Hinchey (D-NY)
Hirono (D-HI)
Hodes (D-NH)
Holt (D-NJ)
Honda (D-CA)
Hooley (D-OR)
Hoyer (D-MD)
Inslee (D-WA)
Israel (D-NY)
Jackson (D-IL)
Jackson-Lee (D-TX)
Johnson (D-GA)
Johnson (R-IL)
Johnson, E. B. (D-TX)
Jones (D-OH)
Kanjorski (D-PA)
Kaptur (D-OH)
Kennedy (D-RI)
Kildee (D-MI)
Kilpatrick (D-MI)
Kind (D-WI)
Kucinich (D-OH)
Langevin (D-RI)
Lantos (D-CA)
Larson (D-CT)
LaTourette (R-OH)
Lee (D-CA)
Lewis (D-GA)
Loebsack (D-IA)
Lofgren (D-CA)
Lowey (D-NY)
Maloney (D-NY)
Markey (D-MA)
Matsui (D-CA)
McCarthy (D-NY)
McCollum (D-MN)
McDermott (D-WA)
McGovern (D-MA)
McNulty (D-NY)
Melancon (D-LA)
Miller, George (D-CA)
Mitchell (D-AZ)
Moore (D-KS)
Moore (D-WI)
Moran (D-VA)
Murphy (D-CT)
Murtha (D-PA)
Nadler (D-NY)
Napolitano (D-CA)
Neal (D-MA)
Norton (D-DC)
Oberstar (D-MN)
Obey (D-WI)
Olver (D-MA)
Pallone (D-NJ)
Pascrell (D-NJ)
Pastor (D-AZ)
Paul (R-TX)
Payne (D-NJ)
Perlmutter (D-CO)
Peterson (D-MN)
Porter (R-NV)
Price (D-NC)
Rangel (D-NY)
Rehberg (R-MT)
Renzi (R-AZ)
Rodriguez (D-TX)
Rohrabacher (R-CA)
Rothman (D-NJ)
Roybal-Allard (D-CA)
Royce (R-CA)
Ruppersberger (D-MD)
Rush (D-IL)
Ryan (D-OH)
Sanchez, Linda T. (D-CA)
Sanchez, Loretta (D-CA)
Sarbanes (D-MD)
Schakowsky (D-IL)
Schiff (D-CA)
Scott (D-GA)
Scott (D-VA)
Serrano (D-NY)
Sestak (D-PA)
Shea-Porter (D-NH)
Sherman (D-CA)
Sires (D-NJ)
Slaughter (D-NY)
Solis (D-CA)
Sutton (D-OH)
Tancredo (R-CO)
Tauscher (D-CA)
Thompson (D-CA)
Tierney (D-MA)
Towns (D-NY)
Udall (D-CO)
Udall (D-NM)
Van Hollen (D-MD)
Velazquez (D-NY)
Walz (D-MN)
Waters (D-CA)
Watson (D-CA)
Watt (D-NC)
Waxman (D-CA)
Weiner (D-NY)
Welch (D-VT)
Wexler (D-FL)
Woolsey (D-CA)
Wu (D-OR)
Wynn (D-MD)
Yarmuth (D-KY)
... but 262 members of Congress voted against it:
Aderholt (R-AL)
Akin (R-MO)
Alexander (R-LA)
Altmire (D-PA)
Arcuri (D-NY)
Baca (D-CA)
Bachmann (R-MN)
Baker (R-LA)
Barrett (R-SC)
Barrow (D-GA)
Barton (R-TX)
Bean (D-IL)
Berry (D-AR)
Biggert (R-IL)
Bilbray (R-CA)
Bilirakis (R-FL)
Bishop (R-UT)
Blackburn (R-TN)
Blunt (R-MO)
Boehner (R-OH)
Bonner (R-AL)
Bono (R-CA)
Boozman (R-AR)
Boren (D-OK)
Boswell (D-IA)
Boustany (R-LA)
Boyd (D-FL)
Boyda (D-KS)
Bradley (R-NH)
Brady (R-TX)
Braley (D-IA)
Brown (D-FL)
Brown (R-SC)
Brown-Waite, Ginny (R-FL)
Buchanan (R-FL)
Burgess (R-TX)
Burton (R-IN)
Butterfield (D-NC)
Buyer (R-IN)
Calvert (R-CA)
Camp (R-MI)
Cannon (R-UT)
Cantor (R-VA)
Capito (R-WV)
Cardoza (D-CA)
Carney (D-PA)
Carter (R-TX)
Castle (R-DE)
Castor (D-FL)
Chabot (R-OH)
Chandler (D-KY)
Clyburn (D-SC)
Coble (R-NC)
Cole (R-OK)
Conaway (R-TX)
Cooper (D-TN)
Costa (D-CA)
Costello (D-IL)
Cramer (D-AL)
Crenshaw (R-FL)
Cuellar (D-TX)
Culberson (R-TX)
Cummings (D-MD)
Davis (D-AL)
Davis (D-TN)
Davis (R-KY)
Davis, David (R-TN)
Davis, Tom (R-VA)
Deal (R-GA)
Dent (R-PA)
Diaz-Balart, L. (R-FL)
Diaz-Balart, M. (R-FL)
Dicks (D-WA)
Dingell (D-MI)
Donnelly (D-IN)
Doolittle (R-CA)
Drake (R-VA)
Dreier (R-CA)
Duncan (R-TN)
Edwards (D-TX)
Ehlers (R-MI)
Ellsworth (D-IN)
Emerson (R-MO)
English (R-PA)
Etheridge (D-NC)
Everett (R-AL)
Faleomavaega (D-AS)
Fallin (R-OK)
Feeney (R-FL)
Ferguson (R-NJ)
Forbes (R-VA)
Fortenberry (R-NE)
Fortuno (R-PR)
Fossella (R-NY)
Foxx (R-NC)
Franks (R-AZ)
Frelinghuysen (R-NJ)
Gallegly (R-CA)
Gerlach (R-PA)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Gillmor (R-OH)
Gingrey (R-GA)
Gohmert (R-TX)
Goode (R-VA)
Goodlatte (R-VA)
Gordon (D-TN)
Granger (R-TX)
Graves (R-MO)
Green, Gene (D-TX)
Hall (D-NY)
Hall (R-TX)
Hastert (R-IL)
Hastings (R-WA)
Hayes (R-NC)
Heller (R-NV)
Hensarling (R-TX)
Herger (R-CA)
Herseth (D-SD)
Hill (D-IN)
Hinojosa (D-TX)
Hobson (R-OH)
Hoekstra (R-MI)
Holden (D-PA)
Hulshof (R-MO)
Hunter (R-CA)
Inglis (R-SC)
Issa (R-CA)
Jefferson (D-LA)
Jindal (R-LA)
Johnson, Sam (R-TX)
Jones (R-NC)
Jordan (R-OH)
Kagen (D-WI)
Keller (R-FL)
King (R-IA)
King (R-NY)
Kingston (R-GA)
Kirk (R-IL)
Klein (D-FL)
Kline (R-MN)
Knollenberg (R-MI)
Kuhl (R-NY)
Lamborn (R-CO)
Lampson (D-TX)
Larsen (D-WA)
Latham (R-IA)
Levin (D-MI)
Lewis (R-CA)
Lewis (R-KY)
Linder (R-GA)
Lipinski (D-IL)
LoBiondo (R-NJ)
Lucas (R-OK)
Lungren (R-CA)
Lynch (D-MA)
Mack (R-FL)
Mahoney (D-FL)
Manzullo (R-IL)
Marchant (R-TX)
Matheson (D-UT)
McCarthy (R-CA)
McCaul (R-TX)
McCotter (R-MI)
McCrery (R-LA)
McHenry (R-NC)
McHugh (R-NY)
McIntyre (D-NC)
McKeon (R-CA)
McMorris (R-WA)
McNerney (D-CA)
Meek (D-FL)
Meeks (D-NY)
Mica (R-FL)
Miller (D-NC)
Miller (R-FL)
Miller (R-MI)
Miller, Gary (R-CA)
Mollohan (D-WV)
Moran (R-KS)
Murphy (R-PA)
Murphy, Patrick (D-PA)
Musgrave (R-CO)
Myrick (R-NC)
Neugebauer (R-TX)
Nunes (R-CA)
Ortiz (D-TX)
Pearce (R-NM)
Pence (R-IN)
Peterson (R-PA)
Petri (R-WI)
Pickering (R-MS)
Pitts (R-PA)
Platts (R-PA)
Poe (R-TX)
Pomeroy (D-ND)
Price (R-GA)
Pryce (R-OH)
Putnam (R-FL)
Radanovich (R-CA)
Rahall (D-WV)
Ramstad (R-MN)
Regula (R-OH)
Reichert (R-WA)
Reyes (D-TX)
Reynolds (R-NY)
Rogers (R-AL)
Rogers (R-KY)
Rogers (R-MI)
Roskam (R-IL)
Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL)
Ross (D-AR)
Ryan (R-WI)
Salazar (D-CO)
Sali (R-ID)
Saxton (R-NJ)
Schmidt (R-OH)
Schwartz (D-PA)
Sensenbrenner (R-WI)
Sessions (R-TX)
Shadegg (R-AZ)
Shays (R-CT)
Shimkus (R-IL)
Shuler (D-NC)
Shuster (R-PA)
Simpson (R-ID)
Skelton (D-MO)
Smith (D-WA)
Smith (R-NE)
Smith (R-NJ)
Smith (R-TX)
Snyder (D-AR)
Souder (R-IN)
Space (D-OH)
Spratt (D-SC)
Stearns (R-FL)
Stupak (D-MI)
Sullivan (R-OK)
Tanner (D-TN)
Taylor (D-MS)
Terry (R-NE)
Thompson (D-MS)
Thornberry (R-TX)
Tiahrt (R-KS)
Tiberi (R-OH)
Turner (R-OH)
Upton (R-MI)
Visclosky (D-IN)
Walberg (R-MI)
Walden (R-OR)
Walsh (R-NY)
Wamp (R-TN)
Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)
Weldon (R-FL)
Weller (R-IL)
Westmoreland (R-GA)
Whitfield (R-KY)
Wicker (R-MS)
Wilson (D-OH)
Wilson (R-NM)
Wilson (R-SC)
Wolf (R-VA)
Young (R-FL)
10 members did not have votes recorded (plus Pelosi, for some technical reason as Speaker):
Bachus (R-AL)
Boucher (D-VA)
Clarke (D-NY)
Cubin (R-WY)
Davis, Jo Ann (R-VA)
LaHood (R-IL)
Marshall (D-GA)
Michaud (D-ME)
Stark (D-CA)
Young (R-AK)
78 Democrats voted against the amendment:
Altmire (D-PA)
Arcuri (D-NY)
Baca (D-CA)
Barrow (D-GA)
Bean (D-IL)
Berry (D-AR)
Boren (D-OK)
Boswell (D-IA)
Boyd (D-FL)
Boyda (D-KS)
Braley (D-IA)
Brown (D-FL)
Butterfield (D-NC)
Cardoza (D-CA)
Carney (D-PA)
Castor (D-FL)
Chandler (D-KY)
Clyburn (D-SC)
Cooper (D-TN)
Costa (D-CA)
Costello (D-IL)
Cramer (D-AL)
Cuellar (D-TX)
Cummings (D-MD)
Davis (D-AL)
Davis (D-TN)
Dicks (D-WA)
Dingell (D-MI)
Donnelly (D-IN)
Edwards (D-TX)
Ellsworth (D-IN)
Etheridge (D-NC)
Faleomavaega (D-AS)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Gordon (D-TN)
Green, Gene (D-TX)
Hall (D-NY)
Herseth (D-SD)
Hill (D-IN)
Hinojosa (D-TX)
Holden (D-PA)
Jefferson (D-LA)
Kagen (D-WI)
Klein (D-FL)
Lampson (D-TX)
Larsen (D-WA)
Levin (D-MI)
Lipinski (D-IL)
Lynch (D-MA)
Mahoney (D-FL)
Matheson (D-UT)
McIntyre (D-NC)
McNerney (D-CA)
Meek (D-FL)
Meeks (D-NY)
Miller (D-NC)
Mollohan (D-WV)
Murphy, Patrick (D-PA)
Ortiz (D-TX)
Pomeroy (D-ND)
Rahall (D-WV)
Reyes (D-TX)
Ross (D-AR)
Salazar (D-CO)
Schwartz (D-PA)
Shuler (D-NC)
Skelton (D-MO)
Smith (D-WA)
Snyder (D-AR)
Space (D-OH)
Spratt (D-SC)
Stupak (D-MI)
Tanner (D-TN)
Taylor (D-MS)
Thompson (D-MS)
Visclosky (D-IN)
Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)
Wilson (D-OH)
... while 15 Republicans voted for it:
Bartlett (R-MD)
Broun (R-GA)
Campbell (R-CA)
Flake (R-AZ)
Garrett (R-NJ)
Gilchrest (R-MD)
Johnson (R-IL)
LaTourette (R-OH)
Paul (R-TX)
Porter (R-NV)
Rehberg (R-MT)
Renzi (R-AZ)
Rohrabacher (R-CA)
Royce (R-CA)
Tancredo (R-CO)
Nine members who voted Yes on the amendment last year switched their votes to No this time (hiss):
Brown (D-FL)
Burton (R-IN)
Butterfield (D-NC)
Clyburn (D-SC)
Dicks (D-WA)
Jefferson (D-LA)
Meeks (D-NY)
Smith (D-WA)
Thompson (D-MS)
... while three who voted No last year switched to Yes:
Emanuel (D-IL)
Peterson (D-MN)
Renzi (R-AZ)
There are 27 members of Congress who were either elected for the first time last November, or did not have a vote recorded on the Hinchey amendment last year, who voted Yes, only one of them Republican:
(Most are freshmen; the several marked with an asterisk were members of Congress last time but did not vote on the amendment.)
Broun (R-GA)
Christensen (D-VI)*
Cohen (D-TN)
Courtney (D-CT)
Ellison (D-MN)
Giffords (D-AZ)
Gonzalez (D-TX)*
Hare (D-IL)
Hirono (D-HI)
Hodes (D-NH)
Johnson (D-GA)
Kanjorski (D-PA)
Loebsack (D-IA)
Mitchell (D-AZ)
Murphy (D-CT)
Norton (D-DC)*
Perlmutter (D-CO)
Rodriguez (D-TX)
Sarbanes (D-MD)
Schakowsky (D-IL)*
Sestak (D-PA)
Shea-Porter (D-NH)
Sires (D-NJ)
Sutton (D-OH)
Walz (D-MN)
Welch (D-VT)
Yarmuth (D-KY)
45 members of Congress who are either newly-elected, or did not vote on the amendment last year, voted No, including 24 Democrats and 21 Republicans:
(Most are freshmen; the several marked with an asterisk were members of Congress last time but did not vote on the amendment.)
Altmire (D-PA)
Arcuri (D-NY)
Bachmann (R-MN)
Bilirakis (R-FL)
Boyda (D-KS)
Braley (D-IA)
Buchanan (R-FL)
Cannon (R-UT)
Carney (D-PA)
Castor (D-FL)
Davis, David (R-TN)
Donnelly (D-IN)
Ellsworth (D-IN)
Faleomavaega (D-AS)*
Fallin (R-OK)
Fortuno (R-PR)*
Gerlach (R-PA)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Hall (D-NY)
Hastert (R-IL)*
Heller (R-NV)
Hill (D-IN)
Holden (D-PA)
Johnson, Sam (R-TX)
Jordan (R-OH)
Kagen (D-WI)
Klein (D-FL)
Lamborn (R-CO)
Lampson (D-TX)
Mahoney (D-FL)
McCarthy (R-CA)
McNerney (D-CA)
Murphy, Patrick (D-PA)
Poe (R-TX)
Roskam (R-IL)
Sali (R-ID)
Shays (R-CT)*
Shuler (D-NC)
Smith (R-NE)
Souder (R-IN)*
Space (D-OH)
Stupak (D-MI)*
Taylor (D-MS)*
Walberg (R-MI)
Wilson (D-OH)
(At least two of these, Souder & Hastert, are known to be have always been strong opponents of medical marijuana.)
Two members of Congress who voted Yes last year did not vote on the amendment this year:
Michaud (D-ME)
Stark (D-CA)
... and seven members who voted No last year also didn't vote this year:
Bachus (R-AL)
Boucher (D-VA)
Cubin (R-WY)
Davis, Jo Ann (R-VA)
LaHood (R-IL)
Marshall (D-GA)
Young (R-AK)
Permission to Reprint: This content is licensed under a modified Creative Commons Attribution license. Content of a purely educational nature in Drug War Chronicle appear courtesy of DRCNet Foundation, unless otherwise noted.
Comments
Gabrielle Giffords D-AZ
A big thank you to Congresswoman Giffords of Arizona who voted Yes on the Hinchey-Rohrabacher Amendment, after citing the gateway theory as recently June 27, 2007, as the reason she was going to vote No.
A big thank you to AZ4NORML members and supporters and everyone else who called, wrote, and e-mailed her office refuting the gateway theory with substantial supportive research.
And a great big thanks to DRCNet, MPP, and NORML for leading the ongoing effort for just states and human rights.
Chad Townsend
Tucson, AZ
Members who switched from yes to no
Friends,
Thank you for posting this breakdown...but it is not an analysis.
An analysis would, first, have pointed out the patterns or commonalities, and second, attempted to explain them.
Here are two curious patterns:
First, of the 8 Democrats who switched from Yes to No, 6 are members of the Congressional Black Caucus. One of the members not voting is a freshman member of the CBC from New York City, Yvette Clark.
The change of 6 members from Yes to No by members of the Congressional Black Caucus is very significant, because only 9 members of the Caucus voted against the amendment this year. Two-thirds of the CBC no votes this year were switches. Previously the No votes were:
* Elijah Cummings, a long-time opponent of medical marijuana from Baltimore who has been the ranking Democrat on the Government Reform Committee's Drug Subcommittee (sitting next to Mark Souder). A lawyer, his winning percentage has been about 75%.
* Artur Davis, from Alabama, a former assistant federal prosecutor, but a graduate of Harvard and Harvard Law School. He is in a safe seat having won 75% in 2004.
*Gregory Meeks, of Queens, New York City, a former assistant state prosecutor, a graduate of Howard Law School. He was unopposed in 2004.
Now the no voters were joined by G.K. Butterfield from North Carolina, Corrine Brown of Florida, James Clyburn of South Carolina ( Majority Whip, and a former chair of the CBC), William Jefferson of Louisiana (he of a freezer of cash fame), Kendrick Meek of Florida, and Bennie Thompson of Mississippi.
And Yvette Clarke of NY did not vote.
31 Members of the CBC voted for the Hinchey amendment including very senior members like Rangel, Conyers, Lewis, et al. and the officers of the Caucus.
The loss of these Democrats is very disturbing. Who encouraged them to switch? Why? What were the arguments that were used? Why did they depart from the pattern of the Congressional Black Caucus which has been overwhelmingly in support.
The other two switches of the 8 are two Democrats both from Tacoma, Washington -- a medical marijuana state -- 16 term member Norm Dicks, and 6 term member Adam Smith.
Was there some kind of scandal involving medical marijuana in Tacoma? Is there a particularly effective anti-medical marijuana activist in Tacoma?
The third switch from no to yes, Republican member Dan Burton, may be explained more by the incongruity of his yes vote last year, and his reputation as a somewhat unpredictable Member.
Eric Sterling
Norm Dicks (D-WA) - Wish you could feel their pain!
Norm Dicks (D-WA) is 1 of the 9 despicables who changed their votes... he done flipped-flopped and allied himself with the Dumb Evil Assholes.
I better call and find out why he choose to violate Constitutional Law again?
Norm, Why do you favor continuing the violent, unlawful dictates, of a unlawful federal agency against sick & dying people in states that do not tolerate such lawlessness, cruelty, and outright stupidity!
Norm, were you temporarily disabled, rendered common-senseless, by the power of DEA bullshit... was it so powerful a stench that it caused you to tear up and cast the wrong vote.
Norm, why do you insist on wasting $400 billion a year on a 60 yr old failed drug war that the Supreme Court determined in 1985 was unconstitutional, your support will authorize the continued arrest of over 700,000 people annually for mere personal consumption...
Norm, I realize you are not fiscally conservative, few in government these days are, but I'm assuming you can still count and understand ratios, etc... So, if 700,000 people are arrested annually for personal consumption how many responsible people are not being arrested? Do you know your crime stats? What percentage of responsible people get caught committing a crime of this nature? News flash Norm... a very small percentage which makes the number of people like me huge... so big in fact you should be ashamed of your complicit behavior!
Norm, you are partly responsible for ruining thousands of lives & the stealing other peoples legally acquired property, not to mention, causing needless suffering & painful deaths!
Norm, perhaps you think the total sum of 1 oz. of marijuana (equal to 1 1/2 packs of cigarettes) the FDA/DEA released for all scientific study of the plants over 400 chemical compounds is sufficient for anything other than outright ridicule?
Norm, is it because Seattle has 'Hempfest'... the largest pro-cannabis rally in the nation and passed a lowest priority cannabis law years ago by a wide margin... and this trend continues across the nation today?
Norm, is it because when 'stoners' get caught up at alcohol checkpoints they can easily pass the field sobriety test... proving themselves unimpaired under the law? Lets face it... alcohol kills more people annually then all illegal drugs combined. In fact a prominent European health organization has created a new controlled susbance list, based on actual harm, that they want implemented. Not surprisingly alcohol, tobacco, and possibly caffeine would become controlled sustances & regulated... while cannabis, and even ecstasy, would not be... being considered much safer then alcohol & tobacco!
Norm, could it be because Seattles Former Top Cop, Norm Stamper, a self-admitted former drug addict while on duty (Percodan), and now a staunch anti-prohibitionist for LEAP (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition), wrote a scathing book called 'Breaking Ranks' calling for an end to a 60+ year war that cost taxpayers over $600 a second!
Talk about Grand Theft Anal!
Norm, how much of that illegal drug war booty did the Dumb Evil Assholes promise you for your willful ignorance?
Norm, did you know the actual cost of the drug war is over $400 billion a year when including prosecution & incarceration costs which averages another $30,000 - $35,000 per year per person)
Why law abiding citizens tolerate the violent crimes continuously commited by the DEA and the courts is beyond my comprehension... I can only imagine they are in too much pain to share their pain with those that deserve it the most!
How I hate losing to the losers...
hope all you prohibitionists have a short miserable life & a long painful death!
Norm, I'd like to know what they fuck you were thinking? I've protested outside your office before and several people have told me you're not that asshole, atleast back in the day, yet your actions yesterday scream otherwise!
Billy B. Blunt
Tacoma, WA
P.S. Remember to be passive... only until they become aggressive... then aggressively assert your rights... with whatever force is necessary... to continue your right to effective pain medicine and a death with dignity!
Thanks, Eric.
Thanks, Eric.
Ditto that...
What is wrong with the CBC?
Hinchley-rorabacher
These cowards think that this will go unnoticed.I have been posting stories on Netscape under the name mntnman444,I could use some help if anyone is interested,I need votes and comments to get it on the front page.
http://politics.netscape.com/story/2007/07/28/heartless-politicians-vote-to-jail-terminally-ill/
In reply to Hinchley-rorabacher by Anonymous (not verified)
News aggregation sites
mntnman444,
I would be interested in being a part of a DRCnet news site action group (Netscape, digg, etc). e-mail me [email protected] subject: DRCnet news action group if you or anyone else is interested. I'll be talking to Dave Borden (DRCnet) about this as well. When I know more I'll e-mail everyone who e-mailed me back.
The action group would co-ordinate a vote on stories such as this one posted to Netscape. Thanks
going to Hell - literally
The politicians who voted no on the Hinchey Ammendment will all be going to Hell (literally) because if you put people in prison over a PLANT THAT GOD CREATED, then I am 100% positive they will go to hell for doing such a thing.
Poilticians playing doctor
If you were in need of an antibiotic, you'd see your family doctor; he'd take a culture to appropriately ID the bug, then write a script for the matching medication. If you have congestive heart failure, you see a cardioligist. If you have cancer you see a oncoligist....and so on. I don't recall Dick Cheney asking King George to put an ICD in his chest when he had a life threatening arrythmia. When they are having a heart attack, they drag thier whining ass into a Cath Lab to have a health care professional open the lesion, not some congressman working on his 3rd term re-election. I doubt most politicians ever took any formal classes in pharmacology and are clueless (except a few, like Ron Paul). So how in the Hell do they tell us they know better, especially we in the health care industry? As a RN, I know BS when I see it! This last vote is just another axample of politicians playing doctor and it makes me mad as hell! I hold those who voted "no" directly responsible for not only the suffering of those in need of medical marijuana, but also the continued exposure to an uncontrolled substance reaching our youth!
In reply to Poilticians playing doctor by Anonymous (not verified)
Amen to that Anonymous!
I love to see professionals step forward and speak up; especially where it counts first... In the medical field.
Thank you,
The 420 Alliance.
http://www.helloworld.com/the420alliance
Marijuana v. Alcohol
We live in a society where someone of age can walk into a liquor store and buy a bottle of alcohol. With that bottle of alcohol, that person poses to threaten himself and other people upon becoming intoxicated. Now take medical marijuana; people who are terminally ill (cancer etc) are suffering and you want to take away their medication? Even if they weren't terminally ill, who cares if they get stoned and sit on their couch and watch tv, that is not jeopardizing your safety whatsoever. Millions of people die every year from alcohol related incidences. How many people die every year from marijuana related incidences? If anyone can show me proof of even a half dozen people dying as a result of marijuana, I will be surprised. Pot is a dry plant that makes you relax, not that different from several prescription drugs that are available for similar conditions. Some of us just prefer to not put processed drugs in our body and regardless of you what you guys do, marijuana will always be prevalent so you might as well accept that- or waist your time analyzing bullsh!t about congressman and how they voted, its up to you, but its not going to stop me from sparking this joint!!
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